Category Archives: VHF

Small tropo opening …

Posted on November 29, 2016 by dh8bqa

Speaking of last weekend being in the middle of a rather boring CQWW CW contest I couldn’t resist switching to 2 m Saturday morning after seeing some DX spots on the cluster showing tropo between the UK and Northern Franconia as … Continue reading →

Posted in Propagation, Tropo, VHF | Comments Off on Small tropo opening …

Perseids ’16

Posted on August 15, 2016 by dh8bqa

Not very active recently, QRL and a new girl friend eating up all of my sparse time. 😎 Nevertheless found a few hours time inbetween to do some Meteor Scatter QSOs during this year’s Perseids meteor shower and worked a … Continue reading →

Posted in Meteor Scatter, VHF | Comments Off on Perseids ’16

Official DARC July Contest results … surprise surprise! :-)

Posted on August 7, 2016 by dh8bqa

Contest results are out! Despite not being that satisfied my result was obviously good enough for a 1st place Single OP finish. 😎

Posted in Contesting, VHF | Comments Off on Official DARC July Contest results … surprise surprise! :-)

DARC July VHF Contest ’16

Posted on July 5, 2016 by dh8bqa

Condx were average at best, lots of QSB. Especially the DX QSOs usually took a while but of course you have a bit more time for these during the night. Activity was quite low, especially in Germany – seems everybody … Continue reading →

Posted in Contesting, VHF | Comments Off on DARC July VHF Contest ’16

A bit 6 m DX at least

Posted on June 19, 2016 by dh8bqa

There was a great opening to the Middle East on 6 m this morning. Unfortunately not much activity … —————————————————————— TIME CALLSIGN LOCATOR TX RX BAND MODE PROP. QRB —————————————————————— 07:35 9K2NO LL39XG 599 559 6 m. CW 3813 07:41 … Continue reading →

Posted in Audio recordings, DX, Propagation, Sporadic E, VHF | Comments Off on A bit 6 m DX at least

Great Sporadic-E on 144 MHz again

Posted on June 18, 2016 by dh8bqa

Lucky me! Mother nature was calling early this morning and before going back to bed I just checked the MUF on DXMAPS on the smartphone. Glad I did! There was already some ES going on 2 m. Quickly switched on … Continue reading →

Posted in Audio recordings, Propagation, Sporadic E, VHF | Comments Off on Great Sporadic-E on 144 MHz again

CQ WPX CW and some Magic Band frustration

Posted on May 29, 2016 by dh8bqa

Unfortunately I couldn’t make it to the QTH this weekend so only spent some limited time in the CQ WPX CW remotely. Great Sporadic-E conditions all weekend long so kept going on 10 m single band and managed a whopping … Continue reading →

Posted in Contesting, DX, Propagation, Sporadic E, VHF | Comments Off on CQ WPX CW and some Magic Band frustration

What a great day on VHF today …

Posted on May 26, 2016 by dh8bqa

Luckily Corpus Christi is a local holiday overhere so I had the day off. 😎 Waking up at 5:30z I was not sure if I should get up or turn around for some more sleep. Seems it was a good decision … Continue reading →

Posted in Audio recordings, DX, Propagation, Sporadic E, VHF | Comments Off on What a great day on VHF today …

Caught the first 2 m ES opening this year …

Posted on May 22, 2016 by dh8bqa

Finally caught the first 2 m ES this year! 🙂 6 m had been hot all afternoon. Later also 4 m opened up nicely. It was kind of masochistic listening to all the activity on 70 MHz and not being able … Continue reading →

Posted in Audio recordings, Propagation, Sporadic E, VHF | Comments Off on Caught the first 2 m ES opening this year …

EA6/PA2CHR for square #530 on 2 m

Posted on May 16, 2016 by dh8bqa

Seasoned VHF Dxpeditioner Chris, PA2CHR, was on tour again, this time activating the rare squares on Menorca Island, i.e. JN10, JN20 & JM29. Unfortunately I could not be QRV when he was in JN10 & JN20 but had a chance … Continue reading →

Posted in Meteor Scatter, VHF | Comments Off on EA6/PA2CHR for square #530 on 2 m

