The World of VHF
With the Sporadic E season in full swing, Tim Kirby GW4VXE has another packed column, starting with a mention of WFVIEW.
With the Sporadic E season in full swing, Tim Kirby
GW4VXE has another packed column, starting with a mention of WFVIEW.
Jef Van Raepenbusch ON8NT mentions WFVIEW, Fig. 1, software for controlling modern Icom receivers and transceivers either using USB or network connections. Jef says, “wfview provides the user with data from the radio’s spectrum display. The main tab contains all the basic features most users will need for a QSO or casual listening. Other tabs contain convenient buttons for jumping to various bands or adjusting more detailed parameters of the radio, including the calibration control adjustment on the IC-9700, which can be used in tandem with the waterfall display.
“wfview goes beyond simply allowing the user to adjust the radio. wfview enhances the user’s experience, with easy-to-use keystrokes for most tasks and accessibility labels for screen readers. The software even includes a built-in rig server, primarily designed for the IC-7300, which allows other instances of wfview on remote computers to connect in and enjoy fast real-time control and low-latency audio.
“wfview supports Linux, Windows, and macOS, and is fully open-source”. You can read about it more at: http://wfview.org
The 6m Band
Andy Adams GW0KZG (Letterston) reports over the period from May and June. Andy put up a 6-element Powabeam for the 6m band. He has struggled somewhat with noise issues in some directions but nevertheless has made some nice contacts, the highlights being TF3VG (HP94), KP4EIT (FK68), VO1HP (GN37) and CU2JX (HM77).
Roger Greengrass EI8KN (Co Waterford) has been using both FT8 and FT4 modes and worked HZ1BW (LL34) on 7 May, VO1HP (GN37) on 14 May and W4AS (EL95) on 15 May. Roger caught an opening on 3 June working N5DG (EM20), HI3T (FK49), PV8DX (FJ92), VE9XX (FN77), HI8GSP (FK58), HI8RD (FK58), HC1HC (FI09), KP2/ K0BZ (FK77) and K1TOL (FN44). Next day, Roger worked VA1WV (FN75), K5XI (FN64), VE1JBC (FN73) and N1NK (FN41).
It was good to catch up with John Sluymer VE3EJ (Ontario) on the band on 4 June and in an email after the opening, John said he’d worked 110 European stations. Next day, John worked Z37CXY for a new country. John says that he never ceases to be amazed in how selective the band can be – sometimes he will hear Glenn VA3DX just a few miles away, working stations that John just can’t hear and then, the reverse occurs.
During May, Kevin Hewitt ZB2GI (Gibraltar) made over 550 QSOs on FT8 using his IC-7300 and an Outback Multiband whip with counterpoise wire attached to a broom handle stuck out of the window. Highlights of Kev’s log include 5B4AAB (KM64), 9A9Z (JN75), 9H1TX (JM75), CN8DN (IM53), CT1EEB (IN50), CU6NS (HM58), DC8GT (JN38), EA1P (IN70), EA6T (JM19), EA8C (IL18), EI8JK (IO51), F2JD (JN25), G0CER (IO82), GW4VXE (IO71), GX1RAF (IO91), HB9HIT (JN36), IK2QPR (JN55), IT9BCC (JM67), K1DJ (FN42), K2QL (FN22), K9MU (EN44), LA3DV (JO49), LX1JX (JO30), M1AMY (JO01), M7GZZ (IO93), MM0GOR (IO85), N8JX (EN64), NP3DM (FK68), NP4G (FK78), OE3WHC (JN88), OH5KW (KP30), ON7EQ (JO21), OZ1ZD (JO46), PA4VHF (JO32), S51AT (JN75), S56Y (JN65), S57ZM (JN76), SM2SUM (KP03), SP4K (KO03), UT8IO (KN87), VO1CH (GN37) and W5BN (FN33). Kev also operated from the top of the Rock using an FT690 II and a 3-element Yagi, Fig. 2, and includes an impressive log, all on SSB, considering the low power: 9A9R (JN85), EA3AYO (JN11), EA7JM (IM76), F1RAF (JN18), F4GBD (JN05), F4GET (IN87), F4HEC (JN07), F4IIQ (JN06), F5JRX (JN26), G4ELJ (IO91), HB9AID (JN36), HB9FAP (JN46), HB9ZCF (JN47), I0OOZ (JN61), I5IIL (JN54), I5XFW (JN53), IK1PMR (JN45), IK2EAE (JN45), IK2OHG (JN45), IK2XRL (JN45), IK5EKL (JN53), IT9BNX (JM68), IU0DUM (JN61), IU0JIW (JN61), IU5ICR (JN53), IV3QBT (JN65), IW3GJF (JN55), IW6NXR (JN72), IW7DHC (JN61), IZ0HPX (JN61), IZ0TTE (JN62), IZ1MLQ (JN35), IZ4AQT (JN54), IZ5CML (JN53), IZ5HQB (JN53), IZ5ZRC (JN53), IZ8FXZ (JN61), S57L (JN75), SP1FJZ (JO84), SP3OOC (JO92), SV3DCX (KM08) and TK1CX (JN42).
