Category - Blog

HF Propagation Podcast

A look at HF propagation conditions for August 2009, including the solar and geomagnetic data for July 2009, Sporadic E and how to work stations VQ9JC on Chagos Island and 5N0OCH in Nigeria. All this plus a band-by-band round-up of what you can work and hear.

G0KYA Steve Nichols is a journalist, specialising in technology. Steve’s Blog is very informative and is a great site for learning about propagation!
Click on the left image to be directed straight to Steve’s Blog.

I have enjoyed a lot of Sporadic E work over the summer on HF bands, but one thing that surprises me about especially UK Amateurs is that many assume that Sporadic E, Inter G on 20m is “Strange” or “unusual” Well NO it isn’t it is just normal Summer conditions. G0KYA explains this tpye of propagation very well in his podcasts and on his blog and also his articles in several Amateur Radio journals.

I have installed a new antenna recently here at Château Beaumont after using the MQ36SR for the last 3 years. I wanted an antenna that gave just a bit better performance. I had heard many UK stations that had used G3TXQ Broadband Hexagonal Beam and had given it some very good reports, some say that the performance is similar to a 2 element SteppIR! A few months ago Anthony MW0JZE started to make enquiries about how to make one, and to source high quality parts to build this antenna. Anthony decided that we should make one and test it out on our IOTA vacation on the West coast of Wales, what a great idea, I said build two, one for you and one for me and we will have two stations set up at the IOTA then we can test them out for performance and for DXpedition style operating under close proximity.

With the antennas built and constructed we installed the 6m – 20m  Hexbeams 30m apart on 10m poles connecting them to 2 x Elecraft K3 Transceivers at our Island location at Ramsey Island off the coast of Pembrokeshire. From the off we were working pile ups on 20m and 15m with no interaction between the two stations. I was very impressed with the performance of the Hexbeam despite no sunspots and a SFI of just 68. We ended the 3 day operation at Ramsey with 5500 Qs in the log and worked 86 DXCC entities. This antenna would make a fantastic DXpedition antenna! It is light, easy to assemble and gives great performance!
So I was happy with its performance on a remote Island but what about if it was located in the city where I live in Coventry?

Raining again!
I was only home two days and a break in the weather found me in the garden constructing the Hexbeam. My garden is only 7m wide so it was a struggle at times but within 1 hour the antenna was ready to be installed. I called on the help of 2E0COV Vinny Hopkins to install the antenna on the 13m mast at my home. Thanks Vinny!

CQ Pacific
The following morning I couldn’t resist giving the Hex a try… I tuned to 14.217 MHz where I knew E51JD Jim is usually found, great there he was with a signal of 5/4 not strong but probably the best I had ever heard him and with one call Jim was in the log from the South Cook Islands! Brilliant! Followed that with a QSO with KH7HI in the Hawaiian Islands. Conditions since then have been very poor, however I am finding that working South America a bad direction for me is now much easier. The SWR is very low on all bands 6m through to 20m.

Many thanks to Ant MW0JZE for constructing this antenna to a very high standard of workmanship with high quality parts!

The Ramsey Island MC0SHL / MW9W QSL is currently in the design stage and will be printed shortly. Here is a sneak preview!

The QSL cards will shortly be going to print. Remember to send your direct QSL to M0URX but NO Bureau cards thanks! If you need a QSL Via the Bureau please email Tim M0URX using our Contact M0URX page and I will send you the Bureau card.

The QSL card features the RSPB who own the Island and the QSL also reflect the Flora & Fauna on Ramsey Island. Not forgetting of course the G3TXQ Broadband Hexagonal Beam made by MW0JZE Anthony that performed so well for us despite no sunspots! You can also see the buildings that we occupied during the activity.
This QSL has been sponsored by the United Radio QSL Management Bureau.

This week John 9M6XRO unveiled his callsign for the Lesotho expedition from July 27th to August 13th 7P8OK will be “On Air” using CW RTTY SSB. John will be in a team operating from The Trading Post Lodge in Roma, Lesotho, as part of the African DX Safaris Expedition. 

7P8OK QSL Via M0URX – QSL Direct or Via Bureau However I will not accept incoming cards Via Bureau. ALL BUREAU QSL requests must be made Via email to [email protected] This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   or Via my QSL request form in the left menu. I fully support the Bureau but incoming cards are not required for 7P8OK or 9M6XRO and we would like to reduce Bureau costs by doing this.

Log will be uploaded to Logbook of The World (LoTW) immediately after the expedition.
The Online Log Search for 7P8OK will be live after the expedition.

