The World of VHF
Tim Kirby GW4VXE reports on an amazing north-south opening on 6m and has more on the beginnings of the Sporadic E season.
Tim Kirby GW4VXE reports on an amazing north-south opening on 6m and has more on the beginnings of the Sporadic E season.
It’s a long way to the Falkland Islands from this part of the world and it’s unusual to have the opportunity to report on a VHF QSO with the Falklands from here. However, on 21 April,
Mark EI3KD worked VP8A on 50MHz using FT8. On John EI7GL’s blog (URL below), Mark writes. “50MHz TEP (Trans-Equatorial Propagation) was very good on 21 April, mostly at latitudes closer to the geomagnetic equator than Ireland. However, we did have a brief opening here; I was lucky enough to complete a QSO with VP8A in the Falkland Islands (GD18BH) at about 12,464km.
“I always look for TEP, especially after solar events, but I wasn’t expecting that at all! VP8A was in/out here between 1733UTC and 1745UTC, peaking −14dB on FT8, and also seen working CE8, PY5, LU6 and EA7 (nothing from any of those here).
“Apart from him, the only other signal I decoded was one sequence from PY3KN, GF49, after VP8A had faded, at 1754UTC. The ‘Magic Band’, indeed!” https://ei7gl.blogspot.com
EI7GL goes on to note that although TEP was the main mode of propagation for this amazing contact, it’s most likely that at the northern end of the path there was a single sporadic E ‘hop’ to help Mark into the zone. Looking at the propagation at the time, CT1IAD was also hearing VP8NO on 50MHz, so perhaps a single hop from the coast of Southern Ireland to Portugal would be responsible.
Cloudlog: aWeb-Based LoggingTool
One of the questions I sometimes get asked is about what logging program I would recommend for VHF/UHF usage. ‘Cloudlog’ is a great web-based logging tool conceived by Pete Goodhall 2M0SQL.
Being web-based it doesn’t need to be installed on a particular computer, you just need a web browser, so you can run it on a desktop computer, a laptop, tablet, phone, etc. See Figs. 1 and 2. You do need, of course, an internet connection. Cloudlog is an open-source project, so although Pete conceived the idea and keeps a close eye on the direction of the project, others contribute to it, helping with programming, translations into other languages and even documentation.
Cloudlog produces some very nice squares maps, per band, based on your log, as well as being able to give you both a summary of the squares you’ve worked in terms of a total as well as a listing. As Pete is a very keen satellite operator, satellite operation is well supported.
HF operation is well supported too and the DXCC programme is fully implemented as well as other awards schemes such as WAZ, DOK, IOTA, SOTA, US Counties, VUCC and WAS. Cloudlog can upload your log automatically to LoTW, eQSL, QRZ.com and Club Log.
If you are an WSJT-X user, you can run an add-on program written by Tom
M0LTE which, as soon as you log a QSO in WSJT-X or JTDX, it uploads it to Cloudlog. Magic! There is also a program called CloudlogCAT, which allows for CAT integration between your rig and your log. If you are a satellite user, you can interface with the SATPC32 software.
If you are an enthusiastic Linux user, then you can host your own Cloudlog instance
on a Linux-based machine – a Raspberry Pi will work nicely and there are plenty of instructions on how to do this. However, what I and many others do is to subscribe to a hosted version of Cloudlog, which is hosted on a server in a data centre and is backed-up, maintained, updated and patched for you. Whether you go for a selfhosted instance or a cloud version will depend on your approach and IT skills, but I think that most ‘regular’ users will opt for the cloud version. There is, of course, a charge for the hosted version which covers the cost of providing the server. Some users support the development of the tool by means of Patreon, allowing Pete, a professional software developer, to devote some of his working hours (as opposed to his leisure hours) to working on Cloudlog. If you’d like to read more about Cloudlog, take a look at:
SAT Self-Contained AntennaTracker
Jef Van Raepenbusch ON8NT mentions details of a self-contained antenna rotator and radio controller, which controls both Icom radios and Yaesu repeaters, meaning that you don’t need to tie up a computer. You can read more at: www.csntechnologies.net/sat
Jef says that Thierry ON2ACO has been using the device very successfully.
