News 11-Sep-2007 to 14-Sep-2007

14-Sep-2007 @ 10:15 UTC

I have added a detailed propagation analysis from Eric, K3NA. See link above.

14-Sep-2007 @ 08:00 UTC

Due to an admin error a number of 20m CW and 80m SSB QSOs didn't make it into the on-line log during yesterday's update. We apologise for this and can now confirm that the missing QSOs are on line. Yesterday's QSOs have also been uploaded and there are now 55,705 QSOs in the log.

From the team:

1. We think we've fixed the 80m aerial issues. It appears the ground screen mats were not doing the job. (Probably an issue of age.) 80m CW and particularly SSB signals should be improved now.
2. We lost the top of the 160m Titanex to metal fatigue last night around 13/2200z. It will be repaired today.
3. 20m NA 1200-1600z LP vs SP: We are getting conflicting stories about this opening to NA. East coast seems to be short path. Some west coast stations report us as short path also. We solicit more definitive reports from west coast as to preferred direction, so we can set beams accordingly.

13-Sep-2007 @ 20:20 UTC

The on-line log has now been updated to include all QSOs up to 04:00Z this morning. There are now 46,305 QSOs in the log. [Edit - 14-Sep-07 @ 08:00 - see addendum above]

From the team:

1. RTTY: we have not started yet. All claimed RTTY ops are definitely pirates. We plan to start this weekend, as previously advertised.

13-Sep-2007 @ 16:00 UTC

The online log is now updated to 12:00Z yesterday. I'm awaiting more recent log data. There are 42,196 QSOs in the log.

From the team:

1. Sep 12 propagation was significantly below the 11th, especially on the low bands. However, today (Sep 13) was the first day in which 20m did not close at mid-day. We are now closing on 50,000 QSOs.
2. Re: DX net frequencies on 20m. We will keep our listening range below 14247, but in return we wish to encourage the DX net participants to come down and work us.
3. To date we have only heard meteor pings on 6m. Anyone hearing the 3B7C beacon on 50.090: please email time heard and your location. Contact one of the other operators on HF, if possible, to pass your report in real-time to us. We continue to maintain a speaker watch on the beacon radio.

12-Sep-2007 @ 19:00 UTC

The online log is now updated to 04:00Z this morning. There are 39,554 QSOs in the log. Many thanks to everyone who has sent propagation reports over the past couple of days. These have been collated and passed on to the team. For the time being we feel that we have sufficient propagation information but if something entirely out of the ordinary happens, please do let me know and I'll pass it on.

Just a couple of messages from the team today:

1. Propagation has improved significantly since 10/2000z, with significantly longer openings to difficult-to-reach areas such as North America. Check the web site tool to see openings for your area.
2. Data operations should begin sometime on Sep 15 Sat (GMT).

12-Sep-2007 @ 06:00 UTC

The latest log hasn't arrived from the island yet, so I'll do the uploads together with the day's news when I get home around 18:00Z tonight.

11-Sep-2007 @ 22:50 UTC

I'm working for the next two days, so the news update will have to wait until the evening, UK time. I'll try to get the log updates on line before I leave for work.

11-Sep-2007 @ 12:30 UTC

The on-line log has now been updated to include all QSOs up to 04:00Z this morning. We have almost 30,000 QSOs in the log!

11-Sep-2007 @ 07:30 UTC

On-line log: Yesterday evening 10-Sep-07 @ 22:00 we had to reload the on-line database to fix a problem. The database was fully restored by 23:00Z. We apologise for any confusion. I hope that we will not need to do this again. I now have the log up to 04:00Z today and will upload them shortly.

Replying to your messages: I am getting 100+ messages a day from you, the deserving, which is great! But I don't have time to respond to each one individually. I do read every message and collate the information into a daily digest which I send to the team at around 23:00Z. Please don't be offended if I do not respond to you personally!

More important messages from the team:

1. Found a fault in the 80m SSB antenna. We ran with a single vertical during approximately 10/1400 to 11/0230z. Working on repairs today.
2. Adding a 15m antenna today in order to attempt two stations on 15m (CW and SSB). Probably won't be on air on 15m while this work is going on.
3. We plan an earlier start on 160m and 80m this afternoon (and following afternoons), looking for North America west coast: about 1630z. This effort will be in addition to 40m/30m/20m looking for west coast at this time. We are still unclear about whether the 30m and 20m openings are long or short or skew paths. It is a 10 minute walk to muscle around the Yagi, so operators are disinclined to experiment too often. Zone 3 operators are encouraged to report direction of openings.
4. It would be very helpful if propagation reports are presented in a standard format. Occasionally feedback comes in missing a key piece of data. To be most useful, each message should contain:
   • call/location of reporter
   • band
   • date GMT
   • time GMT
   • report.

Example: "DE W1XYZ, 160m, 10-Sep 2000Z: 3B7C S9 two hours before local sunset here." This will allow us to provide specific guidance to operators coming on duty, and to update our crib sheets precisely.