Wednesday, April 29, 2020

Opening to Denmark on 40 MHz - Wed 29th April 2020


Wednesday 29th April 2020. There was another opening on the 40 MHz band to Denmark and this was probably the best opening so far for 2020.

There was Sporadic-E on 28 MHz during the late morning to central Europe. In the early afternoon, the propagation moved north and the OZ7IGY beacon on 28.271 MHz appeared.

Not long after that, the OZ7IGY beacon on 40.071 MHz came up out of the noise. The PI4 decodes are shown below...




40M 12:40 UTC OZ7IGY PI4: S/N=-15 dB Q=62 T=0.71 s F=3 Hz Carrier: F= Hz C/N= dB
40M 12:41 UTC OZ7IGY PI4: S/N=0 dB Q=98 T=0.69 s F=3 Hz Carrier: F= Hz C/N= dB
40M 12:42 UTC OZ7IGY PI4: S/N=1 dB Q=100 T=0.68 s F=-3 Hz Carrier: F= Hz C/N= dB
40M 12:43 UTC OZ7IGY PI4: S/N=0 dB Q=96 T=0.69 s F=-3 Hz Carrier: F= Hz C/N= dB
40M 12:44 UTC OZ7IGY PI4: S/N=5 dB Q=100 T=0.68 s F=-3 Hz Carrier: F= Hz C/N= dB
40M 12:45 UTC OZ7IGY PI4: S/N=6 dB Q=100 T=0.66 s F=-3 Hz Carrier: F= Hz C/N= dB
40M 12:46 UTC OZ7IGY PI4: S/N=10 dB Q=100 T=0.66 s F=-3 Hz Carrier: F= Hz C/N= dB
40M 12:47 UTC OZ7IGY PI4: S/N=4 dB Q=98 T=0.66 s F=-3 Hz Carrier: F= Hz C/N= dB
40M 12:48 UTC OZ7IGY PI4: S/N=0 dB Q=88 T=0.68 s F=-3 Hz Carrier: F= Hz C/N= dB
40M 12:49 UTC OZ7IGY PI4: S/N=0 dB Q=100 T=1.07 s F=-3 Hz Carrier: F= Hz C/N= dB
40M 12:50 UTC OZ7IGY PI4: S/N=-8 dB Q=86 T=1.09 s F=3 Hz Carrier: F= Hz C/N= dB
40M 12:51 UTC OZ7IGY PI4: S/N=-10 dB Q=88 T=1.09 s F=3 Hz Carrier: F= Hz C/N= dB
40M 12:52 UTC OZ7IGY PI4: S/N=6 dB Q=100 T=1.07 s F=3 Hz Carrier: F= Hz C/N= dB
40M 12:53 UTC OZ7IGY PI4: S/N=6 dB Q=100 T=1.07 s F=3 Hz Carrier: F= Hz C/N= dB
40M 12:54 UTC OZ7IGY PI4: S/N=2 dB Q=98 T=1.07 s F=3 Hz Carrier: F= Hz C/N= dB
40M 12:55 UTC OZ7IGY PI4: S/N=-2 dB Q=92 T=1.07 s F=3 Hz Carrier: F= Hz C/N= dB
40M 12:56 UTC OZ7IGY PI4: S/N=0 dB Q=98 T=1.06 s F=3 Hz Carrier: F= Hz C/N= dB
40M 12:57 UTC OZ7IGY PI4: S/N=-3 dB Q=100 T=1.06 s F=3 Hz Carrier: F= Hz C/N= dB
40M 12:58 UTC OZ7IGY PI4: S/N=-5 dB Q=88 T=1.06 s F=3 Hz Carrier: F= Hz C/N= dB
40M 12:59 UTC OZ7IGY PI4: S/N=-1 dB Q=98 T=1.06 s F=3 Hz Carrier: F= Hz C/N= dB
40M 13:00 UTC OZ7IGY PI4: S/N=0 dB Q=100 T=1.06 s F=3 Hz Carrier: F= Hz C/N= dB
40M 13:01 UTC OZ7IGY PI4: S/N=5 dB Q=100 T=1.06 s F=3 Hz Carrier: F= Hz C/N= dB
40M 13:02 UTC OZ7IGY PI4: S/N=3 dB Q=98 T=1.06 s F=3 Hz Carrier: F= Hz C/N= dB
