28-05-2021, 12:49 PM
For the edification of those comparatively "new to the game", I recommend a little while spent on the following site:
VK2FLR VHF DX Sound Archives: https://www.qsl.net/vk2flr/index.htm
The site was compiled by VHF-UHF stalwart, Mike Farrell VK2FLR (SK).
I should note that some instances of the DX reported did not involve propagation affected by the solar cycle - F2, or transequatorial VHF propagation [TEP. See (a) http://home.iprimus.com.au/toddemslie/aTEP-Harrison.htm, and (b) http://home.iprimus.com.au/toddemslie/eTEP-Harrison.htm ]. Sporadic E propagation, Es (ee ess, not E's as in eaz) is largely unaffected by the solar cycle, except perhaps when extreme MUF is involved (e.g. 144 MHz and above).
An example is the ". . very rare appearance of the VK0GR beacon from Casey Base . . " This was a temporary 6m beacon during the early 1970s, built and installed in 1972 by IPS Radio & Space Services (later Space Weather Services). Distance is 4470 km. Propagation was most likely supported by a combination of mid-latitude Es and Polar Es. The growl on the signal (characteristic of auroral propagation) is caused by Alvfen waves in the ionospheric plasma. The first continental Antarctic 6m beacon was built and installed at Casey by yours truly in December 1970 (callsign: VK0GR). It ran a pair of 6146s in push-pull for 100 watts output to a 3-element Yagi.
VK2FLR VHF DX Sound Archives: https://www.qsl.net/vk2flr/index.htm
The site was compiled by VHF-UHF stalwart, Mike Farrell VK2FLR (SK).
I should note that some instances of the DX reported did not involve propagation affected by the solar cycle - F2, or transequatorial VHF propagation [TEP. See (a) http://home.iprimus.com.au/toddemslie/aTEP-Harrison.htm, and (b) http://home.iprimus.com.au/toddemslie/eTEP-Harrison.htm ]. Sporadic E propagation, Es (ee ess, not E's as in eaz) is largely unaffected by the solar cycle, except perhaps when extreme MUF is involved (e.g. 144 MHz and above).
An example is the ". . very rare appearance of the VK0GR beacon from Casey Base . . " This was a temporary 6m beacon during the early 1970s, built and installed in 1972 by IPS Radio & Space Services (later Space Weather Services). Distance is 4470 km. Propagation was most likely supported by a combination of mid-latitude Es and Polar Es. The growl on the signal (characteristic of auroral propagation) is caused by Alvfen waves in the ionospheric plasma. The first continental Antarctic 6m beacon was built and installed at Casey by yours truly in December 1970 (callsign: VK0GR). It ran a pair of 6146s in push-pull for 100 watts output to a 3-element Yagi.