LA0BY Highlights from operations in JO59

With this page I intend to provide a record of particular interesting contacts and observations 
I made on higher frequencies from the area around Oslo. I also share some views based on my own 
experience on technical or operational developments, and would be happy to receive some feedback
or discuss them if anybody should bother (you may reach me by e-mail to la0by "at" nrrl.net).

The records are provided in chronological order, with the latest on top. Records on activities 
from other locations than home or hilltop in JO59 may be provided as separate files, but links 
to those will be in this document. Also pictures may be accessed through links, which allows me 
to keep this document in the simnplest possible and smallest format.

IARU Region 1 VHF Contest, September 5, 2021

My activity was again limited to few hours on Sunday morning, but I was happy to be able to go at
all. Having a little baby boy at home has influenced my priorities and duties quite a bit. When I 
started at 04:00 UTC the condx were flat at best. The duct between GM and OK seemed to block my 
path to the South. After a few hours the fence got broken, and signals from SP and OK came through.
Around noon I managed to work some of the usual suspects, breaking the 1000 km barrier a few times.

LA0BY in JO59IX wkd via Tropo on 144 MHz:
2021-09-05	4:49	DL1SUZ	JO53UN	529	559	716 km
2021-09-05	5:46	GM4ZUK/P	IO86RW	559	579	840 km
2021-09-05	6:02	DF0UM	JO73CE	559	599	785 km
2021-09-05	6:14	SN1I	JO84CE	539	559	724 km
2021-09-05	6:17	SQ6POM	JO71VQ	55	59	974 km
2021-09-05	6:52	SN7L	JO70UR	529	599	1075 km
2021-09-05	7:51	DK2ZF/P	JO43WJ	529	559	734 km
2021-09-05	8:39	OL7C	JO60JJ	59	59	1074 km
2021-09-05	8:58	UA2FZ	KO04FK	529	559	850 km
2021-09-05	9:29	DM3D	JO62JK	529	599	848 km
2021-09-05	9:33	PA0O	JO33HG	559	559	786 km
2021-09-05	9:43	PC5T	JO23KE	559	449	835 km
2021-09-05	9:53	OK4C	JO60LJ	59	59	1075 km
2021-09-05	9:56	DF0MU	JO32PC	55	59	901 km
2021-09-05	10:13	DL2LAK	JO43WG	55	59	748 km
2021-09-05	10:20	DK2LB	JO53LQ	55	59	700 km
2021-09-05	10:31	DL0HTW	JO60QU	559	599	1028 km
2021-09-05	10:36	DL0GTH	JO50JP	559	599	1038 km
RIG: IC-9700, PA 300 W, 2 x 9-ele-yagi at 520 m asl

Even though these contacts where not spectacular, it was a good opportunity to test my IC-9700 in a
low local noise environment (about zero activity from LA in these contests). And it is always nice 
to hand out a few northern points to the contest stations in central Europe.

Enhanced tropo from September 1-2, 2021

A good inversion build up over the North Sea and lasted for several days. I followed the events
from home, but had no good horizon to F and G who reported working many LA stations on the 1st.
When I was able to get to my hilltop site the other day, the conditions were about to fade away.

LA0BY in JO59IX wkd via Tropo on 144 MHz:
2021-09-02	18:30	DK5YA	JN49NX	-08	-21	1116 km
2021-09-02	18:32	DK0A	JN48CO	+00	-24	1275 km
2021-09-02	19:02	GM4YXI	IO87WK	-13	-16	792 km
2021-09-02	19:25	DL4SZB	JO63BO	+04	-02	714 km
RIG: IC-9700, PA 300 W, 9-ele-yagi at 520 m asl

I was too far inland that evening to get into the duct. At least I was able to work two DL guys
in FT8 over an unusual distance. Will do better next hime, hopefully. 

But I am not looking forward to experience activity being in FT8 exclusively. Interference at the
hilltop site would for sure be very frustrating. My current take on this is that the propagation is 
not really good if everybody stays in FT8. I am curious to see if that is true ...

Meteorscatter during Perseids 2021

The shower was predicted to be good this year, and so my expectations were high for operating from
my hilltop site. I set aside the whole day for which the maximum was predicted, even started early 
on the day (the previous years I got out too late). However, it appeared I missed the maximum which
occured later than predicted this year, on the following day. 

LA0BY in JO59IX wkd via MS on 144 MHz:
2021-08-12	09:25	09:40	GI4KSO	IO64XK	+05	+03	1177 km
2021-08-12	10:07	10:12	RO3X	KO73FU	+04	+18	1583 km
2021-08-12	12:40	13:00	OH7EBY	KP43UL	+03	+12	1069 km
2021-08-12	14:30	14:40	ES4RM	KO49AL	+13	+04	970 km
2021-08-12	18:08	18:55	RC3UE	LP07NG	+02	-02	1683 km
2021-08-12	18:57	19:08	EW7HA	KO53PX	+09	+02	1406 km
2021-08-12	20:20	20:45	RN3A	KO85NV	+04	+08	1612 km
2021-08-12	20:48	20:50	RW3PX	KO83PX	+06	+07	1729 km
RIG: IC-9700, PA 300 W, 2 x 9-ele-yagi at 520 m asl

The reflections on the 12th were modest at best. I was mostly monitoring and looking for new squares.
That is also why all contacts were in MSK - that is were the activity is, allthough it may not be the 
best mode for MS with very short reflections. New squares can be found in Eastern direction for me, 
and I was looking particularly for R1NAE (KP74) and UA1ZFM (KP55) but it seems they were beaming East
too that day. I heard R100KOMI (LP52) and R4YM (LO36), both over 2150 km, but reflections were too few 
to have a chance for QSO. Late in the evening, when I was beaming East, I heard EA2BFM (IN83) calling 
CQ. When beaming in the right direction I received many more reflections from him, but was unable to 
pass the final message, so this one was a miss as well. Then I had to leave for home, at about the time
when the shower really started (so I learned later).

RIG setup for MS with IC-9700 and Gemini 2-500 PA

On August 13th I only monitored from home, and realized this was the day when I should have been on
hilltop. Unfortunately my time was too limited to go again, due to family and guests. 

LA0BY in JO59FW wkd via MS on 144 MHz:
2021-08-13	08:40	09:00	DL3DQL	JO61PH	+04	+12	975 km
2021-08-13	09:00	09:20	IV3NDC	JN65RV	37	26	1574 km
2021-08-13	09:47	09:55	HA2NP	JN97SG	+00	+07	1527 km
2021-08-13	19:16	19:28	RK1AS	KP40UE	+09	+16	1065 km
RIG: IC-9700, PA 300 W, 9-ele-yagi at 100 m asl

Lessons learned (again!): Be at the right place, at the right time. Everything else is a waste of time.

On the positive side I was testing the IC-9700 which I used for the first time as my new transceiver. I 
was very impressed with its performance, and found it easy to use, even without consulting the manual much. 
The magic button is the NR function, which reduces the already low noise floor quite a bit. I feel that I 
hear very well now. I run digimodes still over the old audio-interface which I build for the IC-821H (the
pin assignments is the same for the IC-9700). This gave me zero trouble in starting MS operation with the 
IC-9700. I may switch to a digital interface some time later, but heard from others that it requires tidy
configuration and gives trouble occasionally.

Sporadic-E Season 2021

The season started early this year, with the first signals received on May 19, but no QSO. The 
next opening was on May 23 around 08:10 UTC, but I only heard UW8SM and UR8GZ.

The first real opening, or rather two, and very good ones, followed on May 25. The first opening 
lasted two hours from 10:28-12:44 UTC to Italy. My ODX were IU8MHG and IZ8HXG, both JM78TF, 
at 2441 km. The second one lasted for almost one hour, from 17:14-18:11 UTC and targeted EW, UT 
and UA6 for me. My ODX was RN6MA LN06UQ at 2508 km. Distances were in general very good. On this
day I managed to work 6 new squares which is a lot for me. 

LA0BY in JO59FW wkd on 144 MHz via Sporadic-E:
2021-05-25	10:28	IZ8IBC	JN70HR	-10	-04	2155 km	FT8
2021-05-25	10:35	S59GS	JN75GW	55	55	1580 km	SSB
2021-05-25	10:42	I7CSB	JN71QQ	59	59	2057 km	SSB
2021-05-25	10:46	IK6DTB	JN72EG	-15	-05	1983 km	FT8
2021-05-25	10:49	IK8BIZ	JN70EU	+02	+13	2139 km	FT8
2021-05-25	10:52	IU8MHG	JM78TF	-15	-01	2441 km	FT8
2021-05-25	10:53	IZ8HXG	JM78TF	-15	-11	2441 km	FT8
2021-05-25	10:58	IK7LJZ	JN71SK	56	59	2087 km	SSB
2021-05-25	10:59	IK8BIZ	JN70EU	59	59	2139 km	SSB
2021-05-25	11:09	IK8YTA	JN70CV	+07	+02	2133 km	FT8
2021-05-25	11:10	IK0FTA	JN61GV	-06	-08	2011 km	FT8
2021-05-25	11:12	IK0FVC	JN61FW	-10	-05	2006 km	FT8
2021-05-25	11:14	I0OSI	JN61GW	-10	-12	2056 km	FT8
2021-05-25	11:18	IU4CHE	JN64GB	+00	+03	1771 km	FT8
2021-05-25	11:20	IW6CVN	JN63OR	59	59	1812 km	SSB
2021-05-25	11:23	IZ7FLS/6	JN62XS	54	59	1924 km	SSB
2021-05-25	11:25	IV3GBO	JN66OA	59	59	1558 km	SSB
2021-05-25	11:29	IK8BIZ	JN70EU	59	59	2139 km	SSB
2021-05-25	11:34	IK8YSS	JN70AU	-01	+05	2136 km	FT8
2021-05-25	11:45	I6YPK	JN72DJ	59	59	1968 km	SSB
2021-05-25	11:56	IU7EJB	JN81AF	-03	+02	2115 km	FT8
2021-05-25	11:59	IK7EOT	JN80PJ	+05	+23	2224 km	FT8
2021-05-25	12:02	IZ7NLJ	JN81LB	+05	+11	2146 km	FT8
2021-05-25	17:21	RK6MF	KN97QC	+05	-09	2354 km	FT8
2021-05-25	17:32	RN6MA	LN06UQ	-10	+10	2508 km	FT8
2021-05-25	17:39	UT6LX	KN89CJ	-05	+12	2008 km	FT8
2021-05-25	17:43	US8AR	KO60RR	+04	+14	1764 km	FT8
2021-05-25	17:45	EW8AX	KO52LJ	+06	+22	1511 km	FT8
2021-05-25	17:52	US3ITU	KN88WA	-06	-08	2203 km	FT8
2021-05-25	18:05	UT8LE	KN79WW	-04	+22	1948 km	FT8
2021-05-25	18:07	UV8IF	KN88QH	-05	+01	2154 km	FT8
2021-05-25	18:08	UA6LJV	KN97LE	-05	-12	2326 km	FT8
2021-05-25	18:11	US5AT	KO60RR	-05	-04	1764 km	FT8
RIG: IC-706, PA 300 W, 9-ele-yagi at 9 m agd and 100 m asl (no big stn)

Es contacts on 25.5.2021 plotted in map
						
Most contacts were made in FT8, but some in SSB at least to Italy. Even though FT8 is not 
the most efficient mode in Es it works great at weaker signals and represents a big boost 
for the activity. I always check and call in SSB, but FT8 seems essential nowadays for
working stations also via Es. But it is probably a good idea to call only those stations
that have not been worked before and/or are in new SQR or DXCC.

I heard many more stations than I worked, among them 9A2WB, 9A3TN, 9A5CY, 9A5ID, 9A7JCY, 
E73CV, E76C, E77T, E70T, ER1AN, I6JEI, I7OXH, I0JX, IK7JNM, IV3GTH, IV3NDC, IW3QTG, IW4ARD, 
IW8EHC, IW0FFK, IZ4AIK, IZ7ECR, IZ7NXM, IZ7QFM, IZ7UMS, IZ7XWC, IZ8DSX, IZ8YBE, IZ0NRG, 
RN3ZHL, RN6LU, RU7L, S51AT, S52EN, S55OO, S57A, S59F, S50TA, UR3ABM, UR4LSK, UR5LLW, UR5RAS, 
UR6EF, UR7IM, UT3UCP, UT7LK, UT8AL, UT9UR, UY1HY. On the DXC I saw afterwards that I was 
received by IT9FUR in JM77OT. Sicily is still on my wishlist...	
		
The next Es opening was on May 29, but it lasted only 5-10 minutes for me. Still I was able 
to work two stations, and hrd also IZ5IOR. Signals came up nicely, but too short for SSB.

LA0BY in JO59FW wkd on 144 MHz via Sporadic-E:
2021-05-29	11:51	IZ0IXO	JN52WA	-12	+08	1995 km	FT8
2021-05-29	11:54	I4EUM	JN54ML	-05	+02	1719 km	FT8

While May was good for Es up in Norway, the first half of June was very quiet. Further down
in Europe there were a few great openings but only one or two just barely reached the most
southern regions of Norway. For me, the first QSO were on June 17, but not really exciting.
Beyond those worked I heard also IW0BSQ, IK0FVC, IZ0UME and IZ0IXO.

LA0BY in JO59FW wkd on 144 MHz via Sporadic-E:
2021-06-17	18:08	IK0WMJ	JN61GW	-04	-17	2007 km	FT8
2021-06-17	18:13	IK0OKY	JN61ES	59	59	2024 km	SSB

I was very briefly operating during the 3rd sub-regional contest from my hilltop location, 
and was lucky to catch a short Es-opening and worked one station. I also heard YT1EB in FT8 
very strong but was only working SSB/CW for the contest, so I did not call him. 

LA0BY in JO59IX wkd on 144 MHz via Sporadic-E:
2021-07-03	17:00	YO2KCB	KN15AE	59	59	1808 km	SSB

Finally we got a decent opening again on July 11, this time for one hour to Southern France.
There was good activity in both FT8 and SSB, and signals were quite strong. The skip even 
extended to EA6 over > 2300 km, but did not last long enough to complete a QSO (I heard EA6SA 
and was heard by EA6SX). Looking forward to make it next time!

LA0BY in JO59FW wkd on 144 MHz via Sporadic-E:
2021-07-11	16:12	F6DHI	JN23RK	-10	-07	1866 km	FT8
2021-07-11	16:14	F6EBF	JN24KD	59	59	1795 km	SSB
2021-07-11	16:16	F5FEN	JN25JC	59	59	1692 km	SSB
2021-07-11	16:16	F1RDL	JN25KU	59	59	1609 km	SSB
2021-07-11	16:19	F1SA	JN23BQ	59	58	1857 km	SSB
2021-07-11	16:21	F6DRO	JN03TJ	59	59	1934 km	SSB
2021-07-11	16:33	F1RJ/P	JN12MQ	-10	+10	1983 km	FT8
2021-07-11	16:35	F1JRD	JN13WO	+02	+15	1870 km	FT8
2021-07-11	16:43	F8AVP	JN25JJ	+06	+22	1660 km	FT8
2021-07-11	16:46	F6BEG	JN25JS	+06	+17	1619 km	FT8
2021-07-11	16:52	F1HQM	JN23LV	+02	+00	1822 km	FT8

Enhanced tropo from May 29-31, 2021

The DX-Cluster revealed there was exceptionally good tropo over the North Sea. It was particularly
good for stations in Southern and Western Norway. Unfortunately I was stuck at home, with a poor
horizon. But I was monitoring, and heard the others working DX ;-) In the evening on May 30 some
PA and DL stations came through on 144 MHz, and I could even work some. PA5Y and PA2CHR were my 
first Dutch stations on tropo from home I believe. I hope I can go to my hilltop site next time. 

