3000km+ opening on 144 MHz from Israel & Lebanon to Europe - 10th June 2021

Thursday 10th June 2021: In this second of three posts, we will look at some of the extraordinary paths on 144 MHz that were in excess of 3000kms in length. In the previous post, I looked at the paths from the Canary and Madeira Islands to Europe, this time we'll look at the paths from Israel & Lebanon to western Europe.

This is another long post so scroll down. At the end, I'll have a look at some of the evidence for what type of propagation was responsible.

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OD5KU in Lebanon had two paths on 144 MHz to Portugal which were over 4000kms in length.

This map are the FT8 paths that were open on 144 MHz and I'll note a few things.

1) Notice how there is no path from Lebanon to Greece. This suggests that the eastern half of the path was via a single Sporadic-E hop.

2) There are plenty of stations clustered around the south of Italy and Sicily showing where the first hop landed.

3) The western limit of the path was not on the east coast of the Iberian Peninsula but at the far western side on the coast of Portugal. This suggests another Sporadic-E at the western half of the 4000km path.

4) Back on the 28th of June 1979, CT1WW in Portugal worked OD5MR in Lebanon on SSB on 144 MHz for what was claimed to be a double hop Sporadic-E contact. That was an IARU Region 1 record for many years. It looks as if the conditions on the 10th of June 2021 were similar.

To have a complete record, here are some of the long FT8 paths from OD5KU...

Txmtr Rcvr Band Mode Distance Time (UTC)

CT1ISH OD5KU 2m FT8 4030 km 15:36:59

CT1DIZ OD5KU 2m FT8 4014 km 15:15:02

EA1YV OD5KU 2m FT8 3955 km 16:35:29

OD5KU EA1YV 2m FT8 3955 km 16:35:14

CT7ABA OD5KU 2m FT8 3852 km 15:39:29

EA4GDA OD5KU 2m FT8 3822 km 15:40:44

OD5KU EA4BDL 2m FT8 3767 km 15:45:14

OD5KU EA1GKZ 2m FT8 3688 km 15:45:14

OD5KU EA1NJ 2m FT8 3618 km 15:45:14

EA1AF OD5KU 2m FT8 3597 km 16:27:29

EA7ALL OD5KU 2m FT8 3570 km 15:18:30

EA4T OD5KU 2m FT8 3563 km 15:22:59

EA7BHO OD5KU 2m FT8 3558 km 15:26:29

OD5KU EA4HFK 2m FT8 3549 km 15:01:20

EB4GLE OD5KU 2m FT8 3539 km 15:18:59

EC4TR OD5KU 2m FT8 3527 km 16:41:59

OD5KU EA4ESM 2m FT8 3506 km 15:01:14

EA4ADJ OD5KU 2m FT8 3498 km 15:12:29

EA2BFM OD5KU 2m FT8 3484 km 15:29:59

EA2ESK OD5KU 2m FT8 3309 km 15:07:29

OD5KU EA2Z 2m FT8 3306 km 16:22:59

EA5AQB OD5KU 2m FT8 3306 km 15:29:29

EC5V OD5KU 2m FT8 3291 km 15:25:29

EA4DW OD5KU 2m FT8 3261 km 15:52:14

EA5TT OD5KU 2m FT8 3259 km 15:46:29

OD5KU EA3HMM 2m FT8 3177 km 15:45:14

OD5KU EA3DBJ 2m FT8 3160 km 15:45:12

EB3JT OD5KU 2m FT8 3150 km 16:28:14

OD5KU EB3FRN 2m FT8 3136 km 16:22:57

OD5KU EA3B 2m FT8 3130 km 16:23:27

F4HAB OD5KU 2m FT8 3129 km 15:25:29

EA3GPK OD5KU 2m FT8 3116 km 16:35:29

EA6FB OD5KU 2m FT8 3109 km 15:04:29

F5OYC OD5KU 2m FT8 3103 km 15:52:14

OD5KU EA3CJ 2m FT8 3095 km 16:33:14

EA3CJ OD5KU 2m FT8 3095 km 16:27:44

EA3AF OD5KU 2m FT8 3083 km 15:21:00

OD5KU EA3BT 2m FT8 3082 km 15:01:14

OD5KU EA3GCV 2m FT8 3074 km 15:45:14

OD5KU EA3WD 2m FT8 3063 km 16:22:59

EA3BS OD5KU 2m FT8 3063 km 15:06:29

EA3SI OD5KU 2m FT8 3036 km 15:02:59

OD5KU F6HTJ 2m FT8 3001 km 16:38:44

EA6ET OD5KU 2m FT8 2993 km 15:31:29

EA6FG OD5KU 2m FT8 2992 km 15:31:59

EA6SX OD5KU 2m FT8 2987 km 15:26:59

EA6XQ OD5KU 2m FT8 2962 km 15:43:59

* * *

OD5VB was also active from Lebanon and the stations hearing him on FT8 are shown below.

