The World of VHF
Tim Kirby GW4VXE reports on some remarkable VHF QSOs and also has the latest satellite news.
Like the ‘FT’ modes or hate them, there’s certainly no ignoring them. There is no question that the very much more intensive mode of operating that FT8 brings, as well as its weak signal capabilities, means that many fewer openings are missed. We are discovering marginal paths that we simply had no idea of before.
If you follow John Redmond EI7GL’s blog (URL below) you will have seen John discussing some astonishing openings during the summer season. John started to write about a 6m path from Europe to Australia, feeling it was something quite exceptional, and then realised after writing about similar openings for a week or so that perhaps it wasn’t as rare as he’d first thought. The openings continued, albeit not necessarily from the UK, until mid-July. http://ei7gl.blogspot.com
It’s not just the 6m band where we are discovering new paths, but 2 mas well. John writes about an opening from Europe (IZ7AUH and LZ1KU) to A65BR in the United Arab Emirates which took place on 5 June. Although a contact was not completed, both sides copied each other.
John has also been championing monitoring Band II FM across the Atlantic and this is already showing some interesting results. FM stations from the Azores were heard in Newfoundland up to 93MHz on 23 July. The previous day, FM stations from Maine were heard in Ireland by Paul Logan in Co Fermanagh. Around 1400UTC Paul heard three stations WMED (89.7MHz), WEZQ (92.9MHz) and WHCF (88.5MHz), all from Maine. Paul says that this was only his ninth transatlantic Band II opening in about 20 years, so they’re not common. Having said that, the advent of SDR receivers and the capability to record the whole band for later analysis means that we will miss fewer of the openings that occur.
What does all this mean for amateur band propagation? It certainly points to some interesting possibilities for crossband operation on 70MHz! Multi-hop Es across the Atlantic is a possibility at 144MHz, but perhaps tropospheric ducting or a combination of propagation modes will be more likely.
The 6m Band
Don G3XTT copied three different stations from California on 6m FT8 on the afternoon of 19 July. What was interesting about this was that no closer US stations were heard, perhaps supporting the idea of a chordal-hop method of propagation. After Don emailed me about the opening, I checked my .ALL file, which logs everything that WSJT-X receives, and could see that I too had received several California stations as well as one from Arizona, but again, nothing closer. On the 25th, Don noted nothing all day until just after 1700UTC when he worked VE7SL (CN88) and then W7DUU (DM48) answered a CQ. On 2 August Don caught a late afternoon opening and worked W6TOD in California closely followed by K6FG, again with no other North American stations copied.
Jef Van Raepenbusch OS8NT really enjoyed the opening on 22 July, running about 30W to his V-2000 vertical. With this setup, the highlights of his log include XE2X (EL06), NS4C (EM84), K4PI (EM73), K8MFO (EN90), KD5M (EM60), W8FL (EM79) and K4IQJ (EM72). Jef was also delighted to work P43A (FK52) on 17 July.
Steve Lesson M1BJR (Plymouth) worked KP2/K0BZ (FK77) on 2 August. Steve says he is quite new to the band and uses an HB9CV antenna at gutter level. Steve found the band open most days during the month, with European and sometimes, East Coast USA stations.
Fig. 1: Kevin ZB2GI’s 50 and 70MHz station at the top of the Rock of Gibraltar. Fig. 2: ZB2GI’s 6m beam mounted for his portable operation at the top of the Rock. Fig. 3: Digital video sent by Graham G3VKV on 437MHz as received by Steve G4NZV.
Kevin Hewitt ZB2GI (Gibraltar) says that he operated from the top of the Rock on FT8 during July, Figs. 1 and 2, and his log included over 1200 contacts in Japan, Taiwan, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia as well as stations from North and South America. On SSB, the log was a bit smaller, working around 25 stations.
From home, Kev worked over 150 stations with his IC-7300 and whip antenna with highlights of his FT8 log being K5KC (EM16), VA2WA (FN36) and W0LGQ (EN21).
Steve Telenius-Lowe PJ4DX (Bonaire) writes, “The Sporadic E propagation on 6m seem to have almost ground to a halt now and in the last month I have only made a small number of QSOs on Six, all on FT8. HD1QRC90, celebrating the 90th anniversary of the Quito Radio Club in Ecuador, was an unusual call worked on 23 July, and the only new one on Six this month, HH2AA in Haiti, was worked on the same day. There was a brief opening to Europe on 25 July when I worked a few stations in France, Belgium and the Netherlands, but that was the last I have heard from Europe. There was a good opening from here to many parts of the USA on 31 July but I have not worked anything on 6m during the first 12 days of August.