The 6m Band
Jef ON8NT (Aalter) says that Belgian amateurs may use the OS prefix until 12 December. Using his IC-7300 at 10W and a vertical antenna, the highlights of Jef’s 6m (50MHz) log are SX200JAU (KM18), SV6NNZ (KM09), SV9CVY (KM25), SV8MQP (KM17), SV1RK (KM17), UW5ZM (KN57), UR5ZGY (KN57), MM5DWW (IO89), SV2JL (KN10) and 9H1AZ (JM75), all worked on FT8.
Don G3XTT (Somerset) wrote, “I put up my 6m Yagi on 7 May and had a few days working a reasonable selection of stuff although I get the impression the season hadn’t started with the bang it apparently did last year (which I missed, unfortunately!). The 13th proved to be quite something, not so much in terms of DX (although late afternoon, I copied A4, A7, A9 and 9K and worked 7Z1SJ) but for the fact that there was strong Es all day, especially to Scandinavia, with LA and SM in particular workable from dawn to late evening, right through the middle of the day. I worked across from OH to TF but, in the course of the day, most other parts of Europe too. 109 FT8 QSOs in all.”
On 15 May, Don made 10 FT8 QSOs into the USA, also copying KP4, LU, CO and VP9. Don was pleased, when the band was open across Europe, that a CW CQ raised over 40 stations on the trot, so he says, “conventional modes aren’t dead – you just have to give it a go!”
It’s also great to hear from HF columnist,
Steve PJ4DX, who was astonished, on 12 May to decode 7Z1SJ, 5B4AAB, OD5KU, A71EM and 5T5PA on 6m FT8 between 1803 and 1845UTC. A71EM is over 12,000km away from Bonaire. Unfortunately, Steve was not in the shack at the time and was not able to try to call the DX! The next day, Steve made a point of being in the shack but, of course, the band was quiet. Steve runs an IC-7300 and an Acom 1500 amplifier to an HB9CV. Last year Steve worked many European stations via Sporadic E on SSB and occasionally CW bit now he is active on FT8 he is hoping to catch some more openings. Steve’s wife, Eva PJ4EVA, became active late last year, so this will be her first 6m Sporadic E season.
Steve also reports that the newest amateur on Bonaire is Martin Moens
PJ4MM, who moved to the island in May. Licensed for over 40 years in the Netherlands originally as PE1DCY and later as PA4MM, at present Martin is only active on 6m FT8 using a vertical. However, his plans are to build a big VHF/UHF station, which will be capable of 6m, 2m and 70cm EME operation.
Kevin Hewitt ZB2GI started FT8 operation for the summer season, using an antenna mounted on a broom handle stuck out of his apartment window. He includes an impressive list of stations worked during April: EA7CL (IM76), PH7A (JO32), PH0TV (JO32), ON6DX (JO21), PA3FQK (JO21), PA3PCV (JO20), PA4VHF (JO32), EA7JFJ (IM76), EA7SG (IM76), ZB2TT (IM76), VP8A (GD18), EA7KI (IM76), EC7KW (IM77), DK8NE (JO50), F8ZW (JN38), DL2IAU (JN49), DJ4LK (JN59), DL1SEW (JN48), IK2TDM (JN45), F1ULK (JN05), PC5W (JO20), F1ULK (JN05), DL3SV (JN48) and HB9LBC (JN47). I can’t believe that Kevin just casually mentions VP8A – well done – not bad for an antenna on a broom handle….
Chris Colclough G1VDP (Nuneaton) has been busy on 6m and made his first Es contact on 2 May with a nice opening into Italy, with IW9ABZ (JM68) and IH9YMC (JM56) being a couple of really nice ones. On 12 May, Chris worked TF1A (HP94).
Phil Oakley G0BVD (Great Torrington) enjoyed the opening on 15 May, working some nice DX, including W4SO (EL98), K3VN (EL98), W4AS (EL95), W4TAA (EL87) and VO1LM (GN37).
Tony Collett G4NBS (Cambridge) caught his first Es of the season on 26 April, working SV9CVY (KM25) and YO2LEA (KN06) as well as GW0GEI (IO72). There was an Aurora on 12 May between 1520 and 1535UTC. Tony worked MD0CCE, GM3POI (IO89) and GM4UYE (IO86) on CW and MM5DWW (IO89) on SSB. Later on in the evening, there was some Es (possibly Auroral E) and Tony made some QSOs, including a couple in KN19, which was Tony’s 500th square on the band.
