Latest 50MHz DX spots

 

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50MHz is probably the easiest VHF band to achieve regular long distance (DX) communications, but radio conditions can vary tremendously depending on the time of year and the solar cycle. The best time of year is from MAY to AUGUST during the Sporadic-E season, where with low power and simple aerials anyone can work most of Europe up to 2,300km distance from your station and with very strong signal strengths in both directions.

 

Double hop Sporadic-E is sometimes seen in the Summer with distances in the order of up to 4000km to areas like Israel (4X) or the Canary islands (EA8). Some distances worked when at solar minimum in June and July 2007 have been in the order of 6000km to parts of the USA; is this triple hop Sporadic-E or something else such as the less well known Short-path Summer Solstice Propagation (SSSP)? It cannot be F2 layer reflections as we are at solar minimum in 2007.

However, outside of the summer months conditions can generally be poor and the band appear totally deserted. There are exceptions as at the maximum of the solar cycle when 50MHz signals are reflected by the F2 layer just like on HF and it is possible to work all continents including Australia! The pileups can be frustrating to break though.

Also it is possible at all times of year to work stations in Europe up to 2,300km away by bouncing your signals off the ionised trails left by meteors entering the Earth's atmosphere. You will need WSJT software and a computer linked by a soundcard interface to your USB transmitter, but there is plenty of Meteor Scatter activity, most mornings and evenings, around 50.230 MHz using JT6M mode. You will also need a directional aerial. N.B. 50 MHz is considered poorer than 144 MHz for tropo scatter communications.

 

PRIMARY EUROPEAN METEOR SCATTER FREQUENCIES & DATA MODES
Old Region 1 Band plan had 50.200-50.300 MHz for Meteor Scatter (still largely in use as of 2017)
FREQUENCY	MODE	COMMENT
50.230 MHz*	JT6M (30s periods)	Most European MS activity was seen here in 2016, but in 2017 has declined dramatically in favour of MSK144 mode on 50.280 MHz.
50.235 MHz*	ISCAT-B	Some European activity this mode in 2013, better performance than JT6M, but not adopted by many users with MSK144 preferred
50.270 MHz*	FSK441	Not ideal for 50MHz use, JT6M mode superior for longer reflections found on 6m
50.260 MHz*	PSK2k	Newer none WSJT mode, difficult to install, but fully automatic. Moved up to 50.360 MHz in 2015 now replaced by MSK144 mode
50.280 MHz* (+/- 15 kHz)	MSK144 (15s periods)	99% European activity this mode and frequency, seen here since 2018, with 15s periods and extremely popular. Software in use is either WSJT-X by K1JT or MSHV by LZ2HV
50.325 MHz	ISCAT-B	Some European activity this mode in 2014, better performance than JT6M, but not adopted by many users with MSK144 preferred
New Region 1 Band plan since 2012 suggests 50.320-50.380 MHz for Meteor Scatter (largely not adopted yet by European MS community)
FREQUENCY	MODE	COMMENT
50.325 MHz	ISCAT-B	Some European activity this mode seen here 2014
50.330 MHz	JT6M	Much more European activity this mode seen here 2015, but now MSK144 preferred by most
50.360 MHz	MSK144	Designated frequency as of 2018 for this newer mode, but 99% of activity remains on 50.280 MHz
50.370 MHz	FSK441	No European activity this mode seen here 2013

NOTES
*As of June 2013 the new Region 1 (European) band plan, that came into effect on 1st January 2012, is largely being ignored by the VHF community, as all data modes in Europe were recommended to move above 50.300 MHz to free up space for more SSB voice, however 50 MHz is often capable of Intercontinental communications and there remains much US data activity below 50.300 MHz so that is where European stations remain to work them. It is also best practice when calling CQ to indicate another frequency you are listening on, for example CQ 270 when calling on 50.280 MHz, meaning you are listening for replies on 50.270 MHz and as soon as you hear one you QSY your transmissions there also.

