Monday night around 1300 UTC I was turning the beam after checking for VK6 beacons. As I was pointing NE on the way through to SE and scrolling through Beacon memories as the beam turned, I heard VK4RTT on 144.400 !
First thought was that this was a hoax, but there it was DF ing on exactly the right beam heading.
I spotted it on the logger and all other Adelaide stations on that late also heard it.
Thanks to Leigh VK2KRR who sent many text messages and made phone calls to VK4 operators.
Anyway no VK4 stations were heard so we all listened to the beacon for three hours and went to bed.
Signal strength ranged from S5 to noisy with very slow QSB.
No beacons were heard on 6M or 432 and no repeaters on FM.
So that was my excitement for the week. Inland Troppo over 1525km in the middle of winter!
I would be interested in hearing other reports of inland troppo that may have happened over the years.
This proves the case for more beacons!
Cheers
Phil
VK5AKK
Inland Troppo Propagation 2M
Re: Inland Troppo Propagation 2M
Good work on spotting the VK4RTT beacon Phil. It was certainly exciting to hear it over such a distance on tropo. It wasn't totally unexpected if you had followed the weather & Hepburn charts. Mark VK2EMA was a good signal into VK5 earlier in the day on both 2m & 70cm.
Your comment re number of beacons is valid, this beacon is very favourably located but many Kms from Brisbane and although we could hear it was not nescessarily an indiction of conditions into the Brisbane area rather more likely to the Toowoomba area. Pity some of Toowoomba stations weren't around but it was late in the evening.
73 Brian VK5BC
Your comment re number of beacons is valid, this beacon is very favourably located but many Kms from Brisbane and although we could hear it was not nescessarily an indiction of conditions into the Brisbane area rather more likely to the Toowoomba area. Pity some of Toowoomba stations weren't around but it was late in the evening.
73 Brian VK5BC
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VK5PJ
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Re: Inland Troppo Propagation 2M
Maybe it is time for an enterprising soul to coordinate an SMS notification system for such events, it might even be able to use information from the LOGGER to form groups of people who wish to receive SMS's when propogation is spotted in their region. In this way it is not a disturbance like a phone ringing but if necessary be ignored....
VK5BC wrote:Good work on spotting the VK4RTT beacon Phil. It was certainly exciting to hear it over such a distance on tropo. It wasn't totally unexpected if you had followed the weather & Hepburn charts. Mark VK2EMA was a good signal into VK5 earlier in the day on both 2m & 70cm.
Your comment re number of beacons is valid, this beacon is very favourably located but many Kms from Brisbane and although we could hear it was not nescessarily an indiction of conditions into the Brisbane area rather more likely to the Toowoomba area. Pity some of Toowoomba stations weren't around but it was late in the evening.
73 Brian VK5BC
Peter Sumner, vk5pj
You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life.
- Winston Churchill
You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life.
- Winston Churchill
Re: Inland Troppo Propagation 2M
This has been suggested before, perhaps by you Peter?VK5ZLX wrote:Maybe it is time for an enterprising soul to coordinate an SMS notification system for such events, it might even be able to use information from the LOGGER to form groups of people who wish to receive SMS's when propogation is spotted in their region. In this way it is not a disturbance like a phone ringing but if necessary be ignored....
There are a few variables involved to make this practical for a wider audience;
1) Cost - who is going to bear the costs of the SMS?
2) Alert thresholds - who gets alerted to what and when? This is potentially infinite, and the criteria is constantly changing, depending on what you are doing at any instant in time.
3) Resources - extra load on server PHP & mySQL resources
VK Logger could have some SMS service, providing you can find a FREE (<< primary keyword) SMS service that has NO STRINGS ATTACHED (<< more keywords), then it MAY be worthwhile looking into.
If a free service cannot be found, then costs would have to be carried by those who want to receive the SMS, that's the bottom line.
Anyway, it looks like we have a volunteer to research and post his findings about this.
