Announcement & Chat Page - Apr 98

Finally some DX on the 30th of April: 1628z 5R8EE hrd, 1639z 7Q7SIX bcn, 1644z 7Q7JL KH74, 1711z Z22JE KH52nf. At 1745z 7Q7SIX still in. 1905z OD5SIX bcn on .078, 1909z SV8RV KM07 and most of the time hrd SV9ANK on .110 working EU. 73, Max.
Max, DL4MDQ <Max.Wild@T-Online.de>
- Thursday, April 30, 1998 at 20:32:27 (BST)

Re: msg de PE1LAU Both PA0HIP and PA0OOS are in the TT8JE log. Propagation likely to be MS+Spread F
Peter PA3EUI <etacombv@caiw.nl>
- Thursday, April 30, 1998 at 20:24:37 (BST)

update: EK6AD getting hooked 3 ele quad up in early May....
Neil G0JHC
- Thursday, April 30, 1998 at 19:36:35 (BST)

EK6AD in LN20, runs 10w to a loop, unlikely to be strong on double hop into the UK. Keep those ears pinned! Info via Jo YU1ABA.
Neil G0JHC
- Thursday, April 30, 1998 at 19:30:25 (BST)

Dear friends, "6-metre info", May issue, is on my page. Due to computer crash I have lost many addresses and those of you that I used to send info directly may miss it. If so, please send me a mail.
Arne SM7AED <sm7aed@algonet.se>
- Thursday, April 30, 1998 at 14:30:05 (BST)

Look for OK8ANF/mm in KM27/26/16 from May 10th to May 22nd. Rig will be 10W and GP. QSL to DL4MDQ via buro. 73, Max.
Max, DL4MDQ <Max.Wild@T-Online.de>
- Thursday, April 30, 1998 at 06:20:53 (BST)

RE: "J 7" and pe1ogh's msg. I think Mike is gg with 6m dxpeditioner extrodinaire Jimmy Treybig/w6jkv...........Mike, ve9aa/p in the DX wastelands of NB.
ve9aa/p
- Thursday, April 30, 1998 at 02:57:57 (BST)

today our first tep in this cycle, and we worked something!! at 15.30 till 15.40 we had TT8JE in and out, but again no qso!! at 15.45 till 16.13 we had real tep to ZS6, heard in cw ZS6TWB, ZS6XT and ZS6PJS, worked in ssb ZS6WB 55/55. living in JO33 is not as good as say 2 or 300 km south...... heard also this weekend a SV on .110 working into EU and then worked PY and then again EU.........73's GD DX.
john pe1lau <pe1lau@freemail.nl>
- Wednesday, April 29, 1998 at 20:08:00 (BST)

Correction: They will be QRV from Juni 25 upto mid Juli
PE1OZH
- Wednesday, April 29, 1998 at 15:08:21 (BST)

Phoned yesterday with mike K6MYC. Mike told me he goes to J7 with EME equipment for 2m and a friend of him W6?? will be QRV on SIX. They will be QRV from Juli 25 for aprox. 2 weeks. Well i hope many stations can work mike and his friend. Ron PE1OZH April 29.
PE1OZH <pe1ozh@cable.A2000.nl>
- Wednesday, April 29, 1998 at 14:49:00 (BST)

Long scatter mode JA path from 0300z to 0900z today in to VK3 with VK3AMZ VK3AMK and VK3SIX working only CW mode between 50.100 and as low as 50.050 in a JA national CW contest. The clusters basically do not show this opening as having any significance and yet 39/42/43/45/48/49 Mhz indicators were in to VK3 for over 6 hours. The 50.110 call channel was clagged up by a few VK2's whinging because no one would answer them from VK7 and chatting between themselves on the call frequency about the lack of dx and lack of response to their CQ calls!!!
Steve VK3SIX
- Wednesday, April 29, 1998 at 13:13:12 (BST)

Anyone ever heard tell of a 10/11m radio called the "WKS 1001". Made in Korea, but possibly marketed in EU? Stock it does am/ssb from 26.965-28.805. Looking for any additional mods to it. Inside it looks almost identical to a Radio Shack trc-449 which is a Uniden Clone board. Probably 10-15 years old. thanks, Mike
ve9aa/p <ve9aa@hotmail.com>
- Tuesday, April 28, 1998 at 19:43:38 (BST)

Just talked to Eric TT8JE on 28885 at 1240hrs he is hearing Middle East OD5 but no EU. He confirmed two G contacts with myself and G3OIL on Sunday. Heard G3FPQ and G$IGO but did not complete. He will probably pack up equip on May 4 or 5th ready to leave
NORM G3NVO <G3NVO@woodtech.demon.co.ok>
- Tuesday, April 28, 1998 at 12:56:51 (BST)

LOOKING FOR 10 more countrys on SIX-6- for 6 MTR DXCC Hope To WORK all of you. 73 de N8XA
N8XA AXEL <none>
- Tuesday, April 28, 1998 at 12:07:33 (BST)

Nightime openings to Asia are getting later and later and hinging around the bewitching hour of 0900z when we get EU, suggest by October the EU/VK path will be ready at least to VK6PA and VK8GF maybe further. South Asian video strong tonight with extensions over middle east to Black Sea region again. Disregard this if you are a skeptic.
Steve VK3SIX
- Tuesday, April 28, 1998 at 11:48:13 (BST)

OZ5W/P QRV April 28th 50.160 17-21Z JO55KR 1kW 6elm MS sked to 40717767@note.sonofon.dk or GSM +45 40 71 77 67 Check Six News Feb 98 for MS procedure so we can make a QSO also if the band is dead.
Palle, OZ1RH <oz1rh@dialip.csc.dk>
- Tuesday, April 28, 1998 at 10:57:19 (BST)

Worked Dave ZD8T yesterday on 15m and he says Paul ZD8V has new Icom 746 (?) Gave him my '6m is wonderful' message (which all rare DX has to endure from me on HF!) - they are digging a trench to get AC volts into their moveable shack - I think this means more regular operation from ZD8 on 6m this cycle.
Chris GM3WOJ <chris.tran@zetnet.co.uk>
- Tuesday, April 28, 1998 at 10:16:07 (BST)

In JA3 area condx is very fine HL(Korea) to JA3 area.. at 09:29 start qso with HL2DJW.DS1BJU.HL1OXB.DS2DCM.HL1ACW.HL1IWZ and HL1OYF.HL1LTC FM Mode qso on 51.100 and 51.220MHz ! All station 59++ by sporadic E propagation ... I am looking for malti hop spradic E propagation..es Europe!!! de ja3ege Ken Nose PM74OV http://www.jade.dti.ne.jp/~ja3ege
JA3EGE <ja3ege@jade.dti.ne.jp>
- Monday, April 27, 1998 at 14:04:10 (BST)

Hello dear friends, today Monday 27, April 98 I had an interesting QSO with Paul, HZ1AB, from Dhahran. He informed me that is now making a 5 elements quad for 6m and that is also waiting for a FT-920 from England. He will hopefully be on 6m during the next two weeks. The set up will also include an amplifier of about 300W. QSL via K8PYD. Good luck, enjoy the hobby, de Chris, SV1OH
Chris, SV1OH <SV1OH@SV1SV>
- Monday, April 27, 1998 at 11:39:05 (BST)

Worked PY5CC and PY2XB this evening,new dxcc and continent for me. Signals was 55 and 559. See you later. gl de 9a3ft Renny Split Croatia
RENKO KIRIGIN <9a3ft@usa.net>
- Sunday, April 26, 1998 at 20:45:00 (BST)

Worked Eric TT8JE at 1403 GMT today he was agood signal in IO91 for about 5 mins
NORM G3NVO <G3nvo@ woodtech.demon.uk >
- Sunday, April 26, 1998 at 17:23:07 (BST)

To Derek G7DKK. Tnx fer mail. My internet provider could not deliver my answer to the given address
Arne SM7AED <sm7aed@algonet.se>
- Sunday, April 26, 1998 at 17:14:25 (BST)

8Q7QQ running skeds with VK6ACY at 0800z 50 Mhz.
Steve VK3SIX
- Sunday, April 26, 1998 at 05:36:42 (BST)

