Following a couple of weeks receiving WSPR transmissions at the EI5DD QTH, it became apparent that 5MHz had a few little secrets often missed as a result of retiring to bed before Midnight. At around 01:00 - 04:00, it appears that the band was opening into South America and South Africa. It was time to see if it were possible to have a phone contact.
All revealed on the map below
Reception Window of the WSPR Receiver showing DX between 01:40 and 04:28 UTC
All revealed on the map below
Reception Window of the WSPR Receiver showing DX between 01:40 and 04:28 UTC
I had the surprise of my life on the 29th of October when I heard Z35BY from Macedonia Calling CQ on 5403.5KHz at 00:39 UTC; there was also some CW activity from a LB station. Shortly after the QSO I thought I heard some voices from the States. White noise sometimes plays tricks like that but I called a few times only to be pleasantly surprised by WP3UX from Puerto Rico followed a little later by K1CP and W2YC. I received an Email from KB8VAO informing me that he could hear me in Ohio but his calls did not seem to be getting through. Indeed it it could have been his call as there were odd bursts of voice in the noise but nothing discernible.
Finally, on the 31st of October, following a brief QSO with OY1OF from the Faroe Islands, a CQ call resulted in a call from America well down in the noise. After a couple of tries, the station rose out of the noise and it was KB8VAO at a good 55. The QSO was just long enough to pass information and a report from both sides before everything faded back into the noise again.
See Logs and Ionogram Below:
Extract from Log 29th - 31st October
Ionogram from around the time of the QSOs on 31st October 2015
The Icom IC-M700
No doubt the DX can only get better as the winter progresses, but the first ever DX on the band is always the best. Always listen to the white noise on the band.Sometimes there are minor changes that indicate that things are going to happen. WSPR reception has shown that the band does open into South America and South Africa in the early hours of the morning so it may be worth while just staying up that little bit longer.
Subsequent Log from the 31st - !st of November of October
A couple of nights later and there were definite signs of good conditions on the way. A QSO into LA resulted in a "fluttery" QSO, on 5403.5KHz, with good signal strength. In the background, there was evidence of voice in the noise. Quite a few stations on from America but the best was VE1YX who was coming in with a strength 9+. Another late night!
Prefixes Worked to Date:
Subsequent Log from the 31st - !st of November of October
A couple of nights later and there were definite signs of good conditions on the way. A QSO into LA resulted in a "fluttery" QSO, on 5403.5KHz, with good signal strength. In the background, there was evidence of voice in the noise. Quite a few stations on from America but the best was VE1YX who was coming in with a strength 9+. Another late night!
Prefixes Worked to Date:
C31, EA, EI, G, GB, GD, GI, GM, GW, IZ, K1, K2, LA, LB, M, MM, MW, MX, N1, OK7, OY, OZ, TF, VE1, VE2, W2, W3, WP & Z35
