On November 15, 2001 I decided that it was time to try WSJT, a new mode of meteor scatter developed by Joe Taylor K1JT. WSJT then included really two modes. FSK441 was developed as a new high speed MS mode and JT44 was a weak signal mode, for weak signal tropo and/or EME. I was interested in the modes because they allowed VHF activity during the winter months when tropo is normally almost nonexistant. I am now hooked! WSJT has been a blast and I have enjoyed the modes with meteor scatter QSOs on 50Mhz, 144Mhz and 222Mhz using FSK441. First JT44 and now JT65 has been used as a tropo "extender" on these bands as well as 432Mhz. The JT44/JT65 modes have also allowed my first EME QSOs on 144Mhz.The mode is "different" but is highly effective even on random meteors. It is "different" in that it is not quite real time. After a receive sequence, decoding must take place. Therefore there can be a delay of over 30 sec after a "ping" has been heard and it has been decoded. Here is the link for WSJT FSK441/JT65 Software Most schedules are made on Ping Jockey .
-- KØAWU VHF/UHF WSJT Contacts -- (Updated Jan 24,2007)
Band Contacts Initials States Grids Best DX (non EME) 50Mhz 436 171 40 110 1261 Miles (WA5UFH) 144Mhz 607 215 41 118 1343 Miles (W5UWB) 222Mhz 46 25 14 22 1182 Miles (N1BUG) 432Mhz 10 8 5 8 * 603 Miles (K4SSO) * Tropo JT44 or JT65
December 10-18, 2006 Geminids Meteor Shower / Rally
I've been working a bit of EME and little MS due to TVI issues. TVI aside, it was fun to participate in the Rally again this year. It is always nice to get on and renew old friendships. Meteors were little enhanced that I could see and there was no 222Mhz activity. Random contacts were up a bit from previous Rallys which helped the score. The point system is different than last year, so the Rally total is not a complete picture of how this Rally was vrs previous Rallys. I had 11 fewer contacts than last year, I'm not sure if that was activity, meteors or both. One interesting note is that the average time for a 2 meter QSO was considerably less than last year, but the average distance was down a bit too. So ... was this a function of distance or meteors? The question is even more interesting when one looks at the 6m data! The average distance was also less than last year, but the average QSO time was UP! "Go figure." Hey, it was lots of fun to be back chasing the rocks again anyway. The Rally results are available and are posted on the link below. Complete Results: 2006 NAHSMS Geminids Contest Results My Contest Results: Band Contacts QSOPoints Grids Average Distance /Time ----------------------------------------------------------- 50 38 48 33 726 Miles 11 Min 144 36 78 31 803 Miles 12 Min 222 00 - 0 ------------------------------------------------------------- Totals 74 126 64 Score 126 x 64 =8,064 pts <<<<<<
December 11-17, 2005 Geminids Meteor Shower / Rally
I have not been working too much meteor scatter due to TVI issues. TVI aside, I worked to avoid peak TV times and ran at reduced power some to participate in the Rally again this year. It is always fun to get on and renew old friendships. Meteors were not shower enhanced that I could see. 222 activity was way down from the last few years. There also seemed like more unassisted activity. Lots of fun as aways. I finished in first place, Central Time division for my class of operation. Complete Results: 2005 NAHSMS Geminids Contest Results My Contest Results: Band Contacts QSOPoints Grids Average Distance /Time ----------------------------------------------------------- 50 49 - 39 778 Miles 09 Min 144 35 - 29 854 Miles 18 Min 222 01 - 1 835 Miles 22 Min ------------------------------------------------------------- Totals 85 110 69 Score 110 x 69 =7,590 pts <<<<<<
August 10-14, 2004 Perseids
The peak appeared to be August 12th and I spent my time on 222Mhz WSJT meteor scatter. I worked Paul N1BUG in ME and also Nick KU2A in NH for new states on 222. I also worked Paul on 2m on the 10th for the first time on WSJT, we had worked on 2m AU July 27th. Pretty cool, we had never worked on any band before.
