VK JA ZL - EU S2S 10 March 2018

[VK1DA]

That would make more sense here too, actually.

[G3CWI]

My propagation system logged an opening from G3CWI => VK3 on 20m at 07:36 the other day.

[CT1DBS]

Thank you for the explanation. I really don’t knew it.
Looking for Wx it seems that we should start our seasons in different dates as well.

Vy 73
Pedro, CT1DBS

[G4OIG]

@G6PJZ

G/NP-015 (it has walls at the top hopefully or they might just be fences )

Look at Tom’s website for some pics Andy. You will see a nice stone wall and fence posts adjacent to support the pole. More or less ideal I’d say, if the wind is blowing in the right direction … which of course is unlikely.

I still haven’t decided what I am doing myself - might break out the second call for its first outing on HF and take a trip up to Bardon Hill G/CE-004. If not, will be listening from home, specifically looking for VK/ZL/JA activators…Hoping for some decent propagation.

73, Gerald G4OIG / G8CXK

[DD5LP]

Here’s the current list of activators including those who said either on the reflector or via social media that they may be taking part but have not, as yet, alerted on SOTAWatch:

Alerted?	Call sign	Cont.	Summit	UTC	HF Mode	HF band(s)
NO	EA8/HB9FIH/P	AFR	EA8/HI-001	TBD	TBD	TBD
x	ZS5APT + ZS5AYC	AFR	ZS/MP-004	06:30	SSB	40,30,20,17,15
x	ZS6BV	AFR	ZS/LP-208	06:30	SSB+CW	40,20,15
x	VK1MIC/P	ANZ	VK1/AC-040	06:30	SSB	40,20,2
x	VK2WP	ANZ	VK2/CT-006	06:15	CW+SSB	40,30,20
x	VK6NU/P	ANZ	VK6/SW-039	06:15	SSB+CW	20
x	VK1AD/2	ANZ	VK2/ST-053	06:30	SSB	80, 20,17,2
x	VK1CT/P	ANZ	VK1/AC-034	06:30	SSB+CW	30,20,2
x	VK1DA/2	ANZ	VK2/ST-036	06:30	SSB+CW	30,20
x	VK2GPL/P	ANZ	VK2/IL-005	06:30	SSB	40,30,20
x	VK2IB/3	ANZ	VK3/VE-024	06:30	SSB+CW	40,30,20
x	VK2IO/P	ANZ	VK2/IL-017	06:30	SSB+CW	80,40,20,17
x	VK3ARH	ANZ	VK3/VC-032	06:30	SSB+CW	40,20
x	VK7JON	ANZ	VK7/NW-062	06:30	SSB	20
x	ZL2AJ	ANZ	ZL1/WK-195	06:30	SSB	40,20,15
x	ZL2ATH	ANZ	ZL1/WL-153	06:30	SSB	40,20,15,2
x	ZL2KGF + ZL2EA + ZL4AV	ANZ	ZL1/TN002	06:30	SSB	40,20,15,2
x	ZL3CC	ANZ	ZL3/CB-806	06:30	SSB+CW	40,30,20
x	JP3DGT/3	ASIA	JA/OS-012	06:30	CW	20,17
x	JA4RQO/4	ASIA	JA/SN-077	06:30	CW	20,17,15
x	9A6CW	EUR	9A/DH-082	06:15	CW	40,30,20
x	SV2OXS/P	EUR	SV/MC-077	06:25	SSB+CW	40,30,20,17,15
x	CT1DBS/P	EUR	TBD	06:30	CW	40,30,20,17
x	DD5LP/P	EUR	DL/AL-171	06:30	SSB	40,20,17,15
x	DL4FO/P	EUR	DM/HE-003	06:30	CW	40,30,20
x	DL4TO/P	EUR	DM/HE-017	06:30	SSB+CW	40,30,20,17
x	EA2IF/P	EUR	TBD	06:30	SSB+CW	30,20
x	HB9DQM/P	EUR	HB/AR-004	06:30	SSB+CW	30,20
x	HB9EKO/P	EUR	HB/SG-046	06:30	SSB+CW	30,20
x	LB4FH/P	EUR	LA/RL-092	06:30	SSB	20
x	LM10SOTA/P	EUR	LA/TM-011	06:30	CW + SSB	40,30,20,15
x	LZ1GJ/P	EUR	LZ/RO-144	06:30	SSB+CW	20
x	OE5AUL/P + OE5YYN/P	EUR	OE/OO-330	06:30	SSB+CW	20,17
x	OE5FDM/P	EUR	OE/OO-119	06:30	CW	40,20
x	OE5JFE/P	EUR	OE/OO-075	06:30	SSB	40,20,2
x	OE6FEG/P	EUR	OE/ST-248	06:30	CW	40,30,20
x	OE9HRV/P	EUR	TBD	06:30	SSB	20
x	RA9WJV/8 + RK8A + UB9WLJ/8	EUR	R9U/SO-103	06:30	SSB+CW	20,17
x	SV2HJW/P	EUR	SV/MC-077	06:30	SSB	40,20,2
x	YO6PIB/P	EUR	YO/EC-426	06:30	SSB	20
x	VE7KPM	NA	VE7/CV-024	06:30	SSB	40,20
x	2E0AXL	UK	G/CE-004	06:15	SSB	20
x	2E0HZI/P	UK	G/CE-001	06:30	SSB	40,20
x	2E0YYY/P + G7LAS/P	UK	G/CE-002	06:30	SSB	20,2
x	2M0KAU/P	UK	GM/ES-085	06:30	SSB	40,20
x	G0WPO/P	UK	G/SP-005	06:30	SSB+CW	20
x	G6PJZ/P	UK	G/NP-015	06:30	SSB	20
NO	G8CXK (G4OIG)	UK	G/CE-004	06:30	TBD	TBD
x	M0IML/P + GW4VPX/P	UK	G/SE-015	06:30	SSB	40,20
x	M0NOM/P	UK	G/LD-050	06:30	SSB	80,40,20
x	M1EYP/P	UK	G/SP-015	06:30	SSB+CW	20,2
x	2E0EFP/P + 2E0HPI/P	UK	G/NP-005	07:00	SSB	40,20,2