Enhanced tropo from November 8-10, 2020

Right ahead of the Marconi Memorial Contest a huge high pressure area developed over Poland and
gave me high hopes of finally having good conditions for once during a major contest this year.
I chose to go to my hilltop site early on Sunday morning. The Hepburn forecast indicated rising
chances for enhanced propagation from about 12 UTC, and so it was. Signals from OK appeared and
came up nicely, but were not really strong. The weather was spectacular with lots of sun at my
location at 520 m asl while the lowlands were covered with fog. Selection of my longest QSO:

LA0BY in JO59IX wkd on 144 MHz via Tropo (in CW):
2020/11/08	5:51	DM3W	JO62XE	889 km
2020/11/08	6:12	RA2FGG	KO04GT	821 km
2020/11/08	7:00	UA2FZ	KO04FK	850 km
2020/11/08	7:38	DL2YDS	JO32PC	901 km
2020/11/08	8:39	GM4YXI	IO87WK	792 km
2020/11/08	11:16	DK5OZ	JO62GD	878 km
2020/11/08	11:19	DL0HTW	JO60QU	1028 km
2020/11/08	11:22	DL7ULM	JO62MS	814 km
2020/11/08	12:21	DL8UCC	JO71EQ	950 km
2020/11/08	12:26	DL8VL	JO71FG	996 km
2020/11/08	12:46	OK2R	JN89DO	1207 km
2020/11/08	13:08	DL5DSB	JO71EC	1013 km
2020/11/08	13:17	DM3Y	JO72GH	885 km
2020/11/08	13:25	DG1VL	JO61XF	994 km
2020/11/08	13:29	OL1B	JO80IB	1166 km
2020/11/08	13:41	OL4N	JO60VR	1047 km
RIG: IC-821H, PA 300 W, 2 x 9-ele-yagi

MMC contacts plotted in map

After the MMC the tropo conditions became even better, and on Monday I could copy several DL and even 
OK stations on 2 m in in FT8 from home. In the early evening I got time to go to my hilltop again and
I wanted to try higher bands. I set up equipment for 70 cm, 23 cm and 13 cm. Upon switch-on SP6GWB was
solid on both 23 cm and 13 cm, so it was definitely a good day for microwave. A little later DB6NT and 
SP4MPB were worked with good signals. Surprisingly 13 cm worked equally well as 23 cm, even though I 
only had low power. Just a pity I had not taken 3 cm with me, as all those stations wanted to try. But 
activity was very low on higher bands. I tried 70 cm only in late evening, and worked LY8O easily even
without preamplifier (I had damaged it due to some equipment problem). 

LA0BY in JO59IX wkd on 1296 MHz via Tropo:							
2020/11/09	19:30	SP6GWB	JO80JG	559	559	1146 km
2020/11/09	19:35	DB0VC	JO54IF	559	hrd	beacon
2020/11/09	19:45	SP6GWB	JO80JG	55	55	1146 km
2020/11/09	19:56	DB6NT	JO50TI	559	559	1072 km
2020/11/09	20:14	SQ6QV	JO80JG	54	33	1146 km
2020/11/09	20:20	SP4MPB	KO03HT	599	599	911 km
2020/11/09	20:49	DL6NCI	JO50VI	519	529	1072 km
2020/11/09	21:22	SP6GWB	JO80JG	559	559	1146 km
RIG: FT-817ND, XVTR 15 W, 23-ele-yagi							

LA0BY in JO59IX wkd on 2320 MHz via Tropo:							
2020/11/09	19:50	SP6GWB	JO80JG	559	519	1146 km
2020/11/09	20:00	DB6NT	JO50TI	579	559	1072 km
2020/11/09	20:10	OZ5SHF	JO45VX  559	hrd	beacon
2020/11/09	20:23	SP4MPB	KO03HT	579	529	911 km
RIG: FT-817ND, XVTR 2 W, 25-ele-yagi							

Hepburn indicated enhanced propagation also for the following Tuesday. This time I focussed on 70 cm
(after having fixed the preamplifier), since it was the evening for Nordic Activity Contest. Hepburn
was right also this time, and good but variable condx persisted during the whole evening. Strongest
signals were received from East. It was really fun to participate in the NAC and I got a good result
with 66 contacts in total. The longest distance contacts are displayed below.

LA0BY in JO59IX wkd on 432 MHz via Tropo:						
2020/11/09	21:30	LY8O	KO24FO	559	599	1017 km
2020/11/09	21:45	DB0FGB	JO50	559	hrd	beacon
2020/11/10	18:02	DL4DTU	JO60TR	529	529	1045 km
2020/11/10	18:20	SQ2SAT	JO83XG	57	57	867 km
2020/11/10	18:36	DJ3AK	JO52GJ	529	529	843 km
2020/11/10	18:46	SP1JNY	JO73GL	559	579	759 km
2020/11/10	18:53	DK0IZ	JO43SX	559	559	671 km
2020/11/10	19:00	SP2FRY	JO83WR	539	549	819 km
2020/11/10	19:15	OH1ND	KP00XL	579	599	623 km
2020/11/10	19:16	ES2MC	KO29GG	559	559	780 km
2020/11/10	19:20	ES0FX	KO08XL	599	599	660 km
2020/11/10	19:23	ES2DF	KO29GG	529	559	780 km
2020/11/10	19:36	OH1RI	KP10HQ	55	55	660 km
2020/11/10	19:39	OH3DP	KP10TT	539	559	714 km
2020/11/10	19:42	OH0AZX	KP00IF	59	55	554 km
2020/11/10	19:45	OH3TR	KP11VK	57	57	729 km
2020/11/10	19:52	ES2AFF	KO29EE	59	59	773 km
2020/11/10	19:53	ES1ATE	KO29JK	57	57	791 km
2020/11/10	20:00	ES8PW	KO18VM	57	55	760 km
2020/11/10	20:05	OZ7JRL	JO54RW	559	559	562 km
2020/11/10	20:07	SN1I	JO84CE	559	559	724 km
2020/11/10	20:21	DB8WK	JO33XN	55	55	733 km
2020/11/10	20:26	OH4LA	KP20LG	529	539	788 km
2020/11/10	20:28	OH2FQV	KP20MF	52	55	793 km
2020/11/10	21:02	ES2JL	KO29LL	539	559	799 km
2020/11/10	21:19	RA2FGG	KO04GT	529	559	821 km
2020/11/10	21:21	LY2R	KO15VS	529	559	902 km
2020/11/10	21:24	YL2AO	KO16DK	579	599	783 km
2020/11/10	21:49	LY1CR	KO15CL	529	559	845 km
RIG: IC-821H, PA 120 W, 2 x 13-ele-yagi							

I could hear also ES4RM in KO49 and EU1AI in KO33 but unfortunately we could not make a two-way
contact. I had set up also my 3 cm equipment before the NAC started, but no signals were heard.
Interesting to notice that it was quite wet with fog at my location the last two days when the 
condx were at their best. Often I am above the fog during good tropo condx.

NAC contacts plotted in map

After three days of portable activity I am happy to have a break now.

Enhanced tropo from September 14-22, 2020

Enhanced tropospheric propagation over the North Sea was present for about a week. Unfortunately
it did not reach up to the Oslo area on some of the days, or I was not at my hilltop site at the
right time. Monday Sep. 14 I went out with 4 bands and was in high hopes, only to see that it
all came to nothing, except for the nice view and some conversations with the general public.

LA0BY Microwave + 70 cm setup

The day after was NAC on 23 cm: The ducting between OZ and G made it worse than normal for me
into southern directions. But eastwards there was a nice lift and so I worked rather many SM at 
good signals. ES0FX also made it into the log again, for 26 contacts in total, and all in CW.

LA0BY in JO59IX wkd via Tropo on 1296 MHz:
2020/09/15	17:25	SM4DHN	JP60VA	599	559	171 km	CW
2020/09/15	17:31	LA2Z	JO59EJ	599	559	68 km	CW
2020/09/15	17:39	SM6VTZ	JO58UJ	569	559	185 km	CW
2020/09/15	17:44	SM4DXO	JP71SB	539	559	291 km	CW
2020/09/15	17:51	SM0FZH	JO99HI	559	579	450 km	CW
2020/09/15	18:01	ES0FX	KO08XL	529	559	660 km	CW
2020/09/15	18:05	SM0DJW	JO88WW	559	559	421 km	CW
2020/09/15	18:10	SM0RJV	JO89VJ	559	559	403 km	CW
2020/09/15	18:28	SM3BEI	JP81NG	559	559	378 km	CW
2020/09/15	18:33	SM7GEP	JO77IP	569	579	347 km	CW
2020/09/15	18:36	SK0EN	JO99JX	579	569	449 km	CW
2020/09/15	18:40	SM5EPO	JP80MC	559	569	352 km	CW
2020/09/15	18:51	SM7DTE	JO75CN	539	539	533 km	CW
2020/09/15	18:54	SM7EYW	JO65MJ	559	579	528 km	CW
2020/09/15	18:57	SM7FWZ	JO77EQ	569	559	331 km	CW
2020/09/15	19:11	SM6CEN	JO67AJ	559	529	297 km	CW
2020/09/15	19:17	SM4GGC	JO69RK	569	569	166 km	CW
2020/09/15	19:32	SM0BHN	JO89WI	579	559	408 km	CW
2020/09/15	19:35	SM0EZZ	JO89XG	559	559	415 km	CW
2020/09/15	19:38	SK5EW	JO79XB	539	559	313 km	CW
2020/09/15	19:44	SM0BSO	JO99BG	529	529	424 km	CW
2020/09/15	19:52	SK0CT	JO99BM	599	599	418 km	CW
2020/09/15	20:08	OH0AZX	JP90XC	559	539	513 km	CW
2020/09/15	20:32	SK4AO	JP70TO	529	419	280 km	CW
2020/09/15	20:48	SM0NZY	JO89WI	539	539	408 km	CW
2020/09/15	20:58	OZ9PP	JO47VA	559	569	333 km	CW
RIG:FT-817ND, XVTR 15 W into 23-ele-yagi

During the rest of the week LA was spotted on different bands, but I was not QRV before Sunday
evening, when signals where strong from OZ and SP1. I had hoped working G on 70 cm and 23 cm but
I was just a bit too far inside the country to get into the duct. The DB0VC beacon came through 
on 23 cm quite well but there was no human activity. The main path over the North Sea was from 
EI/GI to SP. Being in the middle and just beyond the northern rim was no fun. Since not much was 
going on I was monitoring FT8 on 432,174 MHz and worked the little DX that I could hear. 

Monday evening, Sep. 21, I was not QRV before 19 UTC, even though I saw there had been good condx
for most of the day. Since it was so late I took only 70 cm and 23 cm equipment. After switching
on I could immedeately hear several beacons coming in with good signals. I started working on 
70 cm into PA but heard also some stations from the UK first in FT8, and then worked G3XDY in SSB.
With John I also tried on 23 cm and heard him, but my weak signal was buried in radar noise at his
end. After I while I heard the SK1UHF beacon coming inn very strong on both 70 cm and 23 cm, and
I focussed my attention to the South-East. I was very happy to work RA2FGG on 23 cm, perhaps the
first contact between LA and UA2 on that band. But I could still work to South-West on 70 cm even
though condx were on the way down. At 23 UTC I went home again, quite happy to have benefitted 
from the good condx.

LA0BY in JO59IX wkd via Tropo on 432 MHz:
2020/09/20	19:42	HF1J	JO73FI	-07	-03	771 km	FT8
2020/09/20	19:57	DL7APV	JO62JR	59	59	816 km	SSB
2020/09/20	20:22	SP1MVG	JO74JA	+13	+00	707 km	FT8
2020/09/20	20:24	SP1O	JO73GK	+08	+13	764 km	FT8
2020/09/20	20:36	PA8KM	JO32BS	-16	-19	849 km	FT8
2020/09/21	19:20	PA4MRS	JO22HK	-03	-10	918 km	FT8
2020/09/21	19:22	PA1FER	JO22II	-09	-12	925 km	FT8
2020/09/21	19:30	PA4VHF	JO32JE	579	559	899 km	CW
2020/09/21	19:31	PA2V	JO22IM	599	599	908 km	CW
2020/09/21	19:35	PA0SJE	JO23VH	59	57	799 km	SSB
2020/09/21	19:39	G3XDY	JO02OB	57	55	1058 km	SSB
2020/09/21	21:00	F5APQ	JO00VW	+00	+00	1150 km	FT8
2020/09/21	21:04	F4HRD	JO00XX	+00	+03	1140 km	FT8
2020/09/21	22:05	YL2AO	KO16DK	539	559	783 km	CW
2020/09/21	22:18	PA1BVM	JO21RO	-09	+00	987 km	FT8
2020/09/21	22:23	PA1BVM	JO21RO	529	529	987 km	CW
RIG: IC-821H, PA 120 W, 17-ele-yagi

LA0BY in JO59IX wkd via Tropo on 1296 MHz:
2020/09/21	20:29	SP2HMR	JO94DE	559	559	789 km	CW
2020/09/21	20:32	RA2FGG	KO04GT	569	579	821 km	CW
2020/09/21	20:48	PA0O	JO33HG	599	599	786 km	CW
RIG: FT-817ND, XVTR 15 W into 23-ele-yagi

The next morning I could hear SK1VHF booming in on 2 m at my home location. Monitoring in FT8 
revealed many stations from the Baltic area with strong signals. I decided to answer their calls
with QRP (only 10 W) and I could indeed work all I heard without switching on the PA. It was
actually the first time I could work into all these Baltic countries from home, so this tells 
how good condx had been.

LA0BY in JO59FW wkd via Tropo on 144 MHz:
2020/09/22	06:54	LY8O	KO24FO	+00	-13	1026 km	FT8
2020/09/22	07:00	LY1CR	KO15CL	-02	-20	854 km	FT8
2020/09/22	07:02	YL2LW	KO26CW	+00	-09	865 km	FT8
2020/09/22	07:04	YL2GC	KO26AW	+03	-16	856 km	FT8
2020/09/22	07:17	LY2CX	KO05NW	-03	+03	769 km	FT8
2020/09/22	07:19	YL2CZ	KO06XW	-03	-04	747 km	FT8
2020/09/22	07:46	UA2FZ	KO04FK	+10	+09	857 km	FT8
2020/09/22	08:05	RA2FX	KO04GR	-16	-14	836 km	FT8
2020/09/22	08:11	ES8TJM	KO18UM	+02	-01	769 km	FT8
2020/09/22	08:48	YL3AJE	KO16VP	-16	-18	859 km	FT8
RIG: IC-706, 10 W, 9-ele-yagi
  
In the evening I went again to my hilltop site, hoping the condx would last into the Microwave NAC. 
Upon switching on I immediately noticed it was over. Condx were so bad I first thought I had trouble
with my equipment for 13 cm and 3 cm. I worked SM7GEP on both bands and SM6VTZ on 3 cm with rather 
lousy signals, and just heard SM7DTE on 13 cm. After one hour of hard trying I decided to give up 
and went home and call it the day.

Now I have experienced FT8 in good tropo conditions on both 2 m and 70 cm, and I still cannot make 
up my mind if it is a good or bad thing. DX-Maps is flooded with auto-reported spots from stations 
like EI2FG, SQ6POM and F1NZC. One may lead to think something exciting is going on while it is just
normal condx most of the time. Does the absence on CW/SSB spots indicate that condx are not really
good? It is good to have one frequency where one can check how far the propagation reaches, but do 
we need to stay locked there? There is hardly anybody calling in CW or SSB anymore, even though it 
should be easy to work CW if signals are better than -10 dB in FT8. There is no point in my opinion 
to work FT8 with the S-meter being several steps up the scale. So how do we get rid of this desease 
again? For my part I may restrict my activity to contests if this habbit of misusing FT8 continues. 

IARU Region 1 VHF Contest, September 6, 2020

My activity was limited to few hours on Sunday morning. Flat band conditions did not look promising 
and enabled only few DX contacts this time. I display the complete log below just to show what one
can expect to work from this remote edge in such European contest.