I agree with Geoff and will support a move down the band. You get a better QSO on CW anyway less verbal. 50.104 is good for here and any where between 080 and 100 so QSX down. This will elliminate all but 10% of the ops down this way you realise as most do not have proficient cw skills anymore and certainly not at the high speed required for EU QSOs at 16000 plus kM.
VK3SIX Steve
- Saturday, April 25, 1998 at 11:26:51 (BST)

re Dx Window and 110. No matter what we try to do it will never educate lids, we can only try! I am putting on the news page the Dx stations requests, not mine! I don't bother going on the band much now because of the junk heard. LU/PY's/ZS's send in daily requests to let it be known that they want to work Eu/AF/etc. Personally I thought after last years progress of education it might be better this year, it seems not. Neil's idea is certainly correct and I also now suggest that serious operators go to 50.080 to 50.105 CW! So, LU/PY/ZS lets utilise the CW portion for the real dxers! gud dx.
Geoff GJ4ICD
- Friday, April 24, 1998 at 22:12:41 (BST)

Double Standard. Neil Geoff et al keep up efforts to clear out a dx window, as I am out of breath herte and now relatively ineffective, if one can gauge by the abuse I openly receive over the air from other dxers who say it doesn;t make any difference to complain about 50.110 so stop complaining about it (A VK8 dxer interjecting into a QSO netween VK3OT and VK6RO who were discussing the QRM on 50.110 etc). All you can do is agitate agitate agitate and you will not make any friends, but I figure I have no friends any way (the penalty for trying to writie a 6M DX column for 10 years) so could care less. Its just the hate mail that scares me and the ill will generated by such a simple request as keeping 110 clear. Ah well as they say in the UK "Some mothers do have 'em" Good luck and nice trying.
Steve VK3OT
- Friday, April 24, 1998 at 21:53:32 (BST)

Further to my previous message. I've just checked on the ZD8MB QSL card (worked 12 Dec 1988 - 1st G-ZD on ssb) and it gave his QSL address as PO Box 4608, Patrick A.F.B. Florida FL 32925 USA. That was 10 years ago though! Moral - QSL immediately....
David Butler G4ASR <butlerd2@boat.bt.com>
- Friday, April 24, 1998 at 17:56:21 (BST)

I seem to think ZD8MB/G4MAB moved onto VP8 after DL, but god only knows where he is now! I was lucky enough to get his QSL from ZD8 direct, after one of his first openings.
Neil G0JHC
- Friday, April 24, 1998 at 15:23:21 (BST)

Om the other hand I received my QSL card from ZD8MB via direct mail during Cycle 22. I believe I was his first SSB contact with G.
David Butler G4ASR <butlerd2@boat.bt.com>
- Friday, April 24, 1998 at 15:05:50 (BST)

Re: ZD8MB QSL card - Sorry Tommy (W7RV) - there is ZERO possibility of getting a card from Mike Barry G4MAB. I worked him for the first GM-ZD8 QSO on 6m last sunspot cycle and tried about 10 different QTHs etc - even internal BBC Mail system ! I'm not the world's best QSLer but this guy makes me look good ! (I missed ZD8LII etc which made things worse!) No Es here yet (IO77WS) but we're ready ! 73 to all - Chris GM3WOJ
Chris Tran GM3WOJ <chris.tran@zetnet.co.uk>
- Friday, April 24, 1998 at 14:19:26 (BST)

Auroral conditions just noticed on VK2 TV coming from S/East. Worked VK3AMK 50.125 53A AU B/S its weak but thats good and 49 TV is still in not wiped out so maybe good night time opening coming up or trans Pacific DX in the morning from 2100z.
Steve VK3OT
- Friday, April 24, 1998 at 08:01:49 (BST)

OK, I can't spell here/hear ....
Neil
- Friday, April 24, 1998 at 08:00:37 (BST)

Sooner or later the DX will have to move from 110 if they too, want to work DX. With so many "casual op's" on 6m during the Es season 110 will never be clear from the QRM. With DXclusters/internet DX need not worry they won't be found and pounced on quickly! It's a real shame the area under 100 is not used more in this instance, as you can often here a pin drop, even when the rest of the band is humming.
Neil G0JHC <neil.carr@almac.co.uk>
- Friday, April 24, 1998 at 07:58:58 (BST)

Ill take that back 0600 36.925 Tha Repeater, 43.650 Burst TX 47.750 Tones + carrier Asia, 48.250 Bangkok TV 49.750 BY TV JA2IGY beacon and JR2HCB worked (on 50.110 in 60 seconds) but thats life. 73
VK3SIX
- Friday, April 24, 1998 at 07:40:47 (BST)

Now its our turn NO DX: NIL: NIX: NOWT: NOTHING:
Steve VK3SIX
- Friday, April 24, 1998 at 05:33:13 (BST)

I have just been made redundant from work, so i can spend more time one six metres. I would like to start a local bournemouth net on 50.525FM as down here the band is dead of local stations who use this as a local chat. So far we have myself on the band and M0AUI,G0ROJ,2EFTO G7RSD and one or to other stations, but its still two small for a net. So come on all station use the band when its dead or it will be taken off us for mobile phones. Also i am thinking or changing ant from a vert to a inverted V but i do not no what an inverted V would be like on six,can any one help. Thanks
Mark 2E1CEQ <conquer@globalnet.co.uk>
- Thursday, April 23, 1998 at 21:30:48 (BST)

PS. No one in KL7 even listens on 50.110 its 50.125 and they all yack on there as well!!!!
Steve VK3SIX/KL7SIX
- Thursday, April 23, 1998 at 19:23:52 (BST)

Sad about 50.110, It seesm incomprehensible to me given our communication ability that we cant observe a simple band plan like the 50.110 rule. We talk, we give our assurances and then its dog eat dog. We cant even get a certtain P29 to shift. Evry tome he is on the reports are 50.110. Evry time a certain VK5 is on its 50.110 and some northern VK4's YAWN. Same S*** Different Day. There is no solution gentlemen, so sadly KL7 and Oceanic DX is going to suffer the same fate. Whatever happened to 50.090 CW or 50.200? Why 50.110 all the damn time. Good luck on your pursuits, as I have been told by you guys before it doesn't help to complain.
Steve VK3SIX/KL7SIX
- Thursday, April 23, 1998 at 19:21:09 (BST)

Greetings! Is there anyone out there who can put me in touch with Mike Barry, ZD8MB (aka G4MAB) via email, telephone mailing address, FAX or whatever?? Geoff thinks he is stationed in Germany somewhere and I have not been able to find an address for G4MAB. I am desperately seeking his QSL for a 6M QSO. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks, 73's and I'll see you on F2, Tommy W7RV, DM43bl.
Tommy W7RV DM43bl <P04235@email.mot.com>
- Thursday, April 23, 1998 at 15:39:30 (BST)

HV5PUL ACTIVE NOW ON 50.160, 144.280 , 14.190 , 21.200 QSL DIRECT TO: HV5PUL - PONTIFICIA UNIVERSITA' LATERANENSE 00120 CIITA' DEL VATICANO
HV5PUL - PONTIFICIA UNIVERSITA' LATERANENSE <puladmin@librs6k.vatlib.it>
- Thursday, April 23, 1998 at 09:27:46 (BST)

Yestarday was the first ES op of the season here. 9H / IT9 worked. I am QRV from JN15 with IC-706 and 3 el yagi. 73 jean-Michel
F1IXQ - Jean-Michel <f1ixq@amsat.org>
- Thursday, April 23, 1998 at 08:46:05 (BST)

hey there, this evening a weak but nice opening here, heard into jo33 5A1A, V51KC and the V51 beacon, but they where to weak to work anything. others where working with 55-9 with 5a1!!! also bert PA3DWD did it again hhe worked 5A1A, so maybe its time for me to go to a bigger beam as DWD's 9 meter 6 elm. 73's gd dx
john pe1lau <pe1lau@freemail.nl>
- Wednesday, April 22, 1998 at 19:41:26 (BST)

