Went up to Mynydd y Lan SW-024 last night - it was lashing down when I left work (and my only access to IT technology) so did not post an alert, but by the time I reached the Severn Bridge sun was shining and sky was clear, so I went for it. XYL out too, so couldn’t get her to spot me.
Called for over 1Hr on 2m ssb and FM, not a peep. And lost the bung out of my Sotapole (second one inside a week). Unfortunately did not have HF kit with me - must make it a permanent feature of the pack.
Looking on the bright side, I got to see a fabulous sunset and made friends with the big horse.
I’m going to give it another try tonight weather permitting, you chasers who seem to think there’s not enough of us out there activating better be listening for me…
P’raps I’ll steel myself and try CW, bet I’ll qualify it easily then!
You can tell things are up… RAF Volmet at 150 miles is louder here on 11.253MHz. It’s always there but hardly readable but it’s almost armchair copy at the moment.
What a wonderful resource, I’ll put those in my favourites!
Slightly confused though - the Chilton chart shows foF2 about 7Mhz as you say, but the map for 1100gmt shows 4Mhz and the T-index map “mildly depressed”. Is there a knack to interpretation?
It’s changed since I posted! The displays for 1000UTC showed enhanced conditions and propagation upto 7MHz. Conditions have changed though. Since 1st posting, RAF Volmet is back to normal on 11MHz and is down 2S points on 5MHz compared to earlier.
The IPS site is really good as it collates data from many sites. There’s all sorts of tools on there as well. Have a dig about, they’re free and really good.
I’ve often looked at the Chilton plots on the IPS site… but I have one queston about them and the dotted line showing on the daily and current charts… is it an average plot?
If so, do you know what period is it averaged over? I notice it does change from time to time.
I reckon the white dashed/dotted line is the prediction. In which case I reckon I’d best pack the key in case I’m forced onto 40m CW to qualify SW-024 tonight
Hi Paul,
If you look at the summit activity:
6 Activations - 100 qso’s - only 11 on 2m!
On both my activations, qualified on 5mhz ssb and 7mhz cw.
Will be listening for you - maybe even on 2m ssb??
In reply to G4MD:
Hi, Paul, that hill must be subterranean!
You were at best 3 by 3 on 2m in Brum, you had me calling you with 50 watts and G0ELJ with 10 watts but no answer…just to let you know we tried, it wasn’t a dearth of chasers!
Paul was 43 with some QSB when I worked him at 18:25, but he came up stronger a little while afterwards (when he turned his beam the right way round).
I did hear Paul answer G0ELJ at least twice (once on 310 and again on 300), but I guess conditions were just not quite good enough for him to be heard that much further away.
In the noise over here on 2m. From the OS map it looks like the take off wasn’t great east of north due to the trees, but maybe they aren’t that much of a problem. Just pleased that you qualified it. Sorry I didn’t stick around for the 5MHz show later on - things to do.