Solar flux/Sunspot index vs. QSOs logged

Hello,

as I got some emails regarding the relationship between the Solar flux, Sunspots, A-index and QSOs on LB there I am posting quick analyze from last few weeks...

All green line markers in the chart represents more than 2 QSOs on 60m band and 160m band outside EU in my log. In most cases I worked 5-6 QSOs on the low bands using 100W and my small antennas (base coil loaded half sloper for 160m w/apex 11m and inverted Z dipole w/apex 9m).

All of the good nites corresponding to a bit higher A-index and low Solar flux/Sunspot numbers in the chart.

Any comments from LB DXers are highly welcomed.

73 - Petr, OK1RP

Terrific propagation on 60m this weekend (w03)

Hello,

so I have to say unfortunatelly that after several trials during last 4 days I still did not worked Texas on Tropical band...

We arranged several skeds with Charles, K5SUL but without success. I realized that the Solar flux and Sunspot numbers were very high compare to last week so I did not expected anything special.



What was interesting this weekend on the 60m band was so directional conditions. After my calling on 5261/FA channel QSX upper channel for USA on Sat nite I got the call from Garry, K4AVC with very nice signal comes from NC. I was delighted to work him and I was a bit confident to make some another one from USA.

I spent 2 hrs on band but I did not worked anybody (few skeds failed) and even I did not received anybody on band. Also on ch5 there was no traffic.

Does anybody met this directional conditions on Tropical band also during high levels of Solar flux and Sunspot indexes?

73 - Petr, OK1RP

US night on 60m Tropical band...

Hello,

on 19/1/2011 I listened to my communication receiver (see Tropical Band DXing by broadcast listeners article overe here on blog) and I realized that there are many stations from USA readable in between 5-6MHz broadcast band. Well it sounds like good propagation to NA tonite which maybe will alow me to work some stations on 60m ham band also. As my antenna is still not the USA killer I have to watch the conditions carefully.

I am sending an eml to few friends active on 60m and going to turn ON my K3 around 22:45z. Starting CQ on FA channel with QSX to ch2...no chance as there is huge QRM from intruder. OK > QSY to ch3 should help. No it's even worse here so I moved to finally ch5. There is no traffic and I am starting to call CQ again on FA split up to ch5.

After few minutes I am recognizing in the noise Pete, N0FW. After several trials we exchanged reports. Not easy so I guess the conditions are not the best but ok lets go to continue call on frequency.

I am getting some calls but I am not able to copy any complete call. YES...Charles, K5SUL is calling me for sure. Callsigns are completed so now we have to get report. Deep and long periods QSB making it hard. Charles did not received my report and I have nothing too. Grrrr I need the Texas on tropical band. After 30mins we are trying it again. Long minutes I am trying to send my report for him (btw sigs improved a bit). Charles completed report for him correctly. I am very nervous as some RTTY local station make me QRM for few seconds. No, not now please. We are trying to repeat the report for me but I am not able to get it correctly. After 40 minutes I scratched the battle. No correct QSO for now. :(

I hear another weak station on ch5 for me. Several trials... Again QRZ > 4? Well number 4 please again? K? recognized in the noise. I am trying all of my antennas (3pcs) but no way...Again please K4??? My correspondent must be dissapointed that I am so deaf! Grrr...again? No, no, no I am not able to copy my frend. Just K4?? but nothing more.

I call CQ again but dissapointed with preview trial I am thinking about QSY to bed.
Just about 00:55z Bob, W4DR is calling me with good sigs. Nice QSO improved my state of mind. New state for WAS60 > very good. Immediatelly after I am called by another station. Lot of noise on channel and intruder with wide spectrum of carriers making me challenge to get the call. I am asking again to call me please. Well number 4 I got but nothing more. Again...K4??? but still deep QSB and lot of noise. After several trials I am trying to use EQ in my K3. I am not experienced and situation is even worse. EQ goes OFF. Please again...K4?C. Well I got K4C?? using DSP NR and playing with Notch filter. After for some seconds signal going up. Yes I got N4CH. it should be "CH". I am sending quickly report and believing that improved signal will sustain few seconds more. OK > I am getting report and it seems that QSO is done. Ufff. I am tired.

On the ch5 calling some UK station the USA. Well but if someone is calling on ch5 it should be for me as there is split operation untill now...I am thinking and asking on FA channel CW QRZ? Yes Gary, K4AVC is calling me with solid signal. We made beautiful QSO and I am working my another US state to WAS60 > NC. Great!