Hi all, GI0OTC (ex GI8YDZ) is back on six after a long absence. I had my first E's of the season today (Tue 21-April) with SQ9CXT JO90. New locator here is IO65QE.
Alan, GI0OTC <alan@gi0otc.demon.co.ux>
- Tuesday, April 21, 1998 at 20:35:12 (BST)

2 chances at CY9 on 6m !! VE9AA has just been added to the list of operators headed by k8rf that is doing the CQWW WPX hf contest from SPI circa May28-June1. Before/After contest period I will be checking 6m. Also, during any breaks from the HF rig, I will be checking 6m. KYFC ! GL !! Mike, ve9aa also June 25>> 6m/hf dxp'n (separate operation altogether)
ve9aa Mike <ve9aa@hotmail.com>
- Tuesday, April 21, 1998 at 16:10:25 (BST)

Optimism is the name of the game on 6M. There are several over here who claim it has been open to EU up as high as 54 Mhz, but we are forced to bow to the experienced, just let us know when you are ready to try.
Steve VK3SIX/KL7SIX
- Tuesday, April 21, 1998 at 13:18:12 (BST)

I need to boost my transverter from aprox. 8W to 40-80W to be able to drive my amp. Any ideas of how this could be done easely or am I forced to by a commercial 260$ amp? 73'
Jens / OZ1EEZ <jer@dtf.dk>
- Tuesday, April 21, 1998 at 09:37:27 (BST)

To VK6PA, Hi Steve nice to see you here. How are you doing? To VK3SIX, You're a big optimist concerning the VK6>Eu path.
Peter, PA3EUI <etacombv@caiw.nl>
- Tuesday, April 21, 1998 at 07:23:38 (BST)

OOPS! where did it go???
Steve
- Tuesday, April 21, 1998 at 00:10:46 (BST)

Experimental DX reporting window. Chris and others if you put this on the page it will open a window from which and into which dx reports can be sent, Please let me know if you can implement it. Steve
Steve VK3SIX
- Tuesday, April 21, 1998 at 00:09:51 (BST)

Comment to VK6PA, we have been working dx since Last October and you could probably have worked Europe already as well as A45ZN and the 5R8 station at least. 11 countries in to VK since last dec 1st. maybe Ill work you from KL7 in Sept/Oct/Nov or Dec Steve KL7SIX/VK3SIX
Steve VK3SIX
- Monday, April 20, 1998 at 23:54:55 (BST)

Att UK Op's: I'll keep listening for TT8JE and phone/rpt him asap. no feedback so far on who he wkd Sunday.
Geoff GJ4ICD
- Monday, April 20, 1998 at 23:54:31 (BST)

No sign off TT8 in IO91 when Geoff called - damn!
chris, G3WOS <g3wos(at)uksmg.org>
- Monday, April 20, 1998 at 18:54:47 (BST)

6M opening into Japan for about an hour today 20/04/98 09:00z 10:00z. Heard JA6YBR Beacon 5x3 for an hour, Worked JS2KXY and JH3DMQ. The band must have been wide open as I worked these guys with 10 watts into a multiband vertical that was tuned at 28 Mhz. SWR wasnt nice. Looks like its time to put the tower up an tune the beam. Best 73's Steve VK6PA OG89
Steve Hill VK6PA <steveh@kisser.net.au>
- Monday, April 20, 1998 at 14:48:42 (BST)

The VQ9AI seems to be a joke. It's reported on several DX-clusters. But the story here is that the PA3 worked him on 28 MHz. and asked him for his 6 meter activities...Well at least it keep you alert! 73 and DX,
Peter Gouweleeuw PA2VST <PA2VST@condor-post.com>
- Monday, April 20, 1998 at 10:38:19 (BST)

I met with Paul A35RK today and have undertaken to send him out a spare 5 el M2 yagi before the next equinox and in time for the Pacific Summer season. He has a 6M rig and has agreed to activate 6M from Tonga. Ill also send him copies of 6M group and 50Mhz info
Steve VK3OT
- Monday, April 20, 1998 at 07:54:03 (BST)

Its good to see Geoff comments and acknowledgement that Oceania has a play to play in the DX apsirations of the EU boys. It is a pity that only lip service was given to the VK3 to KH6 opening which occured an hour after the VK4 to KH6 opening and was significant not because I did it but beacuse it was the first KH6 to VK3 since 1993, and 5 yeras is a half a cycle. so from this event we gain useful data for the next predicition. Re comments about the surprise of the ZL/JA opening on a declining solar flux, in my opinion the paths North SOuth have little to do with flux levels and more to do with changes in A and K. JA;s are the norm here but JR6 is not and that was the key to the events of Asia in recent times, but again the significance of the event was diluted in the stream on information that Geoff is forced to deal with on a day to day basis. There is a TAFE page available and I will see if I am allowed access to it for free, if so I will post a text only event by event page with a link to here and Geoffs page. We are isolated down here and there is no contingency plan and no organisation of events and along with JA1VOK I no longer edit a column and as such do not collate data. It suffices to say 11 countries have been worked from VK and several more from V73 KH6 and that this data has to be posted somewhere along with day to day events, otherwise we will never know which way to jump. And if you are like me no one can spend 24 hours at the radio, we have to live. Thanks and dont forget KL7 in September we are going to do it.
Steve VK3SIX
- Monday, April 20, 1998 at 00:25:26 (BST)

TT8JE was a good signal into GJ 1640z. I phoned several UK op's, don't know if any of you guys wkd him, sure hope you did.....
Geoff GJ4ICD
- Monday, April 20, 1998 at 00:08:07 (BST)

PS: no chance to work him, he was working an I1 then an OE during the time I had him in ..
G0JHC
- Sunday, April 19, 1998 at 23:02:33 (BST)

Had call from GJ4ICD alerting me to TT8JE being on the band. Geoff had him in on a dipole! To my surprise he popped up for about 2 minutes in IO83 at 1649z, strong audio, peaking 55.
Neil G0JHC
- Sunday, April 19, 1998 at 18:24:18 (BST)

Had opening today from 13:04 - 13:12 to YU/YO - probably E's
Ken G4IGO <g4igo@oszy.demon.co.uk>
- Sunday, April 19, 1998 at 16:20:00 (BST)

cy9aa 1998 is a GO so far. Chris/WOS or Geoff/ICD may be posting details in the near future. Time frame will be ~10 days in the vicinity of June 25th-July 15th.............SEE YOU ON SIX THIS YEAR (I hope) -MIKE
ve9aa <ve9aa@hotmail.com>
- Sunday, April 19, 1998 at 05:52:50 (BST)

ZS6TWB beacon 5/4 here for about 15 mins at 1714 hours no stns heard
NORM G3NVO <norm@woodtech.demon.co.uk>
- Saturday, April 18, 1998 at 19:34:29 (BST)

7Q7 beacon in from 16:38 - 17:03 up to S7 - IO80
Ken G4IGO <g4igo@oszy.demon.co.uk>
- Saturday, April 18, 1998 at 18:51:18 (BST)

Steve et al in Oceania: Re the KH6 opening to VK3/4, this was reported on the limited info collected.(13/4/98) It is impossible to locate every 50Mhz opening and space/time also come into play.Also as you know the JA cluster does not always rpt things. I really think it is time that someone out in Oceania starts a WWW page that we in Eu can follow and extract info as required. That would be great! What say guys out there please? There must be somebody that can do this!
Geoff GJ4ICD
- Friday, April 17, 1998 at 20:04:37 (BST)

Geoff dont take this the wrong way but I find it incredible that the KH6 to VK3 VK2 and VK4 QSOs; a few days ago dont rank the same space as the EU to Africa stuff. Do you think we do KH6 all the time? Last worked here Jan 1993. If the KH4 had got there one day later maybe it would rate because AHA! its a new country. When are you guys going to realise that we dont have countries spread out every 500 miles down here, and certainly no new ones as the UKSMG has rightfully noticed in the past when all they could work in 3500 kM was VK6JQ/8GF/3OT all VK. And what degree of difficulty VK3 to KH6 in April at the beginning of sunspot cycle on a dead band? 7J6 Okinawa last worked 1989 this month twice in a few days. Degree of difficulyt HIGH as only three or Four VK's hold the WAJA award, stumbling block Okinawa as it is in under the equator and hard to work. The goal posts have been moved yet again. Maybe I can get all the states to gain seperate country status. Back to the band and the white noise, we live in hope.
Steve VK3SIX
- Friday, April 17, 1998 at 10:00:56 (BST)

