6m E layer super DX

The blog of John EI7GL reports on some astounding DX on 50MHz (6m). Although reported as multi-hop Es, I have my doubts. This is like the super DX seen every June between Europe and the Far East. 

My theory is this is E layer propagation but, importantly, not sporadic E. In my view, at least some of these very long paths are the result of some sort of chordal hop E layer propagation. The EU to Far East June 6m openings are at the time when mesospheric clouds are often seen. I wonder if this was the same in the southern hemisphere? Any thoughts?

See https://ei7gl.blogspot.com/2020/12/remarkable-13000-km-opening-on-6-metres.html

6m in Region 1

As reported earlier, the WRC-19 has ended. One of the outcomes, as reported in Southgate News, should be more countries on 6m in Region 1, as this is to become a proper Region 1 amateur allocation.

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2019/november/more-countries-gain-access-to-50-mhz.htm#.Xdu0P-2TLnE

6m Region 1 allocation

Good news! 6m has been agreed as an official amateur allocation in Region 1 following an agreement at WRC-19 in Egypt.

See https://www.iaru-r1.org/index.php/174-news/latest-news/1917-wrc-19-approves-region-1-50-mhz-amateur-allocation

6m FT8

For a change, I am on 6m FT8 RX today. Really I am hoping for G stations and any EUs would be a bonus.

UPDATE 1350z: Nothing at all spotted so far on 6m FT8.

UPDATE 1546z: One Belgian station spotted on 6m FT8 - ON8DM (237km). Aircraft?

UPDATE 1815z: Quite a few central and eastern Europeans spotted on 6m FT8.

6m band

Many countries in Region 1 have allocated the 6m band, but this is at the discretion of individual administrations. At WRC19, according to Southgate News, the amateur service may get a Region 1 "real" allocation.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2017/november/iaru-notes-progress-toward-50-mhz-region-1-allocation.htm#.WhsYELp2tMs  .

5MHz

According to Southgate News, Germany now will get access to the WRC 5MHz allocation and an extension of their 50MHz band.

I wonder when the WRC 5MHz band will become available in the UK?

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2017/november/german-radio-hams-get-5-mhz-band-and-50-mhz-extension.htm#.WgrA77p2vIU .

6m JT65

I have returned to 6m JT65, although I have an S7 noise floor on the band this morning. Even with the PC on battery power it is still there, so I think it is coming from outside the house. Maybe on JT65 TX (2W) someone might spot me? In the past I have not had a noise problem on this band. I suspect 10m JT65 might be even worse?

50MHz (6m) UKAC tonight

Although I only have only a vertical V2000 for 6m and can only run 5W pep, I shall give this contest a go this evening.  Usually I stop on for less than an hour because of my poor voice.

See www.rsgbcc.org/cgi-bin/contest_rules.pl?year=2016&contest=6mukac&seq= .

UPDATE 1950z:  Just 3 local QSOs tonight, although I was only using 5W pep, omni-vertical (V2000) and only on for 30 minutes.

Sporadic-E (Es)

We are now on the verge of the summer Es season in Europe and the USA, so 50MHz should be good out to about 2000km. Occasionally much further is possible, allowing Asian, South American, Caribbean and North American stations to work Europe.

There is a good explanation of sporadic-E on the UKSMG website.  See http://www.uksmg.org/content/sporade.htm . If you are not familiar with this mode then I suggest you read it.

Es is great fun and just 1W ERP of SSB is enough to work most of Europe, and even beyond, from the UK.  Openings on 70MHz are less common and even less so on 144MHz. There are even more Es openings on 28MHz. If you have a big, high beam and high power it will help, but Es signals are often strong and I have not found QRP is much of a handicap on 50MHz Es. Yes, if you are after tropo or MS DX then I am sure the bigger ERP would be useful, but far less so with Es.

Personally I hope there is far more use made of WSPR this Es season. WSPR allows short openings to be seen: it requires plenty of active stations though. The temptation is to abandon the quieter bands and move downwards.  Before leaving 50MHz, think just how much your presence on WSPR could mean. By staying around and sending or looking for WSPR signals you would be really contributing to radio research.

50MHz UKAC this evening

Starting at 2000z, the monthly UK activity contest takes place on 6m. I only have a vertical for 6m and my voice is still poor.  However, I'll come on briefly to see what I can work before my voice says stop. I may be only able to give a few points out to the locals.

6m QRP rigs

In many ways, 6m (50MHz) is an ideal band for experiments. Short RF leads are always good, but 6m is a forgiving band and you can get away with HF constructional techniques. It is 2MHz wide here in the UK and this means all speech modes can be fitted and used. The page below shows a number of links to 50MHz projects.

See http://www.pg1n.nl/articles.php?lng=en&pg=145 .

See also my Sixbox 6m AM transceiver .

50MHz UKAC contest - Nov 25th TONIGHT

Even though my voice is still very bad I may try for a few points in the 50MHz UKAC contest 2000-2230z tonight. The only 50MHz antenna I have is my V2000 vertical, so I am unlikely to work much.  I'll probably not be on for too long.

Just 2 stations worked in 50MHz UKAC this evening with 5W to vertical V2000

UPDATE 2122z:   I was on for about 50 minutes and had to stop as my voice was suffering badly.   Being crossed polarised with most stations did not help. I managed just 2 QSOs with 5W to the V2000 vertical with best DX being G3WIR/A at 116km. With, for example. a 6m halo, horizontally polarised antenna, I'd probably have worked many more stations than I did. Still, it was worth a go.

