10 Years to Reflect Back on HSMS Experiences!
by WA5UFH Randy Tipton
I started operating HSMS on May 8, 2001 using an old Mirage amplifier and a
TS-660. From the very outset because of the thrill of making long distance
contacts while the band was dead we begin to focus our operating time and
research to High Speed Meteor Scatter. (HSMS) I started using experimental modes
including Fast Hell and later HSCW with the limited pool of operators. Most of
the HSMS guys were two meters only at that time. My first contact was with Dick
(SK) W5SNX using both Fast Hell and HSCW. When WSJT came about my first FSK441
contact on six meters was with Dick on Oct 2, 2001. Because few were using six
meters for HSMS I decided we needed two meters if we were to continue this new
pursuit. I purchased an IC-746 with an ebay Mirage amplifier to make my first
two meter contact with Bob (SK)
WB5APD using FSK441 on Sept 9, 2005. The ebay Mirage brick gave out in January
2008 and I upgraded to another solid state amplifier the THP-350vdx. I also
upgraded the six meter amplifier to a TE systems solid state 0552G. I have never
had an antenna over 70 ft in the air and my current antennas are 5 elements for
six meters and 9 elements for two meters. What you can take away from this
equipment run down is modest stations can make many HSMS contacts even extended
distances.
Since May 28, 2011 we have logged 1353 contacts on two meters and 2610 contacts
on six meters. With any mode you work duplicate contacts and HSMS is no
different. Out of the above contacts we have 295 initial on two meters and 462
on the magic band which equals 175 and 236 grid squares respectively all using
HSMS. My best distance on two
meters is 1462 miles and six meters 1567 miles. It should obvious that using
HSMS one can earn VUCC or add to his grid count.
From the outset we were very excited about HSMS and started the WSJTGROUP. This
included a Yahoo email reflector and later webpages. Later Random Hour and the
North American High Speed Meteor Scatter Contests (NAHSMS) were reorganized with
the help of many others like K2TXB, N5SIX, K1JT, N6ENU, WB2FKO, W5WVO and the
Super Seven Meteor Scatter Group. The WSJTGROUP created a few Awards and WA3LTB
became the awards manager. Today the wsjtgroup webpage’s are located at
www.ykc.com/wa5ufh
and I like to think it is a good place for newbie’s to begin learning the
processes involved for operating HSMS. This can be a magical trip for you; from
listening to ole white noise static when the band is dead to learning how to
make contacts via the daily random meteors.
The most significant things I noticed over this time period, besides the
continuous improvements to WSJT, was the balance of operators shift from two to
six meters. This is no doubt due to the fact that the “magic band” it is “King”
of meteor scatter. Two other significant changes are the number of rovers /
portable stations and the creation of the Ping Jockey Logger by N0UK. In my
opinion HSMS is at a peak now and could only become better with an increase in 2
and 1 ¼ meter activity. Even new grids are being activated by stations using
WSJT modes with contacts being made out to distances over 1000 miles during dead
band conditions! Contacts on 222MHz are now possible when the band is dead,
maybe it is time to rethink 1 ¼ meters!
What is possible with high speed meteor scatter can be explained with general
physics and geometry. Those disciplines are not my strengths but I do have a
basic knowledge of what is happening.
To go with those sciences I will attempt to analyze my contacts and make
some general observations. I will try to determine what the best times to
operate for extended distances are and just how important are meteor showers.
That does not mean extended contacts are not possible anytime during the year
with random meteors; however looking at my contacts perhaps some dates during
meteor showers or dates around meteor shower are better than others. I
acknowledge that honest attempts, persistence and patience are necessary for
almost all pure meteor scatter contacts over +- 1150 miles. I will also do a
little analysis of my six meter contacts but the focus will be on extended
contacts for two meters.
What do I mean by extended meteor scatter contacts?
Many old timers have referred to the “barrier region”, the distance where
contacts become more difficult often times requiring well over 20 minutes and up
to 2 hours! I consider this distance to be anything over 1150 – 1200 miles. (The
barrier region will differ between systems based on the take off angle i.e.
antenna height) On the other hand some
distances ( +- 500 to 1000 miles)
with average equipped stations on six meters provide contacts that appear to be
“almost automatic” . Even non-prime time contacts (usually early morning hours
are considered the prime times) are “near automatic” but may take longer to
complete. I refer to these easier distances as “sweet distances”. These
contacts, especially on the magic band, generally have more than one ping per
sequence and only a few sequences occur without hearing the other station.