TT8 1st's list is now on the News pages
Geoff GJ4ICD
- Thursday, April 16, 1998 at 11:11:35 (BST)

43 Mhz Indicators Asia Pacific. 43.850 FM link has HF feed into it and mainly band noise but sometimes CB or voices. 43.650 exciting, M/S burst TX a new logging 599 plus. have a listen to this and let me know where you df it. VK8 beacon into KH6 the Critical frequency is up above 28 Mhz and an opening is imminent. The geomagnetic equator is modulating 49 TV sounds like AU, and 144 Mhz last night from VK8 to JA. Cycle is really cranking up. Looking for the kh4 today.
Steve VK3SIX QF02wh Wannon
- Thursday, April 16, 1998 at 05:34:53 (BST)

Just a quick update from the (ex) colonies! South American stations were into Texas again this evening, worked LU6DRV at 2152 and PY5CC at 2210. I heard someone working into Chile but didn't catch the call or locator. Just love the new 'I'm home' feature, good stuff ! Cheers Paul.
Paul Bradbeer AC5NO / G7GUC <bradsfam@aol.com>
- Thursday, April 16, 1998 at 02:18:19 (BST)

Brief opening this evening in JO22OG, just after 15.00 UTC. Worked YU1HQR, YU1OO, heard YO7VJ and TT8JE just in on 50.110 319 sig Bert, PA3DWD, worked TT8JE at 15.30 Utc; spotty opening !! 73' Johan
Johan - PA0JMH <pa0jmh@xs4all.nl>
- Wednesday, April 15, 1998 at 18:26:59 (BST)

just got a phone call from bert PA3DWD, he worked TT8JE with a solid 539 at 16.22 this afternoon. Bert says, there was some little E on into CT, then suddenly he heard Allen calling on .110 cq, aswered it and qso was complet!! Bert is in JO23, so watch out its also happening more to the north now. Geoff thanks for your gif Aurora files, but i still look for some photos, how can help!?!?!?!?!? 73's John.
John PE1LAU <pe1lau@freemail.nl>
- Wednesday, April 15, 1998 at 18:19:20 (BST)

There are good probability to operate a new HV ham station from the Holy See. The station will be active starting from 23 April 1998 at Pontificia Università Lateranense, the Pope's University. For much info check at http://www.pul.it.
Luca IW0DJB/HV5PUL <puladmin@librs6k.vatlib.it>
- Wednesday, April 15, 1998 at 08:07:38 (BST)

Pagers. Pagers have CW id's I know its asking a bit much to those of you who have full callsigns but hate CW, could we please have some CW id's off the pagers so we can work out where they are. heard a something 450 on 35.580 today strong from US west coast I think.
Steve VK3SIX <ca126207@h140.aone.net.au>
- Tuesday, April 14, 1998 at 09:53:39 (BST)

To VE9AA Steve
Steve VK3SIX <ca126207@h140.aone.net.au>
- Tuesday, April 14, 1998 at 09:50:49 (BST)

To VE9AA your signals the other day were remarable given that the SIX beacon is only running 20 watts to 5 el yagi the 17,900 kM is quite a ways. Rather do it on 6M though, I have worked as far as W9 in your direction, maybe this cycle. Steve
Steve VK3SIX
- Tuesday, April 14, 1998 at 09:49:53 (BST)

Brief JA opening this afternoon. TV at 0400z JA2 and 1 until 0500z VK8 and VK4 beacons also copied in Japan. Being a working day very little activity.
Steve VK3SIX
- Tuesday, April 14, 1998 at 09:45:38 (BST)

to VK3OT: Steve, A simply amazing night on 10m here. I copied the vk3six/b on 28.253 for hours on end, almost until local midnight (11pm I shut off the rig) Hours past my sunset. and the flux at only 118 or so. Hard to believe. Band was chocked full of VK/ZL/ZK/T32 Even nabbed h40ab right through the W6 gang. In fact, as a point of interest, I was often "beating out" the west coast wall into the pacific. THAT doesn't happen often. Very strange indeed !!! ?MIke/ve9aa, fn65rr
ve9aa <ve9aa@hotmail.com>
- Tuesday, April 14, 1998 at 02:57:21 (BST)

something completly different now!! i am writting a story about the Aurora event ( not for a commercial magazine ) what i need are 2 or 3 pictures from a visual Aurora ( saw it here once in '86, but took no pictures ) so who can help me, send a messages with your adress and i will send a SASE with dollars or irc's for sending it to me. 73's john pe1lau
john pe1lau <pe1lau@freemail.nl>
- Monday, April 13, 1998 at 18:35:11 (BST)

New home page up - I hope you like it! Let me know. I can give it more functionality but I have to be careful not to make it to slow to download. Once you have the images in your cache it should come up quite quickly. I will be undertaking a general revamp / restyling of the site over the few weeks. Chris
Chris, G3WOS <g3wos(at)uksmg.org>
- Monday, April 13, 1998 at 10:23:37 (BST)

Never give up. If like me you get sick of the mealy mouthed priviledged who have propagation and come on and say KH6 still in to VK2, dont despair. When a KH6 asks wanna try for a path and you have no indicators, dont tell him "No thanks" Thats what i didn today at 0315z and then had to eat my words ( a no mean task for me) as I tuned to 50.061 and crickey the beacon was there. So then I had to politely ask the guy who I just told "no way" to give it a try and "egg of face" two way QSO with KH6 1500 kM fruther on from VK2 and VK4 where all the action was, NO 46.240 Indiv=cators for TV and no backscatter from ZL TV for me, in fact no signals expcept the KH6s on F2 9000 kM straight up and straight down. As I keep saying and contradicting with my own attitude, who is going to be brave enough to say it is not opening between VK and EU just beacuse you are not hearing VKTV??? Its your funeral. (and mine too!(
Steve VK3SIX
- Monday, April 13, 1998 at 05:24:12 (BST)

It seems that my callsign is pirated in the packet-radio network. Therefore I'll not put any news, dx-spots, convers e.g. to packet untill the black sheep is slaughtered. Happy Easter and let Mr. Sun get many spots! 73, Max. DL4MDQ.
Max, DL4MDQ <Max.Wild@T-Online.de>
- Sunday, April 12, 1998 at 20:30:00 (BST)

KNKK250 positive ID and 35.660 the frequency. First time was the 250 then it got real strong like 59 plus and id's just once KNKK250 no other data on it so if it is decommisioned maybe it is still running. The it id;ed againn strong and again wek with QSB so all in all copied it for 20 minutes with an id every 5 minutes. Will tape it tomorrow,
Steve VK3SIX
- Sunday, April 12, 1998 at 14:00:21 (BST)

First Pacific signs today with 35.580 pagers from USA 599, 35.660 KNKK250 cw id, 35.680 KH6 pagers 599, 35.980 Two way radio repeater with Car valet service instruction Mobile 10 go to 134 Queen near Mulbeery and call me to shift the car. Also 45.240/250/260 backscatter and heard VK4KK and VK2QF F2 backscatter V73AT worked VK4JSR/2QF backscatter from 040.\ Beacon for V73 at V73GR 50 miles from Kwajalein Atoll will be around 50.005 and sign V73SIX. Tim worked A45ZN last evening. VK8GF is considering a 10M beacon in PG66 oround 28.258 Mhz TV is in now so another opening imminent. Please watch for Oceanic path tonight around 1200z \
Steve VK3SIX
- Sunday, April 12, 1998 at 05:15:15 (BST)

Massive JA opening saturday from 0600 to 0830 then again at 1100 for a short time. May have been interesting indicators for a short time towards eu, not sure too much crud. Cheers Graham VK6RO of77xx.
Graham VK6RO <grogers@perthpcug.org.au>
- Sunday, April 12, 1998 at 03:03:50 (BST)