May 02-09, 2004 Spring 2004 Meteor Scatter Rally
During this period I operated 50, 144 and 222Mhz WSJT meteor scatter. The meteors were not all that good ecept for some interesting periods around 13:00Z the last several days of the Rally. For about a 30min period or so shortly after 13:00Z, a very high "ping rate" and strong pings were observed. On the 7th and 8th signals E-W at about 600miles were showing 20sec of a 30sec period of almost constant pings. Gedas, W8BYA commented that my signals during this period were the most intense that he had ever heard on meteor scatter. On the 9th Joel W5ZN and I were in a 222Mhz attempt with poor rocks when we at 13:33Z pings started at a very high rate allowing a QSO as rapidly as we could change messages. Afternoon and evening meteors were very poor through the entire period, even on 6m. Jerry N5OSK and I ran one night for 30min and heard almost nothing, on random meteors we normally can work in 10 or 15 min on 2m WSJT. I finished in first place, Central Time division for my class of operation. Complete Results: NAHSMS Eta Aquarids Results
My Contest Results: Band Contacts QSOPoints Grids -------------------------------------- 50 25 33 23 144 28 32 26 222 3 9 3 -------------------------------------- Totals 56 74 52 Score 74 x 52 =3,848 pts <<<<<<
December 12-15, 2003 Geminids Meteor Shower / Rally
This past weekend was spent working FSK441 meteor scatter on 50Mhz, 144Mhz and 222Mhz. There was a Meteor Scatter Contest and it was a real "Blast". The activity was very good as well as the meteors. I worked Keg K5CZD on 222 for a new state on that band (LA). I also worked Barry KA7V on 2 meters for state number 45 (OR). The 746Pro, Preamp and 8877 showed a good improvement over the normal 2m system. The only disadvantage is the very poor noise blanker in the IC746Pro. Some found the conditions to be poor, but the conditions for me were outstanding. Working 10 out of 11 stations on 222Mhz was more than I could ever have hoped for. I finished in first place, Central Time division for my class of operation. Complete Results: NAHSMS Geminids Contest Results My Contest Results: Band Contacts QSOPoints Grids Average Distance /Time ----------------------------------------------------------- 50 28 28 26 793 Miles 12 Min 144 45 45 35 839 Miles 13 Min 222 10 30 9 768 Miles 29 Min ------------------------------------------------------------- Totals 83 103 70 Score 103 x 70 =7,210 pts <<<<<<
May 3-12, 2003 Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower / Contest
During past ten days I enjoyed working FSK441 meteor scatter on 50Mhz, 144Mhz and 222Mhz. This was the first WSJT Meteor Scatter Contest that I have participated in. It was lots of fun and activity was good. I even ended up finishing first place in the Central Time division for my class of operation. Complete Results: NAHSMS Eta Aquarids Contest Results My Contest Results: Band Contacts QSOPoints Grids Average Distance /Time ----------------------------------------------------------- 50 20 20 19 822 Miles 10 Min 144 13 13 12 812 Miles 20 Min 222 2 6 2 944 Miles 71 Min ------------------------------------------------------------- Totals 35 39 33 Score 39 x 33 =1,287 pts <<<<<<
Nov 19, 2002 --- Poor Leonids & 8877 Amplifier now on 2 meters --- On the return trip from California, I came across a beautiful 8877 2 meter amplifier at a price that I couldn't resist. The last week has been spent pulling together the necessary goodies to get this amp on the air for the Leonids Meteor "storm". The goal, work one/several of those 5 remaining westcoast states on 2 meters. The amplifier was "on-the-air", but there was no meteor "storm" here! The only new state was the last to the east was #43 Maine . I worked N1RWY last night prior to the shower's peak on WSJT FSK441. Jay had a great signal. This past week I also had three additional EME contacts , Milos S52LM again, Dave W5UN and Gary KB8RQ were all worked under poor moon conditions. All of these were with the 400 watt amplifier. The new amplifier (1000 watts or more) and better moon conditions should provide many additional and easier EME contacts this winter.
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