LA0BY in JO59IX wkd via Tropo on 144 MHz:
2020/09/06	5:15	5P5T	JO64GX	55	55	567 km	SSB
2020/09/06	5:33	DK3A	JO44SK	559	599	620 km	CW
2020/09/06	5:37	SF6F	JO67QS	559	599	289 km	CW
2020/09/06	5:50	DL1SUZ	JO53UN	529	559	716 km	CW
2020/09/06	5:55	GM4ZUK/P	IO86RW	529	559	840 km	CW
2020/09/06	6:01	DK2LB	JO53LQ	55	59	700 km	SSB
2020/09/06	6:06	7S7V	JO65SN	55	59	519 km	SSB
2020/09/06	6:35	SM4DXO	JP71SB	59	59	291 km	SSB
2020/09/06	6:36	SK4AO	JP70TO	59	57	280 km	SSB
2020/09/06	6:43	SK6AW	JO67AQ	53	59	266 km	SSB
2020/09/06	7:19	OZ4VW	JO45UT	559	559	467 km	CW
2020/09/06	7:22	SK0EN	JO99JX	57	56	449 km	SSB
2020/09/06	7:25	SM5DWF	JP90JA	53	55	449 km	SSB
2020/09/06	7:32	SK0CT	JO99BM	55	55	418 km	SSB
2020/09/06	7:39	SM6BFE	JO68DQ	55	57	169 km	SSB
2020/09/06	7:42	SM7NR	JO76RC	53	59	513 km	SSB
2020/09/06	7:46	SM7THS	JO76WU	55	57	459 km	SSB
2020/09/06	8:03	SM3BEI	JP81NG	57	55	378 km	SSB
2020/09/06	8:07	DL2HBQ	JO53KV	59	57	677 km	SSB
2020/09/06	8:12	OZ1BEF	JO46OE	59	59	431 km	SSB
2020/09/06	8:27	PC5T	JO23KE	519	599	835 km	CW
2020/09/06	8:35	SM0BSO	JO99BG	55	54	424 km	SSB
2020/09/06	8:45	SM0NZY	JO99AK	529	529	415 km	CW
2020/09/06	8:47	SM4KYN	JO69XH	569	579	197 km	CW
2020/09/06	8:51	SM0RJV	JO89VJ	54	41	403 km	SSB
2020/09/06	8:54	LA7VRA	JO59HW	59	59	7 km	SSB
2020/09/06	9:11	DL0SWG	JO63AQ	57	59	704 km	SSB
2020/09/06	9:34	OZ2LIN	JO46OP	54	55	381 km	SSB
2020/09/06	9:34	OZ5KM	JO45VX	55	59	448 km	SSB
2020/09/06	9:37	OZ9PZ	JO46LC	53	52	443 km	SSB
2020/09/06	9:51	DL6AA	JO43JH	529	599	750 km	CW
2020/09/06	10:10	SM6VTZ	JO58UJ	569	599	185 km	CW
RIG: IC-821H, PA 180/300 W, 2 x 9-ele-yagi

I heard SN7L and DA0FF for a short while but could not make it through the pile-up at their end.
This makes not one 2 m contest this year with more than average condx...

Enhanced tropo on August 14, 2020

In August we had nice and calm summer weather for some time, without resulting in extraordinary 
ducting. When Hepburn indicated a good lift to the UK I decided to give it a try. My focus was
on 70 cm and up, and so I set up antennas for 70 cm and 23 cm to start with. Immediately after
switch-on at around 18 UTC I heard the PI7HGN beacon on 70 cm, which is unusual. Also other 
beacons from SM/OZ were well above normal, on both 70 cm and 23 cm. DB0VC was audible on 23 cm.
Still, it was not the solid ducting across the North Sea that I had hoped for. I easily worked
PA0O on 23 cm and G4KUX on 70 cm, but then there was not much more I could hear. When listening
on 432.174 MHz in FT8 I noticed some UK stations getting through, but only at low signal levels.
After some troubleshooting (the recent Windows update loaded som drivers for my USB-to-serial 
interface that did not work) I was able to operate in FT8 by switching manually between RX/TX.

LA0BY in JO59IX wkd via Tropo on 432 MHz:
2020/08/14	19:02		G4KUX	IO94BP	559	559	958 km	CW
2020/08/14	21:10	21:14	M0CVX	IO93XB	-11	-12	1011 km	FT8
2020/08/14	21:33	21:35	PE0DNY	JO33BE	+00	-10	805 km	FT8
2020/08/14	21:51	21:57	G4NBS	JO02AF	-17	-23	1084 km	FT8
2020/08/14	22:09	22:10	PA5Y	JO21VO	-09	-14	980 km	FT8
RIG: IC-821H, PA 120 W, 17-ele-yagi

This was actually the first time I was working FT8 on VHF/UHF from my hilltop site. Given the
low signal levels this was the only way to make some contacts. I was impressed with how well the 
MSHV software was able to decode stations well below my noise floor. I also noticed that signals 
above ca -16 dB were audible, and I guess when FT8 shows -15 to -14 dB it should be possible to
work the stations in CW. I also heard FT8 signals on 23 cm but did not try to decode them due to
interface issues. Since the propagation apparently was not very good for me, and the activity low,
I did not set up antennas for the two higher bands (13 cm & 3 cm) this time.

This event gave me valuable insight in the importance of digimodes on the higher bands, and also in
the challenges involved in operating multiple microwave bands from the portable site. Back at home 
I optimized my microwave setup for more rapid deployment. I mounted the FT-817ND, which serves as IF 
unit, on a solid aluminium box to provide a pedestal, and also fitted the Pico-Keyer, an IF switch 
for selection between multiple transverters and an interface for digimodes in that box. Cables for 
each of the bands were packed separately in order to avoid getting confused and losing valuable time.
Now I feel ready for the better tropo ducting to come!

Meteorscatter during Perseids 2020

My log is not impressive at all this year. On August 12 I was mainly trying to work some far distance 
contacts from the hilltop location, but had not much success. Only RU4NG and RA3VGV worked out. From 
EA2AGZ I received a 25s S9 burst over 2170 km distance, but that was it all (in SSB we might have 
succeeded). I had some challenges with the new Gemini 2-500 PA operated at 300 W in FSK/MSK due to 
over-temperature (it was 26 deg C outside and perhaps a few more in the car). On August 13 I worked 
from home to give a few points in the MS-Sprint Contest. Testing the PA again, the Gemini 2-500 PA 
worked flawlessly. 
Reflections seemed better on August 13 than on August 12. I received many good bursts from stations 
in UA/UT at distances beyond 1900 km, despite my mediocre take-off, but did not try to call those 
that were very far away. No new squares worked this time, as few expeditions were around (probably 
due to Corona). I felt the Perseids shower was not too good this year, but I may have picked the 
wrong operating times. Coordination with family imposed some restrictions for me �

LA0BY in JO59FW/IX wkd via MS on 144 MHz:
2020/08/09	15:40	16:20	G0SYP	IO83TK	26	26	1063 km	FSK
2020/08/10	12:55	13:05	G1KAW	JO00EW	26	26	1183 km	FSK
2020/08/10	20:52	21:18	EI9E	IO61AX	+00	+04	1440 km	MSK
2020/08/12	07:53	07:58	GI0OTC	IO65QE	+10	+08	1158 km	MSK
2020/08/12	09:05	09:30	DF9PX	JO30JF	27	27	1112 km	SSB
2020/08/12	09:52	10:00	S50L	JN75ES	27	26	1598 km	FSK
2020/08/12	10:15	10:30	F4VPC	IN87VV	47	48	1581 km	FSK
2020/08/12	12:40	12:58	UT8AL	KO61WP	27	47	1705 km	FSK
2020/08/12	14:00	15:00	RU4NG	LO48RR	27	26	2169 km	FSK
2020/08/12	15:05	15:20	UA1OEJ	KP94VN	27	26	1572 km	FSK
2020/08/12	16:24	16:45	RA3VGV	LO06PI	-01	+04	1821 km	MSK
2020/08/12	20:05	20:15	IV3NDC	JN65RV	27	26	1574 km	FSK
2020/08/12	20:26	20:35	LY2WR	KO24FO	27	26	1026 km	FSK
2020/08/13	06:30	06:48	OE1ILW/P	JN77XX	+00	-03	1376 km	MSK
2020/08/13	06:50	06:56	HA6VV	JN97WS	+03	+00	1484 km	MSK
2020/08/13	08:04	08:14	S51ZO	JN86DR	+03	+00	1517 km	MSK
2020/08/13	10:56	11:04	PA5Y	JO21VO	+04	+13	971 km	MSK
2020/08/13	11:15	12:06	S56P	JN76PO	36	26	1516 km	FSK
2020/08/13	12:55	13:09	YU7MS	KN05FG	+03	+07	1761 km	MSK
2020/08/13	14:58	15:20	G4BAO	JO02CG	+02	-04	1061 km	MSK
RIG (Aug. 12): IC-821H + PA 300 W, 2 x 9-ele-yagi

Digimodes have become very popular and this has led to many more stations being active 
in 2 m MS. This is good but the entry into MS through digimode interest also has some 
unfortunate side effects. One of these is the confusion about period length, and some 
(but not many) people are now using 15 s periods for 2 m MS. I tried my best to convince 
a few locals to stick to 30 s but this issue is obviously confusing. Some of them mostly 
operate FT8 on 6 m and perhaps 2 m, and for FT8 it is always used 15 s period, so they 
apply it also to MSK for MS. With the advent of FSK, the 30 s period was established for 
MS on 2 m, however, the software now offers two alternatives. So it is very easy for 
newcomers to apply 15 s periods. I think we need more discussion on this subject and 
perhaps standardize again on one period length. I see that 15 s has the advantage of 
making better use of very long reflections and is good for FT8 used via Tropo, but the 
loss of efficiency due to switch-over (typically 1-2 s) is higher. If people have poor 
timing, the loss of efficiency easily gets worse, but we probably have to assume that 
people keep their PC clock well synchronized. I may be pissing in the holy grail, but I 
think it would be good if 15 s periods would be used for FT8, MSK and FSK as standard. It 
will not be easy to establish everybody using the same period length, unless people are 
forced by having the software gurus (K1JR, LZ2HV) remove the other option from their 
programs. Until this happens, I will happily continue to use 30 s periods for MSK/FSK MS. 

Another lack of standardization manifests itself in the use of two digital modes. The 
problem is that not everybody is �in the same room� anymore. There are two calling 
frequencies, 360 for MSK and (still) 370 for FSK. For judging activity I found it most 
useful to monitor 360 in MSK, since 370 in FSK is very quiet and everybody seems to be on 
360 in MSK these days. Compared to last year, more stations are using the QSY technique 
(CQ QRG) in MSK, but many are still not. From a hilltop location, there are signals 
received during both periods via tropo and it is very difficult to actually work somebody 
on 360 due to QRM. In a big shower it is absolutely mandatory to move away from the calling 
frequency. Why does it take such a long time to apply a technique in MSK that has been well 
established in FSK? What would be a good concept for QSY away from the calling frequencies, 
MSK down and FSK up? There is no standard that I know of. MSK works fine if bursts are not 
too short, but it does not always decode. The preformatted message cannot be modified in MSK, 
as it is possible in FSK. When monitoring in MSK while away from shack, the screen may be 
full of calls but one cannot see how long the reflections actually have been. For skeds I 
therefore still favour FSK, because it gives the operator some judgement and makes better use 
of short reflections. I guess we probably have to live with two digital modes, and perhaps 
even more to come. More time will be spent on troubleshooting and less on air. Can the software 
gurus modify their programs such that decoding is done in multiple modes simultaneously?

Thanks for all the good MS activity, and for the contacts to those I have worked.

Sporadic-E season 2020 in Norway

The season started as usual around mid May, with some good openings on 6 m. This 
year I intended to explore using FT8, to understand why it has become so popular 
over the last years. I practiced first on 6 m and made several interesting contacts 
with new squares or even DXCC. Then I monitored also on 2 m when the MUF was high 
at the appropriate distance. My equipment on 2 m at home is quite modest: An old 
IC-706 with PA 300 W and a 9-ele-yagi at 100 m asl. My horizon is reasonable from
SE to S, but elevation > 5 deg in others.

The first 2 m event was on May 25, but it was a very weak and patchy opening. After 
two contacts in FT8 I went calling for some minutes in SSB on 144.300 MHz but 
nothing was heard, so I went back to 144.174 MHz and worked one more station in FT8.  

The next one was on May 29, the day of the most outstanding opening in Europe, with
about 19 h continuous MUF > 144 MHz at least somewhere. Unfortunately it was not the
best event for Scandinavia above 58 deg northern latitude. I had been following the 
development for many hours on DX-Maps before I was actually able to record anything 
on the 2 m band up in Norway. The first FT8 signal was logged by my PC while I was 
enjoying dinner (of course!). Only 20 minutes later I luckily noticed what was going 
on. This was when the Es cloud was finally moving a little further north. 
My observations started in FT8, and I was able to work two stations on 144,174 MHz 
but I heard several more. As soon as the signals were stronger I started calling in 
SSB on 144,300 MHz. I managed to work a few stations in SSB there despite much QSB. 
FT8 proved again less efficient for Es, but I was very happy to have worked IS0FWY 
in FT8 for a new DXCC over a difficult distance (may not have been possible in SSB). 
I was at the edge of the reflection area, and I did not hear any other LA working Es.

Two days later, on May 31, there was a short but good opening to South-East. Thanks 
to alerts from SM0KAK and SM6VTZ in a freshly established alert system I made it to 
the radio just in time (we had a barbecue with guests and so I had to sign out from 
it for 20 min). I hear the first signals in FT8 but quite strong and so I decided to 
call only in SSB, It seems it was the right decision - 22 QSO was very efficient for 
the opening of 22 min.

LA0BY in JO59FW wkd via Es on 144 MHz:
2020/05/25	10:17	10:19	UT4UEP	KN49WV	1658 km	FT8
2020/05/25	10:16	10:20	UT3UX	KO50IG	1666 km	FT8
2020/05/25	10:27	10:32	UT4NJ	KN48KQ	1718 km	FT8
2020/05/25	hrd in FT8: UT9UR in KO40
2020/05/29	16:04	16:08	IS0FWY	JM49LH	2296 km	FT8
2020/05/29	16:13	16:15	IK5RWX	JN52US	1911 km	FT8
2020/05/29	16:19		IK5ZWU	JN53VB	1879 km	SSB
2020/05/29	16:20		IK0WGF	JN52VC	1985 km	SSB
2020/05/29	16:24		IW0FFK	JN61FS	2025 km	SSB
2020/05/29	16:24		I0SJX	JN61FU	2015 km	SSB
2020/05/29	hrd in FT8 IZ5EME, IK0RNU, IZ0CLS, IK5QKE, 
		IZ5IOR, IZ5ILU, IK4CBO, IW4AOT and EA2Z
2020/05/31	15:56		HA6IGM	JN97UO	1497 km	SSB
2020/05/31	15:56		YU7ON	KN04AX	1781 km	SSB
2020/05/31	15:56		YU7ACO	KN05RD	1800 km	SSB
2020/05/31	15:57		YT3N	KN04LP	1839 km	SSB
2020/05/31	15:57		YU1ES	KN04GT	1811 km	SSB
2020/05/31	15:57		YU7PAA	KN04AX	1781 km	SSB
2020/05/31	15:58		YT4KU	KN04ET	1807 km	SSB
2020/05/31	15:59		OM5CC	JN98JD	1417 km	SSB
2020/05/31	15:59		OM5CM	JN98DF	1396 km	SSB
2020/05/31	16:00		YU2KU	KN04ET	1807 km	SSB
2020/05/31	16:00		YU1PXF	KN04KP	1837 km	SSB
2020/05/31	16:01		9A3QB	JN95HN	1687 km	SSB
2020/05/31	16:01		9A2C	JN95IN	1689 km	SSB
2020/05/31	16:02		YU1EV	KN04CN	1829 km	SSB
2020/05/31	16:03		9A3TU	JN95EH	1709 km	SSB
2020/05/31	16:04		YU5PD	KN04EB	1886 km	SSB
2020/05/31	16:04		OM5KM	JN98BG	1388 km	SSB
2020/05/31	16:04		HA4XN	JN96LX	1544 km	SSB
2020/05/31	16:07		9A2SB	JN95GM	1690 km	SSB
2020/05/31	16:08		HA4ND	JN97MJ	1502 km	SSB
2020/05/31	16:09		YU7BJ	KN05EI	1750 km	SSB
2020/05/31	16:18		YU1EM	KN04FP	1827 km	SSB
Heard also YO2NAA, HA5OO, HA9AL, YU7KB and OM6DC in FT8.

Mid-July was lucky to catch a major Es opening while being on DXpedition to north-
western Norway. The contacts made from JP21MX can be found in the trip report.

