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The World Above - HF & VHF/UHF DX Operations

Discover VHF/UHF operations including terrestrial, tropospheric, E-Skip, satellites, meteor scatter, and more. Learn about the VHF/UHF DX experiences and propagation techniques shared by enthusiasts.

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The World Above - HF & VHF/UHF DX Operations

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  1. President: Bill Musa, K5YG Vice President: Anthony Allen, W6CSA Secretary: Victoria McKitrick, K5EYK Board Member: Glenn Martin, N5PQ Board Member: Bob Delaney, WN2E Formed December 2010 N5GHZ KF5JKC – Applied for N5GHZ

  2. The World Above HF&VHF/UHF DXpresented byBill Musa – K5YGJanuary 9, 2011Video (Video produced by JACQUE “JD” DUPUY, N0IRS)

  3. VHF/UHF Operations There is something for everyone: Terrestrial – all modes Line of sight Tropospheric (Tropo) Sporadic E (E-Skip) F2 Skip on 6M Satellites(Up and Down Link on various VHF/UHF bands) RS-12 Satellite used 15M up with 10M down Meteor Scatter (M/S) (6M and 2M) Moon Bounce (EME) (6M thru 1.2Ghz)

  4. “The VHF/UHF DX Bug” bit Bill in 1965 Highlights for K5YG • 1965 – Made some of the first contacts via the OSCAR Satellites. (2M up / 2M down – low orbit) • 1965 CQ Spring VHF Contest – High Score 2M • 1970 – Worked W5WAX in Oklahoma (1180mi,) on 2M via Aurora over 40 years ago, from NJ (Then again (K5SW) in 2008 from MS on 2M CW and SSB) • 1995 – Worked All States via Satellite (ARRL OSCAR Award #214) • 1995 – AMSAT W4AMI Satellite Operator Achievement Award #6 for 1000 Satellite QSO’s • 2008 - Working N0IRS & N0IRC in Kansas City, MO (700mi) on 2M • 2008 - Working N4TUT in FL (450mi) on 70cm from the O.S. Bridge • 2008 - Working N4TUT in FL (450mi) on 23cm SSB (Both running only 1 Watt) • 2009 – Working all over USA and Europe on 6M • 2010 – 2M E-Skip Opening June 19, 2010 – Maybe the best ever K5YG EM50 to N0IRC EM29 Recording (Video produced by JACQUE “JD” DUPUY, N0IRS)

  5. 1970 contact with Sam, W5WAX

  6. 1967 contact with Barney, now K3FM

  7. VHF/UHF Propagation • 6M – Normally line-of-sight • Sporadic E Propagation –All over US with multi-hop to Europe • F2 Skip on 6M during Sun Spot Cycle High – world wide • Meteor Scatter every morning – work all over US • 2 M – Normally line-of-sight • Tropospheric (Tropo) Propagation - 500mi • Sporadic E Propagation (E-Skip) - 1000mi + • Back Scatter – strange sounding signals 100mi • Meteor Scatter most every day, peaking during major Meteor Showers. (1500 mi about the limit on 6 & 2M) • Moon Bounce (HS Via WSJT by K1JT) or via CW – world wide • 70cm & above – Normally Line of sight • Occasional Tropo Propagation, most of the time 70cm is better than 2M. • Moon Bounce

  8. F2 Skip during Sun Cycle High F2 Skip Don't hold your breath for this one, but be aware of its potentialities. This is the familiar long-haul skip which bounces shortwave signals around the world in hops of roughly 2000 miles each. During sunspot peaks F2 may extend up to 60 mHz, opening American channel 2 to DX, plus a number of European, African and Oceanic TV stations operating at these frequencies and below. F2 activity is greatest in years of peak sunspot activity. As sunspot activity increases, F2 MUF also rise. F2 at VHF frequencies is not probable in years of low solar activity. If you want to keep track of F2 conditions, which tend to peak in the spring and fall, monitor on a 30-50 mHz radio. Paging stations beyond 1600 miles or so on 35 and 43 mHz will give you a warning when F2 is "up".

  9. What does it take? • Multi-mode SSB/CW/FM - HF/VHF/UHF Transceiver (IC-706, IC-7000, IC-910H, FT-897D, TS-2000) • Low Loss Coax such as LMR-400 • Mast mounted Pre-Amp desirable • Most using Horizontally Polarized Antennas • Yagi, 2M Big Wheel, 6M Dipole, Vertical • Only 25-100 Watts needed during good opening • 300W or more best for Meteor Scatter

  10. VHF/UHF Calling Frequencies • 6M – SSB Calling: 50.125, CW 50.110 • 6M – Beacons below 50.090 • 6M – HS Meteor Scatter: 50.260 • 2M – SSB and CW calling 144.200 • 2M – HS Meteor Scatter 144.140 • 2M – EME 144.127 • 1.25M (222 Band) SSB & CW 222.100 • 70CM – SSB & CW 432.100 • Beacons 432.300 and above • K5YG/B 432.305 Running 10 watts 24/7 into HO Loops • 23CM – SSB and CW 1296.100 • Schedules: Usually 5-10 up or down from calling frequency • Rag Chew: Move off the calling frequency

  11. When is 6M and above open? • Being there at the right time! • Local Observations • Weather – Warm Front approaching, Fog • Repeater: Reception of stations outside normal area • Receiving distant TV stations, WX Radio, Marine Band • Beacons on 10M, 6M, 2M and 70CM • Tools • Grid Bandits Website • APRS • Hepburn Propagation Forecasts • Propagation Logger (6, 2 & UHF) • DX Sherlock 1.8 - Sporadic-E clouds location and estimated MUF real time map • Ping Jockey

  12. APRS • Automatic Packet Reporting System • 144.390 • APRS was developed by Bob Bruninga, WB4APR, as a real-time local tactical communications system for rapidly exchanging digital data of immediate value to operations. This really took off when GPS became available and MAPS were integrated into the system for tactical situational awareness of everything in the net. In the 13 years since its introduction, it has grown to encompass just about every aspect of Amateur Radio.

  13. Grid Square Map

  14. APRS 28 Dec 08 @ 1550z

  15. APRS Data

  16. APRS Data

  17. Very good opening into TX, AR, TN and FL

  18. Sporadic E July 26, 2008

  19. Sporadic E July 1, 2008

  20. The “Big one” 2M E-Skip Opening June 19, 2010

  21. World above HF • Get on 50.125, or 144.200 and make some “noise” There can be a Sporadic E opening on 6M anytime of the day The 2M APRS Map does not always tell the truth! Call CQ in the early morning and evenings (If everyone listens the bands appear to be “dead”) • Plenty of activity during Contests

  22. VHF/UHF Contests Anyone? Great way to check out your equipment Your home station Rovers Fixed Contest Stations Portable “hill top” stations Great opportunity to make contacts toward ARRL VUCC (VHF/UHF Century Club)

  23. VHF contest calendar for 2011

  24. VHF contest calendar for 2011

  25. VHF/UHF Awards ARRL VUCC • ARRL Fred Fish Memorial Award (FFMA) (W5FF SK) Confirm all 488 Grid Squares in contiguous 48 states. (3 holders) • ARRL VHF/UHF Century Club (VUCC)

  26. The World Above HF VHF Highlights (Video produced by JACQUE “JD” DUPUY, N0IRS) “Make some noise” get on: 50.125, 144.200, 222.100, 432.100 & 1296.100 6M 2M 1 1/4M 70CM 23CM Presentation (R3) by Bill Musa, K5YG – Video credits to JD, N0IRS

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