Inland Troppo Propagation 2M

[VK2KRR]

Upon inspection of coming Hepburn charts, there is another chance of tropo paths extending to areas of VK4 from VK5/3/2, possibly beginning the coming Tuesday evening and ending Thursday morning, so far.

Be prepared, and hopefully we may see some of the first VK4 GPS locked WSPR action also!

[VK2KRR]

Some partial success last night (tues), but only as far as Wayne VK2XN. Max distance in the order of 1200 km. Signals reports were not real solid in strength and sporadic at times.

2m WSPR 02.07.14

[VK4MIL]

Hi Leigh

Even though it shows me as not on I have had wspr on for last 3 days solid and all I have been getting is local
stations not very exciting. But I'll keep the station on just need to get an internet connection just using phone tethering whilst I'm home

Cheers Colin VK4MIL QG62lj

[VK3ZAZ]

Upon inspection of coming Hepburn charts, there is another chance of tropo paths extending to areas of VK4 from VK5/3/2, possibly beginning the coming Tuesday evening and ending Thursday morning, so far.

Be prepared, and hopefully we may see some of the first VK4 GPS locked WSPR action also!

Keep up good work

I personally cant justify the power or resources we use use doing this so I don't..

It doesn't lead to any qsos just pages of wspr spots

2014-06-11 06:18 VK3ZAZ 144.490486 +2 0 QF12ag +43 19.953 VK5PJ PF95mk 443 275
2014-06-11 06:18 VK3ZAZ 144.490507 -16 -1 QF12ag +43 19.953 VK3JTM QF12lr 96 60
2014-06-11 06:18 VK3ZAZ 144.490507 -1 -1 QF12ag +43 19.953 VK5GF PF94hk 388 241
2014-06-11 05:56 VK3ZAZ 144.490486 +3 0 QF12ag +43 19.953 VK5PJ PF95mk 443 275
2014-06-11 05:56 VK3ZAZ 144.490536 -16 0 QF12ag +43 19.953 VK3DXE QF21nv 274 170
2014-06-11 05:56 VK3ZAZ 144.490507 -16 0 QF12ag +43 19.953 VK3JTM QF12lr 96 60
2014-06-11 05:56 VK3ZAZ 144.490506 -6 -1 QF12ag +43 19.953 VK5GF PF94hk 388 241
2014-06-11 05:34 VK3ZAZ 144.490485 +6 0 QF12ag +43 19.953 VK5PJ PF95mk 443 275
2014-06-11 05:34 VK3ZAZ 144.490507 -15 0 QF12ag +43 19.953 VK3JTM QF12lr 96 60
2014-06-11 05:34 VK3ZAZ 144.490535 -16 0 QF12ag +43 19.953 VK3DXE QF21nv 274 170
2014-06-11 05:34 VK3ZAZ 144.490506 -6 0 QF12ag +43 19.953 VK5GF PF94hk 388 241
2014-06-11 05:16 VK3ZAZ 144.490506 -16 0 QF12ag +43 19.953 VK3JTM QF12lr 96 60
2014-06-11 05:16 VK3ZAZ 144.490505 -7 -1 QF12ag +43 19.953 VK5GF PF94hk 388 241
2014-06-11 05:16 VK3ZAZ 144.490533 -16 0 QF12ag +43 19.953 VK3DXE QF21nv 274 170
2014-06-11 04:58 VK3ZAZ 144.490531 -15 0 QF12ag +43 19.953 VK3DXE QF21nv 274 170
2014-06-11 04:58 VK3ZAZ 144.490504 -3 0 QF12ag +43 19.953 VK5GF PF94hk 388 241
2014-06-11 04:58 VK3ZAZ 144.490487 +3 0 QF12ag +43 19.953 VK5PJ PF95mk 443 275
2014-06-11 04:58 VK3ZAZ 144.490505 -16 0 QF12ag +43 19.953 VK3JTM QF12lr 96 60
2014-06-11 04:40 VK3ZAZ 144.490526 -16 0 QF12ag +43 19.953 VK3DXE QF21nv 274 170
2014-06-11 04:40 VK3ZAZ 144.490487 +3 0 QF12ag +43 19.953 VK5PJ PF95mk 443 275