Rcvr Band Mode Distance Time (UTC)

EA1GKZ 2m FT8 3686 km 15:53:29

EA1NJ 2m FT8 3616 km 15:53:27

EA1BHB 2m FT8 3528 km 15:54:29

EA5TT 2m FT8 3257 km 15:53:27

EA3HMM 2m FT8 3175 km 15:53:29

EA3DBJ 2m FT8 3158 km 15:53:26

EB3FRN 2m FT8 3135 km 14:57:44

EA3B 2m FT8 3128 km 14:57:45

F5OYC 2m FT8 3101 km 15:53:26

EA3BT 2m FT8 3080 km 14:57:44

EA3GCV 2m FT8 3072 km 15:57:29

EA3WD 2m FT8 3061 km 15:53:27

EA3SI 2m FT8 3034 km 15:57:29

F6HTJ 2m FT8 2999 km 16:49:44

* * *

4X/OM2IB was active from Israel.

Notice how the paths pivot around the Sporadic-E reflection point. As the eastern end of the circuit goes further south, the western end of the path moves north.

That lonely line going up to Poland looks like it was from a MSK144 meteor scatter contact earlier in the day.

FT8 paths open to 4X/OM2IB...

Txmtr Rcvr Band Mode Distance Time (UTC)

F6CIS 4X/OM2IB 2m FT8 3313 km 15:47:11

F4EZJ 4X/OM2IB 2m FT8 3304 km 15:47:12

EA5TT 4X/OM2IB 2m FT8 3260 km 15:56:14

F4HAB 4X/OM2IB 2m FT8 3164 km 14:44:11

F5OYC 4X/OM2IB 2m FT8 3138 km 15:43:12

F1NZC 4X/OM2IB 2m FT8 3107 km 15:46:45

F6HTJ 4X/OM2IB 2m FT8 3030 km 15:53:42

EB3FWC 4X/OM2IB 2m FT8 3023 km 14:30:56

4X/OM2IB F1GHX 2m FT8 2945 km 16:03:59

F8TRT 4X/OM2IB 2m FT8 2790 km 15:59:11

F5VKV 4X/OM2IB 2m FT8 2706 km 14:58:42

4X/OM2IB SO3Z 2m MSK144 2675 km 07:39:10

Update 12th June: Stef, F4EZJ reports working 4X/OM2IB on FT8, SSB & CW and 4X1UN on FT8. He also heard 4X1GA and 4Z5UM. Have a listen to this recording by F4EZJ of 4X/OM2IB on SSB! 3304kms! 😍

F4EZJ · 4X/OM2IB 144mhz ES QSO 2021-06-10 16:23:33

* * *

4X1UN

4X1UN was one of the most southern Israeli stations. Again, notice how the western end of the path pivots even further north.

These are the stations hearing the FT8 signals from 4X1UN...

Rcvr Band Mode Distance Time (UTC)

EA1MX 2m FT8 3603 km 15:53:00

EA4T 2m FT8 3575 km 15:26:56

F4BKV 2m FT8 3388 km 15:50:29

F1GXV 2m FT8 3340 km 15:22:26

F6CIS 2m FT8 3316 km 15:34:29

F4EZJSWL 2m FT8 3307 km 15:50:30

F4EZJ 2m FT8 3307 km 15:28:56

F5UGS 2m FT8 3207 km 15:39:59

EA3HMM 2m FT8 3192 km 15:22:29

F4HAB 2m FT8 3168 km 15:19:59

F5OYC 2m FT8 3141 km 15:50:26

F1NZC 2m FT8 3111 km 15:50:29

EA3BT 2m FT8 3102 km 15:29:29

F6HTJ 2m FT8 3033 km 15:52:29

F1GHX 2m FT8 2949 km 16:18:00

F5VKV 2m FT8 2709 km 15:34:26

* * *

4X1GA

FT8 paths for 4X1GA...

