G0HVQ Propagation Notes

Over the past solar cycles, I have made some notes of F-layer propagation on 50MHz from the UK, so I though it would be useful to share it here. Approx 70% of the stations listed below are heard only, I only have a small 6m station so there are many that got away. I hope to rectify this next cycle and have plans for a much larger yagi and amplifier.

1989

Feb Openings to JA and VS6
Nov First experience of 6m F2 - ZC4MK, K1TOL, VE1YX, TR8CA, HC5K, HC2FG,
Dec More extensive openings to VE and W

1990

Jan YV5ZZ, HC2FG, and more VE/W.
Feb 9L1US
Mar ZS6WB
Nov Lots of VE and W

1990

Mar 6W1QC, KE0SC/DU3, KG6UH/DU1, KG6DX, LU3EX
Apr PY5CC, FM5WD, ZS4S, LU3EW
Nov PY2IAX (GG68), KP2A, PJ7/W6JKV
Dec P43FM

1992

Feb Solar flux up to 303!!! Stations heard/worked inc OD5SK, KP2A, HI8A, KG6UH/DU1, KJ6WO/DU3, VK6PA, VK8ZLX, JA4MBM,7Q7RM, 5V7JG, and W1/2/3/4.
April/May Good extended TEP into Africa and S.America inc. ZS6XJ, FR/DJ3OS, CX4HS.

1993

Solar flux dropping from 180s down to 100, no 6m F2, 10m still reasonable.

1994 - 1997

Solar minimum :-( Concentrated on RTTY on 15m and 6m Es in the summer.

1998

Feb Solar flux now back above 100, 10m getting better to USA but nothing on 6m yet.
April Solar flux hitting the 130s, VKs back on 10m
Oct First F2 of the new cycle, TZ6VV (IK63) and C56A (IK13) heard.

1999

Feb Solar flux above 200 for the first time this cycle, just the odd 6m opening so far.
May Massive opening to S.America, heard/worked LU9AWN (GF05), LU8DIO (GF05), LU7DZ (GF05), LW3EBJ (GF05), CX1DDO (GF15), CU8AO (HM49).
Aug/Sept Solar flux swinging between 248 and 110, no DX.
Oct VKs into Eastern Europe on 6m, Russian FM (41.3MHz) heard but no amateurs on 6m.
Nov Lots of 48MHz video but no 6m activity.
Dec First openings this cycle to USA, W1JJM and VE1YX heard.

2000

Jan-Apr Solar flux swinging between 240 and 170 but still no 6m DX.
May TEP+Es heard the following beacons: LU9EHF(50.015), ZP5AA (50.025), PY5ARL (50.029), LU4DRM (50.070) plus FR5DN (LG78) and ZD7VC (IH74).
Oct USA PMR heard on 46.363MHz. XU7ABF (OK21), 9M6BAA, FY/W7XU (GJ35) and PZ5RA all heard briefly.
Nov Strong video from Asia, JF1TA and UN3G (MN83) heard. Later in the month good 6m conditions to VE and W, plus the occasional 'goodie' e.g. HC2FG (FI07).

2001

Feb Heard 5N9EAM/6
May PY5CC into UK every evening, others heard included PP5JD, PP5BC, CX4AAJ, LU1DMA, LU9APM, LU8MB.
Sept Solar flux consitently now above 270, looking good for autumn 2001.
Oct What a month! Oct 2001 deserves it's own entry:
26 Oct DU1EV (PK40), VK6RSX/B
27 Oct 9M2TO (OJ05, YB5QZ
28 Oct EK6AD (LN20)
30 Oct VU2ZAP, 9G5AN, 9M2TO, D44TC, UN5PR, J28FF, E30NA
31 Oct XW0X
Nov Great condx to Central America - FY5KE, PZ5RA, PY8MD, FG5BG, 9Z4BM, YV4DDK, FM1DQ, HC8N. Big aurora 23/11 followed by after-dark opening to Caribbean - WP4KJJ, K2KW/6Y5, P43JB, WP4N.
Dec FY7KE on Xmas Day - nice one :-)

2002

Jan Loads more DX heard/worked - 8P9HW, PJ2MI, YV4DDK, FP5BU, SU1SK, 6W4RK.
Feb - And more - VK4ABW (QH30), VK4CXQ, VK4JH, VK6JQ (PH12), VK6RSX/B (OG89), XW0X, DU1/GM4COK.

2003 - 2006

Approaching solar minimum...so moved house, dismantled 6m station and started building station at new site, ready for next solar maximum :-) Currently on 17m, waiting for the sun to wake up again.


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Page updated 20 March 2006