Tropo 24-28th May - What did u work/hear?

[VK2KRR]

A great high pressure cell made its way slowly across the south of the country, providing increased tropopsheric propagation activity from around the 24th till 28th May (and may still be going). Most really good activity occurred over the weekend which was good to see.

For reference, here is a typical view of the High pressure cell -

MSLP 26th 10am

And a view of the Hepburn charts that got people excited-

Sunday Morning Hepburn

Some quite good paths were available to be exploited and some rare long inland paths occurred.
I thought it would be good to start this thread up so that people could share what they experienced during the days of this opening.

I've also made a Poll just because its available to be used. Ideally it would have been great to have a number of Poll questions to be asked, such as distance, MUF, signal strength, area, time etc. But this is OK.

So please let us know what you heard and maybe what antennas etc u had running.

[VK2KRR]

To get the ball rolling, from here I found improved conditions in directions SW to W to NW. The best and most consistant signals came from the northern Spencer Gulf area. Where as the SW direction to Mt Gambier was OK on the Friday night I think, but beyond this it wasn't real good.
In general the paths were quite unstable. One signal maybe S7 for a while and then next u look its S2, then back again later. The signals never got particularly strong in any direction. Paths to Melbourne were not real good.

Virtually no 162 MHz Marine Tracking signals were heard here and I note, marine tracking was also fairly average for VK5AKK and VK5ZEA. To me this indicates the duct was elevated, along with the fact that there were VK5 to VK1 paths and the MUF appeared relatively low.

Repeaters- (using 4 x 13 ele 2m)(2 x 19 ele 70cm)
My best path was to VK5RAE Port Augusta rptr @ 913 km.
VK5RMN Port Pirie @ 867 km, not there as often as RAE was.
Occassional VK5RLH central north sig @ 833 km.
Others closer in Murray Bridge, Barossa Valley, Crafers. Mt Gambier.
Quite sure I had weak sig from VK2RBH at Broken Hill, but hard to tell as only S2 max sig.
Nothing out of the ordinary heard on 70cm.

Voice SSB - FM - 2m only. (SSB 2m 1 x 17 ele)
Nothing sticks out from the norm, worked VK5ACY on SSB & FM.
Good signals initially from VK5DK & VK5TN on Friday night on SSB.

2m WSPR - (1 x 17 ele)
WSPR was quite entertaining with many of the usual stations like VK5GF, VK5AKK, VK5ACY, VK5LA, VK5AKM coming up to the +dB signals area indicating improved path conditions. A test with 4 x 13 in vertical on Sat night, Sunday morning was able to hear VK5KK and hear/heard by VK5ZRL both using omni verticals to the west of the Adelaide hills.

Other - I did have signal from VK5RSE 70cm and 23cm but only fairly low levels

[VK5ACY]

After a 'summer DX Season' with less tropo openings than 'usual' this last week was good to me.

Times and dates are UTC.

25 March 2013 on 144MHz ...fast and furious !

TIME CALL SENT RECEIVED
2150 VK3KH 5/9 5/9
2236 VK3EJ 5/9 5/9
2238 VK1KW 5/5 5/7
2240 VK1DO 5/5 5/5
2242 VK1BG 5/3 5/5
2244 VK1CJ 5/2 5/7
2245 VK2EMA 5/9 5/9 and then on 432.100 MHz sent 5/7 and received 5/5 over 788km.

26 March 2013

0045 VK3ES 5/1 5/6
0232 VK3HY 5/9 5/9 and then on 432.100 sent 5/5 and received 5/6
0235 VK3YCQ 5/4 5/9
0236 VK3XDX 5/2 5/5
0804 VK2EMA 5/9 5/9 and then again 432.100 sent 5/9 and received 5/9
0820 VK2FABV 5/1 5/3

This opening allowed me to use my new Home-Brewed 432 MHz PA which makes about 300W PEP....and it performed well...no smoke or funny noises ! .

Thanks to all stations for 'being on' and making my weekend.

Bill VK5ACY
Bowhill (90km East of Adelaide)
PF95sb