Many 2000+km paths on 136kHz

During the night of Thu/Fri 21-22 February LF conditions were good throughout the northern hemisphere. The following refers to the reception of Opera32 beacons on the 136kHz band.

DX stations received by me:
UA4WPF (3420km) between 2106 and 0341UTC
RN3AGC (2483km) at 2142
UW8SM (1782km) between 2316 and 0451UTC
SV8CS (2260km) between 0146 and 0506UTC

Paths recorded over 2000m (best DX in brackets): 

UA4WPF was received by G3XDV, UA0SNV-1, UA0AET-1, DL-SWL/RX2, YO/4X4RF, PA3FNY, GW0EZY and G0TKN (3574km).

DF2JP was received by TF3HZ (2194km).

RN3AGC was received by G3XDV (2483km) and PA3FNY.

RA3TTS was received by UA0AET-1 (2850km)

WD2XNS was received by VE4XC (2058km)

SV8CS was received by G3XDV, GW0EZY (2488km), RX3DHR and PA3FNY.

VE7BDQ was received by KL1X (2147km)

UW8SM was received by GW0EZY (2009km)

US to UK Again on 136kHz Op32

Conditions on the 136kHz band have been very good for the past few days, culminating in some transatlantic DX. My Opera32 receiving produced the following overnight results.

Wed/Thu 20-21 February: RN3AGC between 1714 and 2303UTC peaking -30dB signal/noise; UW8SM 1749 to 0400UTC peak -32dB; UA4WPF 1919 to 2218UTC peak -35dB; RA3YO at 2000UTC -40dB, SV8CS 2154 to 0433UTC -32dB and WD2XNS at 0307UTC, -33dB and 0340UTC -36dB. This latter was at a distance of 5414km which is an Opera32 mode record for me.

Tue/Wed 19-20 February: UA4WPF (3420km) between 2009 and 0206UTC, RN3AGC, RN3AUS and SV8CS.

Mon/Tue 18-19 February: SV8CS between 1813 and 0412UTC, RN3AGC 2034 to 2239UTC and UA4WPF 2121 to 0103UTC.

Mid-Feb 136kHz Receiving

After another short break in activity caused by family illness, I am able to monitor 136kHz again.

Sun/Mon 17-18 February: Decoded Opera32 beacons overnight from UA4WPF (3422km), RN3AGC and a new station SV8CS (2261km) who was received at 2244, 0024, 0204, 0344 and 0523UTC, peaking -33dB S/N.

Sat/Sun 16-17 February: Decoded Opera32 beacons overnight from UA4WPF (7 decodes between 1933 and 0204UTC) peaking -35dB S/N and RN3AGC at 2119UTC.

Fri/Sat 15-16 February: Decoded Opera32 beacons overnight from RN3AGC and RN3AUS.

Transmit Capability

Following my fire last November, my transmitting antenna has been down. I have been waiting for the repair work to be done by my insurers. Tomorrow some of the repairs will be carried out, and I hope it will all be finished within a few weeks so I can re-erect my main mast. Meantime, I have a lash-up receve antenna which works quite well.

The new transmit antenna will be similar to the old one but it will be fed from the end remote from the house. Not only will this reduce the possibilty of another fire, but it should reduce the amount of electrical noise picked up from my house and those of my neighbours. It will be much more difficult to engineer, and will involve a plastic shed for the remote loading and tuning coils.

January Catch-up

Updating this blog - and for much of the time, LF receiving - has taken a back seat as I have had the flu for a few days. Here is a brief summary of recent activity (note that I am still not able to transmit on LF/MF).

Sat 26 January: A very good QRSS3 signal from EW6GB today on 137.7kHz (picture below). Overnight, I received QRSS60 from WD2XGJ. Also logged DF2JP and RN3AGC on Opera32.

Huge signal from EW6GB, with G3XBM's "earth stake antenna" signal at the top

Thu 24 January: On 136kHz Opera32 I received RA3YO and RN3AGC.

Wed 23 January: On 136kHz Opera32 I received RN3AGC.

Mon 21 January: Monitored 472kHz WSPR mode and logged: G3XBM/1, G3ZJO, PA0A, G4KPX, DG3LV, PA3FNY, PA2RF, DK6NI, G4HJW/1, PA3EGO, G1SLE, PA0O, SM2BHZ and M1GEO.

Sun 20 January: Re-tuned the antenna to 472kHz and received:
WSPR from G4KPX, G4HJW/1, G1SLE, M1GEO, G0VQH, PA3ABK, PA2RF, G3XBM, DG3LV.
Opera4 from DJ8ES, G4WGT, G0NBD, PA3BHT and DD2UJ (977km from me).
Opera8 from G0NBD.

Sat 19 January: Monitoring the 136kHz band produced daytime QRSS3 from G3XIZ and Opera32 from 1933 to 2311UTC from UA4WPF peaking -30dB S/N.