Adam, Brisbane
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VK2KRR
Re: Inland Troppo Propagation 2M
Phil
I would be interested to know your antennas height above sea level (approx) if u have it ? Im guessing 700m at the moment ? but I could be way out.
Also the height of Mt Mowbullen is 1107 Masl, I pressume the beacon is around this height too? This could be a positive and a negative a times. As in if this is much higher than the height of the operators QTHs, there could be occasions where at lower levels nothing would be heard, in regards to tropo that is.
I would be interested to know your antennas height above sea level (approx) if u have it ? Im guessing 700m at the moment ? but I could be way out.
Also the height of Mt Mowbullen is 1107 Masl, I pressume the beacon is around this height too? This could be a positive and a negative a times. As in if this is much higher than the height of the operators QTHs, there could be occasions where at lower levels nothing would be heard, in regards to tropo that is.
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VK5AKK
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Re: Inland Troppo Propagation 2M
Leigh. I wish I was 700 Masl. Sorry I am only 525 Masl and this time of the year it is wet, cold, and windy enough.
Some form of Text alert is a great idea but we may have to wait for new advances in technology.
Twice in the last year I have heard Perth beacons but waited till 6am perth time to make a phone call.
The time difference in summer is a pain and very frustraiting especially when the Perth 1296 beacon is fading faster than the sun is rising!
I started this thread in the hope of hearing tall tales of inland troppo from all over the nation!
To help I will start you off.
I heard two operators from around Whyalla or Pt Augusta chatting on a repeater more than 10 years ago.
One claimed he had worked a VK4 repeater on 2M troppo. The story sounded creditable to me.
I am attempting to contact some VHF old timers for more info.
Cheers
Phil
VK5AKK
Some form of Text alert is a great idea but we may have to wait for new advances in technology.
Twice in the last year I have heard Perth beacons but waited till 6am perth time to make a phone call.
The time difference in summer is a pain and very frustraiting especially when the Perth 1296 beacon is fading faster than the sun is rising!
I started this thread in the hope of hearing tall tales of inland troppo from all over the nation!
To help I will start you off.
I heard two operators from around Whyalla or Pt Augusta chatting on a repeater more than 10 years ago.
One claimed he had worked a VK4 repeater on 2M troppo. The story sounded creditable to me.
I am attempting to contact some VHF old timers for more info.
Cheers
Phil
VK5AKK
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VK2KRR
Re: Inland Troppo Propagation 2M
Problem is that a lot of people dont know what the propagation was and a lot of people may say these things but in reality it was Es. A lot of the time, the stations involved arent DXers they just happen to be at the radio at the right time and they end up in QLD or somewhere.
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VK2KRR
Re: Inland Troppo Propagation 2M
Phil,
Interesting looking at the dates on this post - June/July - similar timing as the predicted path next few nights.
Interesting looking at the dates on this post - June/July - similar timing as the predicted path next few nights.
Re: Inland Troppo Propagation 2M
Leigh has demonstrated how often decent troppo paths exist through central NSW and further afield.
When I was at Uni in Ballarat back in the mid Eighties, I regularly worked various repeaters up into NE NSW on a number of occasions in winter with just 10 watts into a j-pole. Just a pity there was bugger all acitivity on SSB at that time of night, especially at that time of year.
When I moved to Sydney, a number of people told me I was wasting my time trying to work troppo across the Blue Mountains into VK5, but there were a number of occasions when I was heard there and I remember a couple of openings where Mt Gambier stations were workinh into Sydney for extended periods. I'll have to dig out the old log books to check the years, but I'm sure it was around July.
When I was at Uni in Ballarat back in the mid Eighties, I regularly worked various repeaters up into NE NSW on a number of occasions in winter with just 10 watts into a j-pole. Just a pity there was bugger all acitivity on SSB at that time of night, especially at that time of year.