FYI sort sequence is Region / Time / Call Sign.

[DD5LP]

In parrallel to Mike 2E0YYY’s activation this morning (documented here: G/SP-013 report...A dry run for Saturday ) I monitored wspr.net and the real time propagation world maps told me the following, which might be useful for Saturday.

40m no longpath, only short path 0700-0810 (and possibly later) between EU and NA (Atlantic path) and VK to NA (Pacific path).

30m from 0630 to 0800 and beyond - CW contacts possible between EU/UK and VK or EU/UK and NA or VK/ZL and NA - all around the world!

20m opened only at 0700 not the expected 0630 and there was long path to VK/ZL until 0745, then the band turned to short path into Africa up to 0830 when it closed for DX (Inter-EU still OK).

17m Longpath between EU and JA from 0700-0745. Short period of short path comms between 0745-0750 into South Africa.

15m nothing longpath but a short period of Short path comms from 0740-0745 between VK and JA.

Nothing to speak of on bands above 15m or below 40m.

73 Ed.

[LB4FH]

Thanks for lots of nice info @DD5LP

Here’s a map of the participating countries

[LB4FH]

LM10SOTA will most likely also be active from LA/TM-011, depending on WX conditions and snow depth.

[YO9IRF]

No FT8 I see. Should I try 100W SSB ?

Razvan.

[LB4FH]

There’s always room for some fun for those who want: SOTA Bingo is a randomized sheet of people who have posted alerts (updated as of now).

Print yours today

Note: all prizes must be supplied by yourself, this is just for fun.