2014-06-11 04:40 VK3ZAZ 144.490504 -16 0 QF12ag +43 19.953 VK3JTM QF12lr 96 60
2014-06-11 04:20 VK3ZAZ 144.490456 -10 0 QF12ag +43 19.953 VK3XPT QF22nd 271 168
2014-06-11 04:20 VK3ZAZ 144.490486 +6 0 QF12ag +43 19.953 VK5PJ PF95mk 443 275
2014-06-11 04:20 VK3ZAZ 144.490504 -16 0 QF12ag +43 19.953 VK3JTM QF12lr 96 60
2014-06-11 04:20 VK3ZAZ 144.490517 -21 0 QF12ag +43 19.953 VK3DXE QF21nv 274 170
2014-06-11 04:02 VK3ZAZ 144.490455 -11 1 QF12ag +43 19.953 VK3XPT QF22nd 271 168
2014-06-11 04:02 VK3ZAZ 144.490486 +7 0 QF12ag +43 19.953 VK5PJ PF95mk 443 275
2014-06-11 04:02 VK3ZAZ 144.490503 -14 0 QF12ag +43 19.953 VK3JTM QF12lr 96 60
2014-06-11 04:02 VK3ZAZ 144.490507 -4 0 QF12ag +43 19.953 VK5GF PF94hk 388 241
2014-06-11 03:42 VK3ZAZ 144.490452 -14 0 QF12ag +43 19.953 VK3XPT QF22nd 271 168
2014-06-11 03:42 VK3ZAZ 144.490485 +6 0 QF12ag +43 19.953 VK5PJ PF95mk 443 275
2014-06-11 03:42 VK3ZAZ 144.490508 -6 0 QF12ag +43 19.953 VK5GF PF94hk 388 241
2014-06-11 03:42 VK3ZAZ 144.490502 -16 0 QF12ag +43 19.953 VK3JTM QF12lr 96 60
2014-06-11 03:22 VK3ZAZ 144.490449 -13 0 QF12ag +43 19.953 VK3XPT QF22nd 271 168
2014-06-11 03:22 VK3ZAZ 144.490510 -4 0 QF12ag +43 19.953 VK5GF PF94hk 388 241
2014-06-11 03:22 VK3ZAZ 144.490501 -15 0 QF12ag +43 19.953 VK3JTM QF12lr 96 60
2014-06-11 03:22 VK3ZAZ 144.490485 +12 0 QF12ag +43 19.953 VK5PJ PF95mk 443 275
2014-06-11 03:02 VK3ZAZ 144.490447 -12 1 QF12ag +43 19.953 VK3XPT QF22nd 271 168
2014-06-11 03:02 VK3ZAZ 144.490499 -16 0 QF12ag +43 19.953 VK3JTM QF12lr 96 60
2014-06-11 03:02 VK3ZAZ 144.490483 +4 0 QF12ag +43 19.953 VK5PJ PF95mk 443 275
2014-06-11 02:44 VK3ZAZ 144.490445 -17 0 QF12ag +43 19.953 VK3XPT QF22nd 271 168
2014-06-11 02:44 VK3ZAZ 144.490499 -13 0 QF12ag +43 19.953 VK3JTM QF12lr 96 60
2014-06-11 02:44 VK3ZAZ 144.490482 +9 0 QF12ag +43 19.953 VK5PJ PF95mk 443 275
2014-06-11 02:26 VK3ZAZ 144.490443 -19 0 QF12ag +43 19.953 VK3XPT QF22nd 271 168
2014-06-11 02:26 VK3ZAZ 144.490482 +6 0 QF12ag +43 19.953 VK5PJ PF95mk 443 275
2014-06-11 02:26 VK3ZAZ 144.490497 -15 0 QF12ag +43 19.953 VK3JTM QF12lr 96 60
2014-06-11 02:26 VK3ZAZ 144.490517 -18 -1 QF12ag +43 19.953 VK3DXE QF21nv 274 170
2014-06-11 02:04 VK3ZAZ 144.490497 -15 0 QF12ag +43 19.953 VK3JTM QF12lr 96 60
2014-06-11 02:04 VK3ZAZ 144.490479 +8 0 QF12ag +43 19.953 VK5PJ PF95mk 443 275
2014-06-11 01:46 VK3ZAZ 144.490438 -17 0 QF12ag +43 19.953 VK3XPT QF22nd 271 168

[VK2KRR]

Hi Colin, I've seen your call on the map quite often over the past few days to be honest. Just need one station up there with GPS ref in shack so others can set their rigs closer to right freq will really help.

Hi Steve, you have been hibernating. Quite happy for a slice of my power bill going toward something I enjoy doing.

[VK2KRR]

Looks like Monday morning could be the first possible path from VK5 to VK4 for the winter period.