“There is, however, some VHF news from Bonaire: we now have a 6m beacon, PJ4SIX, operating 24 hours a day from the QTH of Martin PJ4MM. The beacon, in FK52ve, is on 50.4355MHz and runs about 50W of FSK CW to a 4-element Yagi beaming towards Europe. PJ4SIX has been heard in parts of the USA including Maine and in Canada. Martin is planning to set up a 6m EMEcapable station at his new QTH, hopefully later this year, at which time the beacon will be moved to a higher location on the island”.
Phil Oakley G0BVD (Great Torrington) particularly enjoyed the opening on 3 August when he worked WX4G, K2IL, N4TB and WB2SNN, all in Florida.
Robert van der Zaal PA9RZ (Sassenheim) runs 10W SSB to a log periodic at 50ft ASL. Highlights of the month’s log included EA6SA (JM19), IS0BSR (JN40), TC3EC (KM38) and SV6JHA (KM09).
Colin Fawcett G8YIG (Manchester) took part in the August 50MHz UK Activity Contest and worked G0CDA (IO83), G3RKF (IO83), G0XBU (IO83), G4BEE (IO83), G0VAX (IO83), GW4SHF (IO82), G8ZRE (IO83), G0CNN/P (IO94), GW4ZAR/P (IO83),
G3TDH (IO83), G8REQ (IO83), G4JLG (IO83) and G1PNP (IO83). It’s clear that there’s really good local activity on the band in Colin’s area.
Tony Collett G4NBS (Cambridge) says that the vast majority of his QSOs have been data modes this month, reflecting the weaker Es. Tony says that at times there has appeared to be a pipeline to 5T5PA as well as strong short skip towards HB/DL.
Tony describes his best QSO of the month, “I have been looking for IO95 for a while as I’d never worked it and noticed M0EUK is active in UKAC. I requested if we could try a QSO when there was no Es around. Given I struggle to work IO94 I was thinking this might be a test for Q65 and certainly didn’t think FT8 would work. On 19 July I noticed an Italian calling him on FT8 but as expected I couldn’t see a signal. I sent a message on KST to let him know and he suggested a try – to my surprise there he was and a quick QSO followed. So much for avoiding when the band was full of Es. During the following periods he was not decodable so guess we caught a plane at the right time”.
Tony caught an opening on 22 July to Florida and the Caribbean as well as southern and east coast USA. A new DXCC for Tony in this opening was P43A (FK52). He was pleased to catch SU1SK (KM50) on the 27th, with the Egyptian station just coming up for long enough for Tony to complete a QSO.
During the run up to the peak of the Perseids on the evening of 9 August, Tony worked CT1DIZ (IM58), EA3AKY (N11) and I6BQI (JN72) on MSK144 although he suspected it was more Es than meteors.
The 4m Band
Gordon Smith GW6TEO (Castlemartin) caught several Es openings in July. 3 July was a ‘single station’ event with only SQ8AQX (KO00) being heard and worked. On 11 July there were two openings, one in the morning and the second in the afternoon. The morning gave Gordon contacts with DL, OK, OM, HA, S5 and 4O6AH (JN92) who was a new DXCC and square for Gordon. The afternoon opening was towards Spain with five stations, all worked before. On 18 July there was a brief opening to the north with LA3PU (JO49) and LA9DL (JO59) both being worked.
Gordon was delighted to catch DG7FEQ (JO31) for a new square just before the opening faded. Next day, Gordon caught an early opening around 0800UTC to SP5AOZ (KO02) and DH2OAA (JO42). There was another opening to the south around 15001630UTC when Gordon worked CT1FOE (IM57) followed by ten EA stations in IN71, IN73, IM87, IM99 and JM19. During the Perseids, Gordon worked DK3RV (JO31), OZ6FH (JO47), OZ1MFP (JO65), SP2ERZ (JO94) via meteor scatter plus 9A2DI (JN95) and DH2UAK (JN59) via Es.
Kevin ZB2GI tried operating portable from the top of the Rock a couple of times using a Ranger RCI-2950, Spectrum transverter and a two-element Yagi, but unfortunately did not make any contacts. From home, on FT8, he did rather better with contacts with 5T5PA (IL10), 9A6R (JN83), EA7HCL (IM76), G0LFF (IO90), SP9HWY (JO90), G3MPN (JO02), G3SHK (IO90), G3YHM (IO90), G4FUF (JO01), G4PLZ (JO02), G8CVS (IO91), G8EFU (IO92), GW8ASA (IO81), M0UKR (JO02), M5RJC (IO82), PA4VHF (JO32) and G0ORG
(JO02) with G0ORG (JO02) and EA8AVI (IL28) on SSB.