[G6PJZ]

Thanks for the useful info re propagation Ed. If I make it up, I may well switch to 40m after about 0745 to see if any insomniacs are playing in NA!
Otherwise it’ll mainly be 20m SSB for the DX (anyone out of sight welcome) and 2m FM for the fellow loonies in NP (local S2S just as welcome as the DX).
The latest forecast has shown 20-28mph easterly wind, sub zero temp and (the good news) the snow being replaced by heavy rain. If my flight home tomorrow is delayed I won’t be able to make it up before dark and will wimp out. In which case I may drive out to chase on 2m.
Good luck all

[DD5LP]

Hi Razvan,
You’ll stand a lot better chance with 40 or 50 watts of SSB than 5 watts in the current conditions.

Ed.

[DD5LP]

Thanks Kjetil, I’ll add LM10SOTA to the spreadsheet.
Ed.

Spreadsheet (above) now updated with this and two more new activators - welcome to 9A6CW and 2E0AXL.

[LA3NGA]

I will also do SSB if battery will allow me to in these cold conditions.

[EA2IF]

After several options considered, I think I’ve made my decision and instead of:

• a 4 pointer drive-on summit not giving me any points because I activated it this year,
• a 4 pointer drive-on which would give 4+3 points but has no cell phone signal
• a 1 pointer drive-on summit which I already activated last year for this event

I’ll finally hike to Mt. Etxauri EA2/NV-070 (1138m a.s.l.), as it’s not too far from my QTH (about 25-30Km), it’s not a too long and difficult hike, it will give me 4+3 points and it has a great take-off in the form of a nearly vertical cliff of +300m towards the West, which I hope will give me very good chances for the Long Path to VK-ZL.

This is the track I’ll follow and there you can see the orography of the terrain.

All my fingers and toes are crossed hoping for no ice, no rain, no wind… and the propagation Gods in a good mood. Nothing else…

Cheers,

Guru

[VK2IB]

Just made a change of Summit, now doing Mt Blue Rag VK3/VE-021 instead. It’s a nicer Summit to visit, but a little more driving on 4WD trails. All other details remain the same.

Fingers crossed for good weather and reasonable HF conditions

73

Bernard, VK2IB

[LB4FH]

Have a nice trip, hope to meet you on the air

@EA2IF

and the propagation Gods in a good mood.

Did you sacrifice a sacred SOTA goat to appease them?

[JH0CJH]

Anticipated JA weather is recovering!
Here we go again!

Toru JH0CJH

[DD5LP]

Hi Toru, can we expect an alert for you in Sotawatch please. Also will you be running SSB? as at present the two alerted JA activators are CW only.

Thanks Ed.

[DD5LP]

