In reply to M1EYP:
Should be able to work you in any of the 2m, 70cm or 6m Tuesday night
contests Brian - put them in your diary!
I have never heard you in any of the Tuesday evening contests, Tom - including 6m earlier this week. I am usually on IO92BA for the UKAC’s.
73,
Walt (G3NYY)
Tom
Glad I made it with you on 80m SSB this morning - sorry I forgot to give you my name. Blame lack of sleep - I was awake at 5.00 am BST.
My vote is for 40m SSB.
73 Tony, G8BVJ
In reply to G3NYY:
I have never heard you in any of the Tuesday evening contests, Tom
11/05/2010 19:00 G/SP-015 433MHz SSB G3NYY/P G/WB-022
06/07/2010 20:38 G/SP-015 144MHz SSB G3NYY/P
13/07/2010 19:09 G/SP-013 433MHz SSB G3NYY/P
Three more than “never” I make it. You did well in the AL this week Walt. Would you not have been BP qualifying?
Tom M1EYP
In reply to M1EYP:
Hi Tom Will try for you on 40 tomorrow.ATB Geoff
Looks like 40 tomorrow then. Question is, what first? Will the CWers or the SSBers be first out of bed? Please advise!
Tom M1EYP (Putting the chasers first…)
In reply to M1EYP:
Thanks for the contacts this morning on 80m Tom. In answer to Brian’s query, I checked the Chilton ionogram before Tom fired up & 60m would have been marginal at best, but might just have worked towards the end of the activation. I think the FofF2 was about 4.75 MHz so 60m would have been on the change by around 6:20z
Tom, I know we have worked on 40m CW before but I also know that at times we haven’t, but I will be listening anyway.
73,
Mark G0VOF
In reply to M0LEP:
There’s food for thought in what you write Rick. There’s always going to be someone who has yet to work a common summit
The following is for Moel Famau NW-044, a popular SOTA summit.
Here are the activations on HF and the QSO counts
Date Callsign Band QSOs
4/16/2002 GW3CWI/P 14MHZ 1
4/16/2002 GW3CWI/P 7MHZ 1
3/15/2003 GW3CWI/P 7MHZ 3
9/18/2004 GW4TOE/P 5MHZ 6
11/5/2004 GW3CWI/P 7MHZ 4
1/2/2005 GW0TQM/P 5MHZ 2
1/3/2005 GW4BVE/P 5MHZ 12
1/15/2005 GW0MJG/P 5MHZ 7
6/9/2005 GW3CWI/P 7MHZ 6
7/3/2005 MW1EYP/P 7MHZ 4
1/2/2006 GW4BVE/M 5MHZ 15
1/22/2006 GW0MJG/P 5MHZ 13
6/4/2006 GW8OGI 10MHZ 6
6/4/2006 GW8OGI 5MHZ 1
12/17/2006 GW1INK/P 14MHZ 1
12/17/2006 GW1INK/P 5MHZ 14
12/30/2006 GW7KXV/P 5MHZ 38
1/6/2007 GW3RMD/P 5MHZ 12
2/16/2007 GW4BVE/P 14MHZ 2
2/16/2007 GW4BVE/P 3.5MHZ 12