When I moved to Sydney, a number of people told me I was wasting my time trying to work troppo across the Blue Mountains into VK5, but there were a number of occasions when I was heard there and I remember a couple of openings where Mt Gambier stations were workinh into Sydney for extended periods. I'll have to dig out the old log books to check the years, but I'm sure it was around July.
Alan VK3DXE
QF21nv
QF21nv
Re: Inland Troppo Propagation 2M
When hearing the VK4 beacon feel free to SMS me 6pm to 6am, example (vk5 open). Phone is in the bedroom (for the 5.30 alarm) and I will get up. 0411 886 458 lock and load.
Please no hoax calls, work 12 hours a day, so sleep is needed
.
Kind regards
David VK4KSY
Please no hoax calls, work 12 hours a day, so sleep is needed
.Kind regards
David VK4KSY
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VK2KRR
Re: Inland Troppo Propagation 2M
Just a heads up, there is potential for one of these rare tropo paths Adelaide area to SE VK4 in the morning (early!). Just going by the Hepburn charts.
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VK2KRR
Re: Inland Troppo Propagation 2M
Hepburn maps for tomorrow showing good potential for a path from VK5 to VK4.
http://www.dxinfocentre.com/tropo_aus.html
VK5KV and VK5LA may be lining antennas up in that direction on 2m WSPR, need some VK4 stations to get involved.
Also the VK3RRU beacon from Mildura is currently running virtually right on the 144.440 freq for the SE QLD 2m beacon, just be aware.
http://www.dxinfocentre.com/tropo_aus.html
VK5KV and VK5LA may be lining antennas up in that direction on 2m WSPR, need some VK4 stations to get involved.
Also the VK3RRU beacon from Mildura is currently running virtually right on the 144.440 freq for the SE QLD 2m beacon, just be aware.
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VK4CZ
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Re: Inland Troppo Propagation 2M
Will try and be in shack from 2030z...
Scott
VK4CZ
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VK4CZ
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VK2KRR
Re: Inland Troppo Propagation 2M
As was followed with interest on the Hepburn Charts, Peter VK5PJ and Eddie VK4EDD have established a weak tropo path on 2m WSPR over 1522 km. 
Best so far down to -13dB. If it keeps improving we may see a path suitable for SSB QSO.
Best so far down to -13dB. If it keeps improving we may see a path suitable for SSB QSO.
- VK5PJ to VK4EDD
- VK5PJ VK4EDD BoM MSLP Map
- VK5PJ VK4EDD Hepburn Chart
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Re: Inland Troppo Propagation 2M
WSPR on 26-June-2014 from vk5pj
1152 -15 -0.3 144.490449 -2 VK4EDD QG62 47
1158 6 -1.1 144.490589 1 VK5LA QF05 40
1202 -8 -0.2 144.490458 -1 VK4EDD QG62 47
1212 -12 -0.3 144.490460 -2 VK4EDD QG62 47
1216 -26 -0.2 144.490573 3 VK2XN QF59 40
1216 3 -1.0 144.490600 1 VK5LA QF05 40
1232 9 0.4 144.490518 1 VK5KJP PF95 40
1234 2 -0.9 144.490515 1 VK5LA QF05 40
1244 10 0.3 144.490520 0 VK5KJP PF95 40
1252 10 -1.0 144.490516 0 VK5LA QF05 40
VK4EDD faded at around 12:42 to just meteor pings then all but gone there after.