Upss...I have just 3.5hrs for sleeping before my leaving to QRL (50 miles by car to Prague city) as same as 2 nites before. I am so tired and it seems that I will have problem to not sleeping close to test equipment in the lab...:(

I am turning K3 tcvr OFF and going zzzzing. In the morning my son was boggled at my face after waking up. Maybe my face was more or less zombie, hi.

When I arrived to QRL I found eml from Les, K4DY. "Petr I called You several times but finally You did not copy me." :(( I really need better antenna for rx USA I think.

Totals: 4QSOs from OH, VA and NC (4 init callsigns) using 100W and low apex Inverted Z dipole (see on this blog an article about this crazy antenna)

Nothing special just one another nite on the 60m Tropical band...

73 - Petr, OK1RP

LZ - DXCC #12 on 60m

Hello,

tonite 21/1/11 between 17z-18z on 5260.7kHz on CW I worked LZ2DF. Many stations worked LZ on this band this evenning as LZ2DF had big signal in central EU.

I know that Mike, LZ2DF is very active listener and he is watching this band quite often. His 60m band monitoring activities are focused on the long distance QSOs conditions and multi hops propagation. His lsng reports can be often seen on cluster and his support and contribution help a lot to all of us in band study!

Thank You Mike for Your effort and help,

73 - Petr, OK1RP

Turkey - DXCC #11 worked on Tropical band

Hello,

so after several trials with Atilla, TA4ED we managed QSO tonite on tropical band.

I am really so happy... Atilla was so nice to make QSO on CW with me and allowed me to work > my new one DXCC #11, WAZ60 #4 and WAC60 #3. I know that it is maybe not big DX for some of You but for me TA is very rare on 60m band CW and even I also hunted AS continent on this band for WAC60. Nice!

It was not easy as we tried to make QSO several times during last weeks but we never had success. I heard one time Atilla very weak but he did not copied my pipsqueak signal. As I built new experimental antenna for EU it seems that signal improved. The only problem tonite we had was QRM from some local source. Regarding the new experimental antenna > after few of QSOs with UK stations it sounds like UK killer, hi. I am receiving "+10dB", "339>599+" reports comparing to preview antenna from UK stations. I am happy because the idea was to have an antenna for EU and mainly for UK ragchews.

So many thanks to Atilla for nice CW QSO > very good job my friend!

73 - Petr, OK1RP

UK Military Stations on 60m

Communicating with UK Military Stations

The 5MHz NoV sets a licence condition that for the first time allows UK Amateurs to establish communication with military or military cadet stations. Such stations have an operating procedure that is based upon the four concepts of BREVITY, ACCURACY, SECURITY, and SPEED - or “BASS” for short, thus please respect their operating procedure.

Note that Air Cadet and Sea Cadet stations use M-prefix 3-letter call signs, usually followed by two digits, whilst Army Cadet stations use one or two figure call signs, sometimes followed by a letter. The military stations are not allowed to give their unit name, location, or the operator’s name. It is hoped that they may be allowed some flexibility with respect to QTH locators. Cadet stations may be heard working each other on frequencies close to ours, but it is NOT permitted for amateurs to contact cadets on such frequencies.

Assessment of SINPO

Whilst the traditional RS(T) report can be given at the start of a contact to give the other station some idea of the likely quality of the subsequent contact for the purposes of the experiment, we require a more detailed and follow the ITU recommendation that SINPO reporting is used, as defined in their current document SM.1135.

The S (signal level) report, on a scale of 1 – 5, is effectively an assessment of how well the signal stands out above the background receiver noise. Details of the assessment are given in Table 2 below. Note that we ask that you record a “not heard” as S=1, when it is known that the station is actually transmitting on channel.

	S	I	N	P	O
Rating	Signal	Degrading effect of			Overall
scale	strength	Interference	Noise	Propagation disturbance	rating
5	Excellent	Nil	Nil	Nil	Excellent
4	Good	Slight	Slight	Slight	Good
3	Fair	Moderate	Moderate	Moderate	Fair
2	Poor	Severe	Severe	Severe	Poor
1	Barely audible	Extreme	Extreme	Extreme	Unusable

If You already heard stations using for example MRN prefixes on 60m and You would like to learn more about then check the link as follows: Fivemegs Experiment

73 - Petr, OK1RP

60m - Tropical band in CT

Hello,

Anacom authorized few of CT's to operate in 60m band on temporary basis.

Authorized dates: 1st January 2011 to 30st April 2011.
Authorized frequencies: 5371,5 kHz and 5403,5 kHz.
Transmission modes: A1A (CW) and J3E (SSB).
Anacom bandplan

Many thanks to Miguel, CT1IUA for information published on his web and hope to meet more CT's on Tropical band CW...

73 - Petr, OK1RP