2/16/2007 GW4BVE/P 7MHZ 4
6/26/2007 MW3PXW/P 14MHZ 2
9/24/2007 GW7AAV/P 5MHZ 15
9/24/2007 GW7AAV/P 7MHZ 1
11/23/2007 G4ZRP/P 5MHZ 7
11/23/2007 MW0FMF/P 5MHZ 5
12/11/2007 GW0HIO/P 7MHZ 22
12/16/2007 GW1INK/P 3.5MHZ 14
12/16/2007 GW1INK/P 7MHZ 26
12/22/2007 GW0PEB/P 5MHZ 9
12/30/2007 GW0AOD/P 5MHZ 3
1/5/2008 GW0AOD/P 5MHZ 13
2/18/2008 GW7AAV/P 5MHZ 8
2/18/2008 GW7AAV/P 7MHZ 1
3/8/2008 2W0PXW/P 3.5MHZ 14
3/8/2008 2W0PXW/P 7MHZ 2
5/6/2008 GW0PZO/P 7MHZ 6
10/19/2008 MW/LA1ENA/P 10MHZ 32
10/19/2008 MW/LA1KHA/P 10MHZ 7
10/19/2008 MW/LA1TPA/P 14MHZ 1
10/19/2008 MW/LA1TPA/P 7MHZ 8
10/19/2008 MW1EYP/P 10MHZ 6
12/9/2008 GW0PEB/P 5MHZ 5
12/14/2008 GW1INK/P 7MHZ 40
1/12/2009 GW0DSP/P 10MHZ 1
1/12/2009 GW0DSP/P 7MHZ 9
3/7/2009 GW0PEB/P 3.5MHZ 20
3/7/2009 GW0PEB/P 5MHZ 4
6/2/2009 GW4BVE/P 3.5MHz 15
12/13/2009 MW1DTJ/P 3.5MHz 12
1/2/2010 GW0PEB/P 5MHz 9
1/2/2010 MW0GWY/P 5MHz 6
2/13/2010 GW0IBE/P 5MHZ 21
3/6/2010 MW0IDX 10MHz 20
3/6/2010 MW0IDX 28MHz 1
3/6/2010 MW0IDX 5MHz 16
3/7/2010 GW6WRW/P 5MHz 24
5/3/2010 GW4WSB/P 3.5MHz 12
5/3/2010 GW4WSB/P 5MHz 3
9/25/2010 MW0YDH/P 3.5MHz 13
9/25/2010 MW0YDH/P 7MHz 20
12/5/2010 2W0YYY 21MHz 12
12/5/2010 GW1STQ/P 14MHz 5
12/5/2010 GW1STQ/P 21MHz 2
12/14/2010 GW4BVE/P 5MHz 13
12/14/2010 GW4BVE/P 7MHz 32
2/11/2011 GW4OKT/P 10MHz 12
2/11/2011 GW4OKT/P 7MHz 29
3/14/2011 GW4OKT/P 10MHz 2
3/14/2011 GW4OKT/P 14MHz 1
3/14/2011 GW4OKT/P 7MHz 23
Here is the VHF data
Date Callsign Band QSOs
4/16/2002 GW3CWI/P 144MHZ 4
5/5/2002 GW4GTE 144MHZ 4
5/5/2002 MW3GTE 144MHZ 4
6/5/2002 M1EYO 144MHZ 5
9/8/2002 GW0PZO/P 144MHZ 4
10/8/2002 MW0IDX 144MHZ 7
1/10/2003 GW0MJG 144MHZ 4
2/1/2003 GW4GTE 144MHZ 7
2/1/2003 MW0YLS 144MHZ 7
2/18/2003 M1EYO 144MHZ 11
2/19/2003 GW0TQM/P 144MHZ 3
2/19/2003 GW0TQM/P 433MHZ 2
3/14/2003 MW0DFA 144MHZ 9
3/15/2003 GW3CWI/P 144MHZ 4
3/17/2003 MW0IDX 144MHZ 5
3/26/2003 M1FHM 144MHZ 4
4/12/2003 MW1EYP/P 144MHZ 7
6/14/2003 G0OXV 144MHZ 17
7/10/2003 MW1VCD/P 144MHZ 5
7/27/2003 GW0PZO/P 144MHZ 4
11/10/2003 GW4RQJ 144MHZ 5
1/3/2004 MW0YLS/P 144MHZ 6
1/4/2004 M1EYO 144MHZ 8
1/10/2004 GW0OXV/P 144MHZ 12
1/10/2004 MW1EYP/P 144MHZ 13
1/10/2004 MW1VCD/P 144MHZ 4
1/11/2004 GW0TQM/P 144MHZ 6
1/21/2004 GW4GTE/P 144MHZ 5
1/25/2004 MW0DEV/P 144MHZ 10
1/26/2004 MW0IDX 144MHZ 9
2/16/2004 G7LFC 144MHZ 6
2/20/2004 MW0DFA/P 144MHZ 11