Jef OS8NT continued using his V-2000 vertical antenna (unmodified) with 10W from his IC-7300 and has logged some nice contacts. Jef caught Es openings on 8, 9, 17, 18 and 22 July. Highlights of his log include SX200JAO (KM18), YO9HP (KM35), YO9IE (KN34) and EA8BFK (IL38).
Robert PA9RZ worked G0VHF/P (JO01) on 17 July running 10W SSB to his log periodic and says that the path seems open all the time. Robert also worked DL6BF (JO32) running 5W of CW giving Robert a new country on the band.
Steve Macdonald G4AQB (Bolton) writes,
“At the end of July we organised an outdoor meeting of the Bolton Wireless Club on our local contest spot on the side of Winter Hill in Bolton. I took my 4m Wouxun handheld with me to try to raise a couple of locals. When I arrived and switched on the handheld I was surprised to hear a very strong station in Croatia calling CQ on 4m FM. He seemed to be working stations mainly in 91 and 92 squares, but I kept calling him. He did eventually hear me but lost me again. This was around 8:00pm, quite amazing really”.
Here at GW4VXE (Goodwick) I decided to follow Jef OS8NT’s lead and try my V-2000 vertical on the band. Using my FT-847, which is not at its best on 4m, I was pleased to be able to make my first FT8 QSOs on 4m from Wales. The FT-847 produces about 10W output and the receive sensitivity is not great. During the opening on 22 July I made 12 QSOs in OZ, EA, EA6, DL, OK and EI. On 30 July, I caught another opening to DL and OK and then on the 1 August, worked DK1MAX and DJ2QV both in JN58. Roger Greengrass EI8KN made some meteor scatter QSOs on the band during the Perseids: OV3T (JO46), DG1VL (JO61), DJ5MN (JN58), DF5SF (JN39) on 12 and 13 August.
The 2m Band
Gordon GW6TEO caught an Es opening around 1650-1710UTC on 12 July, working YU7KB, YU7ON and YU7PAA, all in KN04, and YU2LSP and YU2LAM, both in KN05. On 14 July, Gordon worked S51AT (JN75) and IV3GTH (JN65) on meteor scatter using the MSK144 mode. On 21 July, there was some tropo and Gordon was able to work DK4ZZ and DL6YBF with OK1ADJ (JO80) appearing at 0707UTC. Initially, Gordon thought that OK1ADJ was an Es contact but now suspects it may have been a meteor burst as he was heard in SP, OM, OE and HA at the same time.
Gordon prefers FSK441/JTMS for meteor scatter on 2m as opposed to MSK144 as he feels it performs better with shorter pings but notes that most of the activity is now using MSK144. Stations worked on meteor scatter during the Perseids shower include HA2NP (JN97), SM3RPQ (JP74), IK0BZY (JN61), SQ5GVY (KO02), S51AT (JN75), DK7OM (JO53), EA4I (IM68), IC8TEM (JN70), HB9BIN (JN37) and EA3CJ (JN01).
Jef OS8NT worked G3CKR/P (IO93) during VHF NFD and made an FT8 QSO with GW4FRX (IO82).
Simon Evans G6AHX (Twyning) took part in the 2m UK Activity Contest on 3 August, making 21 contacts in 17 squares with his best DX being GI4SNA (IO64) at 381km. Simon mentions that there are minor new firmware updates for both the Icom IC-7300 and Icom IC-9700 radios, both issued in July.
Robert PA9RZ worked OZ1ALS (JO44) on 3 August, while running 100W to a 5-element Yagi.
Tony G4NBS found conditions in the UK Activity Contest on 3 August better than usual and says that he even found five stations to work on FM, including 2E0VCC/P (IO70) and MW1DDD/P (IO73). Tony worked 28 locators during the SSB contest although very little to the east. During the FT8 Activity Period, coinciding with the RSGB MGM Activity Contest on 4 August, Tony worked 28 stations before the RSGB session started, with the best DX being DK1FG (JN59). During the RSGB contest, Tony worked another 49 QSOs and says that activity is certainly increasing. During the following weekend’s RSGB MGM contest Tony found activity poor on the Saturday evening, but worked EI9E (IO61) who was a good signal. On the Sunday morning, there was more activity with F6BQX and F0GIW both in IN96 being the best DX.
Roger EI8KN worked HB9BIN (JN37) on MSK144 meteor scatter on 11 August.
During the tropo opening on 14 August Roger worked EB1B (IN73), EA1U (IN83), EA1P (IN83) and CT3KN (IM12).
The 70cm Band
Jef OS8NT worked G5LK/P (JO01), G0VHF/P (JO01) and M0BAA/P (JO01) on 70cm during VHF NFD running 25W to his 5-element log periodic.
On 10 August Robert PA9RZ had a nice chat with John G3XDY (JO02) before the contest started and then went on to work G4LPP (JO02), G4ODA (IO92) and DL5DAW (JO31). Robert was running about 75W to a 12-element Yagi at 54ft ASL.
