What an incredible opening this morning on 6 meters into Europe. I picked up 7 new DXCC countries and 13 new grids all on FT8. That brings my DXCC total to 47 and grid total to 502.
At first glance this morning on my WSJT-X decode list I spotted a couple of G call signs. Oh good, I thought, somebody on the East Coast working England. Then I looked again and first realized that the decode was direct from G8BCG. Second, I realized that the signal was reading -10. Oh my goodness.
This was all on WSJT-X at 50.313. First in the log was G8BCG. Check out his 4 x 8 element yagi array on the coast of Cornwall via his QRZ biography. He was in strong most of the morning. Then it was G3TXF followed by two new grids in Canada: VA3PC in FN06 and VE3DG in EO30.
After that I moved to 50.323 where it was really hopping. When used correctly this segment of the band allows better reception of the DX stations. Here’s the current FT8 Intercontinental DX Code of Practice posted at QRZnow:
During the Northern Hemisphere Summer Es season the use of 50.313 MHz for FT8 contacts has become very congested, and stations are now using 50.323 MHz for Intercontinental DX working. In order to not cause QRM to each other and permit the most efficient use of FT8 for weak signal DX working, it is highly desirable for all stations to operate in the same transmit windows. The UKSMG (UK Six Meter Group) has prepared these guidelines for the use of 50.323 MHz.
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- European stations to transmit in the “even” periods. That is 00, and 30 seconds past each minute.
- Asian, and North American stations to transmit in the odd periods. That is 15, and 45 seconds past each minute.
- Do not use 50.323 MHz for working stations within your continent. Europeans working other Europeans are strongly discouraged.
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I had a few US stations either trying to work me or calling CQ on the wrong sequence. Fortunately it didn’t disrupt working a number of stations, countries, and grids.
Here are the stations I worked on 50.323: S57RR, G4IFX, IW0FFK, EA5IOG, GU8FBQ, EI4DQ, I4EAT, IK2TDM, AND 9A6R. You can see the grids in the map above. There were a few more that responded but we couldn’t complete the QSO. Note that the IO88 grid in Scotland I worked in 2018, my first Europe 6 meter contact.
What fun. I hope you were able to get in on the incredible propagation.
[…] Remarks:– Parenthesis means lower probability of activity enhancement.– The predictability of changes remains lower as there are no indications.Jim Wilson, K5ND, noted on June 1: “I’m sure you’ve heard already about the extraordinary six meter activity this past weekend. I’ve heard about a big opening early Sunday morning from the Pacific Northwest into Alaska and Japan. Later that morning I experienced a big opening into Europe from here in North Texas. With 140 watts and 3-element Yagi at 20 feet I managed to work 7 new DXCC entities. Was that ever exciting. Here’s my full write up: https://k5nd.net/2020/05/magic-band-europe-opening-may-31-2020/” […]
[…] Remarks: – Parenthesis means lower probability of activity enhancement. – The predictability of changes remains lower as there are no indications. Jim Wilson, K5ND, noted on June 1: "I’m sure you’ve heard already about the extraordinary six meter activity this past weekend. I’ve heard about a big opening early Sunday morning from the Pacific Northwest into Alaska and Japan. Later that morning I experienced a big opening into Europe from here in North Texas. With 140 watts and 3-element Yagi at 20 feet I managed to work 7 new DXCC entities. Was that ever exciting. Here’s my full write up: https://k5nd.net/2020/05/magic-band-europe-opening-may-31-2020/” […]