[50mhz] 6m Tropo

Thu Apr 15 08:27:51 EDT 2010

Hi Karl,

It is generally true that tropo on 6 meters is not an ideal mode, with 
signals much weaker than on the higher-frequency bands due to a variety of 
factors -- higher absorption being the primary culprit, along with people 
having generally lower-gain antennas on 6 meters. So I wouldn't say that 
6-meters ops "disregard" tropo -- it's just harder to do.

There are ways to make it easier, though, using WSJT digital modes. One way 
to work those close-in grid squares is meteor back-scatter using WSJT's 
FSK441 mode. You can also be much more successful working tropo with 
weak-signal digital modes like WSJT's JT6M and JT65A. Many of my close-in 
6-meter grids were done using WSJT in one of these modes.

You can also work backscatter off of REALLY strong sporadic-E openings, but 
this is hard. Sporadic-E backscatter is very weak due to the geometrical 
nature of sporadic-E clouds (which are flat and mirror-like), and it's tough 
getting a station's attention when your backscatter signal is S1 and he's 
working guys on sporadic-E that are 20 dB over S9!

Realistically, though, working any of these weak-signal propagation modes 
with 10 watts is going to be extraordinarily difficult, because all these 
are fundamentally INEFFICIENT propagation modes. If you want to work those 
close-in grid squares with a little more success, I'd recommend a power 
increase to at least the 100W level. More will be better. :-)

Bill W5WVO

--------------------------------------------------
From: "Karl J. Zuk" <karlzuk at hotmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, April 14, 2010 6:48 PM
To: <50mhz at mailman.qth.net>
Subject: [50mhz] 6m Tropo

>
> I am working towards a VUCC using only a 10 watt Yaesu FT-690RII in FN31
> in New York, USA. I see a great deal of excitement when Es or F2 comes
> in. When we have huge tropo. lifts I often can not raise one station.
> Why do 6m ops disregard tropo? Is it because they find better
> signal strengths on 2m and 70cm? I need more grid squares and tropo
> activity would certainly help. Thanks for listening! Comments welcomed.
> Karl Zuk N2KZ
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