See Hepburn Monday 0000 UTC map. http://www.dxinfocentre.com/tr_map/fcst/aus036.jpg

I TRIED TO UPLOAD MAP IMAGE TO THIS POST BUT IT KEEPS COMING UP WITH AN ERROR "COULD NOT UPLOAD ATTACHMENT"

[VK3ZAZ]

The graphs from WSPR remind me of a data gathering system we have at Mt Dundas to track the diurnal (daily) drift of the power output of 18x500 watt DTV PAS.
We started back last winter and measure every 30 minutes every parameter along with daytime humidity OAT and IAT.
The laptop stopped the other day as the virtual memory allocated dried up when the HDD filled up.
Same when I ran the 6M wspr beacon two summers back the laptop stopped when the files storage filled up.
Too much information too few ops.
as for GPS locking don't see any point to spend that sort or money or time on an old clunker it works why change it?
Running 2 watts by the way not 5,
2015-04-25 22:16 VK3ZAZ 144.490476 -22 0 QF12ag +37 5.012 VK5GF PF94hk 388 241
2015-04-25 22:14 VK5GF 144.490556 -18 0 PF94hk +43 19.953 VK3ZAZ QF12ag 388 241
2015-04-25 21:56 VK3ZAZ 144.490477 -22 0 QF12ag +37 5.012 VK5GF PF94hk 388 241
2015-04-25 21:54 VK5GF 144.490555 -21 0 PF94hk +43 19.953 VK3ZAZ QF12ag 388 241
2015-04-24 07:26 VK5GF 144.490540 -15 0 PF94hk +43 19.953 VK3ZAZ QF12ag 388 241
2015-04-24 07:18 VK3ZAZ 144.490492 -27 0 QF12ag +37 5.012 VK5GF PF94hk 388 241
2015-04-24 07:10 VK5GF 144.490540 -16 0 PF94hk +43 19.953 VK3ZAZ QF12ag 388 241
2015-04-24 07:00 VK3ZAZ 144.490492 -26 0 QF12ag +37 5.012 VK5GF PF94hk 388 241
2015-04-24 06:56 VK5GF 144.490540 -17 0 PF94hk +43 19.953 VK3ZAZ QF12ag 388 241
2015-04-24 06:38 VK3ZAZ 144.490492 -16 0 QF12ag +37 5.012 VK5GF PF94hk 388 241
2015-04-24 06:36 VK5GF 144.490540 -12 0 PF94hk +43 19.953 VK3ZAZ QF12ag 388 241
2015-04-24 06:22 VK5GF 144.490541 -13 0 PF94hk +43 19.953 VK3ZAZ QF12ag 388 241
2015-04-24 05:14 VK5GF 144.490542 -26 0 PF94hk +43 19.953 VK3ZAZ QF12ag 388 241
2015-04-24 04:28 VK5GF 144.490545 -26 0 PF94hk +43 19.953 VK3ZAZ QF12ag 388 241
2015-04-24 03:40 VK5GF 144.490550 -21 0 PF94hk +43 19.953 VK3ZAZ QF12ag 388 241
2015-04-24 03:24 VK3ZAZ 144.490480 -26 0 QF12ag +37 5.012 VK5GF PF94hk 388 241
2015-04-24 03:22 VK5GF 144.490552 -21 0 PF94hk +43 19.953 VK3ZAZ QF12ag 388 241
2015-04-24 02:46 VK3ZAZ 144.490432 -24 -4 QF12ag +37 5.012 VK5GF PF94hk 388 241
2015-04-23 04:32 VK3ZAZ 144.490508 -27 0 QF12ag +37 5.012 VK3JTM QF12lr 96 60
2015-04-20 06:42 VK3ZAZ 144.490445 -24 -4 QF12ag +37 5.012 VK5GF PF94hk 388 241