July 26 was the last day with Es on 2 m for me. The opening was weak and unstable,
and I did not succeed in completing a contact. In FT8 I heard SV8PEX, I7OXH, E77T,
IK7NXM, IK0IXO and YU7ON. SV8PEX was at the unusual distance of 2355 km.

So how useful is FT8 for Es? It seems good to have one channel where "everybody" is 
listening ang monitoring for propagation. It works very nicely and better than
SSB/CW when signals are weak. It is also good to handle several signals in narrow 
channel at the same time. But its benefit fades when some signals are very strong.
The decoder saturates already when there is one strong station within the passband 
of the SSB-filter, with the effect that weak stations cannot be seen anymore (one
can notice that effect from the noise disappearing on the waterfall display). 

The QSO efficiency of FT8 is good when signals are weak. A QSO can be completed in
1-2 minutes even if the signal strength is below -15 dB in FT8. But signals become 
audible to the ear when the signal rises above -15 to -10 dB. CW would work fine 
above that threshold. Efficiency of SSB will beat that of FT8 for signals above 
-10 to -5 dB (in FT8) as it allows for several QSO per minute. The advantage of SSB 
in terms of QSO efficiency will be even higher in a pile-up case when both stronger 
and weaker stations are calling. I remember in the old days I once worked 8 complete
contacts in one good MS burst of ca 2 minutes duration, which would not have been 
possible in FT8.

Another but related issue with FT8 is the choice of period. It is almost inevitable
that stations in the same area will end up using different periods. This creates a
lot of interference, bringing about the loss of sensitivity described above. Using 
15s is adequate for Es but much shorter would not make sense due to switch-over time
and perhaps time synchronization error between stations.

My conclusion about using FT8: It works best in weak signal conditions, and is good 
for monitoring propagation because there usually is lots of activity in the same channel. 
But if the signals are stronger one should switch to SSB/CW and spread out in frequency. 
This is at least the way I will set my priorities, but the success if of course dependent 
on "everybody" else listening on SSB around 144.300 MHz. Perhaps using a spectrum scope 
or two receivers can help monitoring both 174 and 300 simultaneously?

DXpedition to JP21/22, July 2020

I went on DXpedition to North-Western Norway; see JP21/22 trip report.

Troposheric ducting on January 1, 2020

The new year started well with tropo conditions to the South from Oslo.
Nothing as spectacular as the new World records that where established 
earlier that day between D41CV and G/GM, but they allowed me to run the 
AGCW-DL VHF/UHF-Contest for the first time.

LA0BY in JO59IX wkd via Tropo on 144 MHz:
2020/01/01	13:48	DF9OO	JO41QW	898 km
2020/01/01	13:51	DK1OM	JO42UV	790 km
2020/01/01	14:04	DJ5QX	JO42UN	827 km
2020/01/01	14:06	DK2EA	JO50UF	1086 km
2020/01/01	14:09	DL3DQL	JO61PH	977 km
2020/01/01	14:11	DL6BF	JO32QI	872 km
2020/01/01	14:13	DJ7XG	JO42RG	861 km
2020/01/01	14:17	DL6YBF	JO31OX	915 km
2020/01/01	14:19	OK1TEH	JO70FD	1119 km
2020/01/01	14:23	DK1PZ	JO41TH	966 km
2020/01/01	14:25	DL2OM	JO30SN	1066 km
2020/01/01	14:28	DR4U	JO32LA	915 km
2020/01/01	14:29	DL1NEO	JN59KV	1121 km
2020/01/01	14:33	DL2ARD/P	JO60AR	1032 km
2020/01/01	14:38	OK1SC	JO70OB	1139 km
2020/01/01	14:40	DK7AJ	JO51ET	908 km
2020/01/01	14:41	DL7ULM	JO62MS	814 km
2020/01/01	14:43	DF2CK	JO61XF	994 km
2020/01/01	14:45	DF3OL	JO52EJ	843 km
2020/01/01	14:46	DK6NJ	JN59WL	1170 km
2020/01/01	14:48	DM1PIO	JO72BM	855 km
2020/01/01	14:50	DJ5RE/P	JN59XM	1166 km
2020/01/01	14:51	DL7GW	JO62SL	852 km
2020/01/01	14:56	OK1KCB	JN79GB	1238 km
2020/01/01	14:59	OK7CM	JO70KJ	1097 km
2020/01/01	15:00	DF0MU	JO32PC	901 km
2020/01/01	15:03	DL2DRG	JO70JU	1046 km
2020/01/01	15:04	DL7YS	JO62NM	843 km
2020/01/01	15:06	OK1HMP	JO70EB	1127 km
2020/01/01	15:07	DL3AMI	JO50MX	1001 km
2020/01/01	15:10	DJ2QV	JN58UA	1331 km
2020/01/01	15:16	DL1HQE	JO51XK	953 km
2020/01/01	15:22	OK1ZHS	JO70EC	1122 km
2020/01/01	15:24	DL8YE	JO32TC	896 km
2020/01/01	15:25	DL6ZXG	JO51KU	904 km
2020/01/01	15:26	DL5SE	JO60AJ	1069 km
2020/01/01	15:31	DL4MA	JO50UQ	1035 km
2020/01/01	15:41	DL1ALF	JO50RL	1057 km
2020/01/01	15:47	OK5TK	JO70MB	1136 km
2020/01/01	15:49	DF0WD	JO42FD	882 km
2020/01/01	15:52	DL2YDS	JO32RG	880 km
2020/01/01	15:56	DL5YM	JO72BH	878 km
2020/01/01	16:04	DL5DSB	JO71EC	1013 km
RIG : IC-821H + PA 180 W, 9-ele-yagi at 450 m asl

LA0BY in JO59IX wkd via Tropo on 432 MHz:
2020/01/01	13:56	DK1UF	JO42HT	807 km
2020/01/01	16:42	DB6NT	JO50TI	1072 km
2020/01/01	17:17	DJ5FK	JO42IS	811 km
2020/01/01	17:30	DL1SUZ	JO53UN	716 km
2020/01/01	18:00	DL7APV	JO62JR	816 km
2020/01/01	18:09	DK5DQ	JO31QH	986 km
2020/01/01	18:19	DM2EUN	JO60IV	1018 km
RIG : IC-821H + PA 120 W, 17-ele-yagi at 450 m asl

LA0BY in JO59IX wkd via Tropo on 1296 MHz:
2020/01/01	18:27	DM2EUN	JO60IV	1018 km
RIG : FT-817ND, antenna mount XVTR 15 W, 23-ele-yagi at 450 m asl

On 70 cm I also heard OK1TEH and DL2OM but could not complete a
QSO. Later in the evening even 23cm opened up but perhaps only for 
stations at high altitudes.

Troposheric ducting on September 21, 2019

When Hepburn forecasted a solid yellow/orange enhancement area over Copenhagen and 
further towards SP I had high hopes for the evening. So I brought the whole range of 
bands up to my hilltop location, but the propagation did not reach as far as expected.
Also activity seemed quite low and not many contacts were made.

LA0BY in JO59IX wkd via Tropo on 432 MHz:
2019/09/21	18:52	DG0VV	JO62RM	55	53	846 km
2019/09/21	19:00	OK1TEH	JO70FD	519	hrd	1119 km
2019/09/21	19:08	DL6NCI	JO50VI	549	529	1072 km
2019/09/21	19:27	DL8QS	JO43KH	559	559	750 km
RIG : IC-821H, PA 120 W, 17-ele-yagi at 450 m asl

I could not hear any unusual beacons on 70 cm, but OZ7IGY and OZ1UHF were solid 599.
The picture was almost the same on 23 cm, except that DB0VC and SR1KOL came through.

LA0BY in JO59IX wkd via Tropo on 1296 MHz:
2019/09/21	18:46	DG0VV	JO62RM	519	529	846 km
2019/09/21	18:49	OZ9OE	JO66CB	59	59	444 km
2019/09/21	19:55	PA0T	JO33JC	559	579	801 km
2019/09/21	20:50	DB0VC	JO54IF	599	hrd	639 km
2019/09/21	22:20	SR1KOL	JO74SE	559	hrd	707 km
RIG : FT-817ND, antenna mount XVTR 15 W, 23-ele-yagi at 450 m asl

I was also QRV on 10 GHz: Despite hearing a whole range of beacons, including DB0VC
and OZ9GHZ over more than 500 km with 599, there was no activity. During a sked I 
briefly heard PA0T but he faded away too quickly. 

If conditions like that would appear two weaks later during the IARU Reg1 UHF/SHF 
Contest it would be a different story ...

IARU Region 1 144 MHz Contest, September 8, 2019

The propagation forecast indicated only a minor enhancement area over Denmark, so 
my expectations were not high. Sunday morning I spent a little less than 6 hours on 
beating the noise.  

LA0BY in JO59IX wkd via Tropo on 144 MHz:
2019/09/08	4:38	DF0TEC	JO73CE	57	59	785 km
2019/09/08	4:45	DF0YY	JO62GD	559	579	878 km
2019/09/08	4:53	DL1SUZ	JO53UN	569	599	716 km
2019/09/08	5:07	DL0SWG	JO63AQ	569	559	704 km
2019/09/08	5:14	DF0MU	JO32PC	579	599	901 km
2019/09/08	5:26	SN1I	JO84CE	559	599	724 km
2019/09/08	6:50	GM4ZUK/P	IO86RW	519	559	840 km
2019/09/08	8:57	UA2FZ	KO04FK	559	599	850 km
RIG : IC-821H + PA 180 W, 2 x 9-ele-yagi at 520 m asl

I managed to work some of the usual suspects, but not SN7L. A big surprise however was 
GM4ZUK/p as my first ever tropo contact with Scotland (it is so difficult because we 
have mountains perhaps 700 m high in our path).

During none of the contests we had enhanced propagation this year, so I really hope now
we get some ducting during the IARU Region 1 UHF/SHF and MMC contests.

Meteorscatter during Perseids 2019

As in previous years, my focus was on working new squares which gets increasingly
harder. Luckily a few expeditions activate closer squares, otherwise the potential
partners are around 2000 km distance or beyond.  

This year I was using MSK144 for the first time, and this was good, as most of the 
random activity appeared to be on 144.360 MHz in MSK. I first tested with the WSJT-X 
software but switched to MSHV due to its better user-friendlyness (the same software 
can handle both FSK441 and MSK144). MSK seems to be convenient for activity monitoring, 
as both calls are displayed upon reception of a proper burst and often even the square. 
But the habit of QSY away (e.g. calling CQ 334) from the crowds seemed not as established 
yet as it was for FSK. It seems that the FSK441 calling frequency 144.370 MHz is not very 
useful anymore for judging activity, as most people call on 360 in MSK. But I like to use 
FSK for skeds, as it is possible to use partial decodes. I was also operating in SSB on a
few occasions, in order not to forget about this exciting style of operation. 

The list below shows all of my MS contacts during the Perseids:

LA0BY in JO59IX/FW wkd via MS on 144 MHz:
2019/08/08	18:05	18:20	DJ6AG	JO51EQ	+05	+01	917 km*	MSK
2019/08/11	06:00	06:24	YO2LSP	KN05NR	27	26	1730 km*	FSK
2019/08/11	13:00	13:45	YO2NAA	KN05NS	26	26	1725 km*	FSK
2019/08/11	14:00	14:12	DK2DTF	JN49JU	+15	+10	1126 km*	MSK
2019/08/12	11:15	12:20	R1OAK	LP05MH	+10	+00	1640 km	MSK
2019/08/12	14:00	14:10	UA3MBJ	KO87QV	+05	+11	1537 km	MSK
2019/08/12	14:10	14:30	UA4UK	LO14MA	+11	+02	2043 km	MSK
2019/08/12	17:05	17:30	LA/SM5EPO	JP76HD	27	26	721 km*	FSK
2019/08/13	01:39	01:46	R5WW	KO81BQ	+16	+04	1819 km	MSK
2019/08/13	02:13	02:44	RG3R	LO03VK	27	26	2009 km	FSK
2019/08/13	02:50	03:16	US8AR	KO60RR	26	26	1754 km	FSK
2019/08/13	03:20	03:27	DK3XT	JN49FE	27	36	1209 km	FSK
2019/08/13	03:28	03:35	S51S	JN75ES	27	26	1598 km	FSK
2019/08/13	03:58	04:06	IV3NDC	JN65RV	38	37	1576 km	FSK
2019/08/13	04:40	05:04	RM5P	KO84VH	27	26	1736 km	FSK
2019/08/13	05:05	05:40	RW3QJA	KO90PH	27	26	2086 km	FSK
2019/08/13	06:11	06:22	GM0EWX	IO67UL	27	27	1017 km	FSK
2019/08/13	07:39	08:08	F4EZJ	JN05DK	27	36	1758 km	SSB
2019/08/13	08:18		HB9FAP	JN47PH	37	37	1411 km	SSB
2019/08/13	09:10	09:20	UA3PTW	KO93BS	+19	+02	1787 km	MSK
2019/08/13	09:22	09:52	R5AO	KO86VA	27	26	1642 km	FSK
2019/08/13	10:22	10:30	RA1TL	KO67PX	27	26	1306 km	FSK
2019/08/13	10:45	11:15	R3UG	LO17FJ	27	26	1839 km	FSK
2019/08/13	11:40	12:05	UT8AL	KO61WP	26	38	1705 km	FSK
2019/08/13	12:05	12:12	RA3EL	KO82AX	27	26	1725 km	FSK
2019/08/13	18:20	18:34	EW7AW	KO54DC	+15	+04	1357 km*	MSK
2019/08/13	18:38	18:55	UT9NA	KN49EF	26	26	1648 km*	FSK
2019/08/13	19:00	19:14	S59R	JN76OM	36	26	1524 km*	FSK
2019/08/14	07:42	08:05	DK2EA	JO50UF	27	37	1082 km*	SSB
2019/08/15	05:35	06:20	IV3GTH	JN65RU	26	26	1578 km*	FSK
2019/08/15	11:28	11:49	EM44T	KN38GR	26	26	1616 km*	FSK

Contacts marked with * were made from home in JO59FW (800 W and 9-ele-yagi)
RIG in JO59IX: IC-821H + PA 180 W, 2 x 9-ele-yagi at 520 m asl

I found the Perseids this year to be quite good for working long distance, even though I 
was (for family reasons) not at my hilltop site during the best hours. My longest contact 
was with RW3QJA over 2086 km. I copied UA6LQZ in LN09DA and LZ0C in KN22XS several times, 
both at distances of more than 2200 km. Both were observed several times during the morning 
of Aug 13. The maximum seemed to have occurred about as predicted, from 05-15 UTC on Aug 13. 
The shower had a steep rise and a long tail. Reflections were not so good on the day before 
the predicted maximum but very good also the days after. 

3rd Subregional Contest, July 6-7, 2019

No propagation enhancement was forecasted, so I took only 2m equipment with me
to the hilltop site on Sunday morning. I could make only a few contacts, but 
surprisingly enough SN7L came through nicely over a very respectable distance.

LA0BY in JO59IX wkd via Tropo on 144 MHz:
2019/07/07	4:40	DH8BQA	JO73CE	529	419	785 km
2019/07/07	5:11	RW2F	JO94XV	519	599	790 km
2019/07/07	5:23	DL1SUZ	JO53UN	539	559	716 km
2019/07/07	5:43	SN7L	JO70UR	55	59	1075 km
2019/07/07	6:07	DF0YY	JO62GD	519	559	875 km
2019/07/07	6:31	DK3WG	JO72GI	539	539	880 km
RIG : IC-821H + PA 180 W, 2 x 9-ele-yagi at 520 m asl

Troposheric ducting on June 28-29, 2019

Very nice tropospheric ducting developed over the North Sea, but the 
predictions indicated that mostly stations in Southern Norway would be
in the duct. I decided to give it a try anyway, and went to my usual 
hilltop site at Tryvann. I started working some contacts on 2 m but it 
was really quiet on the band around 144.300 MHz. 70 cm seemed open as
well to some extent. 

While I was setting up the 23 cm station, I was monitoring activity in 
FT8 on 144.174 MHz. It was a real chaos there, with the "local" stations 
(SM6/OZ) being at S9 and the DX below S5 on the meter. I could indeed 
copy many DX stations from DL/PA/G but did not bother to attempt calling,
as it appeared to me a waste of effort using FT8 in such fine conditions. 
Unfortunately the 23 cm band was very noisy from that location, so I took
down everything and moved to another site nearby but further away from 
the suspected commercial interference sources. 