2/29/2004 GW1INK/P 144MHZ 52
3/2/2004 GW4BVE/P 144MHZ 11
4/21/2004 MW1FHM/P 144MHZ 5
5/15/2004 GW4BVE/P 144MHZ 3
5/15/2004 MW3IBA 144MHZ 7
5/15/2004 MW3UPT 144MHZ 20
5/16/2004 GW0PZO/P 144MHZ 92
6/13/2004 GW0PZO/P 144MHZ 135
7/4/2004 GW0PZO/P 144MHZ 89
7/6/2004 GW4GTE/P 144MHZ 4
7/18/2004 GW0PZO/P 144MHZ 80
8/1/2004 GW0VMW 433MHZ 21
9/18/2004 GW4TOE/P 144MHZ 6
11/8/2004 GW4RQJ/P 144MHZ 11
12/4/2004 MW1YAM/P 144MHZ 7
12/10/2004 GW4NGV/P 144MHZ 11
12/31/2004 GW7OZE/P 144MHZ 6
12/31/2004 MW3OZE/P 144MHZ 8
1/2/2005 GW0TQM/P 144MHZ 11
1/3/2005 2W0UPT/P 144MHZ 19
1/15/2005 GW0MJG/P 144MHZ 4
1/15/2005 GW0OXV/P 144MHZ 16
1/16/2005 GW7ADF/P 144MHZ 10
1/16/2005 GW7ADF/P 433MHZ 7
1/22/2005 GW7RTO/P 144MHZ 6
1/30/2005 M1EYO 144MHZ 9
1/30/2005 M1EYO 433MHZ 1
2/7/2005 MW0IDX 144MHZ 8
2/7/2005 MW0IDX 70MHZ 1
2/17/2005 MW0DFA/P 144MHZ 18
2/18/2005 GW0VMW 433MHZ 7
2/19/2005 GW1INK/P 144MHZ 15
2/19/2005 GW1INK/P 433MHZ 1
2/19/2005 GW7OZE/P 144MHZ 16
2/19/2005 MW0YLS/P 144MHZ 10
2/19/2005 MW3OZE/P 144MHZ 4
2/26/2005 G7LFC 144MHZ 18
3/6/2005 MW0EIQ/P 144MHZ 6
3/14/2005 GW4OWG/P 144MHZ 7
4/3/2005 MW0SGB/P 144MHZ 9
4/3/2005 MW3DNC/P 144MHZ 5
5/1/2005 GW6LKB/P 144MHZ 15
5/1/2005 MW0LKB/P 144MHZ 12
5/7/2005 MW1FHM/P 144MHZ 7
5/13/2005 MW1AVV 144MHZ 5
5/22/2005 GW0PZO/P 144MHZ 83
6/12/2005 GW0PZO/P 144MHZ 142
7/3/2005 GW0PZO/P 144MHZ 91
7/3/2005 MW1EYP/P 144MHZ 6
9/25/2005 MW3JNI/P 144MHZ 9
11/7/2005 GW4RQJ/P 144MHZ 15
12/17/2005 2W1RSS 144MHZ 11
12/17/2005 MW1YAM/P 144MHZ 10
1/1/2006 GW0PZO/P 144MHZ 12
1/2/2006 GW4BLH/P 1240MHZ 5
1/2/2006 GW4BLH/P 144MHZ 5
1/2/2006 GW4BLH/P 70MHZ 10
1/2/2006 GW4BVE/M 1240MHZ 2
1/2/2006 GW4BVE/M 433MHZ 1
1/2/2006 MW0EIQ/P 1240MHZ 3
1/2/2006 MW0EIQ/P 144MHZ 5
1/9/2006 GW7AAV/P 144MHZ 13
1/9/2006 GW7AAV/P 433MHZ 1
1/9/2006 GW7KDZ/P 144MHZ 8
1/22/2006 GW0OXV/P 144MHZ 32
1/22/2006 GW0VMW 144MHZ 11
1/22/2006 GW0VMW 433MHZ 4
1/28/2006 GW4ERP/P 144MHZ 26
2/18/2006 MW3OBZ 144MHZ 32
2/18/2006 MW3WVD/P 144MHZ 16
2/19/2006 MW1EYP/P 144MHZ 14
2/19/2006 MW3EYP/P 144MHZ 4
2/19/2006 MW3PKU 144MHZ 20
3/5/2006 GW0TQM/P 144MHZ 5
4/29/2006 GW8HXE/P 144MHZ 8
6/4/2006 GW8OGI 144MHZ 3
7/30/2006 MW0IDX 144MHZ 19
10/8/2006 MW3BYA/P 144MHZ 14
10/30/2006 GW0PEB/P 144MHZ 6
12/2/2006 MW0FMF/P 144MHZ 7
12/2/2006 MW0FMF/P 433MHZ 1
12/17/2006 GW1INK/P 144MHZ 16
12/28/2006 MW0DFA/P 144MHZ 24