28.885 is alive, and things are certainly looking up. Worked vy1ja today on 10m (s9++) Jay is now QRV on 6m as of today. He'll be on tmw am 14z to 15z on 50.125 looking South. At 15z he'll QSY to 50.140z. In other news, one of my first VK QSO's for this cycle on 10m was none other than Steve, vk3ot. A looooong way from here. This was well well past my Sunset here. Things are looking up. I had MUF to 35MHz to w6 and XE this after noon. My best F-layer so far this cycle. What will tmw bring? Cheers to all. Mike, ve9aa
ve9aa <ve9aa@hotmail.com>
- Sunday, April 12, 1998 at 02:09:06 (BST)

Check the countries worked last night on the JA/Asian cluster.
Steve VK3SIX
- Saturday, April 11, 1998 at 21:05:55 (BST)

this mess. is to DL7AV, thomas i tried to send you direct, but it don't work from my side, don't no why. the promised video from LX7A will not work ok, i tried it sevral times with profesional equipment, but or video is bad or audio is bad. my copy is also a third time copy. so sorry to tell you this, hopefully you will read this. 73's John.
john pe1lau <pe1lau@freemail.nl>
- Saturday, April 11, 1998 at 19:54:40 (BST)

Did anyone in Europe have indications tonight. My early warning system alerted me to long distance TV hours after the SE Asian stuff faded out. Had beam heading 280 to 310 degrees towards South Asia/Iran Black Sea. Including 49.7604 49.7609 which are not in Asia. Also two 48s close together 48.2496/2500 and 48.2395 or 6. Time was 1200z to 1240z approx. Called on CW no reply of course. I am 600 miles from nearest Ch 0 46.240 and 1600 miles from 46.172 so forget about them as indicators.
Steve VK3SIX
- Saturday, April 11, 1998 at 13:42:09 (BST)

11.4.98 0903 V73AT 5x1 building to 5x9 0905 KH7R 5x1 1125 KH2JU 5x3 1200 JA stations all areas on 50.110 unable to work other
Vk8RH Rex <rpearson@taunet.net.au>
- Saturday, April 11, 1998 at 12:57:45 (BST)

The month July and Agus. my stations opereting in Square JM48LW .... Rig. TS680S 10Watt Ant Quad. Best 73 and Good DX Magic Band de Elio is0agy
Elio IS0AGY <orbital@tin.it>
- Saturday, April 11, 1998 at 11:37:18 (BST)

LU9EHF was in to Texas again late this afternoon, I worked him (at last !) at 2213. Luis is in FF95, didn't hear any other LU stations. Would have thought I was a bit too far north for TEP (I'm EL09) any thoughts ?
Paul Bradbeer AC5NO <bradsfam@aol.com>
- Friday, April 10, 1998 at 23:56:09 (BST)

I sympathise with S58J in missing the JA callsign. I dont know whether my CW skills are lapsing with my olld age but I am having trouble with A/. JA;s who are sending no standard phonetics and B/> some JA;s overspeeding their CW. I am having large number of retries on CW calls, and find a slightly slower or in some cases faster speed works well and the flow of contacts indictaes this. Cant help S58J looked in logs books and no JL6 stations worked in past two openings but willl ask around, Despite the soothsayers in view of the present outstanding conditions there is no reason why we could not work to at least eastern Europe from VK right now. Everyone was skeptical about KH6 to lower VK states and BANG yesterday after being heard 2500 kM away in VK4 north Ken KH7R heard 46.240 video and several antenna were pointed at him at 0315z and he heard VK5BC, just like that. So who is going to be a brave little person and claim it cant be done? 73
Steve VK3SIX
- Friday, April 10, 1998 at 22:36:01 (BST)

There is your answer Grame VK6RO JS6CDB was on from Okinawa island.
Steve VK3SIX
- Friday, April 10, 1998 at 13:01:35 (BST)

JR6HI A45ZN in pl36 JR6VSP A45ZN 50.110 7J6CCU A45ZN JS6CDB A45ZN JR6GV A45ZN PL36 QSB PEAK 599 JA5FFJ VK7RAE 50.056 Beacon Heard 170 RST519 JR3HED VK4FNQ 50. JR3HED VK6JQ 50. 1028} 980410 CW JR3HED VK8RAS/B 50.047 JN4CIW VK6JQ 50.085 JR3HED VK5DK JR3HED VK3DUQ SSB JR3HED VK1RX 50. 0919} JR3HED VK2QF 50. 0914} SSB JE9BHE/MOBILE VK3SIX 50.150 CW QSO I'm mobile toyama JCG28006 JE2XBY VK1RX 50.133 JI1WMI VK3XQ 50.137 0850 JA1RJU YJ8UU 50.120 JE2XBY YJ8UU 50.120 KH7R YJ8UU 50.110 0818 KH7R VK4FNQ 50.120 0720 ALSO V73AT STRONG JA1RJU N7ET/DU7 50.110 CW JI1WMI VK6ACY 50.150 0615 JA1RJU ZL2KT 50.130 0543 JA1RJU ZL2AGI 50.110 CW QSO KH7R VK5BCD 50110. 0315 CW Heard 218 calling cq VK3SIX K6QXY ZLTV 45.250 0000 ZL2KT 35 Mhz pagers also KH7R VKTV 46.240 0330 VK4DO/4ABW and beacons heard in VK4 VK3SIX VK8RAS 50.0475 0300 980410 Beacon Heard PG66 Copied also by VK5NY: VK8GF copied VK5NY and VK3SIX 50.110 VK3SIX VK4BRG
Steve VK3SIX
- Friday, April 10, 1998 at 12:59:00 (BST)

80 QSO;s into all areas except JA8 and many VK3's on es CW. VK3AMK/3AXH/5DK/5BC/3ANP/3XQ/3CNX/1RX/2QF/5ZBK/4FNQ etc etc.
Steve VK3SIX
- Friday, April 10, 1998 at 12:51:25 (BST)

Logged tonight including a couple of J6;s around 0940z activity was light on JH4RCD was on or JH6FDD Nagasaki 50.177 for VK6RO.
Steve VK3SIX
- Friday, April 10, 1998 at 12:49:55 (BST)

PS Forgot to tell you about the report of a S5 station hearing JA station/s in middle of opening, and 49.7604 TV from Black Sea in to VK3 region.
Steve VK3SIX
- Friday, April 10, 1998 at 12:46:12 (BST)

A truly remarkable day comemncing with KH7R hearing 46.240 so we all got on 50.110 and he heard VK5BC(D) unorchestrated he did not know Hugh was on 50 Mhz. Also had JA opening to all aeras except JA8 from first QSO at 0755z and last around 1100z with VK4FNQ still audible here on Es; working JA;s audible here on TE plus Es. Also had beacons from VK8 and VK4 (ABP/BRG). K6QXY had 45 TV and ZL2KT had 35 Mhz pagers so we are watching Pacific tomorrw as everyone is home. DONT LEAVE HOME THIS EASTER IF YOU CAN AVOID IT or you will miss out. With such a high level of activity something has to break.
Steve VK3SIX
- Friday, April 10, 1998 at 12:44:27 (BST)

ATTENTION JAPAN.. WAS JH6CDB ON 50.110 CW AT ABOUT 0940 UTC TODAY FRIDAY 10/4/98??. I NEED TO KNOW HE WAS HEARD IN A VERY RARE COUNTRY BY A SWL FRIEND OF MINE COULD JA STATIONS PLEASE CONTAC JH6CDB AND EMAIL ME THANKS. ALSO WE HAD MASSIVE JA OPENING FROM ABOUT 0600 TO 0640 TODAY. CHEERS GRAHAM VK6RO.
GRAHAM VK6RO <grogers@perthpcug.org.au>
- Friday, April 10, 1998 at 12:22:38 (BST)

Yesterday 09.04.98. first real TEP opening. Started with V51VHF/B and with 3C5I heard with distorted signal +TV . V51E hrd about 30 min. up to 58. After 1h started opening to ZS and Z22 . Very QSB signals but up to 59. QRM not alowed QSO with my 6W 6el RIG. All about hrd 3 ZS , Z22, V51E, 3C5I.
9A3HZ <lucijan.franin@ck.tel.hr>
- Friday, April 10, 1998 at 06:47:21 (BST)