Please follow my instructions and your QSL will arrive in good speed!

7P8OK QSL is sponsored by United Radio QSL Bureau.

5515 QSO’s from MC0SHL & MW9W EU-124 Ramsey Island are now uploaded onto the online log search. The team head home after a great week on Ramsey Island. Great memories and you can see more information on the website  of Strumble Head DX & Contest Group

MM0NDX/P Col  will use GM5A during the IOTA contest.  MM0NDX/P outside the contest.
St Kilda is a much needed IOTA counter for many. Particularly Japan. It is nearly four years since the last activation.

Due to its very challenging location, the main island of Hirta (where I will be based) has an extremely difficult take-off to the North, North West and East. Infact, generally any direction!

Restrictions mean only an antenna at maximum height 30ft (10m) may be used.  A yagi type antenna is most definitely not allowed nowadays. [bird impact – there are over a million seabirds on St Kilda !].

A 1000ft sea cliff towering over Village Bay certainly won’t help matters! I shall try my best for all areas.

St Kilda Archipelago has been claimed by 35.9% IOTA participants.

• QTH locator: IO75RT
• Islands of Scotland Award (IOSA) OL02
• WAB: NF19
• SCOTIA: D123
  World Flora and Fauna Reference St. Kilda (National Nature Reserve) Ref. No GMFF-061.

Please note, I’m the sole radio operator in a group of five. Won’t be on 24/7, but will try my best!
MM0NDX/P QSL Via M0URX Log will be uploaded to my logsearch after the activity.
Col has built a website especially for this activity you can see more information at: http://eu059.wordpress.com/
MM0NDX/P QSL is sponsored by United Radio QSL Bureau.

Unfortunately this expedition by Col was cancelled due to rough seas around St Kilda. Two weeks later the captain of the vessel has informed Col, that he has still not been able to get near St Kilda at any time since the proposed activity.

This week John 9M6XRO unveiled his callsign for the Lesotho expedition from July 27th to August 13th 7P8OK will be “On Air” using CW RTTY SSB. John will be in a team operating from The Trading Post Lodge in Roma, Lesotho, as part of the African DX Safaris Expedition. 

7P8OK QSL Via M0URX – QSL Direct or Via Bureau However I will not accept incoming cards Via Bureau. ALL BUREAU QSL requests must be made Via email to [email protected] This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   or Via my QSL request form in the left menu. I fully support the Bureau but incoming cards are not required for 7P8OK or 9M6XRO and we would like to reduce Bureau costs by doing this.

Log will be uploaded to Logbook of The World (LoTW) immediately after the expedition. The Online Log Search for 7P8OK will be live after the expedition.

Please follow my instructions and your QSL will arrive in good speed!

7P8OK QSL is sponsored by United Radio QSL Bureau.

GW/IOTA EU-124 – The Strumblehead DX and Contest Group have now sealed the final permission to activate Ramsey Island (EU-124), off the West Wales coast, from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds who own the island. They will be active from 18:00 24th July through to 14:00 27th July taking in the IOTA contest. 

We will be active using the club call MC0SHL for the whole duration of the operation, and using MW9W in the contest. They will be on all bands from 80M through to 10M SSB. There is also some 30M RTTY planned by G1VDP if the other guys allow him, with participation in the last 80M Club Championships DATA section. 

We will be operational using generators as power. Radios used will consist of 2 K3’s and a Yaesu FT1000MP MkV and amplifiers. Antennas will consist of 2 x Hexbeam, a windom and dipoles. Most of the activation is for the WAB award scheme as the square is semi rare and has not been activated for some time. 
The team will be on from the farm for a few days before and after using the GB0WFF for the World Flora and Fauna award see http://www.wff44.com for award details, and using the MC0SHL club call and erecting a tower for Rob MW0RLJ. The island will not only count for the WAB award but will also count for the WFF award.
World Flora and Fauna Reference for Ramsey Island is GWFF-072 and for the Club house on the Pembrokeshire Coast (Farm) is GFF-015.
A special QSL card printed for both club calls, full details are on the groups website http://www.mc0shl.com  QSL via the groups manager M0URX.
This IOTA QSL card  is sponsored by United Radio QSL Bureau.

This IOTA expedition has permission from the owners of the Island the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds

You may remember that Steve 9M6DXX was recently in New Caledonia with his wife Eva celebrating their Silver Wedding Anniversary. Here is the special QSL card out soon!
FK/G4JVG QSL is sponsored by United Radio QSL Bureau.