Happy New Year 2020 for all !

Happy New Year for all, with special french wishes to my followers and readers !

CU on the HF bands CW/FT8 this time QRP ;-)

Honorary badge of Polish Radio Union #139

Last week of October, during recent "ARISS" Poland conference in Ostrów, I had the honor to be awarded with Gold Honorary Badge of Polish Radio Union #136 for all activities for PZK Association, and all the development of ham radio.  

President of the OT27 PZK branch, and Coordinator ARISS - Sławomir Szymanowski SQ3OOK, me :-), and President of Polish Radio Union Waldemar Sznajder 3Z6AEF.    

More about ARISS Poland and conference LINK  (Polish)

President of ISSfanclub Micol Ivancic IU2LXR report on ISS fanclub page LINK (English)

OZ9KY #JO57 70MHz log

Here's the news from Danish group in JO57.

OZ9KY antenna setup

Ole OZ2OE in action at OZ9KY :-)

"Guys, all ready to... open (another) beer" supervisor OZ8ZS

Worked stations @4m :
October 17 :
OZ8ZS, OZ5KM, GM4VVX, OH3MHA, SP8SN, GM4JTJ, G4CLA, DH9FAC, OH8MGK, OH7TE,
October 18 :
DL5WG, DK5EW, OH3BCX, G4BWP, ON4FI, S57TW
October 19 :
SP9HWY, PA2IP, LA4YGA, GI4OWA, DK2GOX, DJ4MN, GD0TEP, M1BXF, PA3ECU, PA2J, GM4FVM, DF6HT. OH7TE, SM4KYN, 

ARRL EME contest and 70MHz rare #JO57 by OZ's group

Below info I am honoured to pass to all 4m community - on behalf of my friend Henrik OZ8ZS :

Danish Group of operators will be QRV in ARRL EME Contest, both 2m and 23cm during 3rd weekend of October, 19-20 under the call OZ9KY.

More info in Danish ----> HERE

Activity will take place from OZ1GWD summer QTH #JO57GG square, who is also one of the crew.
Other well known operators are :
Bent OZ1DLD, Ole OZ2OE, Anders OZ3Z, Verner OZ5TG and Henrik OZ8ZS.

 

Although Contest will start Saturday, according to info passed by Henrik OZ8ZS the group will activate 70MHz also, starting October 17, late afternoon. using SSB/CW and digimodes on 4m.
Operation will be ceased Sunday October 20 late afternoon (as planned).

More info and pics to be posted after group arrival.

GL !

SP7VC/2 Autumn MS activity #JO94AA and #JO93AX

On behalf of Mek SP7VC :

I will be QRV coming weekend, October 04-06 from Northern Poland. Operation will start Friday Oct.04 from ~17UTC in JO94AA and will end Oct.05 ~10UTC. Later in the day after short trip I will set up the station in JO93AX, and will be QRV around 16UTC till Sunday Oct.06 ~10UTC.

I will not be on KST chat, so please note I will transmit ALWAYS 1st period, using 70.174 for MSK144, 70.154 for FT8 and 70.160 for SSB on 4m. 

JO94AA log: DF6HT, OZ1JXY, OH7TE, OZ8ZS, S57TW, PA2IP, G4BWP, LA4YGA, OZ2OE, OH7LMQ, OZ5KM, ON4FI, PA3ECU.

JO93AX log: OH1MLZ, LA4YGA, DK2GOX, G4BWP, M1BXF, OH7TEE, OZ1JXY, DK1MAX, S57TW, OZ2OE, SM4KYN.

GL All!

SP7VC/5 summer activity #KO02HA & LOG

Another summer grid activation by Mek:

"Hi, my next square pedition will take place from KO02HA, small village Osowiec, Central Poland.

I will be active starting Saturday, August 30 late afternon, ~16UTC, and will qrt next day, August 31 ~16UTC. 

Usual frequencies for FT8/MSK144 on 70MHz. 
NOTE: I will always transmit 1st period.