Prior to the UKAC on 13 May, the band was buzzing and Tony decided to look on CW for a change and worked a dozen or so stations in ES, HA, OH, SM, SP and YL before going over to FT8 and working some stations, the highlights being SV6KRW and TF3VG. The UKAC gave some nice QSOs, including GW0GEI on SSB, but it was harder to work GI4SNA this month. There were a handful of Es QSOs, including IT9BDM (JM77) and TF8KY (HP83). The only CW
QSO this month was G4RRA (IO80). Next day, conditions were in and out and Tony was pleased to see some FT4 activity when conditions were at their best. He caught an opening into the Ukraine around 1600 and found the band was open later on, around 2130 with the most distant contacts at that time being LZ1ZL (KN22) and SV2DCD (KN00).
The 4m Band
Simon Evans G6AHX notes that it was interesting that the first Sporadic E occurred just as we changed from cold dry weather to warm wet. His first 4m (70MHz) Es contact of the year was on 8 May when he worked EA1UR (IN53) using a vertical antenna. Later in the month, Simon worked OH0Z (JP90) at good strength.
Chris G1VDP made his first Es contacts of the season on 13 May, working PA7MM (JO23), DL5MCQ (JN58), OH2BYJ, OH6CT (KP24), OH4MVH (KP32), ES1JA (KO29), LB6D (JO59) and SP5APW (KO02), all worked on FT8.
Steve Macdonald G4AQB (Bolton) agrees that 4m FM is becoming more popular. He uses a Tait T2000 in the shack and is surprised at the number of stations that he’s heard. There’s a morning ‘coffee time’ net in the Bolton and Manchester area on 4m FM, which has become quite popular.
Steve has recently bought one of the Wouxun handhelds and uses it, in the garden, connected to his 4m Flowerpot antenna, to enable him to join the morning nets. David Ryan M0GIW (Scunthorpe) has found plenty of activity locally on 4m FM and it was nice to work him from GW4VXE when he was in Pembrokeshire recently. Dave uses one of the Retevis mobiles to a quarter wave on his van.
The 2m Band
Jef OS8NT lists the 2m (144MHz) highlights of his log, including F6DBI (IN88), F6APE (IN97) and M0WYB (IO81), all on FT8.
Simon G6AHX took part in the May UK Activity Contest and his best DX was F1BHP/P (IN99) at a distance of 317km. On 4 May, Simon was pleased to work G4CIB/P (IO71) on Lundy, a path of around 190km.
Chris G1VDP ran an MSK144 test with 9A2RD (JN65) on 12 May, which was not quite complete, as Chris was missing the final ‘73’, but promising for next time, all the same. Chris also took part in the UK Activity contest on 4 May, working 15 stations.
Phil G0BVD is moving his antennas. He’d moved them back closer to the house, to reduce the feeder length, but unfortunately, that brought the noise level right up, so they are going back down the garden. As a friend said to me the other day, “that’s what masthead preamps and linear amplifiers are designed for”!
Tony G4NBS enjoyed the European FT8 session on the 5 May and says that this month 14 logs were sent in. Tony made 34 QSOs in 16 locator squares, with the more notable contacts being EI8KN (IO62), GI4SNA, GI6ATZ, DL5EBS and DL6YBF. During the FM UKAC on 4 May, Tony was surprised not to hear anyone at all and wonders if it was conditions, or a combination of a high noise level and a poorly Yagi! During the SSB session, Tony worked GI4SNA, GD8EXI and GD0AMD/P. During the aurora, Tony heard MM0CEZ but didn’t manage to complete a contact.
Roger Greengrass EI8KN is the only reporter to mention Es on 2m on 14 May when he worked EB5GC (IM97) and EA5IEA (IM97).
The 70cm Band
Chris G1VDP took part in the 70cm UK Activity contest and worked nine stations. Tony G4NBS also took part in the contest and worked three stations on FM: GW8ASD, G8EOP and a local. SSB seemed much better and Tony felt there was more air traffic to assist with aircraft scatter QSOs. He completed 102 QSOs in 20 squares. GD6ICR and GM4JTJ were worked by aircraft scatter with GD8EXI, GI6ATZ and GM3SEK all worked on tropo. From the
Continent, F1BHL/P (IN99), F1CBC (JN09), F1MKG (JN08), PA5Y and PE1EWR were all worked. During the EU FT8 Activity session Tony felt there was again good activity and he completed 52 QSOs in 23 locators. EI8KN (IO62) was worked on tropo, with other stations of note GM4FVM (IO85), GM8MJV (IO85), GM4JTJ (IO86), GI4SNA, GI6ATZ, DL1KDA (JO30), DJ6TA (JO30), DG6YID (JO42) and DL2FQ (JN49) as well as some nearer F, ON and PA stations.
