Satgen217   HF Propagation Tests     by GM4IHJ               22 May 93
BID of this msg is SGEN217   Please use that BID if you retransmit the msg

As anyone who chases HF DX knows, prediction of propagation conditions
anywhere across the polar arc , west through north to east of UK, is a
lottery. We simple do not have effective polar and sub polar zone
predictions. Indeed we are only just begining to recognise some of the
modes of propagation. Ongoing experiments are :-
3PT ... Polar Plasma Propagation tests continue in both hemispheres with
northern radio amateur satellite users still tracking the RS birds sub
horizon on one or two odd days ( April 28th, May 7th and 14th), when HF
sats indicated propagation to Japan on 10m and G3IOR got a QSO to JA via
RS12 sub horizon. As yet there have been no reciprocal reports from the
southern hemisphere of Polar Plasma injection events for this the start of
their winter.
AURORAL Es ..... VHF DXers will be familiar with DX through the Auroral
arc as demonstrated on 2m by GM4IPK going from Shetland to Northern
Sweden. This form of propagation starts from outside the auroral oval -
below it in Shetland, penetrates the oval and uses its E layer ionisation
for refraction/forward scatter propagation, onward to northern SM which is
inside the auroral arc for several hours most days. Propagation hops of
about 960 kms are regular features, and as a recent Alaskan experiment is
showing are available on HF where the geometry has one station inside, the
other outside the oval. Alaskan results show 25.545 MHz beacon (sends "R"
in CW every 5 seconds ), at Wales 168.09W 65.38N ,gets to Fairbanks for
several hours when ever Kp  greater than 3 provides the necessary
disposition of the Auroral Oval. This 25.545 beacon has been heard in
Europe when solar flux is high. Plans are afoot to add 5.604 , 11.004, and
16.804 to the tx capability with CW, FSK, and Spread Spectrum modulation
cycled on in turn. Data courtesy KL7CYS via NM7M.
SPORADIC E ... The northern season has started well with 10m beacons
SK5TEN, OH2TEN, OH9TEN, DL0IGI, DK0TEN, IY4M, 5B4CY, OK0EG, and LA5TEN (
heard most frequent first, least last ) heard in UK every day 4 to 18 May
inclusive. This has brought out some excellent SpE extensions on HF sats.

Note... Satgen bulletins are issued weekly by GM4IHJ. They feature
satellite and space topics and concentrate for the most part on practical
operating and experiments. GM4IHJ is happy to answer individual packet
queries on specific sat/space topics, but regrets he is not available for
packet CQs, general packet QSOs ,packet circuit/path checks or packet pen
pal type communications. 73 de GM4IHJ @ GB7SAN