Logged stations : DG1VL, PA2IP, OK2BRD, SP3CMX, OH7TE, G4BWP, G3SHK, PA4VHF, S57TW, DJ5MN, DF6HT, DK2GOX, OH1MLZ, OZ1JXY, DL5WG, LA4YGA, OH2BYJ, SQ9FHZ, SP3LD, DG1VL, SP2CHY, SP9HWY, GM4FVM, GS8VL, OH6NJ, OH6GKW, OH2BYJ, SP5TZO, DK1MAX, PA3ECU, SP5ENA.

TO/NC : DL8FBD,

QRT now, log closed.

Walking the streets of Versailles, France :-)

My recent job stay in Les Mureaux, France (JN08WX,dept 78) in August,  
let me drive around, visit few beautifull French villages in my spare time, and do some relaxing walkaround.

Walking the streets of Versailles on lazy Thursday and looking for ham antennas, (not many visible there)
and good boulangerie found something interesting. . .  :-)

Accidental "ham-like" registration plate? Unfortunately no owner around, probably went to relax in green  gardens of Versailles.
Hmm. Just in case left my 73 under the wiper, so we'll see. Not sure it's real ham callsign, no more info found... but?

GL.


  

SP7VC/5 summer activity #KO01IP & LOG

Another activation by Mek SP7VC for 4m freaks ;-)

"Hi, my next square pedition will take place from rare grid KO01IP, small village Tomczyce.

I will be active starting Saturday August 24 late evening ~19UTC, and will be qrv next day morning, Sunday that is, August 25. 

Please be vigilant, I will have not much time for radio, but will do my best. 
Usual frequencies for FT8/MSK144 on 70MHz. 
NOTE: I will always transmit 1st period.



Logged stations: PA2IP, OK2BRD, LA4YGA, G4BWP, DL6BF, DL2OM, PA3ECU, PA0RDY, DF6HT, S57TW, OM5KM, DK2EA, PA2M, G3SHK, OH1MLZ, ON4FI, OZ1JXY, DK5SO, DL4KUG, DK2GOX, OH7TE, SP9HWY, OZ1DLD.

Timeout/NC: GW6TEO, DM2ECM, DL5FN.
T.B.U




GL all.

OH7TE in the way back home #KP42EN - log

Log of worked stations from Yussi OH7TE from KP42EN

12.08.2019 :
OZ2OE, PA2IP, DF6HT, PA3ECU, DK2PH, DF1AN, DL4KUG, OZ1JZY, DF5VAE, LA4YGA, DH8BQA, SP2JYR, OZ1DLD, DJ4MM, SP9HWY, DL8BDU, SP2MKO, OK2BRD, DG0KW, DG1ROD. . .

T.B.U

Lapland trip by Yussi OH7TE/9 - Addendum

On behalf of Yussi :

Dear Greg,

First:

Thank you very much for your great support in understanding my hard work while working alone during this 4 meter journey.

I am very happy that both squares have good MS and ES-conditions!

Special thanks to my very good friend OH9KL OM "Ynsky" who lent his very fine QTH at big hill "Korkalovaara" KP26UM and special thanks to my old old friend Jorma Pöykkö in Vikajärvi KP36CP lent his second house at 230 VAC in  "Hill Fox" good radiant South - SouthWest.

 WX was beautiful all the time on a tropical night like this, to +22 ° C in Celcius.

Last days  only +17 C and nigths  ant + 5C...

Now back south, driving over 800km.

I send later PIC's abt my old cottage etc

North Finland trip by Yussi OH7TE/9 #KP36 log

Another grid square actiated by Yussi is KP36CP in Vikajarvi, Lapland, Northern Finland.
According to report by Yussi there's very hot there, some +27C.

Operating position #KP36CP

Juma trx as exciter

Rysaa, the cat 😊
Logged stations :
PA5Y, PA3DOL, DL6ZXG, SP9HWY, SP2JYR, DF4UE, DL6BF, OM5KM, DK1MAX, SP5AOZ, PA3ECU, SP5ENA,  DL4KUG, SP3RNZ, DN5JD, ON7GB, SP3AGE, DJ2QV, DK2EA, DJ9YE, SP2FH, OM5CM, HA7AA, S51DI, HA5CBM, DL5WG, DL5FN, PA2M, PA0RDY, PA7MM, S57TW, G4EZP, G4IJE, SP2DDV, ON4PS, DD3KF, DL8FBD, DL2OM, DM2BHG, PE5HV, ON5CD, PA2J, OK1IN, OK1AGE, DH5YM, DM2ECM, SP5XMU, DJ4MM, OH8UV, OZ8ZS, OH2BYJ, ON4FI, G0JHC, 2E0WDX, GD0TEP, MM0CEZ, OH7RJ, DF5VAE, G0LFF, OH2FRN, OZ1JXY, PA2IP, OH1TM, OH1XT. 

