Opening on the 40 MHz band from Belgium to Australia - 16th Feb 2023

 

Over the last few days, there have reception reports of 40 MHz signals from Ireland and England being heard in Australia. On the 16th of February 2023, VK4FNQ and VK4TVL in the NE of Australia have decoded the FT8 signals of ONA4PS in Belgium.

ONA4PS is the special experimental callsign used by Pierre, ON4PS for the 40 MHz band.

Pierre writes... "I would like to thank the several nice SWL reports I got this morning, Feb. 16th 2023. Andy Musin first from West Kazakhstan, LO51RK (3201 km), next John Goldfinch, VK4FNQ from QG39EX (15229 km) and then Lloyd Baker, VK4TVL from QH30IP (15188 km), the first time that my 40 MHz signal is being heard in Australia. I really appreciate it. Pierre ONA4PS (ON4PS)"

The screenshot above from John, VK4FNQ shows reception of ONA4PS on FT8 on 40.680 MHz with a signal of -19dB. For this reception report, VK4FNQ was using an 80m dipole.

This screenshot is from Lloyd, VK4TVL showing FT8 decodes of both Paul, G9PUV in the SE of England and ONA4PS in Belgium. The strongest signal from ONA4PS seems to have been around -10dB. VK4TVL was using an off-centre fed dipole for the 80m band up about 6m.

ONA4PS (ON4PS) was using just 5-watts into a dipole as per the restrictions on his experimental licence.

Analysis... This was another fine example of the excellent conditions on the 40 MHz band at the moment as the solar flux is up around 200. 

If you examine the map at the top of the post, you'll notice that ONA4PS has a slightly more southerly route than the stations in the UK or Ireland. This is important as the further to the south-east in Europe you move, the more southerly the path becomes and the higher chance of successful paths to Australia or New Zealand.

Surely it's only a matter of time before we see some 40 MHz reception reports of European signals from the VK2/VK3 area of Australia i.e. down around Sydney & Melbourne.

Link... I keep a record of the long distance 8m openings on my 40 MHz page.