News 18-Aug-2007 to 19-Sep-2007

19-Sep-2007 @ 19:50 UTC

The on-line log has now been updated to include all QSOs up to 04:00Z this morning. There are now 93,784 QSOs in the log.

From the team:

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Due to the continuing heavy demand for CW, SSB and RTTY, we have decided not to operate PSK or FM during the remainder of the expedition. [Only CW, SSB and RTTY have been worked to date.]

160m: We are aware there are many callers on 160m, both from Europe and North America, throughout our openings. However, the signals are detectable but not copiable in the underlying atmospheric noise in this part of the world. Unfortunately, most of the noise originates to our north -- the same direction from which European and North American signals arrive.

It only takes a minor variation in the ionosphere to provide a bit of a lift for individual signals... and sometimes this lift is just long enough to complete a QSO. So, we keep listening and calling CQ. On Sep 18/1400-19/0200z noise was quieter and we were able to add more of the weaker stations in the log.

During the Rodrigues expedition 3B9C, we had some excellent nights with strong signals from E-F layer ducted openings to North America on top band, allowing many stations with small antennas to be easily worked. We have seen none of this ducting here at St. Brandon.

Zone 3 on 160m: We continue to try this opening during 1330-1430z each day. With a relatively quiet night and the approaching equinox, and a bit of luck on conditions, perhaps we can get some stations in the log. Some operators apparently believe that, because 3B7C has no longer been spotted on top band, it is not on the air. We are on the air during the North American evening until 0230z, about 30 minutes after our local sunrise. Your receiver is a better guide to conditions than a packet spot.

More top band news: N7UA and W2VJN were worked on 160m around Sep 19/1400z on long path. Several other callsign fragments were copied, but those signals didn't last long enough to complete a QSO. We will continue to look for zone 3 during 1330-1430z on each of the remaining days.

17m: Comments received that we have not been operating SSB during 12-17z. It should be noted that the band often closes entirely for us during some or all of this period. On some days it reopens to North America during this time, but signals are typically very weak here. CW has been used because it is more effective in getting people into the log. If we get an opening with stronger signals we will try SSB.

19-Sep-2007 @ 08:30 UTC

I've not received the log update yet and I am now unavailable for the rest of the day, so it will be early this evening, UK time before I can do any more.

18-Sep-2007 @ 20:15 UTC

The on-line log has now been updated to include all QSOs up to 04:00Z this morning. There are now 87,244 QSOs in the log. The late delivery was just down to other demands on the team's time earlier today.

From the team:

Propagation commentary

Yesterday was generally mediocre. Unusual openings: 17m re-opened to North America after Sep 17/15z, and remained open past 04z. This is the latest close for 17m that we have experienced: 3 additional hours later than the best to date. We will keep looking for this opening again today.

80m 1700-1900z: The SSB operator worked a handful of zone 3 with good signals, so the band was clearly open (ambiguous path direction)... but no callers! Meanwhile the CW operator was not hearing any zone 3 stations. Clearly propagation was different between the two ends of the band. Zone 3 stations should take note of this difference and be sure to check both modes for this opening.

160m: SSB operations at the start of each hour worked reasonably well until Sep 17/2300z. At this point signals on CW became so weak, relative to QRN, that SSB operations were impractical. Many stations in Europe (and, later, North America) were audible calling, but not strong enough for a long enough time to make a QSO. Every 5-10 minutes a few stations would get 15-30 seconds of signal enhancement, just enough to get a call and exchange reports. But many times we would hear a call, or part of a call, and not hear any further response. A few stations experienced signal enhancements several times, but were unable to copy us well enough to complete the QSO despite multiple calls.

160m zone 3: On a happier note, a zone 3 station called our 75m SSB operator to report hearing our CQ on 160m around Sep 17/1800z. We did not hear any reply but will keep trying 1730-1830z. 30m also experienced an extended opening beyond 0400z, also to North America. This helped the RTTY total into North America.

30m to VE7 & W7: We've had some comments that we are not hearing 7-land well on 30m. The morning opening (7-land time) is the end of our North America opening. It is also the prime opening to Europe. We don't hear 7-land well because of the Europe wall. We will try to do this path today... but the primary west coast 30m opening (much better signals) is at 02-04z long path... and on some days 20-01z is also available short path. We were on RTTY 30m 0300z onward listening for NA, but no one heard.

18-Sep-2007 @ 10:30 UTC

I haven't received any log update or news from the island today. I suspect it's just that the satellites are not playing ball, as they are obviously QRV. As soon as I get any information I will upload it.

After some burning of the midnight oil we think that we have finally fixed all the problems with the zone/entity leader boards. Thanks for bearing with us while we sorted this out!

NEW! Tim, G4VXE has kindly mapped all the 3B7C antennas onto Google Earth using GPS derived data supplied by the team. If you have Google Earth on your PC, then click on this link and all should be revealed!