Yesterday 09.04.98. first real TEP opening. Started with V51VHF/B and with 3C5I heard with distorted signal +TV . V51E hrd about 30 min. up to 58. After 1h started opening to ZS and Z22 . Very QSB signals but up to 59. QRM not alowed QSO with my 6W 6el RIG. All about hrd 3 ZS , Z22, V51E, 3C5I.
9A3HZ <lucijan.franin@ck.tel.hr>
- Friday, April 10, 1998 at 06:47:10 (BST)

Happy Easter Everyone and Peace and goodwill on Good Friday. VK3SIX JR6HI 50.125 0936 980409 SSB Heard 345 PL36 Called and responded but lost in Video crud and adjac QRM VK3SIX JR6GV 50.125 0930 980409 SSB QSO 345 PL36 Vic Naha Okinawa just put beam up also called by JR6HI but qrm and qsb got him. VK3SIX JM1LIK 50.125 0953 980409 CW QSO 345 Also wkd JH4RCD/1; JF1KKV, JS1MPX, from 1 region only. VK3SIX TONES 47.750 1000 980409 FM Heard 345 Asia Tone Mod. also 45.945/695/245/43.250 Korea? VK3SIX VIDEO 49.751.7 1100 980409 Video/TV Heard 345 Strong Chinese TV copied VK3SIX VK4ABP 52.345 1030 980409 Beacon Heard 345 Longreach Beacon, also 46.172/51.672/51.915 TV Toowoomba very strong. VK3SIX VK8RAS 50.0475 0800 980409 Beacon Heard 345 PG66 Copied up to 1015z then QSB out with TV. VK3SIX JR6YAG 50.037 0930 980409 Beacon Heard 345 PL36 Worked JR6GV 59+ and JR6HI QSB out 55. VK3SIX JA6YBR 50.017 0718 980409 Beacon Heard 345 PM Wkd JJ6VAR,JA6LZG, JH3OWO,JH4ISQ, JH3IMR, JA3EA, JA6LPW, JA4IFV, JH4EHF, JA4LKB etc all on 50.125 Mhz. VK3SIX JA2IGY 50.010 0707 980409 Beacon Heard 345 PM Wkd JS2LTM,JE2DWZ,JR2HCB,JR2CQSJF2VNV,JE2UAZ, also on 50.125 Mhz. JE2XBY VK3XQ 50.145 0949 980409 SSB Heard 180 59 QSB JE2XBY VK3SIX 50.125 0942 980409 SSB Heard 180 NOW CW 599 QSB V73AT VIDEO 48.250 0905 980409 Video/TV Heard 59+ also 55.250 American Samoa V73AT VIDEO 48.250 0905 980409 Video/TV Heard 59+ also 55.250 American Samoa JA1RJU ZL2TPY 50.107 0731 980409 SSB QSO 150 RS59 JF2VNV VK3XQ 50.125 0457 980409 SSB QSO 180 RST 55 JI1WMI VK3AMZ 50.125 0500 980409 SSB QSO 180 QF22 RS53-58 JR2HCB VK3AMK 50.125 0452 980409 SSB QSO 170 QF21 59 JEF QF21NT JR2HCB VK3CNX 50.135 0501 980409 SSB QSO 170 QF22 57 QSB Band was open from 0430z to after 1030z. Contacts were made around 50.125 50.128 and as high as 50.140. See cluster for rest of week where JR 6 was in and worked HL1 V73 etc etc. Steve VK3SIX/KL7SIX
Steve VK3SIX/KL7SIX
- Thursday, April 09, 1998 at 23:10:18 (BST)

ZS6XJ, ZS6WB and PJS in up here too, but weak (IO83) ..G4OBK in IO94 had XJ at 59+ ! Difficult to find a slot to call as the QRM from Italy (working G's!) on the same freq as the DX was killing the weak signal stuff. There was also a lot of G's, who seem to have an in built clock which says "lets call CQ DX on top of the DX at all times" ! IT9KSS was hard work on 110, calling "CQ DX Europe" most of the opening, while the weak ZS's were under him. Attention DX ....if you want to stand a chance of working further north, the last place to hand out is 110 +/- 5KHz .its just full of strong local signals calling CQ DX in Europe ...it might seem a good choice to you, but it's the last place a weak signal will be heard.
Neil G0JHC <neil.carr@almac.co.uk>
- Thursday, April 09, 1998 at 16:24:09 (BST)

ZS6XJ was into IO90 from 1255gmt to 1315gmt up 53 but no qso with me due to qrm from stronger southern european stations . this must be 1st G>ZS6 opening of this cycle.73 de Peter>>
Peter G3IBI <camcap@tcp.co.uk>
- Thursday, April 09, 1998 at 14:59:50 (BST)

Another good nighttime opening. Commenced at 0700z and lasted until after 1030z. Best DX was JR6GV Okinawa Island 59 plus Vic new antenna and back on air. TV worth noting is a new outlet on 49.751.7 very unique. Also FM tone modulated carreis from Korean region on 47.750, 45.954. 45.695. 45.245 43.250. Also 40 Mhz band full of plastci welding machines. Did not hear the drift net beacons tonight but had beacons JA2IGY, JA6YBR, JR6YAG, VK8RAS, VK4ABP in as well as 46.172 TV 48.2396/2604 at odd times. Chinese TV is still in as I type this but the power line noise this time of night makes it worthless trying to extract any signals off 50 Mhz.
Steve VK3SIX/KL7SIX
- Thursday, April 09, 1998 at 12:40:19 (BST)

Hi Chaps, Just spoke H40AA on 28.395(2215 98.04.08). They don't have 6m operational yet. The beacon is not running. Hope to work some of you UK memebrs on 2m from France next week. M0AYW mm or mobile. Happy Easter. Sunspots for ever!! Peter.
Peter VK4APG <pjgarden@gil.com.au>
- Wednesday, April 08, 1998 at 23:41:00 (BST)

Correction again: low-NF (less than 0.5dB) and high-gain (more than 23db) ... Yesterday was a birthday of the Budda. Condx? (^^)
Han JE1BMJ <higasa@ibm.net>
- Wednesday, April 08, 1998 at 18:22:50 (BST)

Cprrection: Low-NF (23dB)....
Han JE1BMJ <higasa@ibm.net>
- Wednesday, April 08, 1998 at 18:20:08 (BST)

I forget to write the device of 6m preamp. I am using 2SK571 GaAsFET. This device is ideal for achieving low-NF (23dB) on 6m and 2m. For datails please send an email.
Han JE1BMJ <higasa@ibm.net>
- Wednesday, April 08, 1998 at 18:11:56 (BST)

A strong opening last night from PT7NK to 3C5I for 45minutes starting at 2130Z, but very few stations on. 59++.
Alan, 3C5I <oaisaach@dal.mobil.com>
- Wednesday, April 08, 1998 at 14:31:36 (BST)

Heard yesterday from 19.00>19.23 Z at 50.018 MHz. very flutterly signal. Not able to clearly indentify it. For sure it was CW. Could be V51VHF. 28 MHz was booming to AF. 73,
Peter Gouweleeuw PA2VST <PA2VST@condor-post.com>
- Wednesday, April 08, 1998 at 11:02:47 (BST)

Clusters are deceptive. Those of you who hang on clusters as being a blow by blow accurate event refelector will be sorely dissillusioned. eg, VK3DQJ is mentioned twice on the JA cluster last night at around 0750z but in fact had two openings and worked 57 stations. So those of us who chose to sit out in the sun and monitor TV from Russia on 49.750 lost out on two openings from VK3 to JA6 in the afternoon and in the evening, so iguess 2 out of the 56 stations have internet access and cared enough to post the events that were unfolding. So be warned use the internet as a sole means and you will miss out on rare dx or read about days later. 28,885 is beginning to come back to life as people realise that the internet is fallable and damne xpensive. see you on 6M and 885.
Steve VK3SIX
- Wednesday, April 08, 1998 at 09:01:34 (BST)

