LF: Re: RE: Summer Solstice Test report

["Alan Melia" <alan.melia@btinternet.com>]

Hi both thanks for confirming the results from my DCF39 monitoring (via 
CT1DRP) over the years. I think it maybe the old story....yes its more 
uncomfortable to use ears in summer, but the data modes how the propagation 
is often still there but for a shorter darkness period. Also if no one is 
active, there seems to be no propagation :-))
It is interesting that there does seem to be a suggestion that 137 holds up 
better in summer than 472.......have I read that correctly, or maybe it was 
from another poster. I was not able to do the same sort of tests for 472.
Good work
Alan
G3NYK

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dave G3WCB." <ganymede444@btopenworld.com>
To: <rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org>; <rsgb_lf_group@yahoogroups.co.uk>
Sent: Wednesday, June 25, 2014 9:33 PM
Subject: LF: RE: Summer Solstice Test report


> 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
> ===============