Big Sporadic-E opening on 28 MHz - Sun 14th Apr 2019

This was easily the biggest Sporadic-E opening of the year so far with no fewer than 224 stations logged here on FT8 on 28 MHz.

It was obvious from early this morning that there was plenty of Sporadic-E over Eastern Europe and as the morning went on, it gradually moved westward.

The main opening for me here on the south coast of Ireland was from about 11:30 to 16:00 UTC.

The two DX signals of note were ZS6S in South Africa and S01WS in Western Sahara.
ZS6S 10m FT8 9354 km 14:00:44
S01WS 10m FT8 2862 km 11:57:14

The most interesting signals for me however were those from the east of Ukraine and the south of Russia. At a distance of roughly 3,100 to 3,700 kms, these were double hop Sporadic-E signals.

Note the skip zone over the west of Ukraine and Belarus where there are no stations heard. This is the classic 'doughnut' ring which exists around every station. This is an area of about 2,300 to 3,000 kms distant where it can be very difficult to work stations. This is more pronounced on 50 MHz than 28 MHz.

Another local Jim, EI8GS was also on and managed to work into Brazil and Canary Islands. My take off in that direction is pretty poor and I heard nothing from the south-west this time out.

Is everyone on FT8???
I looked around the band a few times during the opening. I heard a few weak voices on SSB and nothing else other than a few beacons. It is probably not an exaggeration to say that in excess of 95% of all activity on 28 MHz now is on FT8.

Beacons
These are the beacons I heard today...
EI7GL 28207.1 ON0RY/B 14:17 14 Apr IO51TUJO20CK Belgium
EI7GL 28257.7 DK0TEN/B 13:35 14 Apr IO51TUJN47NT Fed. Rep. of Germany
EI7GL 28279.0 DB0UM/B 13:33 14 Apr IO51TUJO73CE Fed. Rep. of Germany
EI7GL 28251.1 ED4YAK/B 11:48 14 Apr IO51TUIN80FK Spain

WSPR
EI3RCW (Regional College Waterford) is a station that monitors WSPR signals on several of the HF bands including 28 MHz. This is what it heard today...

I suspect the receive antenna may not be great on 28 MHz but an obvious problem is the lack of stations on 10 metres using WSPR. These reports when automatically uploaded can help with sites like DXMaps that show propagation paths on 28 MHz and above.

It would be nice if more people considered using WSPR on 28 MHz for the Summer rather than down on the lower HF bands where there are more than enough stations reporting already.

50 MHz
I had a quick listen on 50 Mhz today and heard nothing. Looking at PSKReporter, I suspect the openings on 6 metres may have been short.

FT8 Stations Heard
These are the 224 stations that I heard and were uploaded to PSKReporter. Stations over 2,000kms in Bold.