Jef OS8NT lists G4CLA (IO92) and G4ODA (IO92) worked on CW on 13 April in the 70cm UK Activity Contest.
The 23cm Band
Robert van der Zaal PA9RZ (Sassenheim)
wrote, “On 20 April I listened on 23cm and after having the usual SSB contact with John G3XDY (JO02) I was surprised to quite easily work Derek G8ECI (JO03) and Steve G1PPA/P (JO03). Unfortunately, Daphne G7ENA, also in JO03, could not hear me. I used my IC-9700 and a 21 el. Yagi at about 55ft ASL. The Yagi has allowed me to run only about 5W”.
Peter Harston GW4JQP (Milford Haven) has taken part in three separate contests on the band recently and on each occasion, his best DX has been John G3XDY at a distance of 437km, which Peter is quite pleased with running as little as 12W to a 35 element Yagi. During the last UKuG Lowband contest on 2 May Peter worked G0HIK/P in IO84KD. Peter says, “It was a bit of a struggle but all the more interesting that the path between us is over the top of Snowdonia”.
The 13cm Band
Steve G4AQB writes, “On 13cm the UKAC contest was quite busy with many local stations G4JLG/P, G6GVI, G4NTY, M0UFC, G4HGI, G8XVJ, all within about 20km of my QTH. I find that I can work stations much further away, including G4CLA, G8DMU/P, G8EOP, G3SQQ, GW8ASD and GW0MDQ with just 2W and a small 19-element Yagi. During the contest it rained heavily and some local stations commented on a strange flutter on signals probably caused by rain scatter. I also heard it with more distant stations”.
Satellites
Patrick Stoddard WD9EWK (Phoenix) kindly sends his report featuring satellite operation in the USA and writes, “Tyler WL7T just finished a trip to Maine. He operated from the grid that covers the state, working stations all over North America and Europe. Now he is planning a big trip around his home state of Alaska, which should be fun for operators all over.
“After going to Hawaii in March, Dima N6DNM is visiting California’s Channel Islands, west of Los Angeles and south of Santa Barbara. The islands are a national park, with almost no facilities. Camping is the only way visitors can stay on the islands for more than a day trip. N6DNM has been on the air from the CM93/CM94 grid boundary on Santa Rosa Island. Except for the islands, CM93 is all water. Even though CM94 includes part of California northwest of Los Angeles, it is rarely heard on the satellites.
“Until the past few months, there has been only one station active on the satellites from El Salvador in Central America − Jose Arturo YS1MS. Thanks to some encouragement from him and other hams in the region, there are now three more satellite operators − Juan YS1JFE, Benjamin YS2CBV and Mily YS1YXI.
“AO-91 is still active, and its passes remain as busy as it was before the battery problems. Occasionally, its downlink drops out, and sometimes the dropouts last a couple of minutes. When operational, it’s still fun to make contacts through it, including my recent contacts with the new satellite operators in El Salvador.
“A few more stations have tried D-STAR through AO-27. Both Endaf N6UTC and I have made our first international D-STAR satellite QSOs with Bert XE1HG in
Guadalajara. Before XE1HG tried D-STAR, John VE1CWJ in Nova Scotia and Steve KC1MMC in Vermont may have been the first stations, at least in North America, to make an international D-STAR QSO via satellite.
“In early May, the crossband repeater was activated on the ISS for the first time since late January’s antenna issues. Some of the passes have been busy, and others − late in the evenings, or after midnight – are calm and orderly. With a 5W downlink, the ISS repeater is much easier for stations to hear than the other FM satellites”.
Kevin ZB2GI monitored the ISS schools contact on 26 April, using just a Baofeng UV5R and telescopic whip for reception.
DATV
Dave Robinson G4FRE reports that he has been experimenting with the new 23cm TV repeater, GB3ET, Fig. 3, located at Edge Hill, some 60km from Dave’s home in Malvern. Pointing a 23-element Yagi out of the bedroom window, he has successfully been able to send pictures through the repeater.
That’s it for this month – thanks to everyone who’s written in – please keep your news and photos coming.