Keep an eye on the band, best day here on 10m for a long time - VK's booming in this morning on my indoor dipole plus 49750 video for about an hour. Let's hope it really is a happy Easter: first Eu/VK QSO of this cycle?
Darre G0HVQ <darrellm@drmoody.demon.co.uk>
- Tuesday, April 07, 1998 at 18:58:30 (BST)

Relay from ZL2TPY "6m dx - Propagation changed on the 28/3/98 with JA into VK6 for the first time cycle 23 and about 0711z I copied KH6HME/b for the first time since March 1993on night time TEP for ten minutes - then I looked back at JA etc 330deg and found 49.7476 UA3 5/9+60db at 0930z for what I think was the firt signs of short path Europe for cycle 23. It peaked 310 - 330 deg then faded out by 1027z and I changed to my normal China offsets for 49.75 tv , then slowly dropped out all by 1110 z. I missed the start of the 49.7476 tv as I was looking KH6 etc and never had Europe offsets programmed into my rig, so I kept hearing bits of 49.75 tv all afternoon and evening (JA to ZL1AAA all afternoon) So what I am saying is that we should alert Europe to look for our tv video on 45.24,25,26 mhz to see if we can see a possible path for 6m again.(I have a muf of 45mhz every 2 or 3 weeks short path to USA) It's early in the cycle but you need to start looking for 45.24 tv. (3.4.98 at 0900 wkd 3 JA6's (PM52, PM53) for my first late night TEP this cycle. Kerry"
G3OIL <100704.761@compuserve.com>
- Tuesday, April 07, 1998 at 18:26:31 (BST)

Hello ! May be something support me in equipment to start on 50Mhz? Many thanks for your attention.RV4SAD,Alexey.
Alexey,RV4SAD,RUSSIA <root@radio-m.mari.ru>
- Tuesday, April 07, 1998 at 16:53:28 (BST)

On last Sunday, one of my local friends Hide brought his brand-new IC756 to my shack. While looking for H40AA/AB on 50.110 we tested the rig by old-fashioned 5722 NF-meter. Results(All Total NF): PREAMP2= 6.5dB, PREAMP1= More than 7dB (out of scale). Then we connected home brew GaAsFET preamp and cut all built-in preamps: NFt=1.2dB. For the reference I measured my TS940S + hb transverter which have same GaAsFET for RF amp: NFt= 1.5 dB. Traditionally ICOM has selected the dynamic range at HF instead of the sensitivity at VHF region (eg: IC780 and IC760). Although it may have been designed in the same way, I think IC756 is enough for 6m DX if adequate modifications are added at each users.
Han JE1BMJ <higasa@ibm.net>
- Tuesday, April 07, 1998 at 15:26:45 (BST)

Southern Latitude to southern latitude or Northen to northen about the equatorial belt can be simply explained if you examine the local mean time noon intense E;s which form each day at 10 degrees above and below the equatorial regions, however the geomagnetic equator and its associated effects on the ionosphere cannot be discounted. And what of contacts down the equator east to west and vice versa and sinagls that cross the equator twice like some long path and the qso I made to 9Q5 during an opening to W5 over 27000 kM? We still have heaps to learn. Why did I just get thirty minutes of TV on a dead band? coming from 10000 kM away. No Es and no HF propagation above 10 Mhz and yet still 50 Mhz TV pours in to 38 degres south latitude. Time 1330z
Steve VK3SIX
- Tuesday, April 07, 1998 at 13:52:18 (BST)

We are pleased to inform you that as from March 98, 6m band is generally released to all SV hams on a secondary basis and for an indefinite period. Particular rules are still in force, like submitting propagation reports at the end of every year, but we no longer have to apply for an extension or be part of a group etc. My speculation is that this, at the beginning, will lead many new "occasional" SV operators to the magic band, possibly from new squares, but mainly not well equipped for DX as many new transceivers have 50MHz but not too many aerials are so!. How many will become addicts and stay to join the real "sick" 6m operators is a matter that time will show. Sorry, no clarification for reciprocal operating is done so far. 73
Nick SV1EN <hnrc@compulink.gr>
- Tuesday, April 07, 1998 at 08:14:17 (BST)

Countries heard and/or worked in S/E VK last 3 months. KH8/KH6/W6/YJ8/V73/3D2/ZL/VK/JA/HL1/T88/KC6/P29/VK0/VK9N/JD1 Up and coming. H44/C21/ZL7/9/H40/KH4/VK9X/VK9Y/VQ9/S79/T31/T30/ There is light at the end of the tunnel.
Steve VK3SIX
- Monday, April 06, 1998 at 22:24:10 (BST)

Dear friends I have just got my EH licence for six and would like to know which antennas will fit for Dx. Have to be not too expensive and nt too big. thanks E.Mail: francisgc@hotmail.com
Francisco Garcia EH5VD <francisgc@hotmail.com>
- Monday, April 06, 1998 at 14:24:59 (BST)

Who was the PAo that worked TT8JE? And Steve, please go on with all your info. Good to know what's going on in the rest of the world! 73 and DX,
Peter Gouweleeuw PA2VST <PA2VST@condor-post.com>
- Monday, April 06, 1998 at 13:09:07 (BST)

Asian path is getting very interesting. V73AT today as well as Es to VK4BRG beacon and VK8RAS and strongest 49 TV Ive heard for many years watchable pics on ICR7000 JA7 beacon just before and heard in JA0
Steve VK3SIX
- Monday, April 06, 1998 at 06:39:55 (BST)

Fooled by lack of TV. When I started to hear the Asian TV again last night the JR6YAG beacon on 50.035 was already 59 plus so I dont know how long the band was open to Okinawa which is a very difficlut path from here. Last contacted in April 1989, always evening tep. Beacon runs 8 watts 7J6CCU Eric runs 500 watts so is a very good signal. Kim HL1LTC runs 70 watts and should be workable in Europe when things get going. QSL 7J6CCU via JR6HI.
Steve VK3SIX
- Sunday, April 05, 1998 at 22:07:36 (BST)

just received word from paul (G7SLP, KD5CRJ) that he will be active from HZ2AB later this month with 400 watts into a 5 ele at 35 ft. Roger, G4HBA
Roger, G4HBA <g4hba@r-horne.demon.co.uk>
- Sunday, April 05, 1998 at 20:33:02 (BST)

Chinese TV still in at 1300z scatter mode. TEP
Steve VK3SIX
- Sunday, April 05, 1998 at 14:07:42 (BST)

To Steve VK3OT..... Keep the reports coming, you'll always get one or two who moan, ignore them. Ref. the new cycle - there have been one or two suggestions that the minimum may well have been later than the official date of may '96. I've looked at the comparison charts on the Solar Terrestrial Activity Report (http://dxlc.com/solar/) and if you move the short and long-term curves back 3 months or so, (Meaning a minimum of August/Sept 96), then this cycle is keeping pace with Cycle 21. Also remember that Cycle 22 rose exceptionally fast. Cheers - Jim
Jim Smith G0OFE <jimsmith@lds.co.uk>
- Sunday, April 05, 1998 at 14:05:11 (BST)

Great path in evening here into Asia and also saw A45 worked into Hong Kong. Our first Okinawa since 1989 7J8CCU 69 running 600 watts. QSL JR6HI.
Steve VK3OT
- Sunday, April 05, 1998 at 13:05:21 (BST)

Hi.. I have had adverse comments about the amount of stuff I am posting both here and elsewhere. eg NH4/NH6YK 10M info. My reaction if you havent the inclination I havent the time, so will leave it up to other reticent Aussies to post the info. I dont need anything out of the Pacific region so if you dont want your European DX pages clutterred with Pacific info, fine by me. Ill do the "spit the dummy trick" practiced by others and will only ne posting to the JA cluster which serves this region. If you dont whant to know about what is going on down here and feel it is cluttering your pages, so be it, the EU ops will be the ones to lose, this includes KL7 postings. 73 see you on the band somewhere sometime.
Steve VK3SIX
- Saturday, April 04, 1998 at 22:21:54 (BST)