Alerted?	Call sign	Cont.	Summit	UTC	HF Mode	Band(s)
NO	EA8/HB9FIH/P	AFR	EA8/HI-001	TBD	TBD	TBD
x	ZS5APT + ZS5AYC	AFR	ZS/MP-004	06:30	SSB	40,30,20,17,15
x	ZS6BV	AFR	ZS/LP-208	06:30	SSB+CW	40,20,15
x	VK1MIC/P	ANZ	VK1/AC-040	06:30	SSB	40,20,2
x	VK2WP	ANZ	VK2/CT-006	06:15	CW+SSB	40,30,20
x	VK6NU/P	ANZ	VK6/SW-039	06:15	SSB+CW	20
x	VK1AD/2	ANZ	VK2/ST-053	06:30	SSB	80, 20,17,2
x	VK1CT/P	ANZ	VK1/AC-034	06:30	SSB+CW	30,20,2
x	VK1DA/2	ANZ	VK2/ST-036	06:30	SSB+CW	30,20
x	VK2GPL/P	ANZ	VK2/IL-005	06:30	SSB	40,30,20
x	VK2IB/3	ANZ	VK3/VE-021	06:30	SSB+CW	40,30,20
x	VK2IO/P	ANZ	VK2/IL-017	06:30	SSB+CW	80,40,20,17
x	VK3ARH	ANZ	VK3/VC-032	06:30	SSB+CW	40,20
x	VK7JON	ANZ	VK7/NW-062	06:30	SSB	20
x	ZL2AJ	ANZ	ZL1/WK-195	06:30	SSB	40,20,15
x	ZL2ATH	ANZ	ZL1/WL-153	06:30	SSB	40,20,15,2
x	ZL2KGF + ZL2EA + ZL4AV	ANZ	ZL1/TN002	06:30	SSB	40,20,15,2
x	ZL3CC	ANZ	ZL3/CB-806	06:30	SSB+CW	40,30,20
x	JM3URG/3	ASIA	JA/NR-026	06:00	SSB	20,70cm
x	JS6TMW/6	ASIA	JA/ON-048	06:15	CW	20,17,15,2,70cm
x	JP3DGT/3	ASIA	JA/OS-012	06:30	CW	20,17
x	JA4RQO/4	ASIA	JA/SN-077	06:30	CW	20,17,15
x	RA9WJV/8 + RK8A + UB9WLJ/8	ASIA	R9U/SO-103	06:30	SSB+CW	20,17
x	9A6CW	EUR	9A/DH-082	06:15	CW	40,30,20
x	SV2OXS/P	EUR	SV/MC-077	06:25	SSB+CW	40,30,20,17,15
x	CT1DBS/P	EUR	TBD	06:30	CW	40,30,20,17
x	DL4FO/P	EUR	DM/HE-003	06:30	CW	40,30,20
x	DL4TO/P	EUR	DM/HE-017	06:30	SSB+CW	40,30,20,17
x	EA2IF/P	EUR	EA2/NV-070	06:30	SSB+CW	30,20
x	HB9DQM/P	EUR	HB/AR-004	06:30	SSB+CW	30,20
x	HB9EKO/P	EUR	HB/SG-046	06:30	SSB+CW	30,20
x	LB4FH/P	EUR	LA/RL-092	06:30	SSB	20
x	LM10SOTA/P (LA3NGA)	EUR	LA/TM-011	06:30	CW+SSB	40,30,20,15
x	LZ1GJ/P	EUR	LZ/RO-144	06:30	SSB+CW	20
x	OE5AUL/P + OE5YYN/P	EUR	OE/OO-330	06:30	SSB+CW	20,17
x	OE5FDM/P	EUR	OE/OO-119	06:30	CW	40,20
x	OE5JFE/P	EUR	OE/OO-075	06:30	SSB	40,20,2
x	OE6FEG/P	EUR	OE/ST-248	06:30	CW	40,30,20
x	OE9HRV/P	EUR	TBD	06:30	SSB	20
x	SV2HJW/P	EUR	SV/MC-077	06:30	SSB	40,20,2
x	YO6PIB/P	EUR	YO/EC-426	06:30	SSB	20
x	DD5LP/P	EUR	DL/AM-176	07:00	SSB	40,20,17,15
x	VE7KPM	NA	VE7/CV-024	06:30	SSB	40,20
x	2E0AXL + Poss G8CXK(G4OIG)	UK	G/CE-004	06:15	SSB	20
x	2E0HZI/P	UK	G/CE-001	06:30	SSB	40,20
x	2E0YYY/P + G7LAS/P	UK	G/CE-002	06:30	SSB	20,2
x	2M0KAU/P	UK	GM/ES-085	06:30	SSB	40,20
x	G0WPO/P	UK	G/SP-005	06:30	SSB+CW	20
x	G6PJZ/P	UK	G/NP-015	06:30	SSB	20
x	M0IML/P + GW4VPX/P	UK	G/SE-015	06:30	SSB	40,20
x	M0NOM/P	UK	G/LD-050	06:30	SSB	80,40,20
x	M1EYP/P	UK	G/SP-015	06:30	SSB+CW	20,2
x	2E0EFP/P + 2E0HPI/P	UK	G/NP-005	07:00	SSB	40,20,2