LA0BY in JO59IX wkd via Tropo on 144 MHz:
2019/06/28	18:16	G4SWX	JO02RF	539	549	1033 km
2019/06/28	18:37	DL6YBF	JO31OX	559	579	915 km
2019/06/28	18:52	PA2M	JO21IP	559	559	999 km
2019/06/28	18:59	PA0JMV	JO21PM	539	529	999 km
2019/06/28	19:42	DF0WD	JO42FD	56	57	882 km
2019/06/28	19:49	PA0FEI	JO33BC	539	539	814 km
RIG : IC-821H + PA 180 W, 9-ele-yagi at 520 m asl

LA0BY in JO59IX wkd via Tropo on 432 MHz:
2019/06/28	18:45	DL6YBF	JO31OX	529	539	915 km
RIG : IC-821H + PA 120 W, 17-ele-yagi at 520 m asl

After having set up the antennas at the other site, still in same locator,
but a little lower in altitude, I started working on 23cm and it went well. 
With DL1KDA I reached a new square on that band. It was time to try 10 GHz 
which I had not used for years. DB0GHZ came inn nicely on 10 GHz, but NIL 
from PA0JUS at only slightly longer distance, even though he was booming on 
23cm. Attempts with DL1KDA failed as well initally. Two hours later DB0GHZ 
was up to 599 and I asked Alex to try again. I was taken by surprise when 
his call in CW was quite strong, and he instantly came back when I replied.
This was my first contact with DL on 10 GHz, a new square and a new ODX
(being 700 km more than the previous!), and moreover with my home square.

The other day, Saturday, the conditions still prevailed but I could not go
to my hilltop site before the evening. By then the duct had moved more east
and propagation to central Germany was gone for my location. Beacons came in
well on both 23cm and 3cm, and were even improving in late evening. DB0VC 
was heard the first time on 3cm but unfortunately there was no human activity 
from that area. On 23cm the duct even reached into Poland, but zero humans
as well. Anyway, it was a nice experience for me working microwave and I 
will surely try another time in good conditions.

LA0BY in JO59IX wkd via Tropo on 1296 MHz:
2019/06/28	21:36	DL1KDA	JO30EP	559	419	1073 km
2019/06/28	21:56	PA0JUS	JO33NB	59	59	800 km
2019/06/28	22:41	DL1KDA	JO30EP	579	539	1073 km
2019/06/29	18:46	LA3SHF	JO48AD	559	hrd	255 km
2019/06/29	19:48	OZ8ZS	JO55RT	579	539	465 km
2019/06/29	19:54	OZ9PP	JO47VA	559	579	333 km
2019/06/29	21:30	LB2SHF	JO38RB	559	hrd	283 km
2019/06/29	21:35	SR1KOL	JO74SE	559	hrd	707 km
2019/06/29	21:37	OZ9GE	JO66CB	59	59	444 km
2019/06/29	22:00	DB0VC	JO54IF	599	hrd	639 km
2019/06/29	22:01	OZ7IGY	JO55WM	559	hrd	501 km
RIG : FT-817ND, antenna mount XVTR 15 W, 23-ele-yagi at 450 m asl

LA0BY in JO59IX wkd via Tropo on 10386 MHz:
2019/06/28	20:18	DB0GHZ	JO34WE	559	hrd	666 km
2019/06/28	22:08	OZ1LPR	JO44UW	59	55	564 km
2019/06/28	22:10	OZ7Z	JO44VW	55	52	563 km
2019/06/28	22:22	DL1KDA	JO30EP	559	529	1073 km
2019/06/28	22:18	DB0GHZ	JO34WE	599	hrd	666 km
2019/06/29	19:14	DB0GHZ	JO34WE	599	hrd	666 km
2019/06/29	20:00	DB0VC	JO54IF	579	hrd	639 km
2019/06/29	20:09	OZ1CTZ	JO46OE	599	599	431 km
2019/06/29	20:10	OZ9PP	JO47VA	579	589	333 km
2019/06/29	20:40	OZ5SHF	JO45VX	559	hrd	447 km
RIG : FT-817ND, antenna mount XVTR 1 W, 48cm Procom dish at 450 m asl

Exceptional Tropo ducting on November 22, 2018

The Hepburn tropo forecast looked promising for the evening, so I decided to go
to my hilltop location at 500 m asl despite the grim temperatures (-5 deg C). 
Upon arrival, I set up 2m and 70cm antennas first, but I also took along my 23cm 
equipment (you never know ...). 

Immediately after switching on, my most optimistic expectations were exceeded: 
Stations from the Baltics and Ukraine had good signals on 2m, but even better on 
70 cm. But I could not trust my ears when I heard UA6AQN calling CQ on 70 cm, and
he even replied on my call - this was really incredible! So I favoured 70 cm and
the log was soon filling up with lots of DX, some in squares that I still have not 
worked on 2m. RZ6DD and R6AM from LN04 became my new ODX on 70 cm, both > 2600 km
in distance. Over the evening I had a rather stable duct to UA6 but only on 70 cm.

After two hours of operation it felt I should try also on 23 cm, so I reconfigured
my setup to have only 23 cm and 70 cm antennas up. And it appeared the condx were
good also on 23 cm, but of course much fewer stations were QRV. LY, EW and SP were
worked easily. I knew that UA6 was calling on 23cm but could not hear anything. 
Unfortunately stations in Ukraine are not allowed to operate on 23 cm, I am sure it
would have been possible to make a QSO. 

Late in the evening I changed my configuration back to 2 m and 70 cm antennas. Then
RZ6DD and UA6AQN came in on 70 cm even stronger than before and asked for 23 cm ...
I was QRV until about 24 UTC, but did not work anything new in the last hour, while
UA6AQN was still rolling in. The only station I heard but could not complete with 
was UY5HF on 70cm. Can it get any better?

LA0BY in JO59IX wkd via Tropo on 144 MHz:			
2018/11/22	17:11	EW2BZ	KO34OD	1185 km
2018/11/22	17:14	UR5LX	KO70WK	1899 km
2018/11/22	18:00	EU1AI	KO33SV	1219 km
2018/11/22	18:04	UR3VKC	KN68NO	1911 km
2018/11/22	18:07	UT9UR	KO40XD	1632 km
2018/11/22	18:09	EU1AI	KO33SV	1219 km
2018/11/22	18:11	LY3DE	KO25SJ	1015 km
2018/11/22	18:19	US8AR	KO60AR	1683 km
2018/11/22	18:24	UR8GZ	KN66RT	2082 km
2018/11/22	18:25	UT8AL	KO61WP	1705 km
2018/11/22	18:28	EU3AI	KO22CE	1201 km
2018/11/22	22:43	UY5HF	KN66HP	2059 km
RIG: IC-821H + PA 180W + 9-ele-yagi				
				
LA0BY in JO59IX wkd via Tropo on 432 MHz:				
2018/11/22	17:17	UR5LX	KO70WK	1899 km
2018/11/22	17:18	EW2BZ	KO34OD	1185 km
2018/11/22	17:26	UT4LA	KN89CW	1954 km
2018/11/22	17:30	UT8AL	KO61WP	1705 km
2018/11/22	17:33	EW6X	KO45IM	1173 km
2018/11/22	17:41	UA6AQN	KN96VC	2448 km
2018/11/22	17:42	EW6FS	KO35LB	1110 km
2018/11/22	17:44	LY3DE	KO25SJ	1015 km
2018/11/22	17:49	LY1FX	KO25TL	1014 km
2018/11/22	18:30	EU3AI	KO22CE	1201 km
2018/11/22	18:32	UR8GZ	KN66RT	2082 km
2018/11/22	18:35	LY2CH	KO15OV	864 km
2018/11/22	18:47	EU2AA	KO34KI	1153 km
2018/11/22	18:49	RZ6DD	LN04MX	2606 km
2018/11/22	18:51	R6AM	LN04NX	2611 km
2018/11/22	18:54	UT8LE	KN79WW	1937 km
2018/11/22	19:27	R6AM	LN04NX	2611 km
2018/11/22	19:38	LY2R	KO15VS	902 km
2018/11/22	20:18	UT6UG	KO50EI	1634 km
2018/11/22	20:38	UT3UCP	KO50GM	1628 km
2018/11/22	20:42	UT8AL	KO61WP	1705 km
2018/11/22	20:43	UT5VD	KN68MT	1889 km
2018/11/22	21:46	US5WU	KO20DI	1369 km
2018/11/22	21:53	RZ6DD	LN04MX	2606 km
2018/11/22	22:09	EU2AA	KO34KI	1153 km
2018/11/22	22:12	UA6AQN	KN96VC	2448 km
2018/11/22	22:26	SQ5TF	KO02WT	1050 km
2018/11/22	22:33	LY2BBF	KO24PR	1048 km
2018/11/22	22:36	UR8GZ	KN66RT	2082 km
RIG:IC-821H + PA 120W + 17-ele-yagi								
				
LA0BY in JO59IX wkd via Tropo on 1296 MHz:			
2018/11/22	19:44	LY2R	KO15VS	902 km
2018/11/22	19:49	EU4AX	KO13VP	1060 km
2018/11/22	19:57	LY2HM	KO15CX	809 km
2018/11/22	19:59	EW6FS	KO35LB	1110 km
2018/11/22	20:02	SP4MPB	KO03HT	911 km
RIG: FT-817ND + XVTR + 23-ele-yagi				

About 80 % of my contacts were made in CW, the others in SSB, and none in FT8.
UT6UG wanted to try in FT8 but I could convince him to give SSB a chance and it
worked easily. Signal reports were mostly in the high end (559-599) so what do
you need FT8 for then?

In hindsight, it seems I should perhaps have operated more on 2 m. RA6A claimed 
on DXC a contact with me on 2 m, but unfortunately was not in my log. I remember 
hearing another station calling me during my QSO with UT8AL - probably RA6A. 
Working UA6 on Tropo on 2 m would have been nice. However, in the heat of the 
moment I decided to focus on higher bands, after having received better signals 
on 70 cm than on 2 m.

Next time we have such fine tropo ducting, I will try to assemble antennas for 
three bands on the same mast. Then it will be easier to test and monitor on all 
simultaneously, and not lose precious time for changing antenna configurations.

RZ6DD kindly provided a soundfile of our 70cm contact (tnx Alexander!).
Back home I did a little path analysis for the longest distance contacts with
RZ6DD and R6AM. The path profile shows there were no mountains between both ends.

The surface pressure map from British MetOffice shows there wass a huge high pressure area over Lithuania, approximately at midpoint of the path.

Marconi Memorial Contest, November 4, 2018

The Hepburn propagation forecast indicated a slight chance of some tropo
enhancement. When starting operation early on Sunday morning, the band was
flat. However, after 2-3 hours signals from distant stations in DL became
audible. DR9A came in constantly for more than 5 hours with good signal, and
was in fact the strongest station on band in my location. Later even HB9FAP
got through on tropo, and got quite strong after I worked him. For most paths
the tropo was weak and unstable, which made it challenging to complete QSO.

LA0BY in JO59IX wkd via Tropo on 144 MHz:				
2018/11/04	5:50	DF0MU	JO32PC	901 km
2018/11/04	7:04	DM3W	JO62XE	889 km
2018/11/04	7:21	OL7C	JO60JJ	1074 km
2018/11/04	7:36	DM3D	JO62LI	859 km
2018/11/04	8:20	DL6BF	JO32QI	872 km
2018/11/04	8:29	DR9A	JN48EQ	1264 km
2018/11/04	9:47	DA0FF	JO40XL	1057 km
2018/11/04	11:29	HB9FAP	JN47PH	1411 km
2018/11/04	11:45	DL0XS	JO42RG	861 km
2018/11/04	12:15	DL6IAK	JN48IX	1230 km
2018/11/04	12:22	DL2OM	JO30SN	1066 km
2018/11/04	12:41	DL0LN	JO31QX	913 km
RIG: IC-821H, PA 180W, 2 x 9-ele yagi								

I could hear several other stations, like DF4XG, DJ7R, DL4LBK, DL7ULM, DL8QS, 
DL8UI, DL0GTH/p, DL0HTW, DL0STO, DL0WAE, DM5D, OK1KKD, OK2A, OL1C, OL4N, PA2CHR 
and SN1I. I guess the QRM level in the South made it difficult for those to hear
me, since most probably used 4-10 dB more power than me.

Enhanced Tropo propagation, October 10, 2018

Nice tropo conditions appeared for the first time for this autumn, 
as predicted by Hepburn. I started off with antennas for 2m and 70cm
but changed to 70cm and 23cm after ca 3 hours when condx appeared to be
better on 70cm than 2m. Activity seemed very low given such good propagation. 
Perhaps more stations were using FT8?

LA0BY in JO59IX wkd on 144 MHz via Tropo:
2018/10/10	17:55	SP2MSM	JO83XC	883 km
2018/10/10	17:56	SP2DDV	JO83VE	870 km
2018/10/10	18:38	LY3A	KO25DB	975 km
2018/10/10	18:42	SQ2SAT	JO83XG	867 km
2018/10/10	20:12	SP5HD	KO02NI	1063 km
2018/10/10	20:15	EW3AA	KO12TC	1184 km
2018/10/10	20:18	LY2HM	KO15CX	809 km
RIG: IC-821H, PA 180W, 9-ele-yagi				

LA0BY in JO59IX wkd on 432 MHz via Tropo:				
2018/10/10	18:44	SQ2SAT	JO83XG	867 km
2018/10/10	18:47	SP2CNW	JO93AI	861 km
2018/10/10	18:51	RA2FX	KO05XB	864 km
2018/10/10	18:55	LY3A	KO25DB	975 km
2018/10/10	18:58	SP1N	JO73GL	759 km
2018/10/10	19:00	SP1NQN	JO84ML	720 km
2018/10/10	19:15	SQ2EEQ	JO94WC	855 km
2018/10/10	19:23	DJ4TC	JO63PN	731 km
2018/10/10	19:47	SP2FAV	JO94MA	832 km
2018/10/10	23:11	EU4AX	KO13VP	1060 km
RIG: IC-821H, PA 120W, 17-ele-yagi
hrd also SQ8NGX				
				
LA0BY in JO59IX wkd on 1296 MHz via Tropo:			
2018/10/10	21:23	SP4MPB	KO03HT	911 km
2018/10/10	21:30	SQ2SAT	JO83XG	867 km
2018/10/10	21:37	LY2HM	KO15CX	809 km
2018/10/10	21:40	SP2DDV	JO83VE	870 km
2018/10/10	22:40	LY3A	KO25DB	975 km
2018/10/10	22:45	EU4AX	KO13VP	1060 km
RIG: FT-817D, XVTR 15 W, 23-ele-yagi
hrd also SP5XMU and SP2CNW				

The maximum distances were almost the same on all three bands. 
The QSO with EU4AX on 23 cm was actually the first contact between LA and 
EW on that band! I am looking forward to work more 23cm in future.

Nordic Activity Contest, September 4, 2018

There were slightly enhanced tropo condx to OH, but DL was difficult. 
PA3BIY at the end was a big surprise! Hrd also DL3TW, OH6NG, SN1I and YL2AJ.

LA0BY in JO59IX wkd via Tropo on 144 MHz:
2018/09/04	17:53	DH5BS	JO64RB	678 km
2018/09/04	18:18	OG60F	KP01TK	615 km
2018/09/04	18:26	OH1AU	KP10CM	637 km
2018/09/04	18:32	OH1TP	KP01SU	621 km
2018/09/04	19:37	OH1ND	KP00XL	623 km
2018/09/04	19:38	OH1OP	KP10CR	637 km
2018/09/04	19:53	OH6KTL	KP02OJ	623 km
2018/09/04	20:23	OH0AZX	KP00IF	554 km
2018/09/04	20:34	ES0FX	KO08XL	660 km
2018/09/04	20:41	ES5PC	KO38HJ	921 km
2018/09/04	20:57	DF0MU	JO32PC	901 km
2018/09/04	20:59	PA3BIY	JO22HB	957 km
RIG : K3 + XVTR + PA 180 W, 2 x 9-ele-yagi at 520 m asl

IARU Region 1 VHF Contest, September 1-2, 2018

Guided by the Hepburn tropo ducting forecast I chose again Sunday morning for some
activity, and it seems it was a good decision. A little lift over the North and Baltic
Seas was enough to cross the 1000 km mark a few times. I heard also DF0WF, DM5D, DM7A, 
OL1R (no ears), OL7C, ON8CF/p and SN1I.