12/30/2006 GW7KXV/P 144MHZ 24
1/3/2007 GW8OGI 144MHZ 6
1/4/2007 MW1FHM 144MHZ 5
1/6/2007 GW4ERP/P 144MHZ 12
1/25/2007 GW4EVX/P 50MHZ 3
1/25/2007 GW4EVX/P 70MHZ 6
1/28/2007 GW0PZO/P 144MHZ 20
2/16/2007 GW4BVE/P 1240MHZ 2
2/16/2007 GW4OIG/P 1240MHZ 1
2/16/2007 GW4OIG/P 144MHZ 17
2/16/2007 GW4OIG/P 433MHZ 1
3/3/2007 2W0KPO/P 144MHZ 31
4/8/2007 MW0IDX 144MHZ 10
4/15/2007 MW3PXW/P 144MHZ 14
4/16/2007 MW1AVV 144MHZ 11
6/12/2007 MW3PXW/P 144MHZ 9
6/26/2007 MW3PXW/P 144MHZ 10
6/26/2007 MW3PXW/P 50MHZ 9
9/16/2007 MW1EYP/P 144MHZ 26
9/16/2007 MW3EYP/P 144MHZ 17
9/24/2007 GW7AAV/P 144MHZ 15
11/23/2007 MW0FMF/P 144MHZ 20
12/14/2007 GW0VMW 144MHZ 16
12/16/2007 GW8HXE/P 144MHZ 9
12/30/2007 GW0AOD/P 144MHZ 17
1/5/2008 2W0KPO/P 144MHZ 7
1/5/2008 MW0JDK/P 144MHZ 22
1/6/2008 GW4ZRP/P 144MHZ 11
1/16/2008 GW4EVX/P 144MHZ 9
1/16/2008 GW4EVX/P 70MHZ 1
1/27/2008 GW8HXE/P 144MHZ 19
2/9/2008 2W0EDX/P 144MHZ 7
2/18/2008 GW7AAV/P 1240MHZ 2
2/18/2008 GW7AAV/P 144MHZ 19
4/23/2008 GW8OGI 70MHZ 5
5/6/2008 GW0PZO/P 144MHZ 13
5/17/2008 MW0IDX 144MHZ 15
5/17/2008 MW0IDX 433MHZ 2
7/26/2008 MW3VSG 144MHZ 36
8/14/2008 2W0OCC/P 144MHZ 11
8/14/2008 2W0OYG/P 144MHZ 12
8/14/2008 MW6MIJ/P 144MHZ 11
9/8/2008 2W0MCV/P 144MHZ 16
10/19/2008 MW/LA1ENA/P 144MHZ 1
10/19/2008 MW/LA1KHA/P 144MHZ 1
10/19/2008 MW1EYP/P 144MHZ 6
10/19/2008 MW3EYP/P 144MHZ 8
11/3/2008 GW4RQJ/P 144MHZ 11
12/9/2008 GW0PEB/P 144MHZ 5
12/31/2008 GW4ERP/P 144MHZ 21
1/2/2009 GW0EWN/P 144MHZ 13
2/7/2009 2W0KPO/P 144MHZ 4
2/7/2009 MW0JDK/P 144MHZ 26
2/11/2009 GW0VMW 144MHZ 8
2/11/2009 GW0VMW 433MHZ 3
2/20/2009 MW6ADL/P 144MHZ 33
2/24/2009 GW4EVX/P 144MHZ 23
2/24/2009 GW4EVX/P 70MHZ 13
2/28/2009 2E0EDX/P 144MHZ 37
2/28/2009 2E0EDX/P 70MHZ 4
2/28/2009 2W0CYM/P 144MHZ 19
3/1/2009 GW4MD/P 144MHZ 26
3/15/2009 GW8HXE/P 144MHZ 6
3/15/2009 GW8HXE/P 70MHZ 4
4/11/2009 MW3NVJ/P 144MHZ 5
4/11/2009 MW3WCV/P 144MHZ 27
5/6/2009 MW1MAJ/P 144MHZ 5
5/6/2009 MW1MAJ/P 50MHZ 6
5/6/2009 MW3ZCB/P 144MHZ 20
5/28/2009 MW1DTJ/P 144MHZ 40
6/2/2009 GW4BVE/P 144MHz 29
6/2/2009 GW4BVE/P 433MHz 9
6/11/2009 GW8OGI 144MHZ 8
6/11/2009 GW8OGI 70MHZ 6
7/19/2009 MW1EYP/P 144MHZ 62
7/19/2009 MW3EYP/P 144MHZ 19
7/20/2009 MW0OZH/P 144MHZ 6
7/20/2009 MW3ZIZ 144MHZ 5
9/12/2009 MW0FMF/P 144MHz 16
9/12/2009 MW0FMF/P 433MHz 2
11/2/2009 G4RQJ/P 144MHz 12
11/5/2009 GW1OPV/P 144MHz 9
