AUGUST 1974

      In the June VUD (p. 3) some comments from members concerning this column
      were printed. It would be better for all concerned if those with any
      specific suggestions would communicate them to me directly where they
      would receive more speedy attention.

      As to the matter of new product information...I am reluctant to review
      equipment that I have not personally worked with (the manufacturers do
      not bestow me with models to check out etc.) There is such a glut of
      30-50, 148-175, UHF etc equipment now available it wouldn't be practical
      to comment on each new Radio Shack, Midland, Heath, etc that came out.
      In 1967, when I started serious 30-50 MHz DXing, the then scarcity of
      such equipment would be unimaginable to anyone who has just recently
      arrived on the VHF-UHF monitoring scene. My first rcvr was a $25 Radio
      Shack Patrolman, at a time when the only other things around were $200.

      Perhaps if more of the members out there with scanners etc. would send
      in some reports then this wouldn't always be "..a little one-page column".
      Some might wish to examine the more expansive columns of late 1970 and
      early 1971 (when there was more F2 DX available).
      ------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Hank Holbrook, 7211 Chestnut St., Chevy Chase, MD 20015  QSLed, GMT used

      (6-13-73, 0111, WSA 89  37.30  Chipley, FL (sheriff))
       1-2: 2011, KKQ 927  37.04  Weiner, AR (sheriff)
      2-15: 2027, N7831U  119.7   Balt. Friendship Arpt. (T.S.S. Flying Club,
                                  Inc.; Cessna 172, Skyhawk)
      3-17: 0106, N8733   128.7   over Boston, MA (TWA 756; Boeing 707; 25 w)
      4-12: 1703, N5203G  119.7   15 mi e Balt. (V&F Aviation, Inc.; Beech
                                  B-35, single-engine, 4-seat)
        13: 1221, N8936E  128.3   30 min s LaGuardia(Eastern 584;DC-9; 25 w)
            1412, N8852E  131.0   20 min " (Eastern 892; B 727; 25 watts)
        27: 1903, N7973N  122.8   nr Easton, MD (Ches.Bay Fly.Club;Chero.180D)
        28: 1548, N8205P  122.8   nr Bay Br. Arpt, MD (Sheldon L. Shealer;
                                  Comanche PA-24; 1-eng, 4-seat; 4000 feet)
      5-12: 1000, KGE 795  45.9   Carlisle, PA (police net)
            1104, KGD 556  46.06  Shippensburg, PA (county fire)
                  KGD 611  46.06  Chambersburg, PA (county fire)
        18: 0130, KDV 793  46.42  La Plata, MD (county fire; 330 watts)
        25: 1752, N9976L  119.7   5 mi s Balt. (Friendship Flying Associates,
                                  Inc.; Grumman AA1B)
        26: 1621, N6698U  119.7   ov Pasadena Inter., MD (Michael Snyder;
                                  Mooney MK-21; 2500 feet; 10 watts)
            1953, N6442G  122.8   vic Easton, MD (Brinckerhoff Flying Service,
                                  Inc.; Cessna 150; 800 feet)
        27: 1840, N7574Y  122.8   vic Cambridge, MD (Phil Gardener Aircraft
                                  Sales; Twin Comanche)
        29: 2217, KCK 545  39.50  Raceland, LA (state police, Troop C; 500 w)
        31: 1903, KAG 793  42.58  Belmond, IA (Dept. of Public Safety; 3 kw)
       6-1: 1906, N34404  122.6   ov Crofton, MD (Richard Z. Seron; Cessna
                                  Cardinal 177B; 9 watts)
      -----------------------------------------------------------------------
      Now, my loggings (rather meager as most time spent with TV & FM Es).
      Hallicrafters SX-62/Allied A-2586 with two 30' wires at 12' (n.e.-s.w.
      and n.w.-s.e. runs). All are Es, with solar noise bursts those matching
      weekly data bulletin from Boulder; GMT used