73!

LY/SP7VC activity #KO24DV log & pics QRT now.

Operation started Friday 20UTC, low tropo signals here, unfortunately no digital modes for MS.
No Es until now, so only happy bunny in the morning was PA5Y, who did the QSO on CW possibly weak Es enchanced meteor scatter.

LY/SP7VC full QSO with SP3RNZ - AUDIO    

LY/SP7VC tropo CQ's  - AUDIO 1 

 ,

 Warm welcome by gnome :-)

4 ele Yagi in the background

Operating position

Worked stations : PA5Y, SP3RNZ, YL2CZ, S57TW

QRT now.

SP7VC/3 summer activity #JO72PI log

Recent activity on the road  SP7VC - QTH Jemiolow, #JO72PI - log below.

Worked stations : DL5WG, DF5VAE, DL7UML, DK1MAX, G3SHK, PA4VHF, PA7MM, PA3ECU, PA5Y, GD0TEP, SP3CMX, OZ2OE.


TO/NC: SP2JYR, S57TW, PA3EWP.

North Finland trip by Yussi OH7TE/9 #KP26-KP36

As You probably already know keen 4m operator Yussi OH7TE is QRV now from rare Northern square #KP26UM, better to say from Santa's city, Rovaniemi.
Yussi is located on a hilltop Korkalovaara, 200m a.s.l.

source : maps.google.com
So far stations worked on Es/Ms MSK144 and FT8.
17.07. OZ2OE, OZ8ZS, G4YHF (Es), G4FUF (Es), OH3DP, OH8MGK, SP3RNZ
18.07. DF5VAE, DJ9YE, DL4KUG, DL6BF, OH2BYJ, PA7MM, OH7LMQ, OZ1DLD
19.07. SP2JYR, PA5Y, OH7RJ, PA3ECU, PA7MM,
to be updated... 

OH7TE/9 #KP26UM antenna

 

Artistic shack at #KP26UM, well known wiev for those who travel beyond his chair :-)
Yussi wrote:
"This morning I am QRV again, and then or tomorrow I go to the summer cottage KP36CP. I need 230 VAC for PA. Also, I need to look at where the antenna slot is, and where I can get 230 VAC. 
If I use a generator, then what is the noise level!

Also, you have to carry all the goods by boat .. Lots of work so the KP30 will probably for next week.

I visit  here KP26 again/time to time (e.g. next Saturday, Sunday?) where QRV, info KST forum"

T.B.U

GL all !

LY/SP7VC summer activity, Lithuania #KO24DV

Another Summer activity by SP7VC:

LY/SP7VC will be QRV from RARE Locator KO24DV last days of July, 26-28 that is.
Activity will start Friday July 26, about 21.00UTC, and will end Sunday morning about 10.00UTC.  

As usual, I will not be QRV on KST, I will selfspot myself on Dx-cluster at start, and to announce QSX frequency. 

 

NOTE : Remember there's no DIGI modes in Lithuania, thus only CW and SSB is possible.

My TX frequency will be announced after setting up the station - limit 70.240MHz-70.250MHz ONLY.
My RX frequency will be set down around 70.170-70.180 depending on local QRM in KO24.
Hope for good Tropo/MS or Es at this time.

(de SP3RNZ :Log will be updated ASAP, as I will be abroad)

Equipment : IC-7300 legal power limit, 4el/5+5 YU7EF Yagi


Regards
Mek SP7VC

SP7VC/4 summer actvity #KO14EG, QRT now.