Tony Collett G4NBS (Cambridge) sends an excellent and comprehensive report. On 12 May, Tony caught his first aurora in a long time, working MD0CCE (IO74), GM4UYE (IO86) and GM3POI (IO88) on CW and MM5DWW (IO89) on SSB. On 13 May
Fig. 1: A screenshot of the wfview software for remotely controlling Icom transceivers.
Fig. 2: Kevin ZB2GI’s 3 element 6m beam used for his portable operation at the top of the Rock. Fig. 3: Portable satellite operation COVID style: Patrick WD9EWK operating from the Navajo Nation reservation in DM46, which was subject to COVID restrictions.
before the UK Activity Contest Tony worked SV6KRW (KM09) and 5B4AIF (KM64) on FT8 as well as several CW QSOs with ES, HA, OH, SM, SP and YL. During the contest on SSB, Tony worked IT9BDM (JM77) and TF8KY (HP83). The evening of 18 May saw a nice opening to the Caribbean with VP2EIH (FK88), KP4DGW (FK68), KP4JRS (FK68), PJ2BR, PJ4EVA (FK52), KW4SP (EM64) and C37AC (JN02) all worked on FT8. There was a big opening to the US on 19 May when Tony made 46 QSOs in 31 squares, the best DX being W7CD (CN87) at 2058z. Europeans were strong nearly all day on 20 May but at around 2215UTC on what seemed a dead band, Tony worked VE1PZ (FN85), W4FZ (FM18), N1UK (FM05) and WA2MJP (FN32).
During the afternoon of 23 May, Tony found the band good into Scotland with eight worked as well as OY1DZ (IP62), all on FT8. The evening of the same day saw plenty of Europeans followed at 2040UTC by 9Y4D (FK90), FG5GH (FK96) and 8P2K (GK03). On 25 May, Tony made 90 QSOs in 74 squares between 1230 and 2200UTC with the highlights being A92AA (LL56), 9K2YM (LL48) and Z61DX (KN02). On 28 May, Tony caught RA4DX (LO21) with EI7IX (IO53) and EI4KF (IO54) coming through on what he thinks was backscatter. Out of nowhere on 1 June, Tony worked S01WS (IL46) calling CQ on SSB at 1650 and N4QS (EM56) on FT8 just afterwards.
3 June was a big day with the highlights being A71AM (LL55), TR8CA (JJ40), A92GE (LL56), A65BR (LL75), 4X1YS (KM71), HI3T (FK49), HI8DL (FK58), HI8RD (FK58), PV8AZ (FJ92), 7Z1SJ (LL25), WP4JCF (FK68), 5T5PA (IL10), HI3T (FK49), D4VHF (HK76) and NP2J (FK77) on CW, WP4ROQ (FK68) and PJ4DX (FK52) on SSB, KP2/ K0BZ (FK77) and HI8RD on FT4 and finally HC2FG (FI07), HC1HC (FI09), HC1BI (FI09) and finally PV8DX (FJ92) back on FT8. 4 June saw a few QSOs through the day, including TT8SN (JK72) on CW at 1638UTC. At 2000UTC the band opened across the Atlantic, allowing Tony to make 44 QSOs in 19 squares. During the UK 6m Group Contest on 5/6 June things were pretty quiet although Tony managed to work 5B4AAB (KM64) on SSB, Z36W (KN11) on CW and IZ8FFA/P (JM87) and finally IS0BSR (JN40) back on SSB. Tony worked IG9CGH (JM65) for a new square and 9H1GP (JM75) for the best DX of the afternoon on 6 June. Finally on 7 June, Tony worked ZB2IF (IM76), 4Z1UF (KM71), HZ1SK (KL91) and SV2DGH. Thank you, Tony for a great report which captures, very nicely, what’s been happening on the band.