2015-04-20 06:38 VK5GF 144.490532 -17 -3 PF94hk +40 10.000 VK3ZAZ QF12ag 388 241
2015-04-20 04:54 VK5GF 144.490538 -27 -3 PF94hk +40 10.000 VK3ZAZ QF12ag 388 241
2015-04-20 04:48 VK3ZAZ 144.490467 -21 -1 QF12ag +37 5.012 VK5GF PF94hk 388 241
2015-04-17 06:32 VK5GF 144.490545 -22 0 PF94hk +43 19.953 VK3ZAZ QF12ag 388 241
2015-04-17 06:18 VK5GF 144.490545 -24 0 PF94hk +43 19.953 VK3ZAZ QF12ag 388 241
2015-04-17 06:08 VK3ZAZ 144.490486 -26 0 QF12ag +37 5.012 VK5GF PF94hk 388 241
2015-04-17 06:04 VK5GF 144.490546 -21 0 PF94hk +43 19.953 VK3ZAZ QF12ag 388 241
2015-04-17 05:12 VK5GF 144.490551 -17 0 PF94hk +43 19.953 VK3ZAZ QF12ag 388 241
2015-04-17 05:08 VK3ZAZ 144.490481 -19 0 QF12ag +37 5.012 VK5GF PF94hk 388 241
2015-04-17 04:54 VK5GF 144.490552 -13 0 PF94hk +43 19.953 VK3ZAZ QF12ag 388 241
2015-04-17 04:50 VK3ZAZ 144.490479 -19 0 QF12ag +37 5.012 VK5GF PF94hk 388 241
2015-04-17 04:34 VK5GF 144.490551 -17 0 PF94hk +43 19.953 VK3ZAZ QF12ag 388 241
2015-04-17 04:30 VK3ZAZ 144.490482 -23 -1 QF12ag +37 5.012 VK5GF PF94hk 388 241
2015-04-17 01:44 VK3ZAZ 144.490488 -26 0 QF12ag +37 5.012 VK5GF PF94hk 388 241
2015-04-17 01:32 VK5GF 144.490544 -27 0 PF94hk +43 19.953 VK3ZAZ QF12ag 388 241
2015-04-17 01:18 VK5GF 144.490545 -25 0 PF94hk +43 19.953 VK3ZAZ QF12ag 388 241
2015-04-17 01:14 VK3DXE 144.490524 -29 -1 QF21nv +37 5.012 VK3ZAZ QF12ag 274 170
2015-04-17 01:00 VK5GF 144.490545 -23 0 PF94hk +43 19.953 VK3ZAZ QF12ag 388 241
2015-04-17 00:44 VK3ZAZ 144.490485 -24 0 QF12ag +37 5.012 VK5GF PF94hk 388 241
2015-04-17 00:42 VK5GF 144.490547 -15 0 PF94hk +43 19.953 VK3ZAZ QF12ag 388 241
2015-04-17 00:28 VK5GF 144.490548 -18 0 PF94hk +43 19.953 VK3ZAZ QF12ag 388 241
2015-04-17 00:24 VK3ZAZ 144.490484 -21 0 QF12ag +37 5.012 VK5GF PF94hk 388 241
2015-04-17 00:08 VK5GF 144.490550 -11 0 PF94hk +43 19.953 VK3ZAZ QF12ag 388 241
2015-04-17 00:06 VK3ZAZ 144.490482 -18 0 QF12ag +37 5.012 VK5GF PF94hk 388 241
2015-04-16 23:50 VK5GF 144.490551 -24 0 PF94hk +43 19.953 VK3ZAZ QF12ag 388 241
2015-04-16 23:46 VK3ZAZ 144.490481 -13 0 QF12ag +37 5.012 VK5GF PF94hk 388 241
2015-04-16 23:32 VK5GF 144.490552 -18 0 PF94hk +43 19.953 VK3ZAZ QF12ag 388 241
2015-04-16 23:26 VK3ZAZ 144.490479 -19 0 QF12ag +37 5.012 VK5GF PF94hk 388 241
2015-04-16 07:26 VK5GF 144.490537 -27 0 PF94hk +43 19.953 VK3ZAZ QF12ag 388 241
2015-04-16 06:56 VK5GF 144.490537 -27 0 PF94hk +43 19.953 VK3ZAZ QF12ag 388 241