DO4SH 10m FT8 1112 km 17:23:30
PA3GNZ 10m FT8 924 km 16:24:45
PA7EY 10m FT8 899 km 15:55:59
PD0EKO 10m FT8 895 km 15:50:14
PD1HPB 10m FT8 945 km 15:46:59
EI8GS 10m FT8 7 km 15:42:29
OZ1AKZ 10m FT8 1354 km 15:39:15
DJ1AA 10m FT8 1256 km 15:39:14
LA7HJA 10m FT8 1529 km 15:37:59
PC2F 10m FT8 939 km 15:37:14
DC6KI 10m FT8 1060 km 15:36:15
LA9DL 10m FT8 1452 km 15:35:15
I2NOY 10m FT8 1462 km 15:33:14
DL9GMN 10m FT8 1455 km 15:31:45
DK8ZZ 10m FT8 1142 km 15:31:45
PD0LH 10m FT8 941 km 15:31:44
DO9BO 10m FT8 1092 km 15:28:14
HB9SLT 10m FT8 1256 km 15:28:14
HB3XPT 10m FT8 1453 km 15:27:44
PA7ZZ 10m FT8 978 km 15:25:45
PC4N 10m FT8 897 km 15:24:15
DL6CNG 10m FT8 1368 km 15:23:45
PD1ROS 10m FT8 940 km 15:23:44
IW2BZY 10m FT8 1459 km 15:23:44
DO1JTS 10m FT8 1080 km 15:22:44
DK4BY 10m FT8 1085 km 15:22:44
PA3AGN 10m FT8 927 km 15:21:45
DL1AXI 10m FT8 1355 km 15:21:15
DJ3AK 10m FT8 1288 km 15:20:14
IK2WZL 10m FT8 1473 km 15:19:45
IK2FIR 10m FT8 1446 km 15:18:16
DL5DM 10m FT8 1189 km 15:17:30
DL3HRH 10m FT8 1402 km 15:16:14
DO7SHK 10m FT8 1063 km 15:11:59
PA3HDM 10m FT8 988 km 15:09:14
DG4BH 10m FT8 1077 km 15:06:14
DO1ASL/P 10m FT8 1275 km 15:02:15
DL2TM 10m FT8 1374 km 15:00:14
DO2WAL 10m FT8 1480 km 14:59:44
PB2A 10m FT8 909 km 14:57:14
DO4FZ 10m FT8 1261 km 14:56:14
DL5AX 10m FT8 1292 km 14:53:14
DL6ZBN 10m FT8 1183 km 14:51:15
DK6FW 10m FT8 1319 km 14:50:14
DO4MAS 10m FT8 1376 km 14:47:44
DL1HCN 10m FT8 1299 km 14:45:45
DB6LL 10m FT8 1235 km 14:45:44
DJ5JD 10m FT8 1070 km 14:44:45
DO3AV 10m FT8 1189 km 14:42:14
DL1LCK 10m FT8 1254 km 14:42:14
OV1T 10m FT8 1309 km 14:41:45
DO2STA 10m FT8 1239 km 14:41:14
PD1BU 10m FT8 923 km 14:39:45
IU1DZZ 10m FT8 1433 km 14:38:59
I1JTQ 10m FT8 1401 km 14:38:14
PD0PVL 10m FT8 974 km 14:37:45
PA3GLH 10m FT8 941 km 14:33:59
DK6OB 10m FT8 1274 km 14:32:45
M6DXD 10m FT8 492 km 14:32:15
DG5TF 10m FT8 1407 km 14:32:00
HB9GNH 10m FT8 1332 km 14:29:14
LA4NJ 10m FT8 1219 km 14:28:59
DL4FCH 10m FT8 1222 km 14:22:44
OZ3AT 10m FT8 1395 km 14:20:15
DF2RG 10m FT8 1469 km 14:18:59
PD0MHZ 10m FT8 972 km 14:17:59
DO4TP 10m FT8 1062 km 14:16:44
DM5BB 10m FT8 1497 km 14:13:44
DJ9NY 10m FT8 1254 km 14:13:44
PD1RO 10m FT8 995 km 14:13:00
IW0EWI 10m FT8 1924 km 14:12:29
DK3WJ 10m FT8 1387 km 14:11:44
DL7NXX 10m FT8 1248 km 14:11:29
DF2TH 10m FT8 1156 km 14:08:44
DN7GMW 10m FT8 1058 km 14:08:29
OK1FRG 10m FT8 1695 km 14:08:15
