Leonid meteor shower

This peaks about now. I have no idea how good it is as an MS propagation mode. What usually happens is the trail causes ionisation that reflects VHF signals.

See https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/leonid-meteor-shower-when-and-where-see-it-uk

2m MSK144 overnight

As it is the Geminids MS shower, I left the RX on 144.360 MHz overnight.  Only 4 stations spotted on MSK144 with the big-wheel omni. I think I was just too late.

Propagation mode?

Both yesterday and the day before, I had over 70 reports of my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon. Today I have had just a few reports and these could be by F2. Es can be very localised with strong signals somewhere and nothing a few kilometres away.

On 8m I am frequently spotted by EI9KP (649km). This happens so often that I suspect some other form of propagation other than F2 or Es is involved such as random meteors or aircraft scatter. 

The period of FT8 makes me think random meteors or aircraft unlikely. It is far too far to EI9KP for tropo. 

Am I missing something? 

Perseid meteor shower

This meteor shower peaks about now. Often this is accompanied by some long "pings" with VHF signals propagated a long way via the ionised trails. I shall be monitoring 2m FT8 overnight, but there may be better modes.

Geminids MS

The Geminids meteor shower peaks on December 14th.  Usually this can give interesting results on VHF especially with digital modes.

Draconid meteor shower

I have never heard of this and have no idea how it affects VHF radio propagation. The more common meteor showers lead to enhanced pings and some real DX being worked on the VHF bands, especially with weak signal modes. 

It peaked last night, but should still be good tonight. Often MS signals are strong, but short lived. Certain modes are optimised for this sort of signal.  Even with very simple antennas I have copied some excellent DX via meteor trails on 2m.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-54450553 .

Perseids meteor shower

Many people like to make VHF contacts in meteor showers. Modes like FT4 and FT8 should be particularly effective I think. Signals are often strong, but short lived.

I see Southgate News has a link about this.

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2020/august/perseid-meteor-alert.htm#.Xy570jfYq00

Brain fog - NOT amateur radio

Earlier I was reading something about the hidden symptoms of MS and was struck by how similar these were to my own symptoms following my 2013 stroke.

On my feet I'm always giddy and I often say it is like living in a sort of continual fog and getting exhausted very quickly.

Outwardly I look well and indeed most people think that, 5 years on, I am fully recovered. Like MS sufferers, they have little idea!

Quadrantids MS shower

Southgate News reminds us that the Quadrantids meteor shower peaks overnight. I shall be on 6m MSK144 RX (50.280MHz) looking for European action.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2018/january/the-quadrantids.htm  .

6m MSK144 RX in the Geminids MS shower

Overnight I was on 50.280MHz MSK144 RX for the peak of the Geminids MS shower. I only have a V2000 omni antenna (no beams) on 6m. All over western and northern Europe copied. I assume many of these were MS.

I shall remain on 50.280MHz MSK144 RX for a few hours at least.

UPDATE 1056z: I think the count is now 13 countries spotted on 6m MSK144 in the last day.

UPDATE 1312z: With 31 unique spots in the last day there is plenty of activity in Europe on 50.280MHz MSK144. I think I shall stick with this band and mode for another day.

UPDATE 1800z:  Best DX on 6m MSK144 RX is SM5EPO (1347km).

Leonids meteor shower

The Leonids meteor shower peaks this week. I think I'll look on 6m FT8 RX to see what I spot.

See http://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/everything-you-need-to-know-leonid-meteor-shower .

MS on 2m

Martin G8OFA has been using 2m MS (meteor scatter) this year and has worked some impressive DX as the photo shows. The MS QSOs are shown as squares with bold outlines. As you can see, these are far into continental Europe. Such contacts would be rare on 2m by tropo and QTH, power and antennas would be important.

MS is available at any time (random MS) but is best in showers. It works at any time in the solar cycle. QTH is less important. On 6m, pings tend to be longer, although antenna elements are bigger.

Meteor shower

Peaking this coming weekend, the Aquarids meteor shower should bring some strong pings. I shall be on 6m MSK144 RX hoping for success.

The returns from just random meteors have amazed me. With a real MS shower, the pings should be longer, so I have a better chance of copying stations with my very simple set-up (V2000 vertical, lossy coax and FT817).