Sweet distances make daily contacts when the band is otherwise dead! I
have not found this to be true on two meters for “sweet distances”. Shorter
contacts on two meters, although easier than longer contacts, are not ‘as
automatic” for the same distances as found on six meters. This is a fact, higher
the frequency the more difficult meteor scatters contacts become. Only a few
even attempt meteor scatter on 432MHz. For my analysis since shorter meteor
scatter paths less than 1000 miles are routine and almost automatic, I will not
use those data points. Also since the behavior of meteor scatter is vastly
different between 2 & 6 meters we will not combine the data.
Three good examples of ‘sweet distances’ for six meters from my location
(EL19pa) are K0RI, KS7S and W5VWO. Distances are between 724 – 825 miles and
when we run on six meters I start out expecting a completion. Now on two meters
with KS7S and K0RI my confidence for completing drops way down even during prime
time. (W5WVO is not on two meters)
Midday sometimes not even a single ping would be copied after 20 minutes of
running with Jim or Lou. I have no data for this since I log only completions
but this is reality for my station and I think most would agree. Thus the same
station that might be easily worked in the sweet distance scenario on six meters
requires more time on two meters and often times ends with no completion. I will
acknowledge that sometimes two meter contacts go fast for these shorter
distances however it is not the expectation.
Meteor showers should be the best times to operate without a doubt. (Table 1
Lists the Major Meteor Showers) My logs prove this out thus stations wishing to
push the distance envelope should not ignore meteor showers. I had thought my
data would suggest the days prior to and immediately following a shower would
provide similar distance contacts for that specific shower. Because of so many
Class II and minor showers in the mix with "Major Showers" it was impossible to
determine but interesting enough all my contacts over 1200 miles could be
attributed to a meteor shower. (Except for 3 contacts) For a detailed listing of
all meteor showers go to
http://www.amsmeteors.org/2010/12/2011-meteor-shower-list/
Table 1
Major Meteor Showers (Class I)
source: http://www.amsmeteors.org/2010/12/2011-meteor-shower-list/
Shower Name
Window
Peak
km/sec
Quadrantids (QUA)
|
Jan 01-Jan 10
|
4-Jan |
42.2 |
Lyrids (LYR)
|
Apr 16-Apr 25
|
22-Apr |
48.4 |
Eta Aquarids (ETA)
|
Apr 28-May 21
|
7-May |
66.9 |
Delta Aquarids (SDA)
|
Jul 21-Aug 23
|
30-Jul |
42 |
Perseids (PER)
|
Jul 13-Aug 26
|
13-Aug |
60.5 |
Orionids (ORI)
|
Oct 04-Nov 14
|
22-Oct |
67.3 |
Leonids (LEO)
|
Nov 07-Nov 28
|
18-Nov |
70.6 |
Geminids (GEM)
|
Dec 04-Dec 16
|
14-Dec |
35 |
Ursids (URS)
|
Dec 17-Dec 23
|
23-Dec |
32.6 |
|
The average velocity for these 9 meteor showers is 52 km/s. The Perseids, Eta
Aquarids and Orionids are well above that average. The distance record contacts
which are published indicate that for six meters the record distance was during
the eta Aquarids in May. For both two meters and 222MHz the record distance
contacts were during the Perseids in August. These NA record distances are
published on the WSJTGROUP webpage. (See Table 2)
Table 2
Known & verified HSMS Records:
222 MHz AF6O & W7XU 222MHz 1270 mi / 2043 km Aug 12,2007
15:22 Perseid
144 MHz K2DRH & N6RMJ 144MHz 1572 mi / 2530 km
Aug 13,2009 06:50 Perseids
50 MHz VE3CDX & N8JX 50MHz
1627 mi / 2618 km May
16,2008 15:22 eta Aquarids
A good example of how meteor showers overlap are the Perseids, Delta Aquarids,
Orionids and Leonids. (See Table 3) These showers have velocities from 60.5 to
70.6 km/sec. I found that during showers like these on two meters our
expectation is longer distance contacts, stronger signal strength and short
pings. During these showers burns
on two meters are typical 1 – 3 seconds and on six meters much longer up to 2
minutes! (Longer burns on two meters do occur however there is a world of
difference between burns, signal strength and ping widths on both bands) Note
these are my observations over the past years.