Jef ON8NT uses 10W from his IC-7300 to a V-2000 vertical and lists his highlights; SV9CVY (KM25), ZB2GI (IM76), EA8DBM (IL18), EA8W (IL38), EA8JK (IL18), CN8LI (IM63), 7X2RF (JM16) and EA9QD (IM75).
Steve and Eva Telenius-Lowe, PJ4DX and PJ4EVA (Bonaire) have both been very active on 6m FT8 this month. Steve writes: “Despite normally being mainly an HF operator the Sporadic E (Es) propagation on 6m has been so good I actually spent far more time on 6m this month than on HF!
“Eva and I both started to use FT8 only in November last year, so this was our first experience of using FT8 on 6m during the Es ‘season’. What a difference it has made!
During the last month we have both worked literally hundreds of European and North American stations, plus many more in the Caribbean and South America.
“Best DX during the month was 5B4ALJ at about 10,250km on 6 June, and other notable DX worked included (in no particular order): CT1IUA, EA8JF, EA7KI, SV2DSD, F4BKV, CT3MD, CS8ABF, ON4IQ, PA2J, EI5EV, IS0ZOD, LX1JX, DK8NE, ZB2GI, OZ1SKY, SP6TRX, IW5DHW, EA6Y, S57RR, 9H1TX, 9A3K, HB9Q, OK1FAV, OE3KLU, HG2DX, OG3G, OM3EY, UR5WA, Z37CXY, SM4KYN, ES5PC, GU8FBO, GM3SEK, MD0CCE, GI4SNA, LA9DAA, YL3HA, OH0Z, D4VHF, YU1EL, EA9ACD, 4O4A, E72U and LZ2BU.
“Both Eva and I were also particularly pleased to make QSOs with Tim GW4VXE and
PW Editor Don G3XTT!
“I have now worked 79 DXCC entities on 6m, with 67 of them so far confirmed on Logbook of The World (LoTW). Around 30 of those were ‘new ones’ in the last month. Eva,
having only started on 6m in May, already has 49 DXCC worked and 43 confirmed on LoTW”.
Phil Oakley G0BVD (Great Torrington) has had some PC problems, which have curtailed FT8 operating somewhat this month, but nevertheless has worked some nice ones, including D4VHF (HK76), TA9J (LN10), 3A2MW (JN33), W4SO (EL98), K3VN (EL98), W4AS (EL95), W4TAA (EL87) and VO1LM (GN37).
Dave Thorpe G4FKI (Ampthill) was amazed to be heard in Taiwan by BX6ABV on FT8. Dave was using a simple wire dipole at around 10ft above the ground. On 19 May, Dave says that he copied literally dozens of US stations, using the same setup.
The 4m Band
Both Simon Evans G6AHX (Twyning) and Ken Eastty G3LVP (Cheltenham) worked LX1FX/MM (JN23) on 19 May – the first time both of them have worked a maritime mobile on 4m. Simon also lists HA5LV, SQ8PEH, SP6A, OH0Z and EA5Z all worked on SSB.
Gordon Smith GW6TEO (Castlemartin) sent an interesting report covering May and says that his first Es opening was on 14 May with the band open, on and off for about three hours, allowing Gordon to work into EA, HA, E7, OK, DL, S5, 9A, SP, OM, OZ, LX and ON. On 16 May there was a very brief opening into 9A, DL and EA. On 24 May he worked nine EA stations and one ZB2, with EA7AAF (IM77) being a new square.
