136kHz Op32 DX 15-18 January

Fri 18 January: 136kHz: Opera32: RN3AGC and UA4WPF.

Thu 17 January: 136kHz Opera 32: UA4WPF between 1954 and 2147UTC; RN3AGC between 2135 and 2240UTC.

Tue 15 January: 136kHz Opera32 mode: UW8SM received between 0254 and 0440UTC; DF6NM received at 2035UTC.

USA Night on 136kHz

Last night, there was much beacon activity around 137.777kHz. The picture taken at 0300 shows (from the top):

WD2XNS in CT using QRSS60 (visible 0115-0530UTC) in locator FN31LS 5424km from me.
WD2XFJ in MA using QRSS60 (visible 0115-0745UTC) in locator FN42HI 5275km from me.
WD2XES in MA using DFCW60 (visible 0200-0345UTC) in locator FN42CH 5305km from me.
UW8SM in the Ukraine using DFCW60 - his "SM" is on the same frequency as "XES" at 0310.
WD2XKO in NC using QRSS60 (visible 0130-0445UTC) in locator EM95TG 6380km from me.

The bottom scale shows the time. The frequency scale on the right is in Hertz relative to 137.777kHz.
Click on the image to enlarge it.

Note that the US calls on 136kHz and 472kHz are run by amateurs operating under special experimental licences as the US. They cannot use their own callsigns as the US does not currently have an amateur allocation on these bands.

UW8SM on 136kHz

I logged several transmissions from UW8SM, when he was using Opera32 yesterday evening and then QRSS60 overnight.

472kHz WSPR DX

Last night from about 2000 to 0800UTC there was much activity on 472kHz WSPR (set your receiver to 474.2kHz USB). 25 stations in 7 countries (DL, F, G, GW, LA, PA and W) were decoded, including two experimental US stations:
WE6XGR in NY (loc FN12LP) at 5622km with 26 decodes between 2146 and 0140UTC, peaking a massive -11db S/N.
WG2XJM in PA (loc EN91WR) at 5882km with a single decode at 0734, S/N -27dB.

136kHz Op32

All of the 136kHz Opera32 activity yesterday evening seemed to come from the East. I received UW8SM, a new station for this mode, who was decoded at 1925 and 2019UTC with a signal/noise ratio of -38 and -37dB respectively. Andy is in the Ukraine, 1782km from me. Also received UA4WPF at 3240km.

472kHz Bandplanning

It is far too early to devise a formal band plan for the 472kHz band. However, it is useful to know what frequencies are commonly used. Look on the following frequencies for these modes:

CW - Often around 472.5kHz, though can be heard all over the band.
WSJTX - Set dial to 474.1kHz USB (for signals around 475.6kHz)
WSPR - Set dial to 474.2kHz USB (for signals between 475.6 and 475.8kHz).
QRSS - Around 476.175kHz. Also around 478.900kHz.
Opera - Set dial to 477.0 kHz USB (for signals between 478.5 and 478.8kHz).

More 472kHz Activity

Another busy weekend with 28 different stations received from six countries (5 DL, 1 HB, 12 G, 8 PA, 1 SM and 1 YO), using three modes.

Sun/Mon 6-7 January: Heard CW from G3XIZ, G3YXM (599), G7NKS and SM6BHZ (569). Also WSPR beacons from DG3LU, DL3DNR, G3XBM, G3XIZ, G3ZJO, G4HJW, G4WGT, G7NKS, G8IMR, PA0A, PA0AM, PA0O, PA3ABK and PA3EGO. QRSS3 from HB9ASB, QRSS10 from DF2JP, DL2HRE, PA3CPM, PA3FNY and YO2IS.

Sat 5 January: Heard CW from and G3DXZ (569), G3KEV (579) and M0FMT (579). Also received WSPR beacons from DF2JP, DL3DNR, DL3ZID, G3ZJO, G8HUH, G8IMR, PA0A and PA2RF.

472kHz in the New Year

High activity levels continue into the New Year on the new (for the UK) 472kHz band. 20 different stations in 7 countries (DL, F, G, GI, PA, LA, OK) on three modes in two days!

Fri 4 January: CW from GI3PDN (559), G3XIZ (599) and M0FMT (579). QRSS10 from PA3CPM and WSPR overnight from DF8OU, F4DTL, G3XBM, G4HJW, G7NKS, G8HUH, G8IMR, LA4ANA (my best receive DX so far on this band at 1102km), PA0A, PA0O, PA2RF and PA3ABK.

Thu 3 January: Heard CW from DK5QG (549), OK2BVG (539) and DK7FC (539). Also Opera4 from PA3BHT.

472kHz Op4

Stations received using Opera4 mode on the 477kHz band yesterday evening were: G0NBD, G4WGT, G8HUH,  PA0A, PA3BHT and PA3FNY.
Note that Opera4 should be received whilst tuned to 477kHz USB (in an SSB bandwidth); the actual transmissions are between 478.6 and 478.8kHz. The software is free from the link above.

New Year, New UK Band

1 January 2013 heralded the end of the old experimental 500kHz band in the UK (though a few countries still have this allocation), and the start of the new band at 472-479kHz. Several countries have access to this band and more will follow this year. In the UK, it is necessary to have a Full Licence and to obtain a Notice of Variation (see this Ofcom page for details) before transmitting.

On New Year's Day there was much activity, mostly from Germans who have had the 472kHz band for several months, but also from UK stations who had migrated from 500kHz.

I received 472kHz CW from DF5QG (539), DJ5BV (539), DJ8WX (539), G0JXM (579), G3KEV (559), G3XIZ (599) and HB9ASB (569).
Also Opera4 from DG8RW, DJ5BV, G0NBD, G4WGT, PA3BHT and SM6BHZ (1011km and peaking an amazing +6dB S/N).