LA0BY in JO59IX wkd via Tropo on 144 MHz:
2018/09/02	4:03	DA0FF	JO40XL	1057 km
2018/09/02	4:10	SN7L	JO70UR	1075 km
2018/09/02	4:18	DF0TEC	JO73CE	785 km
2018/09/02	4:46	G0VHF/P	JO01PU	1075 km
2018/09/02	4:50	G3XDY	JO02OB	1058 km
2018/09/02	4:54	DL1SUZ	JO53UN	716 km
2018/09/02	5:16	DL0GTH	JO50JP	1038 km
2018/09/02	6:09	DH5BS	JO64RB	678 km
2018/09/02	6:19	DL0HTW	JO60QU	1028 km
2018/09/02	6:28	DF0MU	JO32PC	901 km
2018/09/02	6:34	SP2FRY	JO83WR	819 km
2018/09/02	8:07	OL4N	JO60VR	1047 km
2018/09/02	8:23	SP1JNY	JO73GL	759 km
2018/09/02	9:02	DM4EE	JO64KE	657 km
2018/09/02	9:27	DL3SWS	JO53WH	745 km
2018/09/02	9:50	DL7AFB	JO62JA	894 km
RIG : K3 + XVTR + PA 180 W, 2 x 9-ele-yagi at 520 m asl

Perseids Meteor Shower 2018

My goal was to work some new squares and to participate in the MS SPRINT Contest. 
Sunday from afternoon to late night I was in my hilltop location in JO59IX, mainly
working to east. All contacts were made in digimode FSK441 with WSJT.

LA0BY in JO59IX/FW wkd via MS on 144 MHz:
2018/08/12	06:54	07:00	OE3FVU	JN78VE	27	26	1351 km *
2018/08/12	12:36	12:54	R3PAC	KO93CQ	27	37	1797 km
2018/08/12	12:54	13:02	RW3TJ	LO16XG	46	26	1973 km
2018/08/12	13:12	13:26	RV3IG	LO17FJ	27	26	1839 km
2018/08/12	14:02	14:30	UA3IDQ	KO66JF	27	27	1355 km
2018/08/12	16:35	16:45	RK1AS	KP40UE	27	27	1050 km
2018/08/12	18:06	18:16	HB9FAP	JN47PH	27	27	1411 km
2018/08/12	18:22	18:46	RZ3RZ	LO02RR	26	38	2035 km
2018/08/12	18:50	19:20	UT8AL	KO61WP	27	39	1705 km
2018/08/12	19:28	19:50	GI0OTC	IO65QE	28	26	1158 km
2018/08/12	20:00	20:12	LZ2FO	KN13KX	27	26	1957 km
2018/08/12	20:34	20:45	RW3PX	KO83WR	27	27	1776 km
2018/08/12	21:28	21:48	OY4TN	IP62NB	38	38	972 km
2018/08/12	21:50	22:25	GM4GUF/p	IO68TB	26	26	998 km
2018/08/12	22:28	22:34	E72U	JN94JU	27	26	1766 km
2018/08/12	22:45	23:07	R3PA	KO93JV	27	26	1816 km
2018/08/12	23:18	23:57	UT2EM	KN67QV	27	26	1983 km
2018/08/13	00:00	00:12	UT2UB	KO40UO	27	26	1582 km
2018/08/13	08:42	08:58	G4DCV	IO91OF	27	26	1196 km *
2018/08/13	09:17	09:26	G7RAU	IN79JX	27	26	1485 km *
2018/08/13	09:29	09:48	PA3BIY	JO22HB	27	26	947 km *
2018/08/13	09:50	10:14	IV3NDC	JN65RV	38	26	1574 km *
2018/08/13	10:17	10:37	G1KAW/p	JO00EW	28	29	1183 km *
2018/08/13	10:40	10:49	DL9LBH	JN59ID	27	26	1200 km *
2018/08/13	10:54	11:02	HA6VV/p	JN97WV	38	26	1471 km *
2018/08/13	11:15	11:21	DG1VB	JO61RC	37	26	1000 km *
2018/08/13	11:35	11:40	IW2BNA	JN45ON	27	26	1601 km *
2018/08/13	11:46	11:52	HB9AHD	JN47IM	27	26	1385 km *
2018/08/13	11:55	12:11	UT9UR	KO40XD	39	27	1641 km *
2018/08/13	12:24	12:30	OE1ILW/3	JN77XX	27	26	1376 km *
2018/08/13	12:36	14:48	PA2CHR	JO32DB	27	37	913 km *
2018/08/13	18:30	19:14	UT3UX	KO50HJ	39	26	1652 km *
RIG: 180W into 2 x 9-ele from JO59IX (* 600 W into 9-ele from JO59FW)

I was very happy to work 4 new squares (IO65, IO68, KO66, LO02). UA3IDQ was using only
40W into 11-ele-yagi, UT8AL only 20W into 21-ele-yagi and GM4GUF/p only 80W into 3-ele 
wire-Quad. I cannot really tell how this shower compared to earlier years, but I guess 
it was not bad, since I succedded with low power stations.

It found it again confusing that many stations used MSK144 as another digimode with a 
separate calling frequency. Unfortunately I could only receive on MSK144, so I may have
missed some stations. I do not see a distinct advantage of MSK144 vs FSK441 to justify 
the distraction. I will probably make MSK144 work for the next shower, but hope that the 
MS activity one day goes back to one standard mode (or even to SSB in good showers!). 

Nordic Activity Contest, August 7, 2018

No particularly condx, so only the usual suspects made it into the log.
Lost DL6YBF and G4CDN in noise.

LA0BY in JO59IX wkd via Tropo on 144 MHz:
2018/08/07	18:57	DF0MU	JO32PC	901 km
2018/08/07	19:25	ES5PC	KO38HJ	921 km
2018/08/07	19:39	YL2AJ	KO16OX	798 km
2018/08/07	19:44	SN1I	JO84CE	724 km
2018/08/07	20:09	SP1MVG	JO74JA	707 km
RIG : K3 + XVTR + PA 180 W, 2 x 9-ele-yagi at 520 m asl

3rd Subregional Contest, July 7-8, 2018

This time both weather and propagation was favourable, and quite a number of 
good DX contact were possible. Nice tropo to western part of Germany on Sunday 
morning, which allowed me to work some of the friends near my home area. I was 
also very happy to work YU7ON for an unusal distance and ODX, probably via MS 
burst which lasted long enough to exchange all details in CW.

LA0BY in JO59IX wkd via Tropo on 144 MHz:
2018/07/08	4:12	DK5DQ	JO31QH	986 km
2018/07/08	4:25	DF4T	JN39NR	1162 km
2018/07/08	4:32	DF0DA	JO30JF	1112 km
2018/07/08	4:41	DA0FF	JO40XL	1057 km
2018/07/08	4:46	DH8BQA	JO73CE	785 km
2018/07/08	4:55	DL0AC	JO30EJ	1100 km
2018/07/08	5:15	DL1SUZ	JO53UN	716 km
2018/07/08	5:30	DL0LN	JO31QX	913 km
2018/07/08	5:41	YU7ON	KN05FG	1759 km
2018/07/08	5:45	RW2F	JO94XV	790 km
2018/07/08	5:46	DF0MU	JO32PC	901 km
2018/07/08	6:11	DK3WG	JO72GI	880 km
2018/07/08	6:36	DF9WB	JO30JF	1112 km
2018/07/08	6:47	DL6YBF	JO31OX	915 km
2018/07/08	7:43	G4SWX	JO02RF	1033 km
RIG : IC-821H + PA 180 W, 2 x 9-ele-yagi at 520 m asl

Nordic Activity Contest, July 3, 2018

There was a nice tropo duct to the South, reaching not very far but 
good for some unusual contacts.

LA0BY in JO59IX wkd via Tropo on 144 MHz:
2018/07/03	17:00	PA2RU	JO32LT	829 km
2018/07/03	17:30	DL6YBF	JO31OX	915 km
2018/07/03	17:33	DL6BF	JO32QI	872 km
2018/07/03	17:55	SN1I	JO84CE	724 km
2018/07/03	18:01	DB6NT	JO50VJ	1068 km
2018/07/03	18:05	DL9BDM	JO33RL	749 km
2018/07/03	18:12	DH8BAT	JO43KQ	708 km
2018/07/03	18:50	DL1BME/P	JO42JW	792 km
2018/07/03	18:53	DB3BS	JO42EU	805 km
2018/07/03	18:59	DL2OM	JO30SN	1066 km
2018/07/03	19:01	DL6AM	JO42QH	856 km
2018/07/03	19:23	DF0WD	JO42FD	882 km
2018/07/03	19:24	DM7N	JO42AH	868 km
2018/07/03	19:51	PA4VHF	JO32JE	899 km
2018/07/03	19:52	DL1YAW	JO41DX	902 km
2018/07/03	19:53	DP9X	JO41PU	908 km
2018/07/03	19:53	DL4OAT	JO42OG	862 km
2018/07/03	19:55	DK1UF	JO43KC	773 km
2018/07/03	19:56	DL9OBD	JO42QN	829 km
2018/07/03	20:01	DL8YE	JO32TC	896 km
2018/07/03	20:04	PA3BIY	JO22EB	963 km
2018/07/03	20:18	DL1OBF	JO42NG	863 km
2018/07/03	20:29	SP1MVG	JO74JA	707 km
2018/07/03	20:41	DH8BQA	JO73CE	785 km
RIG : K3 + XVTR + PA 180 W, 2 x 9-ele-yagi at 520 m asl

IARU Region 1 VHF Contest, September 2-3, 2017

My activity was limited to a few hours on Saturday evening. Tropo propagation was quite
poor, despite the fine weather. I almost could not hear DF0MU over 900 km (we manage a
QSO in akmost every contest), but conditions where slightly better to SP. With SN7L I was 
lucky again, over a very respectable distance (we also work in most contests). All in all
only 11 contacts made it into the log. I hope for better propagation in the IARU R1 UHF
Contest in October.

LA0BY in JO59IX wkd via Tropo on 144 MHz:
2017/09/02	18:26	DL1SUZ	JO53UN	716 km
2017/09/02	19:04	SP1JNY	JO73GL	759 km
2017/09/02	19:07	DF0YY	JO62GD	878 km
2017/09/02	20:05	SP2FRY	JO83WR	819 km
2017/09/02	20:37	SP1N	JO73VN	777 km
2017/09/02	21:18	SN7L	JO70SS	1068 km
2017/09/02	21:53	DF0TEC	JO73CE	785 km
RIG : IC-821H + PA 180 W, 2 x 9-ele-yagi at 520 m asl

Perseids Meteor Shower 2017

This year my time was very limited, and I focussed on stations operating from new SQR. 
Saturday I was in my hilltop location in JO59IX, Sunday I was at home but mostly busy
with family. All contacts were made in digimode FSK441 with WSJT.

LA0BY in JO59IX/FW wkd via MS on 144 MHz:
2017/08/12	14:05	14:20	LB6GG	KQ50KG	37	26	1464 km
2017/08/12	15:07	16:02	UY5UZ	KN59BT	37	26	1668 km
2017/08/12	16:33	16:43	GW4BVE/p	IO72QT	27	26	1230 km
2017/08/12	16:45	16:57	GW8JLY	IO81JM	27	26	1277 km
2017/08/12	17:46	17:52	EI9E	IO61AX	27	26	1454 km
2017/08/12	17:55	18:06	UA1ANA	KO69BW	27	26	1187 km
2017/08/12	19:17	19:35	R1NI	KP61VS	26	29	1258 km
2017/08/12	20:32	20:38	9A5M	JN95GO	27	38	1680 km
2017/08/12	21:18	21:35	EW8W	KO42TO	26	26	1418 km
2017/08/12	21:38	21:45	UA3LID	KO64CN	38	26	1418 km
2017/08/13	09:15	09:24	EI/ON5GS/p	IO54PC	37	27	1322 km *
2017/08/13	09:30	09:50	S59R	JN76OM	39	26	1524 km *
2017/08/13	11:25	11:35	EW3AA	KO12TC	27	26	1191 km *
2017/08/13	11:47	12:05	R1AY	KP50BS	27	26	1082 km
RIG: 180W into 2 x 9-ele from JO59IX (* 600 W into 9-ele from JO59FW)

Nice to see LB6GG being active from Northen Norway, and with good equipment, so it 
was very easy to work him. Much more difficult was UY5UZ who had only 45W RF out and
a 7-ele-yagi. Trials with RV3IG (LO07FJ), RA3RF (LO03WK), RW3TJ (LO16XG) and IN3TWX 
(JN56NQ) were not successful. 

As usual for the Perseids, there were a number of rare squares on air activated by DX-
Peditions (thanks!). I noticed good activity from Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. This 
is nice as most of my "white" areas are in Russia. I was happy to work 6 new squares 
among my few contacts. It was a bit confusing that many stations used MSK144 as another
digimode. It would be easier if only one digimode would be used, particularly when 
working random (so far FSK441 seems to persist on 144,370 MHz).

3rd Subregional Contest, July 1-2, 2017

As usual for these 24 h contests my intention was to participate for a few hours
to give participants the opportunity to work LA and perhaps some good DX. The
Hepburn forecast looked promising, so I picked Saturday evening as the appropriate
time. When starting at about 17 UTC the condx were still flat. But already an hour 
later the beacons SK6VHF and OZ7IGY had risen in fieldstrength, and condx allowed 
working into DL on 144 MHz. They soon improved further, and after working DA0FF 
in JO40XL over >1000 km I decided to re-assemble my antenna and add 70 cm on top.
This turned out being successful, as I could contact DA0FF also on 70 cm. Now more 
stations had realized that condx were good and called towards Scandinavia. I
managed to work mainly into DL on 2m, whereas SP, OK and PA appeared outside the
duct for me. Around midnight DA0FF was strong on both bands, and just for fun I 
gave a shout on 2m without PA and they heard me well. Now also OZ4VHF and DM0PR 
beacons where quite strong. But activity was declining and condx started to fade, 
so I dismantled at 1 UTC for a good sleep. 

LA0BY in JO59IX wkd via Tropo on 144 MHz:
2017/07/01	17:44	DH8BQA	JO73CE	785 km
2017/07/01	17:49	OZ1ALS	JO44XX	558 km
2017/07/01	18:00	OZ6TY	JO55XE	538 km
2017/07/01	18:01	SM6NZB	JO58RB	217 km
2017/07/01	18:08	SM7FMD	JO77FW	313 km
2017/07/01	18:25	5P6T	JO46SC	436 km
2017/07/01	18:30	SK7MW	JO65MJ	528 km
2017/07/01	18:33	DM4EE	JO64KE	657 km
2017/07/01	18:34	SM7HGY	JO86DR	486 km
2017/07/01	18:53	DL6YBF	JO31OX	915 km
2017/07/01	18:59	DF0MU	JO32PC	901 km
2017/07/01	19:03	OZ5ESB	JO45GK	521 km
2017/07/01	19:20	DL0LN	JO31QX	913 km
2017/07/01	19:54	DK0TEU	JO43OS	696 km
2017/07/01	20:17	DP4D	JO42DC	888 km
2017/07/01	20:23	DA2T	JO41QW	898 km
2017/07/01	20:53	DA0FF	JO40XL	1057 km
2017/07/01	21:08	DL0SX/P	JO44SN	606 km
2017/07/01	21:12	DR1H	JN59OP	1149 km
2017/07/01	21:19	DL1SUZ	JO53UN	716 km
2017/07/01	21:23	OZ9FW	JO65CO	495 km
2017/07/01	21:29	OL7C	JO60JJ	1074 km
2017/07/01	21:30	DK0SM	JO41UW	896 km
2017/07/01	21:32	DK0OA	JO41WX	891 km
2017/07/01	21:45	DK0B	JO41HG	977 km
2017/07/01	22:01	DL1YAW	JO41DX	902 km
2017/07/01	22:06	DL0BRB	JO43LX	675 km
2017/07/01	22:11	DG8NCO	JO50VH	1077 km
2017/07/01	22:14	DC1NNN	JO60BE	1092 km
2017/07/01	22:17	DL4LAB	JO53BQ	700 km
2017/07/01	22:18	DK2LB	JO53LQ	700 km
2017/07/01	22:20	DK5DQ	JO31QH	986 km
2017/07/01	22:27	DF0XG	JO51KW	894 km
2017/07/01	23:14	SN7L	JO70SS	1068 km
2017/07/01	23:21	DK0MB	JO41TW	897 km
2017/07/01	23:45	DL2ARD	JO50RK	1062 km
2017/07/01	23:57	DL0HTW	JO60QU	1028 km
2017/07/02	0:35	DK0FW	JO51AB	992 km
2017/07/02	0:42	DB6NT	JO50VJ	1068 km
RIG : IC-821H + PA 180 W, 2 x 9-ele-yagi at 520 m asl

LA0BY in JO59IX wkd via Tropo on 432 MHz:
2017/07/01	20:13	OZ1ALS	JO44XX	558 km
2017/07/01	20:57	DA0FF	JO40XL	1057 km
2017/07/01	21:01	OZ1SKY	JO56DG	413 km
2017/07/01	22:48	SM6CEN	JO67AJ	297 km
2017/07/01	23:03	DF0MU	JO32PC	901 km
RIG : IC-821H + PA 120 W, 17-ele-yagi at 520 m asl

July-Contest 2 m Antenna in JO59IX

Looking forward to catch more tropo in the late summer and autumn.