[VK5PJ]

In May and July of 2016 the VK4RTT beacon has been heard at my location and others in the Adelaide Hills (May opening) which is about 1,500 KM away from us. The occurence in May, resulted in contacts on 144 and 432 with Adrian VK4OX.

On July 2nd (election night) the VK4RTT beacon was up to S5 at my location but attempts at contacts with a VK4 station did not work out. I was not aware of how well placed VK4RTT was in relationship to the greater Brisbane area, turns out the great dividing range does a good job at attenuating VHF signals from VK5.

Hepburn did not show anything special for the opening but as per other occurences (map graphic to come) I have heard about, the weather systems were all very calm and not much was moving. Indeed the weather at home for those few days was very calm and settled so on Saturday night when I checked vk4rtt beacon and could hear it keying away I was not too unexpected by me.

Would like to hear more from others who have experience inland winter tropo as winter seems to be a great time to find these unexpected paths.

Regards,
Peter, vk5pj

[ZL1TPH]

Over here in ZL get similar tropo openings and from memory often around June! They are overland and of a short distance like say 500 km. I spent 10 odd years beaming south ZL listening for the Wellington 144.275 beacon 500 km distance. Of note it is perched up at 300 m ABSL and I am at sea level.

What noticed is stations at low elevation, say at sea level like mine, get into the duct with ease as long as they have a reasonable clear shot at the horizon. Repeater networks get a hammering at the same time, both commercial and amateur. Whereas in the normal tropo season at my home QTH hear nothing and the signal literally go over my head and I am out of the duct. No entry level in other words.

Two things I have noticed. The Hepburn does not work over land because (I believe) looks at sea temperature and also not that accurate till around October / November onwards.

[VK3DXE]

I started chasing winter inland troppo back in the 80's as a youngster at while at Uni in Ballarat. I'd actually first experienced it on 27megs AM in the late 70's. Not many people around late at night, but even with just a crappy slim jim vertical, I was able to regularly key repeaters right up the guts of VK2 on 2m whenever we had a half decent high pressure system.

In Sydney, pre-interwebs, more than a few old timers told me I was wasting my time, but I recall working Adrian VK4OX (then VK2FZ/4) at Maleny (around 800km) fairly regularly, and would hear back via the grapevine that my CW was being heard in VK5 with similar conditions.

WSPR has been invaluable in showing us the potential of these inland paths in winter, but again, it seems the Luddites prefer to stick to the same old mindset as witnessed on this logger and forum with the anti-WSPR sentiment and they stick firmly to their belief that VHF+ closes down for the winter.

[VK3KCX]

Hi Alan, interesting observations, in the last week or two, Leigh VK2KRR and I have made numerous 10M WSPR contacts during the night (324Km), not sure of the mode, could be tropo.

- David VK3KCX

[VK3DXE]

Hi Alan, interesting observations, in the last week or two, Leigh VK2KRR and I have made numerous 10M WSPR contacts during the night (324Km), not sure of the mode, could be tropo.

- David VK3KCX

Hi David, I often get Leigh on 10m, most probably on AE, but I have had 10m troppo into western Vic on several occasions (on nothing more than a vertical or a wire antenna), including once back in the 80's where a bunch of fellas around Warrnambool came out of nowhere to S9+ in a matter of minutes. I know Leigh has been doing quite well on 6m troppo recently.

[VK3MEG]

Hi Alan, interesting observations, in the last week or two, Leigh VK2KRR and I have made numerous 10M WSPR contacts during the night (324Km), not sure of the mode, could be tropo.

- David VK3KCX

Hi David i have made at least 1 ssb contact with leigh on 10m a few years ago "checked my Log 8/12/2012 09:01 pm" also I have worked scott vk7nwt northern tassie on 10m the same day just b4 leigh. A couple of time i have worked theo vk5mtm on 10m @ 10pm or in summer though. vk5 is never heard in this qth n 10m so rare the latest was 11:43 16/01/2016 also worked 2015 a couple of times. like you i love 10m David pity we haven't been able to work sergey for a while.
cheers
steve
de vk3meg

[VK3KCX]

Hi Steve, It's pretty normal to hear Tasmania and Southern NSW on Summer time E's, not a very common occurrence this time of year unless it it via Troppo or backscatter.
Troppo on 10M is something that I've not heard much discussion about... Backscatter is the most common mode by which I contact Leigh, this mode of contact is confirmed by the fact that we both have substantial antennas for 10M and it always works best when we are both facing the same direction, e.g.USA in the morning, Japan later in the day and EU in the late arvo evening.

I've not heard Sergey for some time either, worked him many times on SSB or using PSK31 and Olivia, very hard this time of year though, might send him an email and see what he is up to.

As for working VK5 on 10M, you should not have much difficulty using WSPR, what antenna do you have for 10?

Just now I'm pointing at Leigh and hearing only occasional meteor pings, may be we should try FSK441 or what ever the best digimode is for MS - any ideas anybody?

- David
VK3KCX

[VK3KCX]

Hi Alan, interesting observations, in the last week or two, Leigh VK2KRR and I have made numerous 10M WSPR contacts during the night (324Km), not sure of the mode, could be tropo.

- David VK3KCX

Hi David, I often get Leigh on 10m, most probably on AE, but I have had 10m troppo into western Vic on several occasions (on nothing more than a vertical or a wire antenna), including once back in the 80's where a bunch of fellas around Warrnambool came out of nowhere to S9+ in a matter of minutes. I know Leigh has been doing quite well on 6m troppo recently.

Warnambool to Seaford LOS is 232K's that is Short DX for 10m, I can remember talking from Mt. Waverley to Albury on 11m SSB back in the late 70's early 80's, back when there were hundreds of thousands of operators on air, I guess that's is the difference.

- David
VK3KCX

[VK3DXE]

This was very definitely troppo. And I was at Albert Park back then. We used to also get MASSIVE FM BC troppo across Bass Strait too.