2m UKAC results

Last night I went on 2m SSB with 5W in the monthly UKAC activity contest. After 1 hour and 40 minutes I had to stop as my voice was gone (stroke).  Best DX missed was GI6ATZ in N.Ireland. I called him a few times without success.

In all 16 QSOs were completed showing that modest power and antenna from the home QTH is enough to enjoy the contest. Had I stayed on longer I'm sure I would have worked more squares. Quite a few stations in northern England worked too on the small, hand rotated, 3el beam, from the home QTH.

Looking at the map, I should have turned the beam towards the SW.  Hardly likely I'll come other than close to the bottom, but that was not the point - it was good fun taking part.

2m stations worked with 5w/3el UKAC June 3rd 2014

Odd start on 6m today

As 0438z OZ7IT (853km) spotted my 1W ERP 6m WSPR signal by very early morning Es I assume. Then, just spots from local G4IKZ (18km) until I spotted G3RCE (185km) a little while ago, presumably by tropo with some aircraft reflection (2Hz Doppler). Interesting that a lot of the local spots by G4IKZ had a fair bit of Doppler too.

eQSLs

Today, whilst checking my eQSLs I noticed one from an HA station for a 2m SSB QSO. This QSO never took place!  This would have to be Es and I have never worked Es on 2m.   It may be a band error or someone just hoping I would not check the log so he would get a credit for G on 2m SSB.   Please note DO NOT try to claim for QSOs that did not take place. I check and this is FRAUD.  I'll have no part in this.

2m UKAC contest tonight

A reminder that the RSGB's 2m UKAC (activity) contest is tonight from 1900-2130z (i.e it starts at 8pm UK clock time).  Activity levels are good in these contests. Next Tuesday it is the 70cm contest, but I fear I'll miss that as we have visitors next week.

Not sure how long my poor voice will hold out this evening. Last month I managed 90 minutes (10 QSOs) before I had to stop because of my poor, stroke damaged, voice. We'll see this evening. Talking in a contest is very hard for me at present, which is one reason I use WSPR a lot.

I shall be running 5W to my small, hand rotated, 3 element beam from the home QTH (JO02dg). I doubt I shall come other than near the bottom, but it's fun nonetheless.

See http://www.rsgbcc.org .

More 6m Es today

This afternoon, no less than 3 spots (so far today) of my 1W ERP WSPR from CN8LI (2113km) in Morocco and, in the opposite direction, 3 spots from OH6GKW (1839km) in Finland.  Es is good on 6m today with an assortment of other countries on Es this morning.

No sign of 4X1RF though, so far at least. It is now 1527z.

Still hopeful of some transatlantic DX later - it IS the Magic Band and you never know.

UPDATE 1640z:  CN8LI has now spotted my 1W ERP no less than 5 times, so far, today.

SAQ - CW on 17.2kHz

About twice a year this heritage VLF transmitter puts out CW test transmissions. Usually the will QSL via the amateur QSL bureaus too. This is a video clip of the transmitter and antennas. The TX is a 1920s alternator TX, one of the last, if not THE last, in the world. Antennas are huge. SAQ is usually decent copy in Europe and it is often copied in the USA and Canada. Some copy it on just a software RX and a small wire in the mic socket of a PC. Next tests are on Alexanderson Day (Sunday June 29th) and near Christmas.

See http://alexander.n.se/in-english/saq-transmission/ for details of future transmissions.

Early start on 6m Es today

The first 6m Es WSPR reports were being received very early today from SQ9SIM at 0650z. This was followed by several reports from DL and OH (1757km Finland) . I am spotting SQ9, I and OZ (853km).  Looks like a "solid" Es day in prospect on 6m. I hope we see some multi-hop Es propagation on 6m today.

Sunspot count is 56 and 20-30MHz forecast is for "normal" conditions, which at this time of year are not good for real DX apart from N-S. What will happen on 6m and 10m via Es is anyone's guess, which is one reason the Magic Band (6m) is so magical.

So far, no GDX seen here today on 6m.

QSY to 10m or stick on 6m?

I am tempted to QSY down a band to 28MHz from 50MHz, but fear that 6m will then promptly open to the USA by multi-hop Es. It would just be my luck! Maybe I'll just stay on 6m and see what happens.

6m conditions have been very good today. Early June is getting close to the best times for Es DX on 6m.

I seem to recall regular openings to Japan from western Europe on 6m about this time. There was some speculation about the mode as it is FAR too far for Es and there were thoughts that noctilucent clouds may be significant. Openings were usually morning weak affairs and a decent station was needed. Don't think WSPR has been tried but Doppler might be a killer as the path crosses the auroral oval. Whatever the mode, this is fascinating stuff. 6m yet again throwing up propagation puzzles. I also wonder just how many so called "multi-hop" Es openings are actually some other mode?   Some of the very long paths towards the Far East, Africa and the Americas make you wonder.

This sort of DX is still good in years of low solar activity. Just because the sunspot count can be VERY low does not mean low-VHF has no real DX. In many ways the quiet solar years are more interesting.

UPDATE 1900z:  No Es DX now since 1446z. Still hopeful the band might open across the Atlantic this evening.

6m - early June 2014

Not sure if this is "typical" but these are the unique WSPR spots on 6m today (so far) in both directions June 2nd 2014  Here using 1W ERP from a V2000 vertical triband antenna. Arranged in order of distance. Several stations spotted me many times during the day  (repeats not shown).

6m WSPR here today. Shows unique spots and arranged by distance

A good selection of Es and GDX on 6m today (so far - time now 1620z). Indeed the Magic Band!

UPDATE 1950z:   Out of the blue IK1NET (981km) with 5W is being spotted here at -20dB S/N - late Es. Magic band!

6m - 4X1RF spots me yet again with 1W ERP (3519km)

At 1308z 4X1RF spotted my 1W ERP WSPR on 6m for the 9th time this season. I assume it is Es and not single hop F-layer. I am amazed that 4X1RF can copy me so often. There was no sign of  intermediate distance stations. On 10m Chris regularly copies me when I am using low milliwatts. He has very good ears and must have a quiet QTH.  3519km is a great distance on 6m and I am even more pleased as my antenna is just a V2000 triband vertical fed with lossy CB coax. My FT817 is on the mid-power setting only.

I am still hopeful of transatlantic multi-hop Es propagation with WSPR. Patience! I must stick with 6m and keep everything crossed. If, as I have, worked K1TOL on CW in the past on 6m (summer 2007), then WSPR should certainly be possible as long as there are stations active on WSPR in the USA.  K1TOL has a BIG antenna farm but with WSPR more modest antennas in the USA should be fine.