DXpedition to Lines�ya JP43-JP44, June 2017

I went on DXpedition to Lines�ya, together with some good friends from Germany; 
see JP43/44/51 trip report.

Meteorscatter in Perseids 2016

For this year the astronomers expected an outburst of the Perseids, so I was eager
to see if it materialized. Due to family I could not spend much time but focused
on hunting new squares during the maximum. Unfortunately my generator did not want 
to start so I was a bit short on energy from my hilltop site.

LA0BY in JO59FW/IX wkd via MS on 144 MHz:
2016/08/12	08:50	09:00	RW3PX	KO83WR	27	26	1776 km	IX
2016/08/12	09:30	09:40	RO3X	KO73FU	27	26	1583 km	IX
2016/08/12	09:53	10:05	F6DRO	JN03TJ	37	37	1943 km	IX
2016/08/12	11:30	11:32	EI9E	IO44WD	38	26	1408 km	IX
2016/08/12	13:23	13:43	EW7T	KO53EV	27	27	1375 km	FW
2016/08/12	14:03	14:06	TF3CY/p	IP24JF	27	27	1407 km	FW
2016/08/12	15:00	15:13	RU1MS	KP40XD	38	27	1079 km	FW
2016/08/12	15:25	16:00	9A/OK2ZAW	JN83FO	27	26	1861 km	FW
2016/08/13	06:24	07:10	UA1OEJ	KP94VN	26	26	1586 km	FW
2016/08/13	07:35	07:56	M0HOM	IO93QO	26	26	973 km	FW
2016/08/13	08:06	08:45	RA1TL	KO67CX	26	26	1260 km	FW
2016/08/13	09:21	09:23	S50C	JN76JG	27	28	1546 km	FW
2016/08/13	09:30	09:45	YU7C	JN95SS	26	26	1686 km	FW
2016/08/13	10:40	10:46	GM4VVX	IO78TA	27	26	874 km	FW
2016/08/13	11:03	11:10	DM5TI	JN68FF	27	27	1308 km	FW
2016/08/13	11:18	11:31	DF1SO	JN48PO	27	36	1262 km	FW
2016/08/13	11:31	11:41	IV3NDC	JN65RV	27	27	1574 km	FW
2016/08/13	11:41	11:52	DO9EE	JO41GU	26	26	907 km	FW
2016/08/13	12:45	12:55	OE1ILW/3	JN77XX	26	26	1376 km	FW
2016/08/13	12:58	13:10	MM0GYX	IO87IP	26	26	830 km	FW
2016/08/13	13:15	13:50	F6BEG	JN25JS	26	26	1619 km	FW
2016/08/13	14:00	14:22	ON5DRE	JO20KW	27	26	1060 km	FW
2016/08/13	18:45	19:10	TF3ML/p	HP93KU	26	26	1701 km	IX
2016/08/13	19:35	19:55	GM6VXB/p	JO07KU	27	26	611 km	IX
2016/08/13	20:00	20:19	UR4EWZ	KN87CX	26	26	2113 km	IX
2016/08/13	21:00	21:27	R1NW	KP71HU	26	26	1302 km	IX
2016/08/13	21:37	21:57	HB9FAP	JN47PH	47	26	1411 km	IX
RIG FW: IC821H, PA 500W, 9-ele-yagi at altitude 100 m asl
RIG IX: IC821H, PA 180W, 2 x 9-ele-yagi at altitude 520 m asl

From what I observed I can confirm that the shower was quite good. Reflections were
many and strong on the 12th in the afternoon, but because of generator trouble and 
bad weather I was not QRV for as many hours as I hoped for. I was lucky to complete 
with TF3ML/p, GM6VXB/p and UR4EWZ in the evening of the 13th when reflections were 
generally poor. UR4EWZ was surprisingly easy with 20 sec S9 bursts over such a long 
distance. I had heard him already from my home-QTH earlier, as well at UT4LA. R1NW 
and MM0GYX were both operating with only 50W output power.

All in all, the shower was very good for me. I was very happy with the results, as 
I managed to work 8 new squares. Really impressive to see two stations active on 
Iceland simultaneously. Many thanks to all who bothered to work me and in 
particular the expeditioners who activated rare squares! 

DX-Pedition to JP42VP, June 2016

I went on DXpedition to Oppdal, together with friends and family; see the
 JP42 trip report.

Marconi Memorial Contest, November 7, 2015

						
LA0BY in JO59IX wkd via Tropo and Aurora on 144 MHz (> 800 km):
2015/11/07	14:03	UA1ASA	KO48GH	55A	59A	1032 km
2015/11/07	14:44	DM3W	JO62XE	559	599	890 km
2015/11/07	16:20	GM4VVX	IO78TA	56A	53A	890 km
2015/11/07	16:55	DA0FF	JO40XL	559	599	1058 km
2015/11/07	17:25	DL0HTW	JO60QU	559	599	1029 km
2015/11/07	17:57	RK1AS	KP40UE	55A	55A	1052 km
2015/11/07	18:16	DF0MU	JO32PC	57A	59A	901 km
2015/11/07	18:30	RA1AC	KO49VV	55A	55A	1061 km
2015/11/07	18:43	LY2WR	KO24FO	59A	59A	1017 km
RIG : K3 + XVTR + PA, 180 W, 2 x 9-ele-yagi at 520 m asl

Due to the Aurora I became QRV earlier than planned. Unfortunately
the activity from Scandinavia and Baltic countries was quite low.
Even some good Tropo contacts were possible, but condx were quite
unstable. Hrd also OL90IARU, R1DM, GM4PPT and GM3UCI.

Nordic Activity Contest, November 3, 2015

							
LA0BY in JO59IX wkd via Tropo on 144 MHz (> 800 km):
2015/11/03	17:10	DL6KA	JO30DS	55	51	1061 km
2015/11/03	17:12	DF0MU	JO32PC	59	59	901 km
2015/11/03	17:22	PA4VHF	JO32JE	52	55	899 km
2015/11/03	17:25	DG0VOG	JO60QU	57	55	1028 km
2015/11/03	17:28	DL5FDP	JN49LP	529	559	1154 km
2015/11/03	17:30	DL9AJ	JO52CJ	559	559	844 km
2015/11/03	17:31	DK5YA	JN49NX	559	559	1116 km
2015/11/03	17:33	DQ1200HI	JO42QD	529	559	875 km
2015/11/03	17:36	DF1JC	JO31OG	559	559	993 km
2015/11/03	18:00	DG0VOG	JO60QU	59	59	1028 km
2015/11/03	18:04	OK1NG/P	JO60UQ	59	59	1050 km
2015/11/03	18:14	DK5ON/P	JO41IW	55	59	903 km
2015/11/03	18:19	DL6YBF	JO31OX	539	539	915 km
2015/11/03	18:20	DF1JC	JO31OG	539	559	993 km
2015/11/03	18:25	DL4DWA	JO61QH	559	559	978 km
2015/11/03	18:28	DL6BF	JO32QI	529	559	872 km
2015/11/03	18:30	DK5YA	JN49NX	559	539	1116 km
2015/11/03	18:32	DL2ALF	JO50IW	529	519	1005 km
2015/11/03	18:34	PA3C	JO33FD	559	559	803 km
2015/11/03	18:38	DL2VNN	JO61QH	529	549	978 km
2015/11/03	18:45	PA2RU	JO32LT	599	599	829 km
2015/11/03	18:46	DL3YEE	JO50LX	559	559	1001 km
2015/11/03	18:47	DF7KF	JO30GU	579	559	1048 km
2015/11/03	18:50	DF0CCC	JO32PC	599	599	901 km
2015/11/03	18:51	DJ9MG	JO52TC	59	59	877 km
2015/11/03	18:52	DL1VPL	JO61UA	59	59	1014 km
2015/11/03	18:56	OK1ES	JO60RN	59	59	1061 km
2015/11/03	18:59	DF0HF	JO50SF	559	559	1085 km
2015/11/03	19:00	DL6NAA	JO50VF	579	599	1086 km
2015/11/03	19:01	DK7AW	JO51ET	559	579	908 km
2015/11/03	19:23	OK1DOY/P	JO60UQ	59	59	1050 km
2015/11/03	19:24	DL1OBF	JO42NG	59	59	863 km
2015/11/03	19:30	PE1BIW	JO32BT	59	57	845 km
2015/11/03	19:47	DH7OT	JO52FF	53	53	862 km
2015/11/03	19:48	DL2ABO	JO41RT	53	55	911 km
2015/11/03	19:49	DL5ME	JO52SD	59	59	873 km
2015/11/03	19:52	OK1JAX	JO60VR	57	59	1047 km
2015/11/03	19:52	DL8AAV	JO52DH	55	57	853 km
2015/11/03	19:53	OK1UXH	JO60VR	57	57	1047 km
2015/11/03	19:53	DH1DM	JO61TB	55	55	1008 km
2015/11/03	19:54	DM2EUN	JO60IV	55	55	1018 km
2015/11/03	19:56	DH3NAN	JO50NC	55	55	1098 km
2015/11/03	19:59	DO3MXK	JO62HJ	559	559	851 km
2015/11/03	20:00	DM1TS	JO61OC	59	59	999 km
2015/11/03	20:02	DM2ECM	JO62GJ	54	54	851 km
2015/11/03	20:04	PA2CHR	JO32DB	59	55	922 km
2015/11/03	20:04	DG1DTL	JO61PH	55	55	977 km
2015/11/03	20:05	DJ5QX	JO42UN	57	58	827 km
2015/11/03	20:06	DM1CG	JO30GU	56	51	1048 km
2015/11/03	20:06	DK5QN	JO42FA	59	58	896 km
2015/11/03	20:07	DK5DQ	JO31QH	59	55	986 km
2015/11/03	20:09	DK2EA	JO50SF	57	55	1085 km
2015/11/03	20:11	DL8YE	JO32MC	559	559	904 km
2015/11/03	20:13	DF9IC	JN48IW	519	519	1234 km
2015/11/03	20:14	DF0WD	JO42FD	599	599	882 km
2015/11/03	20:15	DF7VX	JO41KP	579	579	934 km
2015/11/03	20:17	DD9OR	JO42RB	559	559	884 km
2015/11/03	20:18	DJ3AK	JO52GJ	59	59	843 km
2015/11/03	20:19	PA3BGM	JO33CE	54	59	803 km
2015/11/03	20:20	DL1YAW	JO41DX	59	59	902 km
2015/11/03	20:23	DJ7YP	JO42GB	59	59	890 km
2015/11/03	20:27	DH6DAO	JO41CN	559	559	949 km
2015/11/03	20:28	PA4VHF	JO32JE	599	599	899 km
2015/11/03	20:30	DK0OG	JN68GI	559	559	1298 km
2015/11/03	20:32	DL6YEH	JO32VA	579	559	903 km
2015/11/03	20:33	DL1YEN	JO42GI	579	559	858 km
2015/11/03	20:34	DL1RTL	JO62PH	559	579	867 km
2015/11/03	20:35	SN2DX	JO93AI	559	579	861 km
2015/11/03	20:38	DL1OJ	JO42QI	599	599	852 km
2015/11/03	20:40	DL2DTJ	JO61UA	53	55	1014 km
2015/11/03	20:41	DJ2IA	JO61WN	55	55	956 km
2015/11/03	21:02	SO3Z	JO82LJ	529	429	927 km
2015/11/03	21:06	DL9OBM	JO52BM	559	599	830 km
2015/11/03	21:08	DL1HSF	JO61FR	59	59	924 km
2015/11/03	21:11	DL5EBS	JO31LH	559	559	992 km
2015/11/03	21:25	UA2FT	KO04LT	559	599	839 km
2015/11/03	21:27	SP1JNY	JO73GL	59	59	759 km
2015/11/03	21:59	OK1TEH	JO70FD	529	529	1119 km
2015/11/03	22:03	DL7MB	JO62QK	559	559	854 km
2015/11/03	22:09	OK7GU	JN69QT	57	55	1143 km
2015/11/03	22:21	DL7ULM	JO62MS	559	559	814 km
RIG : K3 + XVTR + PA, 180 W, 2 x 9-ele-yagi at 520 m asl

Squares worked during Nov NAC.

Very nice to have good tropo condx again during the NAC. I enjoyed it a lot. 
Many thanks for all contacts!

IARU R1 UHF Contest, October 3-4, 2015

The good tropo condx observed earlier this week continued into the contest.
Signals that came across the Baltic Sea were extremely strong at times, but 
did not reach very far into the more southern regions. It was great fun to
operate from Norway, being again at the end of a duct.