 

PRIMARY EUROPEAN WEAK SIGNAL FREQUENCIES & DATA MODES FOR OTHER PROPAGATION TYPES
FREQUENCY	MODE	COMMENT
50.250 MHz*	PSK31	SPORADIC-E / F2 Transatlantic
50.276 MHz*	JT65A	SPORADIC-E / F2 Transatlantic
50.278 MHz*	JT9-1	SPORADIC-E / F2 Transatlantic (was 50.293 until 19th July 2013)
50.293 MHz* (+ >1500Hz)	WSPR	US / EUROPE*
50.305 MHz	PSK31	No PSK31 observed here in 2013 yet
50.313 MHz	FT8	99% European activity with this new fast mode seen since 2017, seems well suited to Sporadic Es propagation
50.333 MHz	JT9-1	Japan - US - Japan
50.401 MHz (+/- 500Hz)	WSPR	New Region 1 Band plan
NOTES
*As of June 2013 the new Region 1 (European) band plan, that came into effect on 1st January 2012, is largely being ignored by the VHF community, as all data modes in Europe were recommended to move above 50.300 MHz to free up space for more SSB voice, however 50 MHz is very often capable of Intercontinental communications and there remains much US data activity below 50.300 MHz so that is where stations remain to work each other.

 

 

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One of the very best and easiest ways to work DX from the UK on the 50 MHz (6 metres) band is via the Sporadic E propagation for which the season usually occurs between May - August each year. With low power it is possible to work all over Europe via single hop or as far as Israel and Cyprus via double hop propagation. Many theories exist for the cause of Sporadic-E propagation such as thunderstorms, lightning and wind shear.

In 2011 there remain a few Band 1 TV transmitters in Europe that can still be used to monitor for Sporadic-E openings, before they appear on the Amateur Radio bands, due to their very high power levels. The TV station in Prague, JN79 locator square, on a carrier frequency of 49.740 MHz CW being very useful. The Sporadic-E clouds are often associated with thunderstorms.

On the evening of Tuesday 1st August 2006 at around 1930-2030 UTC there was an intense Sporadic E opening from the UK in the less common direction of Scandinavia. Shown below is a map indicating the DX being worked from the UK. There is a distinct concentration of reflecting areas just to the West of Denmark over the North Sea.

When I viewed the animated lightning map for Europe, I was able to observe that throughout the day there had been multiple lighting strikes near Denmark and therefore thunderstorms. This would appear to confirm that there might be a link between the two.

In my experience by far the best way to monitor band conditions on 50 MHz is to monitor Band 1 VHF TV video carrier frequencies. These television transmitters often use many kW's of Effective Radiated Power (ERP) and signals can be detected before weaker amateur radio transmissions. In Navacerrada, Spain the TV video carrier on 48.250 MHz CW, locator square IN70, was, until 2010, almost always be heard here in the UK when there was the slightest Sporadic E propagation, it could be heard as pings via MS reflections at all times. The map below shows some historical stronger 100kW+ TV transmitter sites in Europe, together with their channel number from 1-4, their ERP in brackets and their polarisation h - horizontal or v - vertical.

N.B. I have been advised from several sources, over the last few years, that Spanish Band 1 VHF TV transmissions would eventually cease as UHF TV takes over, although I was still receiving these transmissions in 2007. The latest information I have is that analogue TV in Spain has finally ended in 2010.

Most European Countries are closing down their Band 1 TV transmissions, so time is running out to monitor the signals as 50 MHz propagation indicators.

Below is a table of Band 1 TV carrier frequencies, which I always used to monitor and which will showed Sporadic E propagation before it appeared on the Amateur 50 MHz band, due to the extremely strong TV RF power levels measured in kW.

When the F2 layer is open on 50 MHz early warnings can be made by monitoring an Australian, Queensland TV video carrier on 46.171 MHz CW (power 300kW) or an American TV video carrier on 55.250 MHz CW. These will not be heard near solar minimum. I was able to receive the Australian TV carrier back in 2001. The tables below show the Band 1 TV video carrier frequencies, which can be heard on amateur radio transceivers using CW mode and sound like a constant carrier.

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