1510 -22 -0.4 144.490174 0 VK4EDD QG62 47
1552 -16 -0.5 144.490175 -2 VK4EDD QG62 47
1604 -15 -0.5 144.490173 -1 VK4EDD QG62 47
1624 -16 -0.5 144.490173 -2 VK4EDD QG62 47
1632 -15 -0.5 144.490177 -1 VK4EDD QG62 47
1640 -17 -0.5 144.490173 -3 VK4EDD QG62 47
1650 -19 -0.6 144.490178 0 VK4EDD QG62 47
1710 -18 -0.5 144.490177 -2 VK4EDD QG62 47
1744 -12 -0.5 144.490175 -3 VK4EDD QG62 47
1756 -7 -0.6 144.490176 -1 VK4EDD QG62 47
1806 -12 -0.6 144.490178 -3 VK4EDD QG62 47
1816 -12 -0.7 144.490181 -4 VK4EDD QG62 47
1826 -11 -0.8 144.490177 -3 VK4EDD QG62 47
1846 -18 -0.5 144.490177 -2 VK4EDD QG62 47
While I was asleep
1152 -15 -0.3 144.490449 -2 VK4EDD QG62 47
1158 6 -1.1 144.490589 1 VK5LA QF05 40
1202 -8 -0.2 144.490458 -1 VK4EDD QG62 47
1212 -12 -0.3 144.490460 -2 VK4EDD QG62 47
1216 -26 -0.2 144.490573 3 VK2XN QF59 40
1216 3 -1.0 144.490600 1 VK5LA QF05 40
1232 9 0.4 144.490518 1 VK5KJP PF95 40
1234 2 -0.9 144.490515 1 VK5LA QF05 40
1244 10 0.3 144.490520 0 VK5KJP PF95 40
1252 10 -1.0 144.490516 0 VK5LA QF05 40
VK4EDD faded at around 12:42 to just meteor pings then all but gone there after.
1510 -22 -0.4 144.490174 0 VK4EDD QG62 47
1552 -16 -0.5 144.490175 -2 VK4EDD QG62 47
1604 -15 -0.5 144.490173 -1 VK4EDD QG62 47
1624 -16 -0.5 144.490173 -2 VK4EDD QG62 47
1632 -15 -0.5 144.490177 -1 VK4EDD QG62 47
1640 -17 -0.5 144.490173 -3 VK4EDD QG62 47
1650 -19 -0.6 144.490178 0 VK4EDD QG62 47
1710 -18 -0.5 144.490177 -2 VK4EDD QG62 47
1744 -12 -0.5 144.490175 -3 VK4EDD QG62 47
1756 -7 -0.6 144.490176 -1 VK4EDD QG62 47
1806 -12 -0.6 144.490178 -3 VK4EDD QG62 47
1816 -12 -0.7 144.490181 -4 VK4EDD QG62 47
1826 -11 -0.8 144.490177 -3 VK4EDD QG62 47
1846 -18 -0.5 144.490177 -2 VK4EDD QG62 47
While I was asleep
Last edited by VK5PJ on Fri Jun 27, 2014 7:38 am, edited 1 time in total.
Peter Sumner, vk5pj
You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life.
- Winston Churchill
You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life.
- Winston Churchill
Re: Inland Troppo Propagation 2M
Hi All,
Set 2M WSPR over night and this is what I received.
1054 -21 -1.1 144.490507 -4 VK5PJ PF95 40
1456 -24 -0.8 144.490572 -1 VK5PJ PF95 40
1634 -24 -0.8 144.490570 -2 VK5PJ PF95 40
1752 -17 -0.7 144.490569 -2 VK5PJ PF95 40
1814 -25 -0.7 144.490567 -1 VK5PJ PF95 40
Antenna is a 13el on 4.5M boom. No LNA in place.
Eddie - VK4EDD
Set 2M WSPR over night and this is what I received.
1054 -21 -1.1 144.490507 -4 VK5PJ PF95 40
1456 -24 -0.8 144.490572 -1 VK5PJ PF95 40
1634 -24 -0.8 144.490570 -2 VK5PJ PF95 40
1752 -17 -0.7 144.490569 -2 VK5PJ PF95 40
1814 -25 -0.7 144.490567 -1 VK5PJ PF95 40
Antenna is a 13el on 4.5M boom. No LNA in place.
Eddie - VK4EDD
Re: Inland Troppo Propagation 2M
Congrats to VK4EDD and VK5GP for the 1521km spot - well done!! And it's great to see all the VK4's that have been wspr'ing over the last 24 hrs.