WIA Awards

Posted on May 15, 2016 by dh8bqa

Applied for and got a few nice awards issued by WIA (Wireless Institue of Australia). They have a great online system to apply for the awards using ADIF uploads and getting the contacts confirmed through LotW and/or eQSLs. The awards are issued … Continue reading →

Posted in Awards, DX, VHF | Comments Off on WIA Awards

Aurora once more

Posted on May 8, 2016 by dh8bqa

After getting back from the hilltop and having unloaded all the contest equipment we enjoyed a nice medium strength Aurora opening this evening: —————————————————————— TIME CALLSIGN LOCATOR TX RX BAND MODE PROP. QRB —————————————————————— 16:02 YL2FZ KO37QI 59A 59A 2 … Continue reading →

Posted in Aurora, Propagation, VHF | Comments Off on Aurora once more

DFØFA VHF May Contest ’16

Posted on May 8, 2016 by dh8bqa

Out again on the local hilltop in JO73CF. Ran short of operators, only DGØZB, DG1BHA, DH8BQA, DL3BQA & DL5CW active this time while DK7YY & DL9USA were prevented. Activity was quite bad, not happy with the result. Probably due to … Continue reading →

Posted in Contesting, VHF | Comments Off on DFØFA VHF May Contest ’16

No 70 MHz permit in Germany this year :-(

Posted on May 5, 2016 by dh8bqa

The bad news is official now: For some (political) reasons there won’t be a temporary permit to use the 4 m band during this year’s Sporadic-E season in DL. What a shame. 🙁 Let’s hope we will get a few good … Continue reading →

Posted in Propagation, Sporadic E, VHF | Comments Off on No 70 MHz permit in Germany this year :-(

TY – Benin #138 on 6 m

Posted on April 24, 2016 by dh8bqa

Had the first 6 m ES opening of the season today. The band opened nicely from here into Southern Europe, i.e. 9H & IT9 around 15:30z with S9+ signals. Saw TY2AC spotting southern Europe stations himself on the cluster. He finally … Continue reading →

Posted in Audio recordings, DX, Propagation, Sporadic E, VHF | Comments Off on TY – Benin #138 on 6 m

First 6 m ES this year & a few ARRL-RTTY-RU contacts

Posted on January 4, 2016 by dh8bqa

Our station was reserved for DL3BQA to operate in the ARRL-RTTY-Roundup last weekend. While he enjoyed some great runs on 15 m Sunday afternoon I had some fun on 6 m as there was a great winter E-skip opening into EI, signals … Continue reading →

Posted in Contesting, Propagation, Sporadic E, VHF | Comments Off on First 6 m ES this year & a few ARRL-RTTY-RU contacts

Santa’s early Christmas present: ufb Aurora again

Posted on December 20, 2015 by dh8bqa

Oh boy, what a great VHF DX day today! Already late morning there were spots on the DX cluster reporting Aurora QSOs some 2.500 to 3.500 km east from here, i.e. between UA4 and UA9. It did not look like we … Continue reading →

Posted in Audio recordings, Aurora, Propagation, VHF | Comments Off on Santa’s early Christmas present: ufb Aurora again

Meteors & Northern Lights …

Posted on December 16, 2015 by dh8bqa

Besides handing out a few QSOs in the ARRL-10M contest last weekend I also spent some time on VHF as the Geminids meteor shower was around. It almost always coincides with the 10 m contest so one can share time … Continue reading →

Posted in Aurora, Meteor Scatter, Propagation, VHF | Comments Off on Meteors & Northern Lights …

Marconi Memorial Contest … and QRV on 2 m again

Posted on November 8, 2015 by dh8bqa

Just seeing I didn’t report on this blog that my 2 m PA used for remote ops had failed. 🙁 It happened right after the early October tropo. Returning from taking a nap on 4 October when switching on the amp … Continue reading →

Posted in Contesting, Equipment, Propagation, Tropo, VHF | Comments Off on Marconi Memorial Contest … and QRV on 2 m again

Surprising tropo again!

Posted on October 24, 2015 by dh8bqa

Well, neither the weather nor the Tropo forecast (see picture) did look like we would get a big lift but Friday early afternoon it really happend – EA1MX appeared on 2 m here in Northeastern Germany! Would not have thought … Continue reading →

Posted in Audio recordings, Propagation, Tropo, VHF | Comments Off on Surprising tropo again!