[NLRS] Upcoming AU and a few other notes
Andrew T. Flowers, K0SM
[email protected]
Wed, 29 Oct 2003 22:21:49 -0500
I worked K3TV on 2m au this evening using a 10m mag mount on my fire
escape with 25w. FN13 to FN20 is pretty much N/S....oh well. I'm glad
I got out the good RG-58 to...eh..."match" the antenna so it didn't go
into SWR shutdown :-) I did actually hear one EN34 station breifly, but
I couldn't pull out the call--I would guess it was Terry by default, but
I'm not sure who else was on. Anyway you did darn well to be heard in
my apartment! Maybe you were on vertical at the time?
BTW, the sun kicked out a measly X10 flare this afternoon. Don't wander
too far.....
Andy K0SM
Terry Van Benschoten wrote:
>Mike,
>
>I have noticed, with a sample of two auroras, that vertical polarization
>WORKS!
>
>The attached note is from SM5BSZ which explains that it only works
>"sometimes".
>url: http://antennspecialisten.se/~sm5bsz/polarity/aupol.htm
>
>Polarization of Aurora signals
>There are a few statements that can definitely be made, and knowing the
>facts help a great deal to get the pleasure of working many and distant
>stations via aurora. Parts of these statements I think are well known, but
>other parts I believe are more or less unknown to the amateur community. All
>my observations are made from grid JO89, and there is of course a
>possibility that the aurora propagation is different at other geomagnetic
>latitudes.
>1. In a north to south path, the polarization is always conserved,
>regardless of the distance and intensity of the aurora. The easiest way to
>work long distance to the south is to elevate the antenna during strong
>auroras. The optimum elevation may be as high as 25 degrees during very
>strong events.
>
>2. Regardless of the communication path the polarization is always conserved
>during minor auroras. An EME capacity station 1500km east or west will
>always be horizontal, if the signal level is below S7 or so in the optimum
>polarization plane.
>
>3. During strong auroras the polarization plane is twisted, and the
>polarization offset depends on aurora intensity and the east to west
>component off the transmission path. (The polarization always stays linear,
>but the best antenna direction may differ with different polarizations)
>
>The statement 3 above is the important one: If you point a vertically
>polarized array somewhere around 300 or 60 degrees in azimuth, the stations
>within about 500km disappear, while the stations at 1500km become strong,
>provided the aurora event is a good one. (From my QTH there are very few
>stations at longer distances east or west).
>
>* * * * * * * ** * * *
>On tonight's aurora, I'm only working it with vertical polarization. So far
>logged:
>10/29/03
>2347Z K2ERG FN13
>10/30/03
>0016Z W9/G4FDX EN60
>0042Z VE3AX FN02
>0112Z K1TEO FN31
>0115Z VE3EU EN93
>0116Z K2RS FN20
>0118Z WA1T FN43
>0120Z W1JR FN42
>
>So far, vertical works!
>
>Equipment: single M2 2M8WLHD yagi, about 17dBd gain, 55 ft long, up 60
>ft, and 1,000 watts out.
>
>73,
>Terry, W0VB
>0132Z K2AXX FN12
>Please update your address book with my new email address of [email protected]
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Mike A. King - KM0T" <[email protected]>
>To: "Northern Lights Radio Society" <[email protected]>
>Sent: Tuesday, October 28, 2003 10:08 AM
>Subject: [NLRS] Upcoming AU and a few other notes
>
>
>>Hey all,
>>
>>Been doing some tower maintinance here in EN13 and have had the tower laid
>>down for the last week. Been working on the 3456 transverter box, etc.
>>
>etc.
>
>>Fixed a relay control cable that the rabbits chewed thru...was sending 150
>>watts of 902 Mhz to the 1296 antennas...that did not work so well, but its
>>good now. Also, apparently for the last year or so, I have only been
>>getting about 2 watts to my 3456 Mhz loopers. So, those of you who
>>
>thought
>
>>I was stronger before, were right. However, I still worked everyone that
>>was tried! Goes to show you if you all get those 40 watt Toshiba amps
>>going, what kind of damage you can do!
>>
>>Anyway, it does not look good for getting it back up for this prehaps
>>"unprecedented" AU opening that we may have.
>>
>>I do however have my dish tower, which has a 144 MHZ yagi on it, but it is
>>VERTICALLY polarized for FM.
>>
>>I dont mind running the SWR a bit high, but I was wondering if anyone out
>>there has any real data on using a Vertically polarized yagi for AU event.
>>I recall speaking with Terry, W0VB about it as he was working on his array
>>and was going to give it a go. I believe Terry indicates it works for
>>
>long
>
>>haul, but cuts out the local QRM due to the polarization cancellation.
>>
>>Terry, if your reading this, have you tried it yet and have anything to
>>indicate yet? Also, anyone else have comments?
>>
>>Being so windy down here, not sure if the tower will get back up, but I
>>
>can
>
>>fire up the other one!
>>
>>If this turns out to be anything like the Persieds meteor shower AU event
>>
>a
>
>>few years ago (where everyone was on to work the meteor shower - but the
>>
>AU
>
>>was so awesome, it did not matter!) then we should be ready to take
>>advantage of it!
>>
>>73
>>
>>Mike - KM0T
>>
>>Oh- Congrats Pat on the award! Just by coincidence yesterday as well, I
>>finally got my ARRL 2001 2nd place Single Op HP plaque for the June VHF
>>contest. It took a long time, but was worth it!
>>
>>Had a good time at the hamfest and at the NLRS booth, thanks to all who
>>
>put
>
>>it on!
>>
>>
>>_______________________________________________
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>>
>
>
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