40M 13:03 UTC OZ7IGY PI4: S/N=-2 dB Q=86 T=1.06 s F=9 Hz Carrier: F= Hz C/N= dB
40M 13:04 UTC OZ7IGY PI4: S/N=-6 dB Q=86 T=1.06 s F=9 Hz Carrier: F= Hz C/N= dB
40M 13:06 UTC OZ7IGY PI4: S/N=-11 dB Q=100 T=1.04 s F=3 Hz Carrier: F= Hz C/N= dB
40M 13:07 UTC OZ7IGY PI4: S/N=-21 dB Q=60 T=1.04 s F=3 Hz Carrier: F= Hz C/N= dB
40M 13:08 UTC OZ7IGY PI4: S/N=-13 dB Q=100 T=1.04 s F=3 Hz Carrier: F= Hz C/N= dB
40M 13:09 UTC OZ7IGY PI4: S/N=-11 dB Q=74 T=1.06 s F=3 Hz Carrier: F= Hz C/N= dB
40M 13:10 UTC OZ7IGY PI4: S/N=-14 dB Q=100 T=1.06 s F=3 Hz Carrier: F= Hz C/N= dB
40M 13:11 UTC OZ7IGY PI4: S/N=-19 dB Q=66 T=1.06 s F=3 Hz Carrier: F= Hz C/N= dB
40M 13:12 UTC OZ7IGY PI4: S/N=-12 dB Q=84 T=1.06 s F=3 Hz Carrier: F= Hz C/N= dB
40M 13:13 UTC OZ7IGY PI4: S/N=-7 dB Q=100 T=1.06 s F=3 Hz Carrier: F= Hz C/N= dB
40M 13:16 UTC OZ7IGY PI4: S/N=-19 dB Q=64 T=1.04 s F=3 Hz Carrier: F= Hz C/N= dB
40M 13:19 UTC OZ7IGY PI4: S/N=-8 dB Q=98 T=1.04 s F=9 Hz Carrier: F= Hz C/N= dB
40M 13:26 UTC OZ7IGY PI4: S/N=-18 dB Q=20 T=1.02 s F=9 Hz Carrier: F= Hz C/N= dB
40M 13:27 UTC OZ7IGY PI4: S/N=8 dB Q=100 T=1.02 s F=3 Hz Carrier: F= Hz C/N= dB
40M 13:28 UTC OZ7IGY PI4: S/N=-9 dB Q=30 T=1.02 s F=9 Hz Carrier: F= Hz C/N= dB
40M 13:30 UTC OZ7IGY PI4: S/N=-15 dB Q=80 T=1.02 s F=9 Hz Carrier: F= Hz C/N= dB
40M 13:31 UTC OZ7IGY PI4: S/N=-21 dB Q=44 T=1.02 s F=9 Hz Carrier: F= Hz C/N= dB
40M 13:36 UTC OZ7IGY PI4: S/N=5 dB Q=100 T=1.00 s F=3 Hz Carrier: F= Hz C/N= dB
40M 13:37 UTC OZ7IGY PI4: S/N=-4 dB Q=100 T=1.00 s F=9 Hz Carrier: F= Hz C/N= dB
40M 13:38 UTC OZ7IGY PI4: S/N=11 dB Q=100 T=0.99 s F=3 Hz Carrier: F= Hz C/N= dB
40M 13:39 UTC OZ7IGY PI4: S/N=5 dB Q=100 T=0.98 s F=3 Hz Carrier: F= Hz C/N= dB
40M 13:40 UTC OZ7IGY PI4: S/N=9 dB Q=98 T=0.98 s F=9 Hz Carrier: F= Hz C/N= dB
40M 13:41 UTC OZ7IGY PI4: S/N=13 dB Q=100 T=0.99 s F=3 Hz Carrier: F= Hz C/N= dB
40M 13:42 UTC OZ7IGY PI4: S/N=11 dB Q=100 T=0.98 s F=3 Hz Carrier: F= Hz C/N= dB
40M 13:43 UTC OZ7IGY PI4: S/N=6 dB Q=96 T=0.98 s F=9 Hz Carrier: F= Hz C/N= dB
40M 13:44 UTC OZ7IGY PI4: S/N=4 dB Q=100 T=0.98 s F=3 Hz Carrier: F= Hz C/N= dB
40M 13:45 UTC OZ7IGY PI4: S/N=9 dB Q=92 T=0.97 s F=3 Hz Carrier: F= Hz C/N= dB
40M 13:46 UTC OZ7IGY PI4: S/N=1 dB Q=100 T=0.98 s F=3 Hz Carrier: F= Hz C/N= dB
40M 13:47 UTC OZ7IGY PI4: S/N=-9 dB Q=94 T=0.98 s F=3 Hz Carrier: F= Hz C/N= dB
40M 13:49 UTC OZ7IGY PI4: S/N=-18 dB Q=68 T=0.97 s F=3 Hz Carrier: F= Hz C/N= dB