6m UKAC this evening

As my little grandson is asleep in the adjoining room, I was unable to stay on the 50MHz UK activity contest for more than a few minutes tonight.  In the short time I was on I heard plenty of QTH locator squares (JO02,JO03, IO81, IO82, and others). It would appear quite a number of stations must be vertically polarised like me. The next chance of being in this 50MHz UKAC is about a month away.  If I can, I'll come on 6m to see what can be worked. My voice is not good, so I'll have to limit talking to about 1 hour.

6m WSPR summary

After several days on 6m this is the total summary of WSPR reports (none of me!). All attempts to reach TEP "ends" failed, on this occasion, as there was no Es about. I did see some weak MS bursts of very short duration but these are not suitable for WSPR. The drift on G3XGS's signal suggests aircraft Doppler too. Now I shall turn my attention to another band. No 6m TEP I am afraid.  

6m WSPR spots

CN8LI seems to have been in the right place with plenty of TEP WSPR spots exchanged with FR1GZ at 8981km.

One more day on 6m

For the last few days I have been patiently trying to find some TEP-Es on 6m WSPR, to no avail. Although 6m TEP (trans-equatorial propagation) is being reported in Israel, Italy, the Balearics and Morocco, here in the UK all remains quiet. I have only spotted a couple of G stations at around 70km - absolutely nothing else!

Although I shall try again tomorrow, that will probably be my last day. A pity as I was quite hoping we might get an Es opening to link up to some TEP, but it looks unlikely now that I shall be in luck.

Later this week I may return to VLF earth-mode if I can optimise my TX earth-electrode match at 8.97kHz and re set-up my RX loop. My wife will have to drive me to my usual test sites as I am not allowed to drive yet.

6m update

No TEP sadly but I did spot G6AVK at 78km on 6m last evening at -25dB S/N. This is a strange distance on 6m.  The -2 drift is almost certainly aircraft scatter, quite a common issue with inter-G paths on both 6m and 2m. It often makes decent signals not decode-able.

I do have a 0.5ppm TCXO fitted (it belongs to G3WKW) to the FT817 which helps minimise drift especially at VHF.  I plan to stay on 6m for more tries with TEP/Es today.

6m WSPR

For the last 36 hours I have been using WSPR on 6m to check for openings when busy with other things. I am surprised how often CN8LI (2171km) and I exchange spots even though I have only been running 500mW into the vertical V2000 antenna. I assume this is Es, but the path seems too consistently open for Es somehow.

I am disappointed more stations in the USA and Canada are not active on 6m WSPR: with a good number of stations both sides of "the pond" active, it would be an excellent way to spot those fleeting multi-hop Es openings at any time of the day or night.

50MHz, 432MHz and 481THz this evening

Well, this was an interesting evening. Just after teatime I noticed 50MHz was open with some strong Es signals from Europe. A few stations were worked on QRP SSB using the newly erected halo antenna (S52NR, S53OQ and OE5FIN). Heard, but not worked, on 50MHz were CT8/K0RUI in HM68 (Azores Is) and 4X4DK in KM72. Both DX stations were good solid signals on the halo.

Stations worked on 432MHz this evening (5W/4el)

Later I went out portable with my FT817 (5W) and my small "coat hanger" 4 element yagi for the RSGB 432MHz activity contest and worked 14 stations in just over an hour before closing as it was dark and I could not see the logbook very well. Best DX 155km although I did hear, but not work, F8BRK in IN99.

Finally, for the very first time, I have detected GB3CAM on 481THz (red light beacon) at a distance of 32km from the Nine Mile Hill site where I was active in the UHF contest. Signal was weak with lots of scintillation, no doubt caused by the rain that started up just as I began listening with my 100mm optical receiver (KA7OEI/K3PGP hybrid). If I can find another 6dB sensitivity I think the signal will be solid in low haze/clear conditions over this LOS path. GB3CAM is a very low power light source, so copying it is a big challenge.

50MHz UK Activity Contest

This evening I have been listening (and having a few 5W QRP QSOs) in the RSGB 50MHz Activity Contest. This is a good opportunity to find out how effective my wire halo in the loft is. Well, I have worked the locals (G6UW, G3PYE/P and G4BWP) and managed a "QRZ the CW" from G3MEH about 50 miles away. I suspect the results would be several dB better with the halo further up in the air co-located within my 10m halo on the external mast.

Homebase-6 (50MHz halo)

Homebase-6 50MHz halo prototype indoors ready for tests

This afternoon I had a go at scaling my Homebase-10 (28MHz wire halo) down to work on 50MHz. I simply scaled the dimensions by 28.3/50.1 (the ratio of the centre frequencies) and performance was almost spot on with a low VSWR in the DX part of 6m. So far I have only tried it in the shack holding the antenna in the air by hand and keying the TX to measure SWR. Next stage of tests will be to erect it in the loft space before erecting a more permanent version within the 10m halo on the top of the mast at the back of the house at a decent height. Still, a promising start. In the end I may opt for a small 6m beam like a Moxon or HB9CV though.

UPDATE 1600z : I have now erected this horizontally in my loftspace although it is more triangular than square. Match is good so I'll see how it performs locally next.

UPDATE 2100z: I am surprised that I'm unable to copy the more distant UK 6m beacons such as GB3BUX and GB3RAL which use horizontally polarised antennas. I need to monitor for longer to see if they appear by MS or tropo.