The best opening of the month for Gordon was on 25 May with 25 stations worked with several new squares; EA4FT (IN70), SQ8AQX (KO00), YO9HP (KN35), HA3PV (JN96), LZ2JA (KN22) SV1QT (KM17), SP8WW (KN19) and perhaps best of all, 9K2YM (LL48) for a new square and a new DXCC. Gordon wonders whether the contact with 9K2YM is a first from Wales to Kuwait on the band.
Using his IC-7300, mobile whip, counterpoise wire and the magic broom handle stuck out the window, Kevin ZB2GI sends an impressive log of stations worked on the band using FT8: DB5KN (JO31), DG0CAW (JN49), DJ2QV (JN58), DK2EA (JO50), DK5EW (JN48), DL1AE (JO31), DL3MBG (JN67), DL3YEE (JO42), DL5EBS (JO31), DL6BF (JO32), DL8GP (JN39), EA7HCL (IM76), EI2FG (IO61), EI4DQ (IO51), F5DQK (JN18), G0CHE (IO90), G0KSC (JO01), G0LFF (IO90), G1CWP (IO90), G1OUA (IO91), G3SED (IO90), G3WCS (IO83), G3WKW (IO91), G3XDV (IO92), G3YHM (IO90), G3ZQH (IO92), G4CCZ (IO91), G4DKB (JO01), G4EZP (JO01), G4FUF (JO01), G4HGI (IO83), G4PLZ (JO02), G4YTL (IO92), G6OUA (IO91), G8BXC (JO01), G8HGN (JO01), GI4SNA (IO64), GW4ZHI (IO82), GW6TEO (IO71), GW8ASA (IO81), GW8ASD (IO83), HA1WA ((JN87), LX1ER (JN29), M0CKM (IO90), M1DNJ (JO01), ON4AOI (JO21), ON4GG (JO20), ON5SA (JN29), OS4PS (JO20), PA2CHR (JO32), PA2J (JO21), PA2M (JO21), PA3GHQ (JO21), PA3GHQ (JO21), PA4VHF (JO32), PE1ITR (JO21), PE1IWT (JO32), S52OR ((JN76), S57D (JN76), S57TW (JN75), S59F (JN65), SP2CHY (JO94), and YL3HA (KO26). With the same setup, Kev was also able to make a few SSB QSOs: G3MXH (JO02), G0ORG (JO02), M0GHZ (IN81) and G4FKK (IO91).
The 2m Band
Roger EI8KN caught a 2m Es opening on 14 May, working EB5GC (IM97) and EA5IEA (IM97). On 19 May, he caught another opening to Italy, Germany, Malta and Switzerland working about 20 stations with the best DX being 9H1CG (JM75). Roger also caught the opening on 25 May working 12 stations from Italy in the I6, 7, 8 and 0 call areas.
Simon G6AHX caught an Es opening on 25 May, working IH9YMC (JM56) on SSB and was delighted to learn that IH9 counts as Africa.
Gordon GW6TEO was just out of the main focus of the opening on 25 May, but managed catch four minutes of it just as the opening was coming to an end, working
IK0FTA (JN61), IC8TEM (JN70), IU8MHG (JM78) and IT9GSF (JM67).
Tony G4NBS found time to be active on 2m as well as 6m and made a few contacts towards the end of the contest on 16 May, working GM3S and GM3HAM/P (IO74) as well as GI4SNA, all on SSB. On 31 May around sunset, some Scandinavian stations appeared on FT8 as things cooled down. Tony worked OZ1KWJ (JO45), OZ1JMN (JO46), OZ9GA (JO46), LA3BO (JO59) and LA9DM (JO59), LA9NKA (JP20), SK6QA (JO58), SF6F (JO67), SM6YNO (JO67) and SM4GGC (JO69).
