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From: "Dave G3WCB." <ganymede444@btopenworld.com>
To: <rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org>,
	<rsgb_lf_group@yahoogroups.co.uk>
Date: Wed, 25 Jun 2014 21:33:09 +0100
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Subject: LF: RE: Summer Solstice Test report
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Hi, Mike.

It was an interesting experiment. I was getting similar night-time ranges
during the Solstice Test as I was getting during the winter.
LF activity is probably lower during the summer as all the lush vegetation
needs pruning, lawns need mowing and gardens digging, leaving less time for
amateur radio!

My LF WSPR beacon will stay on overnight, then QRT for a few days. Will
probably be back on WSPR-2/630m after that, unless any requests received for
continued operation on 137 kHz.

LF equipment is a QRSS Labs U2 driving an outboard PA. 200W RF out, 1.5A
antenna current into 20m long "tee" at 5m, surrounded by lush vegetation...

73, Dave G3WCB IO91RM

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org
[mailto:owner-rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org]On Behalf Of Mike Dennison
Sent: 25 June 2014 19:15
To: rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org; rsgb_lf_group@yahoogroups.co.uk
Subject: LF: Summer Solstice Test report


Propagation guru Alan, G3NYK, always argues that there is no such
thing as a DX season at LF from a propagation point of view. It is
true that in the summer we get more lightning static, the darkness
hours are less and the lush vegetation in our gardens absorbs more
RF, but is it still possible to work DX at 136kHz at mid-summer? This
was the idea behind an activity boost from 15 to 22 June.

There was much beacon activity on OP32 and WSPR. DK7FC and I also
made a two-way QRSS3 daylight contact. It was interesting to see
better results between DL and G than on 472kHz during the day. DK7FC
also made the best DX, being reported by W1VD one night.

The result, as observed by me, is shown in the statistics below. I am
sure that others can add to this.

Transmitting stations:
DF6NM, DK7FC, G3WCB, G3XDV, G8HUH, PA0A, R7NT, SV8CS [8]

Countries active on transmit:
DL, G, PA, R, SV [5]

Countries active on receive:
DL, EA, EW, F, G, GW, PA, R, SP, SV, W, YO [12]

Total stations active (including receive-only):
[24]

Best DX by XDV transmitting:
EW6BN 1939km, YO/4X1RF 2097km, RX3DHR 2582km, (all OP32/OPDS)

Best daylight DX by XDV transmitting:
SP5XSB 1444km @ 0710UTC

Best DX received by XDV:
R7NT, 2835km (OP32, WSPR2, WSPR15)

Best DX observed:
DK7FC > W1VD, 6099km (OP32/OPDS)

Best time for DX (East):
2100 - 0030UTC

Best time for DX (West):
0251UTC

So once again Alan has been proved right.

Thanks to all who participated, especially those who provided SWL
reports.

73 de Mike, G3XDV
===============