11/5/2009 GW1OPV/P 70MHz 1
12/10/2009 GW4ZRP/P 144MHz 10
12/10/2009 GW4ZRP/P 433MHz 2
12/13/2009 GW0OXV/P 1240MHz 1
12/13/2009 GW0OXV/P 144MHz 20
12/13/2009 MW1DTJ/P 144MHz 12
1/3/2010 GW8OGI 144MHz 26
1/28/2010 2W0EDX/P 144MHz 11
1/28/2010 2W0EDX/P 70MHz 1
2/7/2010 GW8HXE/P 144MHz 11
2/7/2010 GW8HXE/P 70MHz 2
2/26/2010 2W0LAE/P 144MHz 8
3/2/2010 GW4ZRP/P 144MHz 3
3/2/2010 GW4ZRP/P 433MHz 1
3/4/2010 GW4EVX/P 144MHz 8
3/4/2010 GW4EVX/P 433MHz 5
3/4/2010 GW4EVX/P 70MHz 5
4/24/2010 GW1CJJ 144MHz 18
5/3/2010 GW4WSB/P 144MHz 5
5/16/2010 MW1EYP/P 144MHz 71
5/16/2010 MW3EYP/P 144MHz 17
8/29/2010 2W1FKA/P 144MHz 5
8/29/2010 GW4DDL/P 144MHz 9
9/25/2010 2W0BTR/P 144MHz 13
9/26/2010 MW1AVV/P 1240MHz 4
9/26/2010 MW1AVV/P 144MHz 14
9/26/2010 MW1AVV/P 70MHz 5
10/18/2010 GW4HDR/P 144MHz 1
10/18/2010 GW4HDR/P 433MHz 3
11/1/2010 G4RQJ/P 144MHz 13
11/6/2010 GW1OPV/P 144MHz 11
12/11/2010 2W0XTL 144MHz 12
12/11/2010 2W0XTL 70MHz 7
12/14/2010 MW0COP/P 144MHz 25
12/25/2010 2W0TDX/P 144MHz 12
12/25/2010 2W0XYL/P 144MHz 8
12/30/2010 GW0VMW/P 144MHz 14
12/30/2010 GW0VMW/P 70MHz 3
12/31/2010 GW4CQZ/P 144MHz 19
1/3/2011 GW4EVX/P 50MHz 3
1/3/2011 GW4EVX/P 70MHz 14
1/8/2011 2W0LAE/P 144MHz 11
1/8/2011 2W0LAE/P 433MHz 1
1/9/2011 GW7RNX/P 70MHz 12
2/3/2011 GW8OGI 144MHz 10
2/11/2011 GW4OKT/P 144MHz 4
2/13/2011 MW1EYO/P 144MHz 21
2/13/2011 MW1EYO/P 433MHz 3
2/22/2011 MW3NYR 144MHz 12
3/4/2011 2W0XYL/P 144MHz 14
3/5/2011 MW0TUB/P 144MHz 30
3/14/2011 GW4OKT/P 144MHz 3
3/18/2011 MW6MGB/P 144MHz 10
4/28/2011 2W0TDX/P 144MHz 7
5/1/2011 GR4VSS 144MHz 17
5/2/2011 MW6MGB/P 144MHz 39
I’d have expected the figures to be the other way round with many more people working it on HF than VHF due to the greater range potential. But due to the good VHF takeoff over a high population density area, many people just treat it as a 2m FM only summit. Their success seems to lead to people ignoring it on HF when it looks like there are probably a lot of chasers looking for it but can’t hear it on VHF.
Andy
MM0FMF
In reply to MM0FMF:
It is true that NW-044 is good VHF take off over a high population density area, but the fact that a number of Sota regulars also have used the hill during VHF contests such as the Backpackers slightly warps the numbers (something to do with stopping all day?). This is probably the case with a number of hills in the program. It is also a very busy hill and I personally would avoid doing HF at the weekend when the crowds might make HF dipoles more of a hazard, which is when we tend to get more HF contacts.
