Over the past 24 hours, I have had two successful QSO on two new
digital modes, new modes for me.
Last evening I had a QSO on 6 meters (my first non-repeater contact on
6M) using JT6M, I worked N4HN in North Carolina and then today on 6M I
worked Bruce N5SIX using FSK441.
I am currently using just a 2 element 6M Yagi 90 watts, antenna at the
moment just 15 feet high.
I think working digital via meteor scatter or even sporadic E may
appeal to some of the digital enthusiasts here , I urge you to give it
a try.
I think it will appeal to those that just like trying things, testing
signal paths, and general experimentation. It is NOT for those that
like a rag-chew. The N5SIX QSO I had took an hour to complete. Bruce
N5SIX has been most helpful in teaching me the basics of JT65A
operations so I was determine to make a Good go of giving him a new
grid square on MS. If you had told em that I would actually enjoy a
mode that took an hour to complete a basic exchange, I would have told
you that you were crazy. However, there is something challenging and
exciting about looking at the "waterfall" for a tell-tale meteor
scatter signal spike, and then fishing around in the WSJT graphical
display for the decoded text. While an hour may not be unusual, I
have been told that with good conditions 15 minutes is not too
uncommon for successful contacts. .
Regardless of meteor scatter or not, it seems that the JT6M and FSK441
modes with the WSJT software might be very useful for detecting very
brief 6M and 2M Sporadic E openings
For example, using FSK441 mode today....
125600 18.4 280 3 26 -21 R26 R26 R26 R26 R26 R26 R26 R26 R26 R26
The above "prefect copy" string occurred out of a very brief "ping" .
One long burst produced ....
time width
132100 1.6 1480 5 36 -21 26 UK R26 UK R26 UK R26 UK R26 UK
R26 UK
132100 3.1 80 2 16 -21 RR6 UH 263UK2
132100 5.2 100 3 16 -21 RR RRRORRRORR RS
132100 6.1 60 2 16 -21 RR RRR RR
132100 6.3 140 3 26 -21 RR RRR RRR RRR RRR RRR
132100 8.3 120 2 26 -21 R RRR RRR RJR R V
So in a few brief seconds, the info can get through.
So, if you are game for some new modes, give this a try!
Andy K3UK
Skype Me : callto://andyobrien73
www.obriensweb.com
