40 MHz reception report from Bill Smith, W1-7897 for Feb 2024

Thanks to short wave listener Bill Smith, W1-7897 for sending on his reception report for February 2024.

Bill who is located near Douglas in Massachusetts in the United States is using a Yaesu FT-847 as a receiver on the 40 MHz (8m) band with a 5-element beam for the 50 MHz band about 6m above ground level.

40 MHz reception report from Bill Smith, W1-7897 for February 2024:

1st Feb 2024 - EI2IP (IO52QP) in Ireland called CQ from 14:25 UTC until 14:32 UTC on 40.680 MHz FT8. No answers received. Signal strength ranged from -6 to -15 dB.  

12th Feb 2024 - 40.680 MHz FT8: Band opened suddenly with LX5JX (JO30) in Luxembourg ending QSO with ZS6OB (KG44) in South Africa at 15:17 UTC. No prior signals from LX5JX. ZS6OB not heard here. LX5JX -18 dB. My antenna pointed towards southern Europe (9A/S5). LX5JX then called CQ for 2 minutes (-15 dB) and presumably left. 

EI2IP (IO52) appeared and worked VE2CYX (FN35) in Quebec, Canada at 1526 UTC . VE2CYX not heard here. EI2IP then called CQ until 15:39 UTC without an answer. Signal strength peaked at 1 dB with the nadir at -19 dB.

13th Feb 2024 - LX5JX (JO30) called CQ from 14:11 to 14:50 UTC with no answers. Signal strength ranged from -19 dB to -7 dB. 

15th Feb 2024 - LX5JX (JO30) called CQ from  16:11 to 16:13 UTC and worked VA2CYX (FN35) at 16:14 with signal strength -14dB. VA2CYX not heard here. Then, LX5JX called CQ from 16:16 to 16:31 UTC with no answer.  Signal strength ranged from -20 to -15 dB. 

17th Feb 2024 - LX5JX (JO30) noted calling CQ at 13:53 UTC in FT8 mode. No answer and no other CQs. Signal Strength -17 dB.

***

In summary... As can be seen from the map above, the path to the stations in Europe was about 5000-6000kms and was most likely two F2 layer hops. Bill's report shows that the maximum usable frequency (MUF) across the North Atlantic at the moment is reaching at least 40 MHz. 

VA2CYX in Quebec, Canada is about 500kms to the north and is too close for F2 layer propagation.

Thanks for the report Bill!

For more information on the 40 MHz band, go to https://ei7gl.blogspot.com/p/40-mhz.html