Friday, February 25, 2011

T2GJ, Tuvalu 2011 6m EME DXpedition


Lance, W7GJ, realizará este verano otra expedición para activar un nuevo pais en 6 metros EME. Esta vez estará en Tuvalu, con el indicativo T2GJ.

La operación la realizará del 23 de Agosto al 29 de Agosto. Os recuerdo que las condiciones mínimas para poderle trabajar en EME, modo JT65A, son 1 Kw y una antena de 7 elementos, además de estar en una ubicación con muy poco ruido ambiental. El estará activo con 1 Kw y una yagi de 8 el.

Fuera de EME las probabilidades de contactarlo son practicamente nulas desde EA.

Podéis leer toda la información de la expedición y más sobre esta modalidad de rebote lunar en 6m en su pagina de internet

http://www.bigskyspaces.com/w7gj/T2GJ.htm

VU4, Islas Andaman, qrv 6m

A large group of operators from the Amateur Radio Society of India will be active as VU4PB from the Andaman Islands (AS-001) on 15-31 March. Plans are to have four stations active on 160-10 metres CW, SSB and RTTY from three locations in Port Blair. They will be qrv also on 6m. Further information and details on how contribute to this expensive project can be found at http://arsi.info/dxpeditions/vu4pb-mar-2011 [425 DX News #1034]

Liberia qrv 6m


Silvano, I2YSB and his team (Vinicio IK2CIO, Angelo IK2CKR, Marcello IK2DIA and Stefano IK2HKT) will be active from Liberia (callsign TBA) from 31 March to 13 April. They plan to operate CW, SSB and RTTY on 80-10 metres with three stations on the HF bands and one dedicated station on 6 metres. QSL direct to I2YSB.

On 6m they will have a 3 el quad and may use a acom 1000. Will run a beacon on 50.103 MHz. Further information can be found at www.i2ysb.com

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

The UK Six Metre Group Summer E’s Contest 2011



Hi All, and welcome to the launch of the UK Six Metre Group “Summer E's) contest for 2011. The rules for the 2011 event are the same as last year and are presented below as follows: The exchange and scoring more closely follows the tried and tested format as used in the more familiar VHF contests in Europe, and will be compatible with the more well known logging software packages. I have still included membership numbers, but as a multiplier this year as I felt that we need to encourage more of our members to take part. Members please get on during the contest and give away some points; you could make a real difference to the overall scores. We hope you enjoy this year's contest and I we forward to hearing you on the “magic band”.

The contest will take place over the weekend of 4th-5th June 2011. Starting and ending at 1300 Z (ie. 24 hours)
The sections are:
  1. Single Operator (fixed permanent station address)
  2. Single Operator (both portable and mobile)
  3. Multi-operator (both fixed and portable)
  4. A 6 hour fixed**
  5. A 6 hour portable**
  6. Qrp 5 watts max (both Phone and CW)
  7. We welcome logs from short wave listeners who will be acknowledged
** Stations may only operate for a maximum of 6 hours. Entrants may choose between any continuous 6 hour period in which to operate (e.g. 1500-2100, or 1917-0117) or alternatively split the 6 hour period into two segments separated by at least 1 hour off time . If entering this section contest exchanges are not allowed outside the chosen 6 hour period. Serial numbers must start at 001 for this 6 hour period, and you cannot enter both this section and the full contest.

The scoring for the contest will be as follows:
1 point per Km and a weighting factor of 500 will be applied to each multiplier; score to be calculated as follows:

Total Points + (Total members x 500) + (Total DXCC x 500) + (Total Locator Squares x 500).

For example, a station with total of 145000 Km, 55 members, 34 DXCC and 120 Loc squares
Score = 145000 + (55 x 500) + (34 x 500) + (120 x 500)

Total Claimed Score = 249,500

Exchange will be RST, Serial number, Full Locator (6 figure eg IO81WX) and Membership Number if available (compulsory if a member, or if one of a multi operator station is a member).

The Rules:
  1. Use of the DX cluster and chat/forums is permitted, however, 'self-spotting' to solicit contacts during the contest is not allowed.
  2. It's not allowed to make contest QSO’s on active or passive reflectors (repeaters or EME).
  3. Meteor scatter or digital modes are allowed as long as all details are exchanged this way.
  4. Multi-op stations may use a group membership number (if any) or the membership number of one of the operators. (See UKSMG Membership number rule above)
  5. If any member of a participating station is a member of UKSMG, then a membership number must be included as part of the exchange.
  6. All licence conditions must be observed.
  7. QSO's within your own Continent must be outside the DX Window 50.100-50.130 MHz.
    Logs (electronic) must be in a legible format (ADI or plain text only).
  8. Logs (both electronic and paper based) must include a summary sheet, (Claimed Score, DXCC, Locators worked, and a list of Membership Numbers worked).
  9. Logs must include a declaration that the Rules (in your country) have been adhered to and I agree that the judges decision is final. (entries received without both will be rejected).
  10. QRP entries must declare the power used during the contest is 5Watts MAXIMUM
    Entries.