Table 3
Overlapping Meteor Showers
Meteor Shower
Window
Peak
km/sec
Delta Aquarids
Jul 21-Aug 23
Jul 30
42.0
Perseids
Jul 13-Aug 26
Aug 13
60.5
Orionids
Oct 04-Nov 14
Oct 22
67.3
Leonids
Nov 07-Nov 28
Nov 18
70.6
When grouping my contacts by months the data for months December and May
included contacts made during the North American Meteor Scatter Contests. Thus
when you view the six meter bar graphs, December indicates many contacts due to
the winter contest.
Here is an assumption I have made. The best showers to work would be those where
the meteors are orbiting in the opposite direction of the Earth thus striking
the atmosphere head-on should be faster than those orbiting in the same
direction as the earth. I do not
know which showers fall into this group. I did not have the expertise to work
that logic thru my logs and perhaps could be studied and shared. Our analysis is
somewhat subjective however it does indicate there are months, usually
coinciding around major showers, where longer distance contacts were made and
logged.
General Findings:
Black = two meter comment : Red = Six Meter comment.
1.
April and September provided no contacts over 1300 miles.
Six meters provided no contacts over 1300 miles
for January, February, March, April, July, October and November.
2.
The best month for working distances over 1300 miles was August with 14 out of
43 total contacts made for that month.
The next best months were July and November with 5 completions for each.
The best month for working distances over 1300 miles
was August with 3 out of 8 total
contacts made for that month. The next best month was May with 2 completions.
3.
58% of my completions over 1200 miles
occurred in July, August and September.
61% of the completions over 1200 miles on six
meters occurred in July, August, November and December.
4.
The best month to work distances over 1200 miles was August with 32.6% of the
contacts occurring in August. The next best months at 26% were July and
November. The best month to work distances over 1200
miles was December with 13 contacts or 22% of the total contacts make over 1200
miles. The next best month was August with 9 completions or 15% of the total.
5.
October appears to be the best month to work distances 1000 – 1200 miles. This
was a surprise to me however you will notice the
Orionids Meteor Shower occurs in October with a higher speed of 67.3km/s.
December on six meters appeared to be the best month to
work distances between 1000 – 1200 miles. The Geminids and NAHSMS contests
influenced this no doubt. Only one contact on six meters over 1300 miles during
the Geminids, this shower has meteors of lower velocity.
6.
December, month of the slower 35km/s Geminids, provided the most contacts
between 1000 – 1100 miles (18). December is the month of the NAHSMS contest
which might have skewed the numbers. August, month for the Perseids, has 14
contacts for the same distance range and the most total contacts over 1000
miles. Six
meters also provided the most contacts between 1000 – 1100 miles with 27 total
contacts for December out of 179 total for all months. October, month for the
Orionids produced 19 contacts for the same distance range of 1000 -1100 miles.
The Orionids during October seemed to outperform the Perseids in total contacts
completed over 1000 miles with 36 total completions during October. Guys do not
ignore the Orionids!
7.
For distances between 1000 – 1200 miles there was a good distribution between
months however for months August, September and December they provided the
highest numbers. The same thing can be said about six
meters however 179 completions between 1000 – 1100 miles, 58 completions for
1101 – 1150 miles and 59 completions between 1151 and 1200 miles.
A Table of contacts over 1200 Miles For Two Meters is provided. This has not
been done for six meters as it is time consuming and our focus is mainly 2 meter
extended distance contacts)
A Quick analysis of Table 4 indicates that 44 contacts over 1200 miles with 29
associated with a major meteor shower and
11 associated with a minor shower. Note there were 4 contacts not associated
with any shower. For our analysis I
included the entire window of time for each shower and have ignored the
Predicted Peak Days. (Do not ignore the shower “Peaks” however my data suggests
contacts are possible during the entire shower window. Meteor Shower Velocity
km/sec were all high for these contacts over 1200 miles which should be no
surprise for us.
The Six Meter and Two Meter bar graphs show by month the contacts that were
completed using HSMS mode FSK441 during dead band conditions
In summary I have learned not only about WSJT but just exactly what is possible with propagation mode meteor scatter. Without the wonderful application, WSJT provided by K1JT (Joe), I probably would have left amateur radio. Even after 10 years I have the same enthusiasm for making contacts during dead band conditions. Now what I would suggest to you, if you are experiencing “burn out” or just want to expand your capabilities get involved with HSMS or EME. Mix technology and these time-old propagation modes for a lifetime of enjoyments.