Aurora Borealis May 2024

Something you don't see every day. Or every year... The Aurora Borealis is visible across most of the sky. This was the evening of Friday 10th May 2024.

With the eye you could only see flickering "clouds". My mobile phone didn't see anything, but Lucky's phone caught it in the preview. I alternated between taking pictures and listening to the band. I had the remote on OL7M. The 6m band was full of CW stations, the FT8 signals could not be decoded, they were "spreaded" over a wide area. The view of the 2m band was amazing, lots of stations and on the waterfall you could see beautifully which signals were spread out by the aurora. I gradually tuned in and heard stations from G to EW in beautiful strength. Mila OK1FPR appeared on the band, so I listened for a few moments and even tried 6m. 

The next day I have to help my parents in the cottage and so I quickly pack the IC-9700, CW key, power supply and paper and pencil. I have a small yagi 3m above the ground in the cottage. I set up the radio quite late, tune the band and the first QSO on the IC-9700 is DK3BU.

Then I find G4PIQ, weak signal, but I get 59A on the first try. Then another G, but the conditions disappear for me, the stations get lost and I only hear classic tropo signals. Then the band starts to fizzle and the DX stations are gone. I pack up the TRX and drive home.

Still a nice experience and my first QSO over the aurora. I have to finish the antennas at work, then it will be possible to be QRV faster - not counting the FT8 QSOs...

2m and 6m bands

I have never seen such a high number :)

My small hamshack in cottage, IC-9700, abt 80W and 10el Yagi between cottages

RX AUDITE VHF - version for 6 and 4m

This is new version of RX Audite. Redesigned for 50 and 70MHz, including filters, LNA with PGA-103+ and rest protections and switching as in the classic one.

You can find more at our web: https://hamparts.shop/rx-audite-vhf.html

This is the ideal solution for monitoring both 6 and 4m bands using one dual band Yagi antenna. However, you can also use it on one band and monitor, for example, both FT8 bands (50,313 and 50,323), or monitor the analog segment (beacons) and the FT8 one at the same time. This allows better monitoring of propagation conditions. RX AUDITE VHF also includes LNA and bandpass filters to limit signals from HF and FM BC transmitters.

Application:

- 6 and/or 4m RX splitter

- Monitoring both FT8 segments at 6m

- Dual band antenna splitter to 6 and 4m

- Web SDR and skimmer

- RX protections

- Low Noise Preamp and filters

 NEW ONE 3D2AG at 50 MHz

Many thanks to Antoine 3D2AG who made my day :) Very short opening at 50 MHz and new one for me at distance 16 109 km, what is also my new ODX.

 My first F2 at 50MHz: 10th Match 2023 to OC

I left TRX switched ON. What a surprise when I look at PC in the morning. A few nice decoded lines from FK8CP. Little bit later first VK4 went through. It was easy to work VK4FNQ. VK4KEE was the second one. I did copy FK8CP again but I was not able to work him. But nice to see VK stations for 3+ hours and worked 3x DU: DU3LA, DU6/PE1NSQ and DU1/SP5APW. All these QSOs were in +- 70 °.

 New 6m magic season has started :)

There were very nice 50 MHz spring / summer season last year.I had a luck to work many NA and JA stations.

After the winter times I had a luck to be called by VP8NO and LU5FF a few days ago. I have tried to call CQ on almost empty band with weak Es and sudenly VP8NO has called me :) I was able to copy him for 30+ minutes. Then LU5FF as a second and last DX of this day. The same, LU5FF was on my screan for 30 minutes.

See you at Magic Band and good luck to all.

 6 and 4m MSK144 and FT8 skimmer OK2ZAW/2

There is new Es season starting on VHF bands. I have seen interesting DK8NE 6m skimmer (link) for more modes. I do have Proxmox virtual server under the roof in 40m above the ground. Why not to run one more VM, add 4m dipole with filter and LNA for RTL-SDR (70MHz) and RSP1 (6m). There are some photos. You can find spots at:

50MHz & 70MHz OK2ZAW/2 in JN79xn

3D printed insulator for 70MHz dipole

Screen

 Outstanding opening on 6m to NA 19th May 2021

I had big luck to be on air during the afternoon 19th  May 2021. I were able to work NA until 1 am in the morning. Big surprise was John W7CD from WA. Quick QSO with strong signal. He played for more than 1,5 hours around -10 dB signal.

I totaly made 80 NA stations during evening!

It was very nice to meet some friends. First QSO to NA this year was with Pat W5VY. Thanks for email PAt :) 

Hello Jan,

I was great to work you on 6M FT8 today!  Your Four to One QRO switch was in-line….with very little attenuation!!

73, Pat, W5VY

Thanks also to Gary K9RX and Mark K4SO.

Some more work at OL7M QTH...

We spent a few days at QTH. WX was great and we made some more work there. A few more  antennas are down and two new towers are waiting on the ground. I also rebuilt YU7EF dualband yagi for 4m and 6m. There are printed insulators made on my 3D printer. Design is from Dan OK1HRA, you can find it at RemoteQTH.com.

Also some more work on TOP band vertical and of yourse, on the garden and trees is done :)

Standa OK1CID run CQ WPX SSB as OK7W on 20m SO.

SWR 2m above the ground

New tower for BIG 40m Yagi and support for 80m one