This opening lasted about 70 minutes and the Danish beacon on 8-metres was also heard by Iain - EI5GN, Jeremy - EI5GM and Tony - EI8JK.

The weakest decode was -21dB and at this level, the signal couldn't be heard by ear as it was buried in the noise.

Listening to the PI4 signal, I'd guess a marginal cw contact would be possible around the -10dB mark.

In the evening, there was a second opening...

40M 18:51 UTC OZ7IGY PI4: S/N=2 dB Q=20 T=0.82 s F=3 Hz Carrier: F= Hz C/N= dB
40M 18:52 UTC OZ7IGY PI4: S/N=-1 dB Q=100 T=0.82 s F=-3 Hz Carrier: F= Hz C/N= dB
40M 18:53 UTC OZ7IGY PI4: S/N=2 dB Q=100 T=0.82 s F=-3 Hz Carrier: F= Hz C/N= dB
40M 18:54 UTC OZ7IGY PI4: S/N=-4 dB Q=100 T=0.82 s F=-3 Hz Carrier: F= Hz C/N= dB
40M 18:55 UTC OZ7IGY PI4: S/N=-3 dB Q=90 T=0.83 s F=3 Hz Carrier: F= Hz C/N= dB
40M 18:56 UTC OZ7IGY PI4: S/N=-12 dB Q=100 T=0.82 s F=-3 Hz Carrier: F= Hz C/N= dB

40M 19:39 UTC OZ7IGY PI4: S/N=-19 dB Q=30 T=0.75 s F=-3 Hz Carrier: F= Hz C/N= dB
40M 19:40 UTC OZ7IGY PI4: S/N=1 dB Q=98 T=0.75 s F=-3 Hz Carrier: F= Hz C/N= dB
40M 19:41 UTC OZ7IGY PI4: S/N=-2 dB Q=100 T=0.75 s F=-3 Hz Carrier: F= Hz C/N= dB
40M 19:42 UTC OZ7IGY PI4: S/N=-1 dB Q=100 T=0.75 s F=-3 Hz Carrier: F= Hz C/N= dB
40M 19:43 UTC OZ7IGY PI4: S/N=-14 dB Q=68 T=0.77 s F=-3 Hz Carrier: F= Hz C/N= dB
40M 19:45 UTC OZ7IGY PI4: S/N=-17 dB Q=46 T=0.75 s F=3 Hz Carrier: F= Hz C/N= dB
40M 19:47 UTC OZ7IGY PI4: S/N=-6 dB Q=100 T=0.73 s F=3 Hz Carrier: F= Hz C/N= dB

For these tests, I was just using a vertical for 28 MHz which was good enough for reception. I found that as the signals were weak, the main thing is to have an antenna that isn't picking up too much local noise.

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