6m - more GDX today

6m GDX has again been good today. M0EMM (192km), G4TZX (146km), G8ECI (122km),  G3XGS (65km),  G6AVK (78km) and G4VXE (136km) copied today. In all, quite a number of GDX stations either copying my 1W ERP or being copied here over the last few days.  Some of these are helped by aircraft but almost certainly copyable by plain tropo. I wonder if there has been a small lift on 6m tropo or if this is range under normal conditions?

Sunspot count is 56 and 20-30MHz propagation "normal".

Antennas for 6m Es

One of the amazing things about the Magic Band (6m) is that for Es (sporadic-E) propagation, and I suspect for F-layer, almost any antenna will work. For years I have used just a V2000 VHF triband vertical with excellent results including the USA, Azores, North Africa, Ukraine and Israel worked with low power SSB/CW or spotted on  WSPR.  Polarisation often gets twisted so a beam is NOT needed.Yes, for tropo DXing a horizontal beam might well help but many GDX paths involve aircraft reflection where polarisation is also twisted.

A simple half wave vertical for 6m is at http://users.belgacom.net/hamradio/schemas/on6mu_6meter_verticalantenna.htm .

On 6m again this morning

Conditions (tropo) are up on 2m today with the Kent 2m beacon measuring strongly on the FT817ND's S-meter. Usually, the S-meter does not even move. I don't know if tropo has as great an impact on 6m (I think not) but so far today just the usual good reports from G4IKZ (18km). Later, I hope to catch some sporadic-E (Es) propagation or even some GDX by 6m tropo, or more distant "semi-locals".

G4IKZ's first report was at 0648z when I first turned the rig and PC on today.  Reports vary by about 6dB but this could be G4IKZ rotating his beam rather than propagation. I'd be surprised if propagation varied by 6dB over such a short path. The other explanation is my local noise floor is increasing as the day goes on and more local appliances are activated? Another explanation is aircraft reflections from small planes over Cambridge? Maybe there is more activity today. That could explain the Doppler on my signals too.

Otherwise all very quiet  here so far at 1000z. It is a bit early in the day for Es which usually peaks around lunch and teatime unless the band is really humming.

Currently, I am not monitoring 10m, but the sunspot count is 130 and 20-30MHz propagation forecast to be "good", so HF should be good.

6m/10m tropo with WSPR

On a few occasions recently I've had some spots at surprising distances within the UK by what I am sure is tropo on 6m and 10m WSPR. Just a few moments ago I got a -27dB S/N report from G0MGX in IO93ga at 145km with my 5W to the vertical on 6m. It is for this sort of surprise result that I find WSPR so good: when one least expects a report you get one.

6m WSPR - and tropo?

In between other things tonight I've been running WSPR on 6m. Interestingly I seem to be able to consistently copy G8JNJ 184kms away, presumably by tropo? He's also decoded me once. Don't think it is aircraft reflection as no Doppler evident on the WSPR display. Also managed to see and be seen by EA1FAQ. I use a V2000 triband vertical on 6m.

10m WSPR - interesting short skip

This morning and lunchtime I've been running 5W WSPR on 28MHz. There was some Es propagation but the most interesting reports were from Holland with two reports at around 450kms. Now this is usually too short for Es propagation, so I wonder if this was tropo?

10m open

Several Italians coming through on 28MHz WSPR this morning and giving me respectable reports with 1W into my halo. Not sure if this is sporadic-E or F layer. Also coming through around 11.30am was  the 5W WSPR signal from FR1GZ (Reunion Is) at -24dB S/N.

This afternoon another interesting exchange of WSPR reports with PC1CP 448kms away in JO33 square. My report was -24dB S/N with 2W to the halo and he was -17dB S/N with 5W. This distance is quite an odd one on 28MHz as it is too short for sporadic-E, so this was probably by tropo.

10m tropo?

WSPRing on 10m this lunchtime I've been receiving G3JKV over a distance of 123kms. There is no sign of aircraft flutter on his signal, so I wonder if this is by tropo? He is, like me, only running QRP and this again illustrates how useful WSPR is at "winkling out" fleeting openings. I'll be swapping back to the 10m halo shortly.