36 MHz Beacon Tests by LY2YR in Lithuania - Oct to Dec 2026

Gintas, LY2YR in Lithuania will be operating a FT8 beacon on 36.680 MHz in the low-VHF part of the spectrum. 

LY2YR will have it on air from October until the 9th of December 2026 and Gintas is investigating if  F2 layer propagation will reach as high as 36 MHz. He especially welcomes reports from outside Europe.

Details as follows...

• Dial Freq: 36.680 MHz

• Mode: FT8

• Power: 10W

• ANT: Multiband Hexbeam (20-6m) – therefore the radiation pattern is broad

• QTF: 290°

Analysis... The map below shows the location of LY2YR in Europe.

Even though we are well past the summer Sporadic-E season, there will still be the occasional opening even in October and November. If someone in the 1000 to 2000 km range left their receiver on all day then there's a chance of catching a weak opening.

Locations like Greece and Italy to the south are about the right distance and it should be possible. Even though LY2YR is beaming west with a Hexbeam, the beamwidth is pretty broad.

This is the wider map...

In terms of F2 layer propagation, openings to Spain and Portugal are possible and certainly the Canary Islands (EA8).

To the east, the path to Australia might be possible via F2 where there is a pocket of low band VHF enthusiasts. The beam heading for Sydney (VK3) is about 83 deg although the front to back of the Hexband might be an issue here.

The more northerly path to North America might be difficult. South America and South Africa certainly seem possible.

Equipment... With so many people now using SDR receivers, tuning to unusual frequencies like 36 MHz is now a lot easier. Ideally you should have an antenna tuned to 36 MHz but an antenna for 28 MHz or 50 MHz will work albeit with reduced sensitivity.

The easiest thing to do is probably just to tune the receiver to 36.680 MHz, mode USB, use a wide bandwidth like 2.5 kHz.

Operating... Leave the receiver on 36.680 MHz for a few hours during the day. The best times are when you are hearing stations in or near Lithuania (LY) on the 28 MHz (10m) band. PSK Reporter is especially good for this.

If you are using software programmes like WSJT-X then you can edit one of the unusual frequencies stored by default in the programme and change it to 36.680 MHz USB. Alternatively, you can use say 28 MHz and just turn off PSK reporting.

Reports... If you hear any signals from LY2YR then any format is fine - whether via PSK Reporter, chat or you can email him directly.

FT8 Experiment on 40 MHz - 1st to 15th August 2020

Between the 1st and 15th of August 2020, LY2YR & S50B will be experimenting with FT8 on the new 8-metre band.

Gintas, LY2YR in Lithuania will be transmitting on 40.220 MHz.

Borut, S50B in Slovenia will be transmitting on 40.680 MHz.

Both stations will be using the clone programme WSJT-Z in auto-replay mode. Both stations would welcome any reception reports.

S50B and LY2YR will be available for tests with EI stations from 10:00 to 21:00 UTC.

Info from LY2YR.... "Announcement. From 08.01 to 08.15 will work two FT8 Robots (auto-replay mode WSJT-Z),  LY2YR at 40.220 MHz and  the second S50B at 40.680 MHz. For EI / S5 tests during daytime from ~10 to 21 local time, no qsl. Only to CQ calls will be answered, multiple answers will also available. CQ mode by request via the messenger."

First contact between Lithuania and Slovenia made on the new 40 MHz band - 13th June 2020

At the end of April 2020, LY2YR in Lithuania made a contact with EI4GNB in Ireland for the first LY-EI QSO on the new 40 MHz amateur band.

Gintas, LY2YR achieved another first for the 8-metre band when he worked Borut, S50B in Slovenia on the 13th of June 2020 using the FT8, FT4 and CW modes. The frequency used was 40.680 MHz which is in the middle of the ISM (Industrial, Scientific, Medical) band.

Even though the ISM band of 40.660 MHz to 40.700 MHz has been allocated for beacons in Slovenia since 1998, it was only this year that the licencing authority there clarified that radio amateurs could make contacts as well.

The contact between LY2YR and S50B was approximately 1270 kms and the propagation mode was Sporadic-E. Even though the distance is pretty normal for Sporadic-E, there were some difficulties due to some 1000-metre high mountains just a few kms from S50B's location. Both stations had to wait until the Sporadic-E was strong enough to overcome the path loss.

LY2YR also completed an FT8 contact with S50TG, the 17-year old son of S50B.

For the first Lithuania to Slovenia 8-metre contact, LY2YR was using a YAESU FT-200 and a Hexbeam for 28 MHz/50 MHz.

S50B was using an ICOM IC-7100 with about 100 watts into a SIRIO vertical for 8-metres.

S50B is now looking to make the first 40 MHz contact with Ireland.

Links...
1) For more information on the new 8-metre band, see the 40 MHz page... https://ei7gl.blogspot.com/p/40-mhz.html

First contact made on 40 MHz between Ireland and Lithuania - 29th April 2020

On Wednesday the 29th of April 2020, EI4GNB in Ireland managed to complete a digital  FT8 contact with LY2YR on 40.220 MHz on the new 8-metre band. Not only was this an EI-LY first but it was also the very first contact made between any two countries on the band.

EI4GNB was located in IO63WE while LY3YR was in KO24OS. The distance was approximately 2,039 kms and the mode of propagation was Sporadic-E.

Tim - EI4GNB was using a YAESU FT 857D with about 30 watts through a low pass filter for 8-metres. The antenna was a 2-element Quad about 8 metres above ground level.

Gintas - LY2YR was using a YAESU FT2000 and a Hexbeam for 50 MHz.

EI4GNB reports that there was quite an amount of fading on the signals and they were just able to complete the contact on FT8.

Another screen shot below...

The map below shows the contact appearing on the DXMAPS website...

It should be noted that while Lithuania does not have an official allocation at 40 MHz, the licensing authorities in the country kindly gave LY2YR special permission to carry out experiments on 40.220 MHz and 40.680 MHz.

This is a model that could perhaps be copied by other interested radio amateurs in other countries. It may be a lot easier to get special permission to use spot frequencies for a limited period of time rather than a general allocation.

It is hoped that there will be activity from Slovenia very soon and hopefully this will generate more interest in this VHF band.

Links...
1) For more information on the new 8-metre band, see the 40 MHz page... https://ei7gl.blogspot.com/p/40-mhz.html