EA1IQT 10m FT8 945 km 14:07:59
F4GWN 10m FT8 770 km 14:07:45
SP3WWI 10m FT8 1602 km 14:06:45
DD2EE 10m FT8 1041 km 14:05:14
DK1MAX 10m FT8 1455 km 14:04:59
OZ9AU 10m FT8 1434 km 14:02:15
DK6XY 10m FT8 1302 km 14:02:14
OZ1BQM 10m FT8 1234 km 14:00:59
IW0HBY 10m FT8 1924 km 14:00:59
IZ0EGA 10m FT8 1930 km 14:00:59
ZS6S 10m FT8 9354 km 14:00:44
DL1DV 10m FT8 1147 km 13:59:44
OZ1LWT 10m FT8 1220 km 13:55:59
OK1FAK 10m FT8 1577 km 13:54:44
PA0VLY 10m FT8 1008 km 13:53:59
IK2QEB 10m FT8 1602 km 13:52:59
OK1GU 10m FT8 1528 km 13:51:30
F1RAD 10m FT8 1272 km 13:51:14
SP2QCW 10m FT8 1836 km 13:50:59
IW1QN 10m FT8 1515 km 13:50:30
F5TLZ 10m FT8 1033 km 13:49:59
ON5GM 10m FT8 915 km 13:48:59
UA4CR 10m FT8 3660 km 13:48:59
F5LVR 10m FT8 1146 km 13:48:29
OK7TJ 10m FT8 1522 km 13:48:14
IZ2ODN 10m FT8 1582 km 13:48:14
DL3RY 10m FT8 1502 km 13:47:30
RA2FCL 10m FT8 1955 km 13:47:29
I1YTO 10m FT8 1443 km 13:47:29
IZ5ILD 10m FT8 1674 km 13:46:59
DO4DXA 10m FT8 1467 km 13:46:14
OZ1BGQ 10m FT8 1353 km 13:45:30
SP3MEO 10m FT8 1773 km 13:45:00
F4GEN 10m FT8 1087 km 13:44:29
SQ6JFR 10m FT8 1679 km 13:44:00
DO7ANF 10m FT8 1469 km 13:43:44
DO5OT 10m FT8 1515 km 13:42:59
DO1ARF 10m FT8 1525 km 13:41:31
DL1BBO 10m FT8 1179 km 13:40:45
SM7D 10m FT8 1497 km 13:40:44
DH2GCH 10m FT8 1245 km 13:40:00
SP3AGE 10m FT8 1677 km 13:39:59
OK1DOL 10m FT8 1525 km 13:38:00
UT7QF 10m FT8 3095 km 13:37:14
DK9BG 10m FT8 1121 km 13:37:00
DL3SC 10m FT8 1448 km 13:36:59
F5ITN 10m FT8 921 km 13:36:59
DO1BCK 10m FT8 1113 km 13:36:59
DL1SO 10m FT8 1279 km 13:36:59
DK2LO 10m FT8 1231 km 13:28:29
9A7JCY 10m FT8 1943 km 13:28:14
DF6XN 10m FT8 1087 km 13:27:00
HB9CKH 10m FT8 1253 km 13:26:59
SP7JLH 10m FT8 1996 km 13:25:59
DF3RD 10m FT8 1129 km 13:25:44
DB3JL 10m FT8 1508 km 13:25:30
DM2GG 10m FT8 1398 km 13:24:01
SM7CAD 10m FT8 1660 km 13:23:44
IK5RWX 10m FT8 1787 km 13:23:30
DO3LZ 10m FT8 1190 km 13:23:29
DG2SAT 10m FT8 1277 km 13:23:14
G0KUC 10m FT8 569 km 13:22:30
EA3NP 10m FT8 1415 km 13:21:30
SP2Y 10m FT8 1837 km 13:20:30
SP6IM 10m FT8 1722 km 13:20:00
OZ1LCG 10m FT8 1267 km 13:19:29
SP4MPH 10m FT8 2095 km 13:18:59
LA1QCA 10m FT8 1469 km 13:18:44
SP2GDK 10m FT8 1800 km 13:17:30
CT2IWW 10m FT8 1181 km 13:17:14
F5PPG 10m FT8 1132 km 13:16:45
SQ8AQO 10m FT8 2088 km 13:16:00
F4VRL 10m FT8 1257 km 13:15:14
DO4HRE 10m FT8 1123 km 13:15:14
SQ9KFZ 10m FT8 1901 km 13:14:14