MS - NOT amateur radio

Multiple Sclerosis is a nasty condition, that is usually lifelong and unpredictable.  I know of one girl who died and three others suffering in different ways. The worst part is just not knowing what the future might bring. It is most common in people in the prime of life. One person I know was a very good cancer nurse. Sadly, she can no longer do this.

Research continues and there are some promising signs.  I certainly hope they find a cure.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-39256584 .

Monitoring 6m MSK144 RX

After an amazing evening monitoring 472kHz (630m) WSPR and a great afternoon on 10m JT65 I am monitoring 6m MSK144 today.

This mode, even with a very modest 6m station (mine is a V2000 vertical omni fed with lossy coax and an FT817), seems to bring in stations from across Europe by random MS and aircraft reflection.

At present, my count is 15 countries spotted in the last few weeks, even without a meteor shower. Most times the bursts are short but the signals are strong.

UPDATE 1022z: G4MOI (67km) is the first spot today on 6m.

UPDATE 1107z: EA5/G3XGS (1581km) just spotted. I think this is my furthermost DX by this mode so far on 6m. Random MS I presume.

See https://www.pskreporter.info/pskmap.html .

Meteor Scatter software

Steve G1KQH (font of all knowledge) sent me this a few days ago:-

"Did you see a mention of this software in PW, Roger?

Might be useful via your bent wonky wheel?

http://lz2hv.org/mshv

73 Steve
http://www.g1kqh.talktalk.net/"

More Es and MS on 10m

CT1JTQ  is spotting me again by 10m Es at 1250z.

There is more evidence (short, strong non-decoding bursts on his frequency) that the PD0OHW reports are by MS bursts and probably not Es. The Perseid meteor shower is peaking around now in Europe and this will result in lots of long bursts.

10m Es and early morning MS?

LB9YE and I have been exchanging WSPR spots since 0458z this morning. In both directions there is considerable Doppler. On another signal (not currently decoding) there are clear signs of meteor reflections as the signals are strong but in short bursts. I wonder if MS was playing a part in LB9YE's decodes?

Earier in the night PB0AIC (288km) was decoded STRONGLY at -8dB S/N . At this range I assumes this was early morning tropo or again possibly MS? At the very same time 0404z, G8VDQ (93km) , was decoded strongly at -12dB S/N.

Otherwise all quiet on the Es front.

I do wonder sometimes about Es (SPORADIC E-layer) reflections. Many signals do come into this category with fleeting, often quite localised, strong openings, but many others are anything but sporadic. Are these really Es as we know it or some other propagation?

WSPR - how long to get a decode?

A question for my esteemed readers please.

Using WSPR (WSPR2 that is) the transmission burst is nearly 2 minutes long, but I believe strong signals can be decoded when only a part of the burst is received. My question is, how short a burst can be decoded?  Presumably it depends on how strong the signal is.

LB9YE was coming through quite well this morning but there was no decode of a very strong (I assume MS) burst at 1048 which lasted about 30 seconds. Of course with MS there may also be some Doppler shift which can mess things up a bit.

If you know about WSPR and can help with the answer, I'd appreciate it. I am particularly curious to know how WSPR might do with short MS bursts which can be strong but only last a few seconds. It also begs another question: there is now a longer version of WSPR (WSPR15) with better decode S/N levels. I wonder if a shorter version of WSPR has been considered? Then again I think there may be better modes for MS.

A plug for my son's MS concert in Oxford, Oct 7th

My son Tim Lapthorn, who is a professional jazz pianist, is holding a concert in Oxford on Sunday Oct 7th to promote his new album. All proceeds will be donated to the MS Society. You are most welcome to attend and enjoy.

Tickets may be obtained from http://www.oxfordplayhouse.com/ticketsoxford/?event=17386. The lunchtime concert is in the Jacqueline du Pre Music Building, Oxford starting at 1pm.

As the publicity says:

"Benefit concert for Multiple Sclerosis Society. Tim Lapthorn and his trio will play material from the forthcoming album, Transport (Pathway Records) which includes brand new original material. The group will also play reworkings of jazz/folk standards. Please come along to this very special event to help support a great cause!"

See also http://www.st-hildas.ox.ac.uk/jdpevent/tim-lapthorn-trio-ms-fundraising-concert