I also noticed that VK4FLR and VK4MJF in Rockhampton and Brisbane respectfully sharing spots at a distance of 523km at -7dB using just 5w, WSPR showing that there are interesting paths opening up and down the coast.
I also noticed that VK4FLR and VK4MJF in Rockhampton and Brisbane respectfully sharing spots at a distance of 523km at -7dB using just 5w, WSPR showing that there are interesting paths opening up and down the coast.
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Re: Inland Troppo Propagation 2M
Great stuff guys!
Some of the ol' timers used to poo-poo me for chasing winter troppo back in the days. Once again WSPR is proving a very valuable tool.
FWIW, I squirted a bit of RF northwards from Melbourne last night for an hour or so, hoping to hook up with a bit of AE but nothing, although I think everybody was concentring on the ADL - Narrabri path.
Some of the ol' timers used to poo-poo me for chasing winter troppo back in the days. Once again WSPR is proving a very valuable tool.
FWIW, I squirted a bit of RF northwards from Melbourne last night for an hour or so, hoping to hook up with a bit of AE but nothing, although I think everybody was concentring on the ADL - Narrabri path.
Alan VK3DXE
QF21nv
QF21nv
Re: Inland Troppo Propagation 2M
VK2KRR wrote:Just a heads up, there is potential for one of these rare tropo paths Adelaide area to SE VK4 in the morning (early!). Just going by the Hepburn charts.
Good call Leigh.It's fun when you're in the middle of the duct....
Timestamp Call MHz SNR Drift Grid Pwr Reporter RGrid km az
2014-06-26 00:44 VK2XN 144.490524 -20 4 QF59ar 10 VK4MJF QG62nm 432 45
2014-06-26 01:14 VK2XN 144.490480 -19 4 QF59ar 10 VK4MJF QG62nm 432 45
2014-06-26 01:26 VK4MJF 144.490529 -5 3 QG62nm 5 VK2XN QF59ar 432 223
2014-06-26 01:38 VK4MJF 144.490528 -5 3 QG62nm 5 VK2XN QF59ar 432 223
2014-06-26 01:40 VK2XN 144.490500 -18 4 QF59ar 10 VK4CZ QG62lp 431 42
2014-06-26 01:40 VK2XN 144.490458 -21 4 QF59ar 10 VK4MJF QG62nm 432 45
2014-06-26 01:50 VK4CZ 144.490491 -14 1 QG62lp 10 VK2XN QF59ar 431 221
2014-06-26 01:56 VK2XN 144.490506 -22 3 QF59ar 10 VK4CZ QG62lp 431 42
2014-06-26 12:06 VK5PJ 144.490433 -21 -1 PF95mk 10 VK2XN QF59ar 1137 68
2014-06-26 12:16 VK2XN 144.490573 -26 3 QF59ar 10 VK5PJ PF95mk 1137 242
2014-06-26 12:58 VK5PJ 144.490504 -22 -2 PF95mk 10 VK2XN QF59ar 1137 68
2014-06-26 13:00 VK2XN 144.490486 -17 -2 QF59ar 10 VK5PJ PF95mk 1137 242
2014-06-26 13:20 VK2XN 144.490489 -16 -1 QF59ar 10 VK5PJ PF95mk 1137 242
2014-06-26 13:34 VK2XN 144.490490 -22 3 QF59ar 10 VK5PJ PF95mk 1137 242