Hi everyone! The new solar cycle started in October of '96 according to my sunspot data. It's starting off slowly but IS climbing, albeit slowly. Things will pick up, remember that the AVEAGE cycle is 11 years, we're not quite 2 years into the new cycle yet. Just hang in there! I will be finally QRV on 6 shortly with my new IC-706MkII as soon as I get my new Cushcraft 3 element beam up. Been wanting to get on 6m for quite a while and finally I can join the fun! Hope to meet a lot of you on the band. I enjoy your 6m news page. Any tips you folks want to e-mail me would be most welcome! 73 de Tom
Tom - KB2SMS <trandall@mhv.net>
- Saturday, April 04, 1998 at 14:56:58 (BST)

LOCATOR JN82IW IS ACTIVE AGN. STATION IS 9A4VV VEDRAN VELA LUKA KORCULA ISLAND 65 KM SE FROM SPLIT CITY. VEDRAN USE AN FT-290R,HM TRANS.ABT 10W OUT INTO 4 EL.YAGI. QSL VIA CBA OR BURO. GL LOCATOR HUNTERS
RENKO KIRIGIN 9A3FT <9a3ft@usa.net>
- Saturday, April 04, 1998 at 14:07:00 (BST)

LOCATOR JN82IW IS ACTIVE AGN . STATION IS 9A4VV VEDRAN VELA LUKA KORCULA ISLAND 68 KM SE FROM SPLIT CITY. VEDRAN USE AN FT-290R,HM TRANSVERTER,ABT 10W OUT INTO 4 EL. YAGI. QSL VIA BURO OR CBA. GL LOCATOR HUNTERS 73 DE 9A3FT RENNY SPLIT CROATIA
RENKO KIRIGIN 9A3FT <9a3ft@usa.net>
- Saturday, April 04, 1998 at 14:06:22 (BST)

Worked NH4/NH6YK ted on Midway island on 28.495 around 0430z. He stated he would be QRV 50.105 around 1000z looking for VK/V73 and JA. Have Chinese TV now and was called at least twice at 0500z and 0530z by a JH0 and what sounded like a HL0 on CW. QRV now 28.885 50.110 CW.
Steve VK3OT
- Saturday, April 04, 1998 at 08:24:33 (BST)

At the risk of rubbing things in even more (sorry Neil !), we are now starting to hear LU stations here in south Texas, certainly for the last couple of days at around 2200z. Some of the locals with good stations have worked the LUs but still marginal at my QTH. However, things are looking up and last weekend saw a flurry of VK/ZL activity on 28.885. Best regards, will somebody please have a 'proper pint' for me.........Paul AC5NO / G7GUC
Paul Bradbeer <bradsfam@aol.com>
- Saturday, April 04, 1998 at 02:15:35 (BST)

With Aurora or Es (why not even F2) during this weekend, look out for OHoMZA/5 in KP41. During the Summer OHoMZA could be Aland Is. .... 73, Zaba OH1ZAA/OHoMZA
Zaba OH1ZAA <zaba@dlc.fi>
- Friday, April 03, 1998 at 22:29:48 (BST)

I wholeheartedly agree with Renko. Well said!
Neil G0JHC
- Friday, April 03, 1998 at 16:05:33 (BST)

To Lucijan 9A3HZ: Pozdrav Luci iz Splita Drago mi je da te krenulo prema Africi HI ! Radio sam vecc dosta zemalja.Stalno se ponavljaju iste. Ako budess imao prilike ostavi poruku possto se u direktu ne ccujemo. Sve najbolje za Uskrs . Zoliko za ovaj put,dobar dx ti zzelim. Gl,73 de 9A3FT Renny Split Hrvatska
RENKO KIRIGIN <9a3ft@usa.net>
- Friday, April 03, 1998 at 13:22:08 (BST)

Thanks everyone for your input, I feel cheered up and continue to watch the kangaroos graze and stare at the blue sky hoping to hear some signals on 50 Mhz. A whole year to be a batchelor, no time constraints, no wife saying come to bed, just a radio site, on my own no TVI no neightbours for 500 metres and no damn DX!!! 73 enjoy.
Steve VK3SIX
- Friday, April 03, 1998 at 02:52:32 (BST)

Staring into the crystal ball regarding conditions can be very tricky. Note that already SEP 1997 was similar in sunspot count when compared to MAR 1998, though flux was slightly lower then. The long duration gaps in activity can occur any time, and also we have to take into account the seasonal dependency at the higher latitudes. High flux does not provide high F2-MUF during local Summer, but fortunately the Summer Es couples into areas closer to the equator (with high MUF & TEP). It is much like the weather in temperate zones; normally subsequent Summers or Winters tend to be randomly different. But there is always something on the bands (for the alert op's). 73, Zaba OH1ZAA
Zaba OH1ZAA <zaba@dlc.fi>
- Friday, April 03, 1998 at 02:17:42 (BST)

Read November 1988 for November 1998 below ..sri!
Neil G0JHC
- Thursday, April 02, 1998 at 16:18:58 (BST)

Those of us situated outside the "prime DX" circuits will be the ones to tell how far behind we are with Cycle 23 and DX later this year. Last cycle saw the band start to open for me around November 1998. Don't forget I'm at 54 degrees north, not 51 like IO91! ..where life is much easier. Working on cycle start dates and where we are now. Sept/Oct 1998, should be similar to 10 years ago. Thats when I hrd my first e/w signals. ...only time will tell!
Neil G0JHC <neil.carr@almac.co.uk>
- Thursday, April 02, 1998 at 10:40:15 (BST)

Re the cycle and comments noted Steve et all. Agreed, BUT! There has been that growing propagation trend that probably was to be expected in March/April. The daily non TEP openings are slowly extending further north as I have seen in the last few days, also the USA has seen extended openings to W4 from LU which IS TEP. The strange thing is that this 15 degrees above the equator propagation that is happening is certainly expanding further north day by day in Europe. Oh to live in TT8! with these openings Eric is having even due West to TR8CA/PY etc.. :-(
Geoff GJ4ICD <equinox@itl.net>
- Thursday, April 02, 1998 at 00:19:48 (BST)

To Neil G0JHC et al. The cycle has the feel of Cycle 20! The graphs show the slow start and lagging curve many points below Cycle 21 and 22. My records show that by now we would have KH6 into VK3 and all I do is sit here daily listening to snippets of JA;s working VK North. Given the state of my station and the current technology I think we are a long ways down on where we should be if the cycle is going to be good. If by October we havent seen real good JA openings and lots of lower Asian indicators in 40 to 48 Mhz range then the expected USA path of the first quarter on 1999 will be the real litmus test and determine the path of the cycle from then on. I hope I am wrong but I have agut feeling that we should be seeing heaps more by now and I dont think the sun is suddenly going to erupt and place the graph into a steep rising condition, it just doesnt work like that. At this latitude the defficiencies and lack of QSo's are reallly noticeable and everyone in VK3 is commenting and no QSO's to VK7 are being made at all. All part of the indication that the cycle so far is way down on even Cycle 21. Steve
Steve VK3SIX
- Wednesday, April 01, 1998 at 21:36:14 (BST)

Today (01.04. but no joke): The band opened at 1330z to TT8JE who peaked S9++ at 1400z. The same time V51VHF/B was 559. Later at 1433z a video-carrier (not stable) was heared on 48250.4 MHz. Could have been 3C. 3C5I who was reported from Italy, was not heared in JN58sp. TT8JE was observed working up to JO51 !!
Max, DL4MDQ <Max.Wild@t-online.de>
- Wednesday, April 01, 1998 at 16:00:36 (BST)

Yesterdey, 31.03.98: (no 1.04 HI!) 14.00 gmt  strong signal from V51VHF/b 14.30 gmt  strongest opening to TT8JE.  Stabile and strong for 45 minutes working DL, OK, YO, YU, and others in southern Europe .In same time short ES opening to F6 from my QTH. ES enhenced propagation to suoth. Best 73 Luci JN86fj
Luci 9A3HZ <lucijan.franin@public.srce.hr>
- Wednesday, April 01, 1998 at 13:41:53 (BST)

Welcome to the UKSMG announcement page! We hope that you enjoy this new announcement and chat page. Just click on the e-mail address to send a personal reply to an announcement or post a message if you think others will be interested!
Chris Gare, G3WOS <chris(at)uksmg.org>
- Thursday, August 15, 1996 at 12:57:19 (BST)

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