On behalf of Mek : 

My next DX-square pedition will take place July 12-14.2019)
Will be QRV from KO14EG  Jabramowo village, North -East Poland.
Starting probably 17.00UTC Friday, July 12,  to 06.00UTC Sunday, July 14th.

NOTE: I will transmit always 1st period. 

Common used frequencies: 70154.0 FT8, 70174.0 MSK144, 70160.0 SSB and 50160.0 SSB
50230.0 JT6M, 50.280 MSK144, 144 MHz TBD
Equipment :
IC-7300,  IC-746 + PA, YU7EF Yagis.

Worked stations :
4m
PA2IP, PA3ECU, G4BWP, DF5VAE, DK2GOX, G3SHK, DK1MAX, S57TW, PA4VHF, OH2BYJ, PA7MM, PA2M, DJ5MN, DL8FBD, OK2BRD, S51DI, DJ4MM, DK5EW, DG1VL, OZ1JXY, DK5SO.
6m
SP3UR
2m
SP5MG

GL de Mek SP7VC

Amazing JAPAN opening July.06.2019 summary.

Some statistics after amazing Japan opening last Saturday weekend, July 6th,2019. I can say it was biggest and longest one I have experienced during 6m activity. Of course, there were shorter but stronger openings some Years a go, more area focused, with 80+ CW QSO on average, but this one with help of FT8 was really "something".

There's a chance even more can be achieved, but I have encountered very fast QSB - some stations appeared for 1 period only, then gone. How many did not replied in next period? No idea. 40-50 decodes each period makes almost no chance to pick them all, not to mention i3 PC stuck at times. 
FT8 is slow mode for such massive openings, but on the other hand if we select signals "possibly" readable for skilled CW op, overall QSO figure will be much less. . . BTW, called 20min CQ on CW.. no reply at all.   

PSK reporter screen with "CQ only" decoded callsigns

All stations listed were physically heard/decoded during this opening at my home QTH JO92EF, using IC-7300 and single 7ele Yagi YU7EF @8m. For those who search JA grids, link below callsigns table lead to raw JTDX logfile stored on dropbox for checking purpose.

 

Same PSK reporter pic, focused at Japan.

After analysing JTDX file 255 unique different callsigns were heard/decoded/seen during opening:

Raw JTDX "save all" file for checking HERE.

Hope it wasn't last good opening this season.

73

SP7VC/4 KO03HT & KO04HE log -QRT now

Following stations logged on 70MHz:

KO03HT

OH1MLZ, S51DI, S57TW, G3SHK, DL8FBD, GM4ZMK

Meteors were bad, probably decreased by Es.

KO04HE

Rainy afternoon among meteors and vikings  :- )

PA2IP, OH1MLZ, PA7MM, PA3DOL, ON4FI, DF5VAE, DJ9YE, G3SHK, SP1MVG, DL6BF, DL4KUG, DJ5MN, DL8FBD, S57TW, DK2GOX, SP5AOZ, PA5Y, OZ2OE, G4BWP, PA4VHF, OZ1JXY, G4IJE, PA2M, PA3ECU, DK5SO, DL2OM, GM4FVM, DF6HT, DL8FBO, S51DI, DK5EW

NC Timeout G4MKF,OK1VBN, DK2EA, YL2CZ

New QSL project, still under construction :-)

For those who need my card and still not get any, please be patient :-)
Final project sholud look like that :

The way we work DX changed nowadays, so opposite to the flow we need to support old good modes.   But of course - we can't deny any other way one using to get the QSO. It's always operator choice.  

SP7VC/4 summer actvity #KO03HT & #KO04HE

On behalf of Mek SP7VC:

My next DX-square pedition will take place in North-Eastern Poland.

Will be QRV coming weekend 05-06 July 2019 from KO03HT, starting Saturday 17:00UTC to Sunday ~10:00UTC and later the day from KO04HE starting around 14UTC. Will QRT Sunday, July 07 ~10UTC.

I will not be on KST, and as usual please note that SP7VC/4 TX-ing always FIRST (even) period.