Txmtr Rcvr Band Mode Distance Time (UTC)

4X1GA F4BKV 2m FT8 3390 km 15:33:59

4X1GA F6CIS 2m FT8 3318 km 15:33:29

F6CIS 4X1GA 2m FT8 3318 km 15:31:14

4X1GA F4EZJSWL 2m FT8 3309 km 15:33:29

4X1GA F4EZJ 2m FT8 3309 km 15:33:26

F4EZJ 4X1GA 2m FT8 3309 km 15:33:14

EA3CJ 4X1GA 2m FT8 3115 km 16:11:59

4X1GA F1NZC 2m FT8 3113 km 15:33:29

4X1GA F5VKV 2m FT8 2711 km 15:34:27

* * *

4Z5CP

Txmtr Rcvr Band Mode Distance Time (UTC)

F6CIS 4Z5CP 2m FT8 3285 km 15:35:11

F5FDC 4Z5CP 2m FT8 3146 km 15:29:12

F4HAB 4Z5CP 2m FT8 3138 km 16:06:29

F5OYC 4Z5CP 2m FT8 3112 km 15:58:56

F6HTJ 4Z5CP 2m FT8 3006 km 15:52:41

F1HQM 4Z5CP 2m FT8 2874 km 16:12:29

* * *

4X1BG

Rcvr Band Mode Distance Time (UTC)

F6CIS 2m FT8 3293 km 15:38:29

F5OYC 2m FT8 3119 km 15:34:26

EA3WD 2m FT8 3065 km 14:55:27

TK4RB 2m FT8 2478 km 15:59:59

* * *

4Z5MU

Rcvr Band Mode Distance Time (UTC)

F6CIS 2m FT8 3304 km 15:33:30

F4EZJ 2m FT8 3293 km 15:48:56

F4EZJSWL 2m FT8 3293 km 15:41:00

F4HAB 2m FT8 3156 km 15:19:59

EA3GCV 2m FT8 3086 km 15:25:59

F1GHX 2m FT8 2934 km 16:16:30

* * *

Propagation Mode: First off, lets have a look at the tropo prediction map from F5LEN...

It suggests some enhancement in the Mediterrean but the absence of signals between Israel and Greece suggests to me that tropo ducting paid a very minor role if any.

F6CIS is often shown at the western end of the path so let's look at his FT8 map...

The map clearly shows there was a path from F6CIS in France to stations in the south of Italy. It suggests to me that we have an example of double hop Sporadic-E at 144 MHz.

Whether it was chordal hop (going from cloud to cloud) or double hop (reflecting off the ground at the mid point) is up for debate. The presence of stations at the mid point suggests double hop whereas there is no available evidence for chordal hop.

DX-Cluster spots: I have included these here for reference.

F4CTZ 144305.0 4X/OM2IB 16:28 10 Jun JN23SJ>KM72JC ES Strong signal Israel

I0KNQ 144305.0 4X/OM2IB 16:14 10 Jun tnx fer es qso km72 jn61 Israel
F6HTJ 144174.0 4X/OM2IB 16:03 10 Jun KM72jc<ES>JN12kq ft8 Israel
EA1HRR-@ 144174.0 4X/OM2IB 16:00 10 Jun in83 -8 pse EA??? Israel
IK5YJY 144174.0 4X1UN 15:57 10 Jun tnx qso Israel
IK0SMG 144297.0 4X1UN 15:48 10 Jun TNX ES 73 Israel
F6CIS 144174.0 4X/OM2IB 15:46 10 Jun FT8 tnx ES qso 73 Israel
IK8FIQ 144305.0 4X/OM2IB 15:33 10 Jun KM72JC Israel
F4EZJ 144174.8 4X1UN 15:32 10 Jun JN05DK<>KM72 FT8 Sent: -10 R Israel
IZ0BPI 144305.0 4X/OM2IB 15:28 10 Jun km72jc<es>jn61mr Israel
F4EZJ 144305.0 4X/OM2IB 15:28 10 Jun JN05DK<ES>KM72JC tnx 3 modes ! Israel
IS0FWY 144174.0 4X1UN 15:22 10 Jun JN49 es km72 Israel
F5VKV 144305.0 4X/OM2IB 15:20 10 Jun JN33RR<ES>KM72JC CW Israel
IU8MNI 144305.0 4X/OM2IB 15:19 10 Jun thanks qso 73 Israel
IS0FWY 144174.0 4Z5MU 15:13 10 Jun Cq dx cq dx Israel
I0YLI 144305.0 4X/OM2IB 15:12 10 Jun JN61HU<ES>KM72JC 5/9+ Israel
F4EZJ 144305.0 4X/OM2IB 15:09 10 Jun JN05DK<ES>KM72JC Israel
IK0FVC 144174.0 4Z5MU 15:09 10 Jun tnx qso ft8 Israel
IZ8MBW 144174.0 4X/OM2IB 14:56 10 Jun FT8 -11dB 967Hz Israel
F4EZJ 144175.1 4X/OM2IB 14:54 10 Jun JN05DK<>KM72JC FT8 Sent: -12 Israel

