You need the location of the chaser. This should be logged as part of the QSO exchange
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Yes of course, the VHF signal can be refracted which could give you communication over the horizon, but thatâs not line of sight. By convention the definition of âline of sightâ for radio communication means a straight line without obstructions, i.e. in principle you can see the destination visually.
Communication via an over-the-horizon radio signal caused by atmospheric refraction is not considered LOS communication. They are fundamentally different propagation modes.
Never say never at 2m/70cm. To give an example 2E0VCC down in IO70sp was always a solid copy for me on SSB, with or without aircraft scatter enhancement, during ukac events. On 2m, Darrell 2E0VCC was running 50/100W into a 9el, at 237m asl and I was running 10W into an 8el, at 34m asl. This was by no means an isolated case.
On my Ben of Howth EI/IE-072 activation today I had a 34km 2m/70cm QSOs with @EI2LH. Paraic was transmitting on a vertical antenna and I was on my regular 3el Yagi.
Interestingly, on 2m I was copying Paraic much better with beam set horizontally. However, on 70cm everything turned back to normal. Worth mention that I had a telco mast just 5 meters at the back of my beam, perhaps that interfered with the signal somehow.
Then a 70cm 174km QSO with @GW0PLP, Don was on a vertical and Iâve tried both V/H. Received on both, but stronger on Vertical.
From my time in microwaves I recall polarization difference results around 20db of loss, still nothing tragic for moreless decent signal.
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This was clarified in an earlier post:
but in any case, Iâve updated the dialog to make it explicit.
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Iâve learned a few things about setting up directional VHF antennae over the last couple years Iâve been playing with this mode, so I thought Iâd put together a little video with some tips about doing VHF SSB from a summit using a directional antenna. I hope it helps get more folks on V/UHF!
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Alex @EI4JY you were an ace signal yesterday. Ben of Howth is a favourite for me as I can 99.9% of the time get the chase in.
Also just wanted to thank you as not only did I get the quadruple with you on 2m FM, SSB, CW and 70cm SSB, but you were also the very first 2m and 70cm SSB qsoâs Iâve ever made. Thank you!
I was using my trusty Bingfu mag mount on a Pyrex cake tin on my window sill and it did not fail me. Rarely does!
Also, thanks for the 2m FM contact as I was able to test my new Yaesu FT-202R and we were both 599 on our signal reports. I had a whole 1 Watt to play with and the 202R sounded absolutely crystal. Better audio than some of my other radios (about the same as the FT290R though I only saw you pop up on Ham Alert last minute yesterday and was WFH so hadnât time to set it all up).
For 270 SSB and CW I was on my Quansheng. Again, you were perfect. 599 clean and clear. SSB surprised me, I wasnât expecting to get you after last time I tried in November with you. For CW I set the filter to Narrow just to dial it in best I could. SSB was set to DSB mode - I now have an itch to get a vintage Yaesu 70cm All Moder!
I couldnât hear your chasers which was a shame. I think I heard Paraic @EI2LH very quiet though on SSB.
I stayed on 2m CW to listen to your QSO with Paraic and I recorded it and put it on my YouTube page, I hope you guys donât mind (I know Paraic wonât! 
). Here is a clip of your QSO, this was just after you and I did ours.
I used my Quansheng on IJV Mod 2.65 and my Lancaster Bomber bathtub key connected directly (removed in this video as I was just SWL at that stage). You were a great signal!
Does your Yaesu do 70cm CW too? I can try with the Quansheng in future if it possible on your side. Great activation, well done and thanks for the quadruple! 
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Thanks Ian, it is useful to hear own straight key sending recorded, never mind Iâve misspelled Paraicâs name though 
Sure FT-857 does 70cm CW, although to my shame I do not recall the 70cm bandplan for SSB/CW from top of my head, so didnât venture for CW CQ.
In fact, apart of last couple of days, I donât recall having 70cm SSB/CW QSOs in the past
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Nobody will be listening for a random CW QSO so you may as well use the SSB calling frequency where someone may be listening 432.200 in Region1. Of once they hear a random CW CQ they wont answer you because theyâll be in a state of shock. But theyâll feel so lucky to have heard a CQ theyâll rush out to buy a lottery ticket. Your CW QSOs on 2/70 will be either pre-arranged or as a result of a spot
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432.050 Alex. Itâs imprinted on my brain. 
I should be able to get you on 70cm CW from Ben of Howth, you were crystal on 70cm SSB yesterday.
The revolution has started! We will make 2m and 70cm CW great again! The huddled whatsnames have fired up their all moders! And theyâve overthrown Nicholas the 2nd, who used to be bizarre!
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My first outing of the year to the extremely challenging G/SP-017. The idea was to try out my new 23cm transverter but some idiot left the coax on the kitchen table and whilst I could have cobbled something together with the 5m of RG58 and some adapters, it didnt seem worth the effort with all the losses. And its not like I wonât be up there again.
FT-817 for all contacts except for 23cm which used the Alinco handie and pcb antenna.
So that left me more time to play on 2m and 70cm ssb. For 2m 5W into a 3element beam at around 10 ft horizontal polarised. Good start with an immediate response to spot and call at around 80km (feels further when its a different big grid square (IO83 to IO82)) but then ghost town. So I had a play on 23cm FM (Alinco) for a short while with 3 qso before going back to 2m SSB.
A good 240km qso followed into Hertfordshire followed by a steady stream of relatively local. Most of these were vertically polarised , but Iâm coming to the conclusion that for less than 50 or 60 km it doesnt make that much difference with mostly 59 reports. 4 Qsos in this batch.
For 70cm SSB used an odd slim jim style antenna picked up at a rally for ÂŁ5 which is so light it can be selotaped onto the fishing pole. On a recent windy 433 alive session it was the star of the day when the beam couldnt be put up. Worked well on 70SSB (Vertical) too. No major dx, but with 3 70cm ssb qsoâs in the bag and it being easy to setup and take down, its going in the bag everytime from now on. Good to hear 70cm SSB signals and didnt think it was worth the qsy from 432.200
In the middle of the 70cm ssb qso, I quickly switched to 2m for a STS with MW0VAZ on GW/NW-076, and whilst the 817 complained a little and backed off the power, a good qso was made.
A late flurry on 70cm FM and 4 more in the log rounded off an excelent couple of hours on the cold but sunny Billinge Hill. Iâve had worse weather days in the middle of summer.
I did point the beam across to EI/GI but I guess the 290âs must have been in the shop for further modifications
Ian
G7ADF
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In the last big lift last October, I used my 2m flowerpot instead of the J-pole. What surprised me was that the measured SWR was about 1.6 on 70cm and it received GB3UHF fine at 419 in lift conditions.
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Richard, this afternoon I couldnât hear or see any evidence of your signal on the waterfall from G/NP-031 on 2m fm, on ssb you came through reasonably clear but didnât move the meter.
73
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Lat/Long translated in their user profile. Iâve gone through and updated the relevant entries.
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Hereâs another one:
Thanks for the QSO. So with our weak signals yesterday SSB won!
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This challenge sure seems to be shaking a few of those out of the woodwork. 
Just checked mine, and updated it slightly, because values to 2 decimal places didnât really look quite good enoughâŚ
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At UK latitudes, 2 decimal places is 1.11km N/S and about 650m E/W. 3 places is thus 111m N/S and 65m E/W which is good enough for 2 and 70. Maybe not for 76GHz and up.
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