During the UK Activity Contest on 1 June Tony made 105 QSOs in 24 squares and was particularly pleased to work M0AFJ/P (IO70) and GW0RHC (IO71) as well as the more ‘usual’ stations. On FM, Tony worked three stations, including M7ALE/P (IO93) and GW8ASD. During the FT8 Activity session on 2 June, Tony found lots of activity with the highlights being OZ1BEF (JO46), DL1DBR (JO41), GM1MYF (IO87) and EI8KN (IO62).
Roger Daniel G4RUW (Newbury) caught the Es opening on 25 May and worked YO6OBK (KN26) for a new square, followed by IZ8DSK (JN71) and IZ8DVD (JM88). Roger says that he’s heard 14 countries so far this year by Es.
The 70cm Band
Tony G4NBS caught some DX on the 70cm band during the evening of 31 May, working OZ1SKY (JO56), LA9AKA (JP20), OZ1DLD (JO45) and OV3T (JO46). At 2303 local time,
Tony saw very strong signals from OZ2ND (JO46) on FT8, so suggested a move to SSB, which resulted in a nice 30-minute QSO only to be tail-ended by OZ4VW (JO45) who Tony had last worked in 1987. During the FM Activity Contest Tony made four QSOs. Two of them were in IO80: G0UHY and M0BAO/P. During the UK Activity Contest, Tony made 116 QSOs in 25 squares. M0AFJ/P (IO70) was an enormous signal but there was little activity from the south-west. Tony worked a number of GM, GI and GD stations without the need for aircraft scatter this month. During the FT8 Activity period on 9 June, Tony thought there was good activity and made 60 QSOs with 21 squares. Tony saw a few decodes from GM0HBK (IO77) but unfortunately, he faded before he could call. OV3T (JO46) was also seen but not worked. The best DX was OZ2AE, OZ1KWJ, DJ6TA and DL6KAI (JO30) as well as EI8KN, GI6ATZ and MM0CEZ.
Jef ON8NT reports SSB QSOs with F8KGU (JN19) and M1CRO/P (JO01) and G3XDY (JO02) on CW.
Satellites
Jef ON8NT enjoyed listening to an ARISS contact from the ISS on 25 May at 1833UTC.
Patrick Stoddard WD9EWK (Phoenix) writes, “A busy few weeks here... after trips to Hawaii by Dima N6DNM and Ian K5ZM, several North American satellite operators have claimed the satellite version of the Worked All States award. N6DNM also travelled to the Channel Islands − not those off the coast of France, but the islands near Santa Barbara and Los Angeles in southern California − to help some operators get their AMSAT Gridmaster award for working all 488 continental USA grids. John KG4AKV made a detour on his trip along the US east coast to help long-time satellite operator Christy KB6LTY work grid FM25 in North Carolina, the last of the 488 she needed for the Gridmaster award. The Gridmaster award is the satellite operator’s equivalent to the ARRL Fred Fish Memorial Award offered to operators on the 6m band.
“In the past month, I have made two significant road trips. In mid-May, I made a long drive starting from south of the Phoenix area ending up on the Navajo Nation reservation in northern Arizona. In the process of making that drive, I operated from six different grids − DM32, DM33, DM34, DM44, DM45 and DM46. When I was on the Navajo Nation reservation for grid DM46, I had to wear a mask while standing next to my car and working satellites − the COVID requirements were still in effect up there at that time [Fig. 3].
On my way home, I parked east of Grand Canyon National Park and worked a western AO-27 pass, making a D-STAR contact with Endaf N6UTC from grid DM45 as the last bit of daylight disappeared.
“On 5 June, I set out for eastern Arizona, looking for the DM54/DM55 grid boundary along the I-40 freeway. I spent most of the day out there, putting two rarely-heard grids on the satellites for operators around North America, and driving a few hundred more miles for some radio fun. At the end of my day at DM54/DM55, I worked N6UTC through AO-27using D-STAR. This followed contacts I made with N6UTC earlier in the day in FM, SSB and packet through the NO-84 digipeater. D-STAR seemed like a great way to wrap up the day”.
Here at GW4VXE I’ve caught the occasional westerly AO-91 pass and have been able to make a few QSOs through the crossband repeater on the ISS.
Thanks to everyone who’s written in this month – please keep your news and photos coming! See you next time.