      6-13: 1540, KQD 607       16: 1525, L Beach        17: 2142, KIF 651
        14: 0012, KQC 884           1535, KIE 953        19: 1438, KMA 829
            0031, KQD 313       17: 0028, KIN 645        21: 0736, KFL 943
      
       VHF UTILITY DX                                         AUGUST 1974

       21: 0809, KSC 645       1: 2147, Sol. noise    6: 2218, KMA 829
       24: 2046, L Beach       5: 1510,     "            2224, L Beach
       27: 2340, KFL 943       6: 1659, KIE 953       7: 0025, L Beach
       28: 0008, KME 438          1902, Sol. noise    8: 0620, KME 438
           0400, KMA 829          1935, KSJ 815       9: 0630, KQD 313
           2209, KQD 600          2217, San Diego
       J1: 1613, Sol. noise       2218, KME 438
       -----------------------------------------------------------------------

       KFL 943  35.58  Las Vegas, NV **    KQD 313  35.50  Dayton, OH
       KIE 953  35.58  Atlanta, GA         KQD 600  35.22  Mansfield, OH
       KIF 651  35.58  Ft. Lauderdale,FL   KQD 607  35.50  Grand Rapids, MI
       KIN 645  43.22  Miami, FL           KSC 645  35.58  Chicago, IL
       KMA 829  35.58  San Diego, CA       KSJ 815  35.22  Fort Wayne, IN
       KME 438  35.22  Orange, CA             -     35.58  Long Beach, CA *
       KQC 884  35 +   Detroit, MI            -     35.38  San Diego, CA-mp

       mp-mobile phone; rest are pagers, tone, except * voice & ** tone message
       with voice ID
       -----------------------------------------------------------------------

       The first week of July brought forth the most active solar region since
       August of 1972. Numerous 30-50 MHz (and even TV and FM) solar noise
       bursts (caused by flare activity) were readily observed incidental to
       regular monitoring.

       The ionospheric D layer, usually ignored in VHF considerations, becomes
       an item of concern at the time of such flare activity. Being some 40
       miles up, signals must pass thru the D region before they arrive at
       the Es (or F2) layers. With the strong ultra-violet radiation from
       solar flares (principally the Lyman alpha line at 1216 Ångstroms),
       D layer ionization is increased to the point that large absorption
       will take place in the h.f. bands (i.e., short-wave fadeout or a
       blackout). The high density of neutral (unionized) particles in the
       D region compared to electrons results in frequent collision, and
       thus loss of signal energy.

       When a h.f. blackout does occur with VHF Es in progress, it will often
       create the weird situation of no signals coming thru below 30 MHz while
       those above 30 MHz appear virtually unaffected.

       Along with this solar activity, the largest geomagnetic storm in almost
       2 years (with large auroral effects up north) hit on July 5-6. Here on
       Jul 5 the F2 and Es MUF's did not appear to rise over 21 MHz for the day.
       The evening of Jul 4, (Jul 5 GMT) when storm onset beginning, it is high-
       ly likely that the F2 reached above 30 MHz to Latin America, but lack
       of signals at that late hour probably prevented any loggings.*

       If the active solar region returns (late July) similar events will be
       probable. 1f these high solar fluxes (130 units at 10.7 cm) and A-Indices
       (over 100) had occurred at a more F2-prone time of year (i.e., not mid
       summer) it would have been very possible for MUF's to be shot close to
       the TV region.

       In spite of the recent activity, smoothed sunspot and solar flux data
       show a steady decline in Cycle 20 continuing. However, this doesn't rule
       out isolated periods of high activity before the end of the cycle (now
       set for August 1975).

       Since the "setting" of region #433 (as the sunspot region was known),
       the solar flux has resumed a more common level (80 or below) of low
       activity.
                   

      *For a general discussion of geomagnetic storms, see the January 1974
       column p. 22.
                                             73,      WA5IYX