Tony G4NBS took part in the Low Power contest on 1 August and found conditions a little better than average. Tony was especially pleased to work MM0CEZ (IO75), GM4AFF (IO86), GD6ICR (IO74) and MW0OMB (IO81). During the UK Activity contest on 10 August, Tony made 117 QSOs with good conditions into IO83 and IO94 as well as M0AFJ/P (IO70), GD6ICR, GI6ATZ, GM3SEK (IO74), MM0CEZ (IO75), GM4BYF (IO85), GM4AFF (IO86), GM4JTJ (IO86), OS8NT, PE1EWR (JO11), PA0WMX (JO21), PA0WMX, PI4HLM (JO22), DL5DAW (JO31), F1MKG (JN08), F1CBC (JN09), F1FPL (JN09) and F4HOG (JN09).
Roger EI8KN enjoys the EU FT8 Activity Contests which alternate between 2m and 70cm on a monthly basis. During the session on 11 August Roger worked nine stations in locators IO64, IO81, IO91, IO92 and JO01. On 70cm, Roger runs 40W to a 23-element Yagi.
The 23cm Band
Experimenting further with his WIMO flat panel antenna for the 23cm band, Jef OS8NT worked G3XDY (JO02) on SSB and regularly monitors the GB3MHZ beacon at Martlesham Heath.
Steve G4AQB says that there is still a Wednesday evening FM net in the Manchester area starting around 8:15pm on 1297.5MHz FM. Most stations are using horizontal polarisation. Anyone who hears the net is very welcome to join in.
Satellites
Kevin ZB2GI operated an AO-91 pass from the top of the Rock, using an FT-817 and manually tracked 2m/70cm log periodic. He worked EA1BYC (IM86), EA7IU (IM86), EI3FW (IO54) and G0ABI (IO80).
Phil G0BVD enjoyed the ARISS SSTV activity on 6/7 August, using a 5/8th-wave vertical on his chimney for reception.
Patrick Stoddard WD9EWK wrote, fresh from delivering some satellite talks at the QSO Today Online Expo, “Summertime means satellite activity from all over, operators going out and activating different locations. In the past week, it was fun to read about Greenland appearing on QO-100, which may be the first time North America was heard through that satellite. I’m still going out and activating the grids around me in Arizona and have had fun hearing a couple of Canadian satellite operators activating grids in Atlantic Canada.
“In the past few months, John VE1CWJ and Dana VE1VOX, both from Nova Scotia, have been venturing around their province and other eastern Canadian provinces. Both of them have been putting many grids on the air, for operators on both sides of the Atlantic. These two guys have also helped with those who are working for the AMSAT GridMaster Award, working the 488 grids that make up the continental USA (and mirrors the ARRL’s Fred Fish Memorial Award for 6m operators working the same 488 grids). Great to hear the roving activity from Canada!”
Here at GW4VXE I have been enjoying some RS-44 QSOs, mostly on low power CW with a fixed antenna, which is not ideal but I have been surprised with some of the contacts made, including A65BR (LL75), K8YSE (EN91), NA1ME (FN54), WA2FHJ (FN33), JU1WP (ON37), RW3XL (KO84) and UA3TJC (LO16). There have been some nice QSOs on AO-91 as well, including some very welcome new squares provided by an expedition to the west coast of Ireland by George MI0ILE operating as EI/M0ILE/P. As Patrick mentioned, VE1VOX and VE1CWJ have both been busy providing some new squares in Nova Scotia and VE1XE has been on from Newfoundland! CU7AJ (HM58) provided another new country and square from the Azores.
DigitalTV
Graham Jones G3VKV (Cheltenham) writes, “I have been doing some digital TV tests with
Steve G4NZV in Tewkesbury on 146.5MHz DVB-S2 using F1EJP FreeStreamCoder software to produce high compression H265 HEVC digital video instead of the usual H264 AVC. All seems to work fine, good quality, smoother movement and only three seconds’ delay (Fig. 3).
"It was much better on 146.5MHz (NoV required from Ofcom) where bandwidth is restricted to 500kHz (333kS/s) and 50W ERP. I am now able to transmit and receive TV on all bands from 146MHz to 10GHz. I’m using the F5OEO DATV firmware v0303 on a revision D Adalm Pluto SDR for transmit and a BATC Minitiouner receiver.
"The higher bands are reached by transverting up/down through my existing microwave systems.
“I received some video on 25 July from R0AU NO66ka, Krasnoyarsk City, Siberia on the QO100 satellite who had only 3.9° elevation, including some good pictures from his drone camera”.
Another busy column this month – thanks to everyone who has contributed! See you next time.