Hopefully there’s always going to be someone who has yet to work a common summit, because the popularity of SOTA is growing and will continue to do so.
Not so much making a point as thinking out aloud.
73 Steve GW7AAV
In reply to GW7AAV:
Just seen your alert, Tom, 7052 is for automatic controlled data stations (unattended) - whatever that means! 
73
Brian G8ADD
In reply to G8ADD:
PACTOR mailboxes and Winlink stuff Brian.
Andy
MM0FMF
In reply to M1EYP:
I have never heard you in any of the Tuesday evening contests, Tom
11/05/2010 19:00 G/SP-015 433MHz SSB G3NYY/P G/WB-022
06/07/2010 20:38 G/SP-015 144MHz SSB G3NYY/P
13/07/2010 19:09 G/SP-013 433MHz SSB G3NYY/PThree more than “never” I make it.
Oops! I must admit I didn’t look that far back. I have certainly never heard you when I’ve been at IO92BA.
You did well in the AL
this week Walt. Would you not have been BP qualifying?
Thanks. That’s the first time I have ever operated /P on 50 MHz. I slung together the GW7AAV Delta Loop just a couple of hours before the contest. I was amazed how far I could get with 5 watts on the band. The stations in GI and Cornwall couldn’t hear me, though, despite the fact that they were good signals with me. 
Actually, I packed up at 21:10 UTC because it was getting dark and cold. With hindsight, if I had stuck it out until 21:30, I might have beaten LZE!
No, I was not BP qualifying … I was operating from the car. I don’t like backpacking in the dark!
73,
Walt (G3NYY)
In reply to GW7AAV:
I am a case in point. I only work HF SSB since I have no VHF/UHF capability. Tom’s activation this morning on 80m SSB provided me with a unique and I have been involved as a chaser since Jan 2010. Thank you Tom. 73 Tony G8BVJ
Morning Tom
Heard G0VOF in QSO with you but no SSB signal from you here in West Cambridgeshire. Thanks for trying. 73 Tony, G8BVJ
In reply to G8BVJ:
Hi Tony,
Very strange conditions this morning, Tom was 59+20 here on CW & was the same on SSB over a distance of 70 Kms. I have tried to work Tom before on 40m & not mananged to, but today is the strongest I have heard him on the band.