Frequencies : 70.154 FT8, 70.174 MSK144 and 70.160 SSB if any Es opening.
Equipment : IC-7300, 4el Yagi YU7EF

Regards
Mek SP7VC

MSHV 2.11 settings for 6m EME

Prepared for Mario K2ZD Feb.19.2019

(edited Mar.2019)

This is how my screen looks like after initial setup in Options /Macros/ etc. I'll back to this later. 

Will skip similar things from WSJT, the only difference is at first sight, one can switch between long display (used for FT8) and single display known from WSJT. It's easy to do by clicking on 2D sign in upper right corner of the screen. 

Of course any MSHV need to be tweaked to line up with radio audio levels and operator preferences, so if needed display can be tuned to get proper contrast and brightness. Two sliders below “TUNE DISPLAY” – right side of screen will help. 

Additionally I have different waterfall speed set to 6 or 7 sometimes – this is only operator preference. I just like it this way. 

Similar as in WSJT, we need to set “Sync Def” parameter which is in my case -1 – same as -30 in WSJT. 

There’s no difference if we set -1 or -30 in WSJT, it’s just decoder parameter to  skip sync count. So -1 here will do the job. 

Other screen parameters should be obvious, let’s go to “Settings”.

If  we look in MSHV folder ( assume it’s installed according with Installer hint – best in other partition than C:\) We will find few files/folders containing vital information letting us to tweak the program behaviour without annoying  false decodes. 

Let’s dig deeper inside “Settings” folder. 

In my case it’s located in E:\MSHV\Settings

Files with name starting ms_xxxx are setup files in text format, even if they have different extensions. No reason to change anything inside so let’s go to our target folder “database”  - here E:\MSHV\settings\database

Starting from first file: 

msbcn_db.dbbn contains beacon information – we can skip it

msloc_db contains calls and qra locator for known (all HF & VHF) stations. But in my opinion quite obsolete, note there’s no W7GJ in it, or other 6m hams. But if You add any station in main MSHV window, this station along with qra locator will be added here at the bottom of file. Almost the same as in WSJT. This file is used as HF & VHF calls database.

msloc_db_mshv_original – it’s the main copy of above file without changes.

mstn_db contains dx cluster calls and addresses used in spotting stations you are hearing – psk reporter spotting feature, same as in WSJT-X or JTDX.

msloc_db_jt65_deep_search this is the file of our main interest. In my case this file is EMPTY.

You might ask why? Well, to be exact my file contains ONLY callsigns which were added by me before EME QSO, when listened to anyone, or prior known coming DXpedition. Decoding algorithm used by WSJT and similar software sometimes get fooled by invisible birdies, noises etc. Additionally MSHV is equipped with feature called “AP” decoding = nothing more than “A priori” partial guessing commonly used in VHF communication via aircraft scatter, troposcatter and other paths with heavy Doppler. Removing all calls from the file will prevent You to see false decodes with callsigns never heard on 6m, but known form HF or other VHF lists. I can’t see any logical reason to keep 1000 calls mostly not active, silent keys or HF’ers while digging the space for CP/W7GJ or VK3DUT callsign.  Actually in my WSJT 9.7 which is the best version IMO, these calls are removed as well.  The only “cons” is You will have to add your QSO partner manually at first QSO attempt to see Astro data etc.. If You need to reinstall program, simply copy the file and overwrite after reinstallation with your calls in there.

This is shortly all we need to do, here so back to the main window - “Decode” tab.

My usual settings, additionally You can play with “Aggressive levels of JT65” but this need further investigation – depending on local noise, birdies and using previously mentioned “deep search database” file. My settings are: 
Decoder aggressive level = 7 and Deep search level = 75.   

Do not  tick the AP feature for FT8/JT65 J  - this will flood your screen with false decodes crap.

As You can see I am using BW palette – two reasons – first, human eye is more sensitive to find even weakest white spot on black pattern, second reason, it looks the same as WSJT.

That’s all for a start, I think. 
My setup now is WSJT9.7 with moon data files from WSJT 10 and MSHV in background as second program without PTT. During V84SAA dxp both WSJT9.7 and MSHV were used with 3rd WSJT10 in the background. 

Both WSJT performed very good, MSHV gave 1-2 decode less on SH, but for me old good WSJT 9.7 was real killer.