Entries by email are much preferred - please send your entry by 1st July 2011 to:

contest@uksmg.org (Please use UKSMG and your call-sign in the email title).

Entries in EDI, ADIF, Cabrillo are very much preferred. An Excel CSV file is not a preferred option but will be accepted if absolutely necessary. Anyone considering forwarding a paper log, please email the contest manager first. Paper logs will only be accepted in extreme circumstances and by prior arrangement. Properly formatted electronic logs will allow the contest manager to turn around the results very swiftly. Almost all delays are caused by non standard log formats and paper log entries.

Your entry will be acknowledged by email - if you don't get an acknowledgement within 2 days of sending your entry, please re-send.

Please indicate which section you're entering, with a list of operators/call-signs.
ALL entries must arrive by 1st July 2011.
Good Luck in the contest

http://uksmg.org/page.php?5

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Preguntas y respuestas

Algunos amigos radioaficionados han visto el blog dedicado a los 6 metros y me han preguntado que tal es la banda y cómo funciona. Si tenéis consultas o dudas hacedmelas llegar e intentaré contestarlas en el blog. También podéis dejar vuestros comentarios en el mismo blog.

Transcribo aquí la respuesta a uno de los correos recibidos desde EA8:

"Pues es una banda muy interesante. Es muy dependiente del ciclo solar. En su máximo permite hace contactos a grandes distancias como los 10 metros, pero un poco más difícil. En el mínimo del ciclo solar solo se puede trabajar en los meses de Abril a Agosto usando la capa E, las esporádicas, como en 144 MHz, pero fácilmente se puede llegar a 6000 Km por multi salto, lo que te permite trabajar Caribe, toda EU, etc.

Toda la actividad es en SSB o en CW, también hay actividad en modalidades digitales, especialmente jt6m usando meteoritos.

Ahora mismo estamos en fase de subida hasta el maximo del ciclo solar que será en el año 2013. Esta semana varios EA8 han trabajado estaciones de Brasil. Ahora mismo parece que hay condiciones allí. Si miras el cluster http://www.dxsummit.fi/CustomFilter.aspx?customCount=50&customRange=50 veras que está entrando ZD8 y ZD7 justo ahora. Posiblemente en 1 hora puedas escuchar PYs.

EA8 es una zona priviliegiada para la radio y también para los 6 m . Espero que disfrutes de esta banda.

Te recomiendo visitar la web del UKSMG UK six meters group, donde hay varias explicaciones de cómo funciona la propagación en 6m y cómo operar y el plan de banda.

http://uksmg.org/news.php

Hay tambien un Chat donde la mayoría de gente activa está para citas, saber cómo está la propagación, etc. Normalmente estoy conectado siempre que puedo estar qrv.

http://www.on4kst.com/

Repito, no es una banda para llamar y que te contesten a cualquier hora. Hay que aprender cómo funciona escuchando mucho. Los links que te paso son los mejores para estar al tanto de qué hay. Tampoco hay software para predecir aperturas. Normalmente yo uso la pagina http://dx.qsl.net/propagation/ para ver si puede llegar propagación en capa F, pero no sirve para las esporádicas. Para ello lo único que se puede hacer es vigilar el cluster o el Chat, balizas, etc."


Guantanamo qrv 6m


Varios operadores planean estar activos desde Guantánamo del 22 de febrero al 8 de marzo, KG4WV, KG4SS, KG4KL y KG4AS estarán activos de 160-6M incluyendo los 60 mts. Operarán en SSB, CW, RTTY, AM, FM, SSTV, PSK--todos. QSLs, KG4WV vía W4WV; KG4SS vía K4MIL; KG4KL vía KN4KL; y KG4AS vía N4SIA.
[info blog EA1CS]

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Dxpedition to Southern Sudan in July

The Intrepid-DX Group and the DX Friends have combined efforts to announce our next DXpedition, to the newly created country of Southern Sudan, to take place after July 9th 2011.

The Intrepid-DX Group is the group which brought you the 2010 YI9PSE, IRAQ DXpedition. The DX Friends have brought you the 2006 SØ1R DXpedition to Western Sahara, the 2008 DXpedition to Rwanda as 9XØR, the 2009 DXpedition to Western Sahara as SØ4R, the 2010 DXpedition to Palestine as E4X and the 2010 DXpedition to San Marino as T7ØA.
Once again, ICOM America has agreed to be Global Radio Sponsor, while ACOM-K1LZ has agreed to provide the venerable ACOM amplifiers for this operation.

It is hoped that the callsign STØDX will be issued this next week following our meeting with the Government of Southern Sudan Mission in America.