The Chilton ionogram is not giving a reading at the moment but checking other sources I am baffled at the propagation between me & Tom being so good.
The band is obviously open for more distant contacts as Tom worked several EU stations, but he was the strongest signal I could hear on the band this morning.
Very strange indeed!
I’m baffled.
Best 73,
Mark G0VOF
In reply to G0VOF:
Hi Mark, You were 59++ with me. Perhaps the skip was all wrong. It is a pity since I have never worked the Cloud on 40m SSB and I don’t have CW. 73 Tony, G8BVJ
In reply to G8BVJ:
Thanks for the nice report Tony 
I’ve come to the conclusion that the path between me & Tom was via Sporadic E,or more accurately E layer NVIS, if there is such a thing,hence the very strong signal over such a short path. It will not have been via the F2 layer otherwise you would have heard Tom as well as I did.
73,
Mark G0VOF
In reply to G0VOF:
For comparison Tom was totally inaudible here in Birmingham, I hung on for a quarter of an hour hoping that he would emerge from the noise!
73
Brian G8ADD
Friday 27th May 2011 saw my fifth daily consecutive Cloud activation of the working week. Another successful early get-up meant that I was QRV on 40m CW by 0550z. Ten stations were worked before things went quiet and I switched up 30kHz to 7.062MHz SSB. The next contact - with Mark G0VOF - was extraordinary, almost like a fully quietening 2m FM QSO with a station in the same town. It was then a pleasure to speak for the first time with David EC2DM, who I have worked several times on CW, including in that segment of my operation earlier.
Back on 7.032MHz CW, three more stations were worked, bringing the QSO count to 15 and the DXCC count to 10 - CT, DL, EA, F, G, HA, I, LA, OK and S5. My SLAB was flat, and I was working on 500mW by the end. I had a listen on 15m and heard a DX station working a pile-up - A7 I think it was. However, I just didn’t have enough juice left in the SLAB to call him or call CQ, so I packed up.
At this point the light rain became heavy rain, so I wasted no time in scuttling back down the hill. It was cold and wet, and my car heater was used on my drive to work. May? Ha!
Tom M1EYP
In reply to M1EYP:
At this point the light rain became heavy rain, so I wasted no time in
scuttling back down the hill. It was cold and wet, and my car heater was used
on my drive to work. May? Ha!
MWIS is reporting temps of 1 to 2C at 900m and snow above 800m for Sunday. May indeed!
Andy
MM0FMF
In reply to M1EYP:
Hi again Tom,
This mornings conditions on 40m were indeed very strange. As in my earlier post I can only assume there was some enhanced E layer propagation involved. I have worked you on G/SP-015 on many bands, but today was the strongest I have heard you, possibly with the exception of on 2m SSB when we are beaming directly at each other. For HF, with only 5 Watts at your end this morning was very unusual.
With the reports from Tony & Brian, & what I gleaned from the Chilton Ionogram & other sources, I think what must have been happenning is as follows.
Our signals, both ways were being reflected back from both the E layer & F2 layer & arriving back at our locations in phase, hence the their unusually high strength. At that time the E layer was just above 100Kms AGL & effectivly reflecting frequencies up to 10 MHz.
For Tony & Brian, the signal from your location could have been reflected/refracted by both the E & F2 layers but arriving at their locations out of phase, thereby cancelling each other out.
As I was further North from all stations, & running 100 Watts against 5 Watts, my signal would have arrived at Tony’s location via a slightly different path, where the phase difference was not enough to cancel out my signal, & any such phase difference would have been at least partially offset by the higher power I was using.
I may be wrong, but that is the most logical explanation I can think of.
In any case very strange, but very easy QSO’s on both CW & SSB this morning between G/SP-015 & Blackburn.
Best 73,
Mark G0VOF