Spotter Freq. DX Time Info Country
4X/OM2IB-@ 144174.0 F1HQM 16:51 10 Jun hrd France 
4Z5CP 144174.0 I0JX 16:40 10 Jun KM72MT<ES>JN61GW Italy
4Z5CP 144174.0 IK0FTA 16:36 10 Jun KM72MT<ES>JN61GV Italy
4Z5CP 144174.0 I0OSI 16:29 10 Jun KM72MT<ES>JN61 Italy
4X/OM2IB-@ 144174.0 F6GHX 16:19 10 Jun TNX QSO France
4X/OM2IB-@ 144174.0 F5OYC 15:51 10 Jun TNX 3000+km QSO France
4Z5MU 144174.0 I8IGS 15:35 10 Jun KM72JB<>JM78 Tnx FT8 QSO -23db Italy
4Z5MU 144174.0 IT9AQC 15:31 10 Jun Tnx FT8 QSO -15db Sicily
4Z5MU 144174.0 F1HQM 15:14 10 Jun KM72JB<>JN23 Tnx FT8 QSO -18db France
4Z5MU 144174.0 IK0FVC 15:09 10 Jun Tnx FT8 QSO -15db Italy
4X/OM2IB-@ 144174.0 EA3WD 14:59 10 Jun TNX 3000km+ QSO Spain
4X/OM2IB-@ 144174.0 F4EZJ 14:57 10 Jun 3304km, TNX France
4Z5MU 144174.0 IW0FFK 14:49 10 Jun Tnx FT8 QSO -13db Italy
4X/OM2IB-@ 144174.0 EB3FWC 14:47 10 Jun HRD Spain 
4Z5MU 144174.0 IK0FTA 14:47 10 Jun Tnx FT8 QSO -16db Italy
4X/OM2IB-@ 144174.0 F4HUB 14:47 10 Jun JN03 3190km!! TNX QSO France

 Spotter Freq. DX Time Info Country
EA1YV 144174.0 OD5KU 16:37 10 Jun cqing km73 Lebanon
IZ8NVV 144174.0 OD5KU 16:32 10 Jun Hrd FT8 Lebanon
IK0FVC 144174.0 OD5VB 16:21 10 Jun still es tnx qso ft8 Lebanon
IK0FTA 144174.0 OD5VB 16:19 10 Jun ft8 2nd Lebanon
IW0FFK 144174.0 OD5VB 16:09 10 Jun JN61FS<ES>KM73SU Lebanon
F6HTJ 144174.0 OD5KU 16:04 10 Jun KM73uw<ES>JN12kq ft8 Lebanon
IK0FTA 144174.0 OD5KU 16:03 10 Jun ft8 1st Lebanon 
EA1HRR-@ 144174.0 OD5KU 16:01 10 Jun +2 pse EA??? Lebanon
IZ8NVV 144174.0 OD5VB 15:59 10 Jun JN70<ES> Lebanon
CT7ABA 144174.0 OD5KU 15:52 10 Jun <ES> FT8 -14 dB 1996 Hz Lebanon
EA4HFK 144174.0 OD5KU 15:44 10 Jun IN80BI<ES>KM73UW Lebanon
IZ8DSX 144290.0 OD5VB 15:38 10 Jun 55 Lebanon
IK8CNT 144290.0 OD5VB 15:33 10 Jun Lebanon
IK7EOT 144174.0 OD5KU 15:32 10 Jun FT8 +8 tnx qso Lebanon
EA3B 144176.3 OD5KU 15:29 10 Jun FT8 FT8 Sent: -13 Rcvd: -15 Lebanon
IK0SMG 144174.0 OD5KU 15:29 10 Jun tnx ES 73 Lebanon
IK8YFU 144174.0 OD5BV 15:10 10 Jun JM88AJ<ES> Lebanon
EA2Z 144174.0 OD5KU 15:06 10 Jun 73. FT8 ES Vert antenna Lebanon

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