LA0BY in JO59IX wkd via Tropo on 432 MHz:
2015/10/03	14:31	SM7GVF	JO77GA	SSB	59	57	397 km
2015/10/03	14:37	DG8LG	JO44VP	SSB	59	55	596 km
2015/10/03	14:39	OZ1IEP	JO55XU	SSB	59	58	465 km
2015/10/03	14:45	OZ1FDH	JO65CS	SSB	55	55	476 km
2015/10/03	14:50	SK7MW	JO65MJ	SSB	59	59	528 km
2015/10/03	14:52	OZ9GE	JO66CB	SSB	59	59	444 km
2015/10/03	14:53	OZ1BV	JO54WA	SSB	59	54	666 km
2015/10/03	14:57	DL3LAB	JO44XS	SSB	59	59	581 km
2015/10/03	14:58	DK4LI	JO44WQ	SSB	59	59	591 km
2015/10/03	15:10	SP1JNY	JO73GL	SSB	59	59	759 km
2015/10/03	15:16	OZ6OL	JO65DJ	SSB	59	59	518 km
2015/10/03	15:23	DF1AN	JO63SX	SSB	59	59	689 km
2015/10/03	15:52	OZ9FW	JO65CO	SSB	59	55	495 km
2015/10/03	15:58	DL1SUZ	JO53UN	CW	539	599	716 km
2015/10/03	16:02	DL0HB	JO53KB	SSB	59	59	769 km
2015/10/03	16:34	SB7W	JO65RL	SSB	59	59	526 km
2015/10/03	16:36	DK2ZF/P	JO43WJ	SSB	59	55	734 km
2015/10/03	17:01	OZ1SKY	JO56AG	SSB	59	59	414 km
2015/10/03	17:08	DJ6TK	JO44RT	SSB	57	59	579 km
2015/10/03	17:13	DK2OY	JO44WS	SSB	59	59	581 km
2015/10/03	17:30	LY2WR	KO24FO	CW	559	599	1017 km
2015/10/03	17:38	UA2FT	KO04LT	CW	529	559	839 km
2015/10/03	17:43	SP2CHY	JO94GO	SSB	59	59	760 km
2015/10/03	17:48	SP2MKO	JO93CB	CW	519	559	895 km
2015/10/03	17:51	DL6AA	JO43JH	SSB	59	59	750 km
2015/10/03	17:52	DL8QS	JO43QH	SSB	53	59	746 km
2015/10/03	17:57	PI4GN	JO33II	SSB	55	55	776 km
2015/10/03	17:58	OZ1BEF	JO46OE	SSB	59	59	431 km
2015/10/03	18:08	OV3T	JO46RG	SSB	59	59	419 km
2015/10/03	18:16	DL4LAB	JO53BQ	SSB	55	51	700 km
2015/10/03	18:16	OZ2ND	JO46LD	SSB	56	55	438 km
2015/10/03	18:19	OZ1GPZ	JO54TU	SSB	57	59	572 km
2015/10/03	18:26	OZ7JRL	JO54RW	SSB	59	59	562 km
2015/10/03	18:31	DK7C	JO62GD	SSB	59	55	878 km
2015/10/03	18:38	DF0MU	JO32PC	CW	559	599	901 km
2015/10/03	18:50	DD0VD/P	JO64NN	SSB	59	59	619 km
2015/10/03	18:51	DG4VW	JO64NN	SSB	59	59	619 km
2015/10/03	19:06	DL4HG	JO53CM	CW	599	599	719 km
2015/10/03	19:12	SP1O	JO73GK	SSB	57	59	764 km
2015/10/03	19:25	SP2WPY	JO94FL	SSB	55	55	768 km
2015/10/03	19:32	SM7DTT	JO65LJ	SSB	59	59	527 km
2015/10/03	19:41	SP1NQN	JO84ML	SSB	59	59	720 km
2015/10/03	20:00	SM7WSJ	JO67WI	SSB	57	57	344 km
2015/10/03	20:06	SQ1GU	JO74TE	SSB	57	59	709 km
2015/10/03	20:27	SM6ESG	JO67CC	SSB	59	57	331 km
2015/10/04	5:47	OH1ND	KP00XL	SSB	59	59	623 km
2015/10/04	6:05	SK6QA	JO58UB	SSB	59	59	221 km
2015/10/04	6:07	OZ9PZ	JO46LC	SSB	59	59	443 km
2015/10/04	6:08	SM6L	JO57XQ	SSB	57	57	265 km
2015/10/04	6:10	SK0EN	JO99JX	SSB	59	59	449 km
2015/10/04	6:14	SM7NR	JO76RC	SSB	59	59	513 km
2015/10/04	6:18	DL0LN	JO31QX	SSB	55	55	913 km
2015/10/04	6:24	SA6CBY	JO57XP	SSB	59	59	269 km
2015/10/04	6:28	SM6VTZ	JO58WI	SSB	59	59	193 km
2015/10/04	6:29	SM7EYW	JO65MJ	SSB	59	59	528 km
2015/10/04	6:32	SA6AIN	JO68UD	SSB	59	59	266 km
2015/10/04	6:47	OZ7IS	JO65DQ	SSB	59	59	486 km
2015/10/04	6:55	SM4L	JP70WS	SSB	54	55	297 km
2015/10/04	7:04	YL2LW	KO26CW	CW	529	579	853 km
2015/10/04	7:06	LY2BUU	KO25AH	CW	559	599	945 km
2015/10/04	7:21	ES6FX	KO37OW	CW	559	589	970 km
2015/10/04	7:27	YL2FZ	KO37QI	CW	529	539	1004 km
2015/10/04	7:38	SM0GWX	JO89XG	SSB	59	59	415 km
2015/10/04	7:54	SM3BEI	JP81NG	SSB	55	57	378 km
2015/10/04	8:01	SM4DXO	JP71SB	SSB	59	59	291 km
2015/10/04	8:24	ES5PC	KO38HJ	SSB	59	59	921 km
RIG: IC-821H, PA 2 x MRF648, 120 W, antenna 2 x 13-ele-yagi (V�rg�rda)	
						
Squares worked on 432 MHz.

Having worked 66 contacts with 10 DXCC (no LA!) at an average of 600 km/QSO
was a reasonable result on 70 cm for my northern location. 

I also tried working on 23cm but the number of stations being within reach
was quite limited. I did not set up the 3cm dish, as I felt too busy on the
lower bands.
 
LA0BY in JO59IX wkd via Tropo on 1296 MHz:
2015/10/03	16:44	DK2ZF/P	JO43WJ	CW	559	559	734 km
2015/10/03	16:51	DC6UW	JO44VJ	SSB	59	55	623 km
2015/10/03	16:51	OZ6OL	JO65DJ	SSB	59	59	518 km
2015/10/03	16:55	SM7GEP	JO77IP	SSB	59	59	347 km
2015/10/03	17:16	OZ1IEP	JO55XU	SSB	55	52	465 km
2015/10/03	18:53	DD0VD/P	JO64NN	SSB	59	59	619 km
2015/10/03	18:54	DG4VW	JO64NN	SSB	59	59	619 km
2015/10/03	20:32	SM6ESG	JO67CC	SSB	59	56	331 km
RIG: FT-817ND, antenna mount XVTR, 15 W, antenna 23-ele-yagi (F9FT)								

Meteorscatter in Perseids 2015

LA0BY in JO59FW/IX wkd via MS on 144 MHz:
2015/08/10	06:26	06:36	SP/OK1MU KO13MX	27	26	1008 km
2015/08/12	06:03	06:17	GW8JLY	IO81JM	28	26	1253 km
2015/08/12	06:36	06:44	OE1ILW/3 JN77XX	27	26	1376 km
2015/08/12	06:48	06:55	HB9SLU	JN36MU	27	26	1472 km
2015/08/12	07:24	07:54	OH9EKT	KP38SP	26	26	1263 km
2015/08/12	08:22	08:35	LA8KV	JP52QQ	38	39	310 km
2015/08/12	09:35	09:48	LY/OK2ZAW KO23BX 28	26	1057 km
2015/08/12	09:52	10:14	IK4ADE	JN54OE	26	26	1752 km
2015/08/12	10:52	11:03	G4KGC	IO92RG	27	26	1089 km
2015/08/12	11:12	11:22	G3WZT	IO90UX	27	27	1202 km
2015/08/12	12:20	12:22	EI9E	IO43XW	28	26	1403 km
2015/08/12	12:30	13:05	DL/IN3TWX JN59KV 27	28	1117 km
2015/08/12	13:15	13:26	DG2KBC	JN58MI	27	27	1289 km
2015/08/12	13:30	13:52	G4LOH	IO70JC	27	27	1474 km
2015/08/12	17:14	17:24	RM1A	KO59BU	27	26	1093 km
2015/08/13	06:55	07:10	TF3CY	HP94AD	48	26	1742 km	IX
2015/08/13	08:05	08:38	IW7DEC	JN81GF	26	26	2123 km	IX
2015/08/13	09:30	09:42	S56P	JN76PO	27	27	1517 km	IX
2015/08/13	10:00	10:12	9A5RJ	JN86EL	37	26	1546 km	IX
2015/08/13	13:20	13:24	HB9FAP	JN47PH	39	37	1406 km	
2015/08/13	14:05	14:40	UA1ZFG	KP69NA	27	26	1467 km
2015/08/13	14:43	14:45	RU1A	KO48VR	27	27	1101 km
2015/08/13	14:53	15:24	DM3W	JO62XE	27	26	888 km
2015/08/13	15:24	15:33	DL1KDA	JO30FQ	27	27	1059 km
2015/08/13	16:04	16:12	S54O	JN75NT	26	27	1601 km
2015/08/13	19:00	19:30	LY2WR	KO24FO	28	26	1026 km
RIG JO59FW: IC-821H, 600 W, 9-ele-yagi at 100 m asl
RIG JO59IX: IC-821H, 180 W, 2 x 9-ele-yagi at 520 m asl

Did not make so many contacts this year. I was hunting for new squares but this 
starts to become challenging as it often involves long distance and/or stations 
using low power. I had a couple of unsuccessful trials when I was in JO59IX. 
Not sure I was QRV during the peak, reflections never lived up to usual �Perseid 
style�. I was lucky to complete with IW7DEC Roberto over 2123km, quite a long 
distance for medium power. Nice and unusual QSO also with TF3CY Benedict who 
produced big reflections over 1742km. 

DX-Pedition to JP41UA, July 2015

I went on DXpedition to Glenna mountain cottage, together with friends and family; 
see the  JP41UA trip report.

VHF-UHF Contest July 4-5, 2015

LA0BY in JO59IX wkd via Tropo on 144 MHz:
2015/07/04	17:25	OZ7KJ	JO46ML	59	59	401 km
2015/07/04	17:26	DL0SX/P	JO44SN	59	59	606 km
2015/07/04	17:28	OZ1ALS	JO44XX	59	59	558 km
2015/07/04	17:29	DF0MU	JO32PC	59	59	901 km
2015/07/04	17:31	OZ5GX	JO57FJ	59	59	288 km
2015/07/04	17:41	DL7AU/P	JO54VC	59	59	657 km
2015/07/04	17:43	DM4EE	JO64KE	55	59	657 km
2015/07/04	17:51	DK2LB	JO53LQ	59	59	700 km
2015/07/04	17:53	DK3BK	JO53WH	59	59	745 km
2015/07/04	17:58	PA1T	JO33JF	59	59	788 km
2015/07/04	18:07	DG7TG	JO34WE	59	59	666 km
2015/07/04	18:09	DG3XA	JO43WJ	59	59	734 km
2015/07/04	18:12	DG8LG	JO44VP	59	59	596 km
2015/07/04	18:19	OZ1BUR	JO46HI	59	59	421 km
2015/07/04	18:33	SN7L	JO70SS	559	599	1068 km
2015/07/04	18:37	DL4LAB	JO53BQ	59	59	700 km
2015/07/04	18:38	DK2OY	JO44WS	59	59	581 km
2015/07/04	18:40	SK6BA/P	JO67HN	59	59	291 km
2015/07/04	19:23	DM3W	JO62XE	559	599	889 km
2015/07/04	19:31	DK0TEU	JO43OT	59	59	692 km
2015/07/04	19:38	OZ3PY	JO45UM	59	59	499 km
2015/07/04	19:40	5P6T	JO46OE	59	59	431 km
2015/07/04	19:42	OL7C	JO60JJ	59	599	1074 km
2015/07/04	19:49	DH8BQA	JO73CE	57	55	785 km
2015/07/04	20:02	OZ7A	JO55RT	59	59	465 km
2015/07/04	20:38	PA5MS	JO21RQ	559	559	978 km
2015/07/04	20:55	DA0FF	JO40XL	59	59	1057 km
2015/07/04	21:03	DR1H	JN59OP	59	559	1149 km
2015/07/04	21:37	OL4A	JO60RN	59	59	1061 km
2015/07/04	21:43	OZ5ESB/P	JO45GK	59	59	521 km
2015/07/04	21:44	OZ1IEP	JO55XU	59	59	465 km
2015/07/04	22:14	RM1A	KO59BU	55A	55A	1078 km
2015/07/04	22:21	YL2PJ	KO36QM	55A	55A	1045 km
2015/07/04	23:14	DL8VL	JO71FG	529	599	996 km
2015/07/04	23:21	DF0WD	JO42FD	55A	55A	882 km
2015/07/04	23:31	LY2BUU	KO15XH	55A	59A	941 km
2015/07/04	23:33	DK5DQ	JO31QH	559	559	986 km
2015/07/04	23:42	DF0DA	JO30JF	59	59	1112 km
2015/07/05	1:26	ON4KHG	JO10XO	559	559	1125 km
2015/07/05	1:47	DF0YY	JO62GD	559	599	878 km
2015/07/05	2:19	UA2F	JO94XV	599	599	790 km
2015/07/05	2:28	ON5LL	JO21RF	559	599	1027 km
2015/07/05	2:31	OZ1HDF	JO55UN	599	599	495 km
2015/07/05	3:17	DF0WF	JO62XR	559	599	830 km
2015/07/05	3:27	G5LK/P	JO01QD	559	599	1142 km
2015/07/05	3:28	DK2ZF/P	JO43WJ	599	599	734 km
2015/07/05	3:32	DC1NNN	JO50SF	59	59	1085 km
2015/07/05	3:45	DL0LN	JO31QX	55	59	913 km
2015/07/05	3:51	SA7W	JO86FP	59	59	500 km
2015/07/05	4:04	DP4D	JO42DC	56	59	888 km
2015/07/05	4:37	DL0HTW	JO60QU	59	59	1028 km
2015/07/05	4:51	DF0GEB	JO51DI	559	599	959 km
2015/07/05	5:00	DR1B	JO33TP	55	59	729 km
2015/07/05	5:14	DL6YBF	JO31OX	559	559	915 km
2015/07/05	5:16	SF7WT	JO65QQ	559	599	503 km
2015/07/05	5:32	LB6DG	JO59FJ	599	599	66 km
2015/07/05	6:31	SM6BFE	JO68DQ	599	599	169 km
2015/07/05	6:37	LY2NA	KO15JC	539	559	900 km
2015/07/05	6:41	SM4HFI	JP70TO	559	559	280 km
2015/07/05	6:47	LY2HM	KO15CX	529	559	809 km
2015/07/05	7:00	YL3AG	KO06WK	529	559	762 km
2015/07/05	7:03	UA2FT	KO04LT	559	599	839 km
2015/07/05	7:05	UA2FL	KO04FQ	559	599	828 km
2015/07/05	7:19	DK3WG	JO72GI	559	559	880 km
2015/07/05	7:22	SP1JNY	JO73GL	559	599	759 km
2015/07/05	7:24	SP1NQN	JO84ML	559	599	720 km
2015/07/05	7:34	SN1D	JO83BQ	529	599	773 km
2015/07/05	7:36	OZ/DL6CGC	JO57EA	599	599	330 km
2015/07/05	7:37	DL7ANR	JO62PM	59	59	844 km
2015/07/05	7:55	DK0OA	JO41WX	59	59	891 km
2015/07/05	7:59	DK0SM	JO41UW	59	59	896 km
2015/07/05	8:26	DK2CK	JO42CG	59	59	871 km
2015/07/05	8:27	DR3A	JN49LM	59	59	1168 km
2015/07/05	8:45	DJ5FK	JO42SH	559	599	856 km
2015/07/05	8:59	DF5HD	JO43WN	57	59	715 km
2015/07/05	9:41	DL1SUZ	JO53UN	559	599	716 km
2015/07/05	9:43	DL5XJ	JO54AE	559	599	645 km
2015/07/05	9:45	DL8YE	JO32TC	579	559	896 km
2015/07/05	9:57	DL1OBF	JO42NG	59	59	863 km
2015/07/05	10:05	DK0GM	JO42DD	55	59	884 km
RIG: K3 + XVTR, PA 2 x MRF245, 180 W, antenna 2 x 9-ele-yagi (V�rg�rda)		
					
Squares worked on 144 MHz.
 
LA0BY in JO59IX wkd via Tropo on 432 MHz:
2015/07/04	20:13	OZ9FW	JO65CO	59	59	495 km
2015/07/04	20:14	OZ1ALS	JO44XX	59	59	558 km
2015/07/04	20:15	OZ9GE	JO66CB	59	59	444 km
2015/07/04	20:17	OZ9PZ	JO46LC	59	59	443 km
2015/07/04	22:02	OZ7JRL	JO54RW	599	599	562 km
2015/07/05	2:06	OK2A	JO60JJ	599	599	1074 km
2015/07/05	2:23	UA2F	JO94XV	599	599	790 km
2015/07/05	4:10	DF0MU	JO32PC	59	59	901 km
2015/07/05	4:19	SA7W	JO86FP	599	599	500 km
2015/07/05	4:27	DA0FF	JO40XL	559	599	1057 km
2015/07/05	6:03	PI4GN	JO33II	59	59	776 km
2015/07/05	8:13	DL0LN	JO31QX	59	59	913 km
2015/07/05	8:23	DK0PU	JO31JN	55	55	967 km
RIG: IC-821H, PA 2 x MRF648, 120 W, antenna 17-ele-yagi (Wisi)		
						
Squares worked on 432 MHz.

Picture of setup for 2 m and 70 cm