Hi all,
I'm Tom ZC4TS and I'm trying to get on 4 meter. I have an FT-847 that I've done the mode on plus a homemade 3 element quad. So far I haven't heard any activity at all. The antenna is pointed towards Europe but isn't rotatable. Is there any special time or mode that I need to use? It will take more work for me to get the digital interface rigged up for this radio, so for now I'm stuck with SSB and FM. I get off of work around 1200 Z but don't hear anyone on. What's the best time?
Thanks for the help,
Tom
ZC4TS trying to get on 4 meters. Needs info/help
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ZC4TS trying to get on 4 meters. Needs info/help
by ZC4TS » Mon 13 Oct 2008, 08:05
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by G8VOI » Mon 13 Oct 2008, 11:20
Hi Tom,
Good to hear there is going to be some activity from ZC on 4m. With the 847 and a 3 element beam you should do well from there.
Unfortunately there is no 'right time' for working anyone on the band, like all VHF bands you are in the lap of the propagation gods! Right time right place, but largely luck!
Not sure what sort of tropo openings you get around the med, always worth looking although 4m is less affected than the higher VHF / UHF bands.
A good idea is to monitor 50MHz as well, chances of working anyone on 4m will be much better if there is sporadic E on 6m, also 50.185MHz often used for crossband working. Apart from an occasional winter Es opening, you will probably have to wait until the spring next year for the next SpE season to begin.
You should be in the right area to be able to have a go at working Southern Africa via TEP, but finding active stations might be a problem.
Stations in SV / I / ZB2 are your nearest neighbours.
As far as modes go, CW / SSB will be your best option, but do not rule out FM, I often work YU / 9A etc on FM in the Summer SpE here from the South Coast of the UK with 15W and a dipole.
Digi modes (JT6M) etc will allow you to try random meteor contacts. If you are able to use KST on the internet that will give you a better idea of what is going on, and set up skeds etc. You will be very much in demand!
I have heard the old 5B4CY beacon quite a few times in the past on 4m from here on simple aerials, HB9CV and a halo.
Do not give up on the band! Most of us listen to white noise for days on end, but when it opens you will have a field day, enjoy!
Bob G8VOI
Good to hear there is going to be some activity from ZC on 4m. With the 847 and a 3 element beam you should do well from there.
Unfortunately there is no 'right time' for working anyone on the band, like all VHF bands you are in the lap of the propagation gods! Right time right place, but largely luck!
Not sure what sort of tropo openings you get around the med, always worth looking although 4m is less affected than the higher VHF / UHF bands.
A good idea is to monitor 50MHz as well, chances of working anyone on 4m will be much better if there is sporadic E on 6m, also 50.185MHz often used for crossband working. Apart from an occasional winter Es opening, you will probably have to wait until the spring next year for the next SpE season to begin.
You should be in the right area to be able to have a go at working Southern Africa via TEP, but finding active stations might be a problem.
Stations in SV / I / ZB2 are your nearest neighbours.
As far as modes go, CW / SSB will be your best option, but do not rule out FM, I often work YU / 9A etc on FM in the Summer SpE here from the South Coast of the UK with 15W and a dipole.
Digi modes (JT6M) etc will allow you to try random meteor contacts. If you are able to use KST on the internet that will give you a better idea of what is going on, and set up skeds etc. You will be very much in demand!
I have heard the old 5B4CY beacon quite a few times in the past on 4m from here on simple aerials, HB9CV and a halo.
Do not give up on the band! Most of us listen to white noise for days on end, but when it opens you will have a field day, enjoy!
Bob G8VOI
- G8VOI
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by G0DJA » Mon 13 Oct 2008, 13:58
As Bob says, propagation is a fickle thing at the best of times...
As a general rule of thumb though. Sporadic-E is mainly a Sumertime mode and can happen at almost any time of day or night through the summer months.
Autumn often produces some good Tropospheric propagation and, if you have a sea path, then ducting can occur when it's foggy, but not always and sometimes it doesn't need to be foggy where you are.
You might even want to try meteor scatter and possibly use the WSJT software system for transmitting data.
There's a propagation prediction site called 'Hepburns' at http://www.dxinfocentre.com/tropo_eur.html
This is like a 'weather forecast' in that it's only a prediction, it may, or may not, actually happen...
Other useful VHF/UHF propagation sites are http://dl1dbc.net/Meteorscatter/ for meteor scatter
http://www.quercus.demon.co.uk/tropo.html for non-ducting tropospheric propagation
http://www.df5ai.net/ for all sorts of VHF propagation, but especially Field Aligned Irregularity (FAI)
and http://www.vhfdx.de/
You could try logging into the ON4KST 'chat' system. There is an area for 50/70MHz and you will be able to arrange skeds to try to work people on 4M. The URL to log in is http://www.on4kst.com/
Good luck.
As a general rule of thumb though. Sporadic-E is mainly a Sumertime mode and can happen at almost any time of day or night through the summer months.
Autumn often produces some good Tropospheric propagation and, if you have a sea path, then ducting can occur when it's foggy, but not always and sometimes it doesn't need to be foggy where you are.
You might even want to try meteor scatter and possibly use the WSJT software system for transmitting data.
There's a propagation prediction site called 'Hepburns' at http://www.dxinfocentre.com/tropo_eur.html
This is like a 'weather forecast' in that it's only a prediction, it may, or may not, actually happen...
Other useful VHF/UHF propagation sites are http://dl1dbc.net/Meteorscatter/ for meteor scatter
http://www.quercus.demon.co.uk/tropo.html for non-ducting tropospheric propagation
http://www.df5ai.net/ for all sorts of VHF propagation, but especially Field Aligned Irregularity (FAI)
and http://www.vhfdx.de/
You could try logging into the ON4KST 'chat' system. There is an area for 50/70MHz and you will be able to arrange skeds to try to work people on 4M. The URL to log in is http://www.on4kst.com/
Good luck.
de Dave (G0DJA)
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Re: ZC4TS trying to get on 4 meters. Needs info/help
by IZ8DWF » Tue 11 Nov 2008, 20:56
ZC4TS wrote:Hi all,
I'm Tom ZC4TS and I'm trying to get on 4 meter. I have an FT-847 that I've done the mode on plus a homemade 3 element quad. So far I haven't heard any activity at all. The antenna is pointed towards Europe but isn't rotatable. Is there any special time or mode that I need to use? It will take more work for me to get the digital interface rigged up for this radio, so for now I'm stuck with SSB and FM. I get off of work around 1200 Z but don't hear anyone on. What's the best time?
Thanks for the help,
Tom
Hi Tom,
as others said there's no particular time, it very depends on propagation, which lately isn't very helpful. However as I told you in a QSO in the 6m band in august I'm in a favourable position for working east mediterranean area via sea duct. Unfortunately even this mode is going down in these months. Anyway if you want to run skeds with me and if you can rotate your antenna, just drop me an email at iz8dwf@amsat.org
Best 73 de IZ8DWF Frank
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- Posts: 21
- Joined: Tue 24 Jul 2007, 13:22
- Location and locator: nr Reggio Calabria - JM78TC - JM87AW
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