As with previous DXpeditions, this will be a major effort, with a target of more than 150,000 QSOs. There will be up to ten stations on the air, using amplifiers along with high performance beams and vertical dipole arrays, 24 hours a day, for almost three weeks.
Our primary objective is to activate Southern Sudan with a view to giving as many DXers as possible a first contact with this new DXCC entity and, as a secondary objective, to give as many band-slots as possible.

Thank you,The Intrepid-DX Group and The DX Friends.

More info http://www.dxfriends.com/SouthernSudan2011/news.php
50 MHz information and operating tips
* The 6 metre band will be included in this operation. Although the dates are not at the very peak of the Sporadic E season we think it is worthwhile making the effort, in spite of the long distance to Europe, Asia and North America.
* We will use a 7 element Yagi plus a kW. A second beam may be used for monitoring purposes.
* We plan to use the frequency 50.103 for both CW and SSB, although it may be changed, depending on local noise/birdies. Split operation will be used when needed.
* The main mode will be CW. If band conditions permit, SSB will be used to gain a higher QSO rate. Please do not ask for mode changing.
* Please avoid QSO duplication, give others a chance. Logs will be uploaded twice a day to our website.
* Whenever it's possible, and while the band appears closed, the station will be beaconing on the same frequency. If you hear it, feel free to send a text (SMS) saying your grid locator and report only. Our phone number will be announced.
* Our Grid Locator is KJ54TU. Please, DO NOT send your locator, it is not needed and we won't log it anyway, it wastes precious time

** PJ2, CURACAO, HF and 50 MHz Acivity **

Operators Hawa/DK9KX, Dieter/DJ9ON and Jan/DJ8NK will operate from Curacao (SA-099, WLOTA LH-0942) between June 26th and July 7th.

They will have a strongly emphasis on 6 meters, but the HF bands will also be used on CW, SSB and RTTY. Callsign and further info will be published soon. SOURCE: Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin #998

[MMMonVHF Newsletter 2011-02-18]

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

X2 Flare today

Copio el correo de Jose, EA7KW, al respecto de la erupción solar de esta mañana:

"La pasada madrugada, después de varias erupciones de clase C altas y dos M durante el día de ayer, el sol reventó con una clase X2.2, la primera de esta magnitud en este ciclo 24. http://spaceweather.com/swpod2011/15feb11/x2flare.gif?PHPSESSID=2kp4mj6hp37vlmt7kth9bbetc7
Estas erupciones parece que son de cara a la Tierra y esa región solar aún estará activa durante dos o tres días más, siendo posible que se dispare otra
X. Habrá condiciones malas en HF en altas latitudes y en los pasos por los polos cuando los productos de la masa coronal lleguen (CME). Los nórdicos van a disfrutar de las luces, los protones ya se han disparado, http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/ace/SIS_7d.html. Kp por encima de 4. Cuando pase la tormenta (que puede ser de clase G1 o G2) se incrementará los pasos N/S en TEP y es posible que en pocos días se den los primeros QSO por F2 entre regiones subtropicales en los 6 metros, por ejemplo EA8 - KP4, o entre CT/EA y KP4 por paso doblado/scatter. El SFI está hoy en 113.



Atentos al primer impacto de la CME de la M2.2 y la M6.6 en las próximas 24/48 horas, después vendrá la X2.2, con la corriente más acelerada pues las anteriores hace incrementar la velocidad del viento solar. Aun no hay predicciones actualizadas después del evento X2.2, solo hablan de la M6. http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/5002/x22cme.gif De momento ya ha habido un radio blackout de clase R3. http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/drap/index.html Pónganse casco de plomo por si acaso. A ver si todo esto no nos arruina el ARRL DX contest."

Sunday, February 13, 2011

6m Report February 13

La semana ha transcurrido sin grandes novedades. Este fin de semana he aprovechado para trabajar unas cuantas estaciones más para el challenge de jt6m, http://www.jt6m.org/jt6m-challenge.php, EA7KW (IM67), IK2GSO (JN45), SP6GWB (JO80), YT1AR (KN03), ON4IQ (JO20) y OZ3TT (JO66). He intentado algunos skeds entre 1900 Km y 2100 Km sin resultados, normal para esta época del año, sin lluvias de meteoritos que ayuden.

He escuchado tanto el sábado como el domingo señales flojas de la TV de Camerún, indicador de que la propagación empieza a mejorar. Ninguna baliza ni por F2 ni TEP.



El sol por fin se ha despertado y ha subido el flujo solar hasta 97, con varias erupciones interesantes:

Recent Major Solar Flare Activity
(usually reported within 30 minutes of event peak)

Date Time Magnitude
13-Feb-2011 1738Z M6.6
13-Feb-2011 1737Z M4.8

Por EA7 y EA8 me comentan que la baliza ZD8VHF que está en 50.032.7 llega casi todos los dias, pero ni rastro de S9DX o TJ9PF.