PD1FER 10m FT8 894 km 13:13:30
OZ1LXW 10m FT8 1298 km 13:13:14
SQ9NOV 10m FT8 1913 km 13:12:45
PD7RF 10m FT8 916 km 13:10:31
RL3QDD 10m FT8 3214 km 13:09:44
DJ7ZG 10m FT8 1229 km 13:09:30
DL9EVO 10m FT8 1284 km 13:09:14
PA1DDE 10m FT8 891 km 13:09:01
IW3QBN 10m FT8 1757 km 13:08:00
SQ4OLI 10m FT8 1843 km 13:07:29
UY5YA 10m FT8 3171 km 13:07:15
MM0KOS 10m FT8 525 km 13:06:14
RA3QAL 10m FT8 3235 km 13:04:45
DK6VCO 10m FT8 1091 km 13:04:29
PD1DL 10m FT8 921 km 13:04:29
DJ3TF 10m FT8 1447 km 13:04:29
SP9UPH 10m FT8 1892 km 13:03:30
SA0BFG 10m FT8 1822 km 13:02:59
SM7YLS 10m FT8 1519 km 13:02:45
DO4NEA 10m FT8 1360 km 13:02:14
SP6CIK 10m FT8 1821 km 12:59:15
HB9DFP 10m FT8 1204 km 12:57:44
IV3EFS 10m FT8 1696 km 12:54:14
RW6APC 10m FT8 3374 km 12:54:14
SP3AMZ 10m FT8 1715 km 12:51:59
DJ3AN 10m FT8 1151 km 12:51:14
DL3LJ 10m FT8 1244 km 12:51:00
EA6SK 10m FT8 1601 km 12:48:46
PD7Q 10m FT8 913 km 12:47:59
US6IKF 10m FT8 3203 km 12:47:14
PD0ONJ 10m FT8 899 km 12:46:00
DF7DC 10m FT8 1088 km 12:45:44
OH1EDK 10m FT8 2107 km 12:45:14
EA4GOY 10m FT8 1352 km 12:43:59
IK4RAS 10m FT8 1687 km 12:43:44
HB9JNM 10m FT8 1320 km 12:43:29
DO7TC 10m FT8 1483 km 12:41:59
EA2EGZ 10m FT8 1210 km 12:40:59
DL2FAG 10m FT8 1182 km 12:40:29
RA3QQI 10m FT8 3275 km 12:40:14
DL8WYJ 10m FT8 1433 km 12:36:45
DL3VCO 10m FT8 1513 km 12:36:44
SP5XMU 10m FT8 1992 km 12:34:59
IK4DRY 10m FT8 1719 km 12:34:59
DO7TDS 10m FT8 1309 km 12:34:44
DK5RL 10m FT8 1469 km 12:33:30
SP9KDA 10m FT8 1850 km 12:33:14
R7MW 10m FT8 3446 km 12:23:30
US8INM 10m FT8 3293 km 12:22:46
PH0TV 10m FT8 996 km 12:21:59
PA5EM 10m FT8 905 km 12:20:44
SQ5SKB 10m FT8 1992 km 12:18:29
IZ4VSD 10m FT8 1609 km 12:17:30
OZ5HP 10m FT8 1326 km 12:16:29
F4IAY 10m FT8 1209 km 12:14:29
SQ5CZL 10m FT8 1906 km 12:12:14
EC6DX 10m FT8 1647 km 12:10:44
DO1RPK 10m FT8 1053 km 12:07:29
I2YPY 10m FT8 1590 km 12:06:14
EA5FY 10m FT8 1493 km 12:05:29
PA9CC 10m FT8 990 km 12:03:30
IW1AYD 10m FT8 1396 km 12:03:16
S01WS 10m FT8 2862 km 11:57:14
EA1JAZ 10m FT8 1131 km 11:56:29
EA1AXX 10m FT8 998 km 11:55:29
EA3FCQ 10m FT8 1410 km 11:53:59
EA4FJX 10m FT8 1334 km 11:53:29
EC5CIA 10m FT8 1507 km 11:41:14
F6DHD 10m FT8 1167 km 11:39:14
G0FWX 10m FT8 435 km 11:33:29
IZ4BOW 10m FT8 1792 km 11:31:14
DJ8QX 10m FT8 1058 km 11:24:00
UA2FFW 10m FT8 1934 km 11:23:30
IZ6BXV 10m FT8 1987 km 10:54:44
IU0MBJ 10m FT8 1925 km 10:36:44