2014-06-26 13:36 VK5PJ 144.490496 -19 1 PF95mk 10 VK2XN QF59ar 1137 68
2014-06-26 13:56 VK5PJ 144.490501 -24 -4 PF95mk 10 VK2XN QF59ar 1137 68
2014-06-26 14:24 VK2XN 144.490485 -25 3 QF59ar 10 VK5PJ PF95mk 1137 242
2014-06-26 14:32 VK5LA 144.490525 -25 0 QF05gq 10 VK2XN QF59ar 999 66
2014-06-26 14:50 VK2XN 144.490490 -23 4 QF59ar 10 VK5PJ PF95mk 1137 242
2014-06-26 14:56 VK5PJ 144.490499 -23 -3 PF95mk 10 VK2XN QF59ar 1137 68
2014-06-26 15:18 VK5PJ 144.490492 -16 -4 PF95mk 10 VK2XN QF59ar 1137 68
2014-06-26 15:38 VK5PJ 144.490496 -10 -3 PF95mk 10 VK2XN QF59ar 1137 68
2014-06-26 16:04 VK2XN 144.490493 -9 4 QF59ar 10 VK5PJ PF95mk 1137 242
2014-06-26 16:10 VK5LA 144.490518 -21 0 QF05gq 10 VK2XN QF59ar 999 66
2014-06-26 16:16 VK5PJ 144.490492 +4 -3 PF95mk 10 VK2XN QF59ar 1137 68
2014-06-26 16:20 VK2XN 144.490502 -3 4 QF59ar 10 VK5PJ PF95mk 1137 242
2014-06-26 16:32 VK5LA 144.490509 -26 -1 QF05gq 10 VK2XN QF59ar 999 66
2014-06-26 16:52 VK5LA 144.490510 -28 1 QF05gq 10 VK2XN QF59ar 999 66
2014-06-26 16:56 VK5PJ 144.490485 0 -2 PF95mk 10 VK2XN QF59ar 1137 68
2014-06-26 17:12 VK5LA 144.490503 -27 -1 QF05gq 10 VK2XN QF59ar 999 66
2014-06-26 17:34 VK5PJ 144.490475 +3 1 PF95mk 10 VK2XN QF59ar 1137 68
2014-06-26 17:52 VK5PJ 144.490478 -5 -2 PF95mk 10 VK2XN QF59ar 1137 68
2014-06-26 18:34 VK5PJ 144.490472 -10 -2 PF95mk 10 VK2XN QF59ar 1137 68
2014-06-26 20:32 VK5PJ 144.490461 -12 -1 PF95mk 10 VK2XN QF59ar 1137 68
2014-06-26 20:52 VK5PJ 144.490454 -9 -2 PF95mk 10 VK2XN QF59ar 1137 68
2014-06-26 21:16 VK2XN 144.490501 -26 3 QF59ar 10 VK5PJ PF95mk 1137 242
2014-06-26 22:24 VK5PJ 144.490532 -10 -2 PF95mk 10 VK2XN QF59ar 1137 68
2014-06-26 22:50 VK5LA 144.490476 -29 -1 QF05gq 10 VK2XN QF59ar 999 66
2014-06-26 23:04 VK1KW 144.490458 -16 -1 QF44mt 50 VK2XN QF59ar 555 10
2014-06-26 23:18 VK1KW 144.490490 -20 -1 QF44mt 100 VK2XN QF59ar 555 10
2014-06-26 23:26 VK1KW 144.490487 -12 4 QF44mt 100 VK2XN QF59ar 555 10
2014-06-26 23:28 VK5PJ 144.490469 -19 0 PF95mk 10 VK2XN QF59ar 1137 68
2014-06-26 23:30 VK1KW 144.490494 -12 -1 QF44mt 100 VK2XN QF59ar 555 10
2014-06-26 23:38 VK1KW 144.490496 -17 4 QF44mt 50 VK2XN QF59ar 555 10
2014-06-27 00:48 VK5PJ 144.490480 -14 -1 PF95mk 10 VK2XN QF59ar 1137 68
2014-06-27 00:54 VK2XN 144.490510 -18 3 QF59ar 10 VK5PJ PF95mk 1137 242
The opening lasted a little over 24 hours and covered a good part of SE Australia.
2way JT65B contacts made with VK5PJ -9dB & VK1KW -19dB.
2way SSB contact with VK5PJ rpt 51.... peaking 57 on our finals.
Guess I will have to wait another 12 months for my next dose of Tropexcitement.
Wayne.... VK2XN