Ultima hora: El flujo medido por el observatorio de Pentincton a las 18.00 utc ha sido de 126, WOW, ojalá aguante unos días así para que tengamos alguna apertura de capa F2/TEP.

Suerte !.

Friday, February 11, 2011

9L5MS info on 6m

Below is information regarding the upcoming operation from 9L5MS in IJ38jk.

http://www.sierraleone2011.com/sl_2011/home.php

Will have 500w and a 5 element Tonna antenna for 6m, but are planning to be active calling CQ during their moonsets at the beginning of their trip. The positive thing is that they are going arrive there during period of the best EME cndx for March. More information will be made available as the DXpedition approaches.

Here's a link to the DXpedition video announcement.
You are free to pass this link on to anyone that might be interested.
(Thanks FeatureTalent - newB team for making this video)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXYcFCAz-dc


Kind regards,
Arie Kleingeld (PA3A)
Sierra Leone 2011 DXpedition Team
[tnx Magic Band EME / W7GJ]

** E3, ERITREA Expedition in 2012 **

It looks like a E30 DXpedition is planned for 2012. The last operation, E30GA, took place from Asmara in November 1998. Currently the information is limited -- no operators and specific
dates were provided. The only thing available via the below Web page is activity will be on 160-6 meters, including 30/17/12 meter bands, with operations on CW, SSB and RTTY. The unknown team will have at least 4 stations on the air at the same time on different bands and modes. The callsign is also not clear on the Web page (is it E30A or E30AA). However, the below Web page states, that the QSL Manager for E30A is S52RU. The Web for the 2012 DXpedition
(still under construction) is: www.seecc.net/Eritrea2012/index.html
There is a survey for "bands needs" available on the Web page.
Hopefully, more info will be forthcoming. Stay tuned!
SOURCE: Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin #997
[MMMonVHF Newsletter 2011-02-10]

V4, St. Kitts, qrv 6m

John, W5JON will be active again as V47JA from St. Kitts (NA-104) from 16 February to 30 March. He will operate SSB on 6-80 metres, and will participate in both the ARRL DX SSB and WPX SSB contests as a SOAB entrant. His wife Cathy will also operate occasionally as V4/W5HAM. All QSLs via W5JON. [TNX NG3K] [425 DX News #1032]

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Continuamos con escasa actividad ....


Continuamos con escasa actividad solar y cada vez las previsiones sobre el ciclo solar 24 son más pesimistas.

Hoy hay algo de actividad en 10 metros, pero nada de nada en 6 metros. Podéis ver el mapa de MUF con máximos alrededor de 36 MHz hacia Africa.

Con esta situación va a ser casi imposible que podamos trabajar a la expedición S9DX o a la TJ9PF.

Quizás desde Canarias haya alguna posibilidad, veremos.

Mientras tanto esta mañana he aprovechado para hacer algunos contactos por Meteor-Scatter en el modo digital JT6M. He escuchado a los habituales que estamos en el chat del ON4KST y además he trabajado a algunas estaciones nuevas este año 2011: EA7LT (IM97), YU1KY (KN04), OZ1DLD/A (JO56), OZ3ZW (JO54).

También he trabajado por troposcatter a EA2ARD (IN93), EA6BB (JM19), EA5GNG (IM98), y charlado un rato con EA3LL (JN01).

También he trabajado a DK1MAX que llegaba muy bien por iono-scatter, entre s1 y s3, y con el efecto de los meteoritos ponía ráfagas de s9.

73 a todos

Saturday, February 5, 2011

Revilla Gigedo, QRV 6m



Un equipo compuesto por XE1B, EA5KM, EC4DX, EA5FX, EA5AFP, EA4AK y EA8AUW estarán activos desde el Archipiélago de Revillagigedo (IOTA NA-030) del 3 al 20 de Marzo de 2011 como 4A4A.

Más información en: www.revillagigedo2011.com

En 50 MHz estarán en 50.104 cw y 50.140 ssb.

QSL Manager : EB7DX
Locator : DK48MS


Wednesday, February 2, 2011

9N, Nepal, qrv 6m


Dov 4Z4DX (9N7DX) y su XYL Anat 9N7YL operarán del 13 al 30 de abril 2011 pricipalmente 10, 15 y 20 mts incluyendo 6mts en Cw, Rtty y Psk31.

Dov organiza una fuerte Dxpedition a Nepal en noviembre 2011 coincidiendo con su 60 cumpleaños y sus 45 años en el aire.

Qsl vía 4Z4DX.

Radio: Icom IC-706 MK II G

Antenna: D3WS for Warc, 3 EL Yagi on any band ,also on six meter
WEB: http://www.mdxc.org/9n7dx/

[info dx world y blog EA1CS]