[TransAtlantic] K6EDX #3 post

[k4mhz at aol.com]

Team
look at DUBUS 4/2007 cover...
looking at the G4LOH to D44TD path 4040km conditions and CT1HZE to 4X1UN 4008km...

I will call G4LOH to see his elevation and Joe/CT1HZE for data...
Mark
K4MHZ.



-----Original Message-----
From: Bob Cooper <skyking at clear.net.nz>
To: transatlantic at mailman.qth.net
Sent: Thu, Nov 26, 2009 3:45 pm
Subject: [TransAtlantic] K6EDX #3 post


There are four terrestrial ways to connect W/K with Europe on 2 (or heaven 
orbid - 432); tropospheric, E-layer meteor, E layer sporadic E and aurora. One 
t a time. Tropospheric is the 'clean' way and it requires a maximum effort on 
oth ends. But once done - it is done and the Brenden Trophy is clearly 
chieved. E-layer meteor is so simple as to defy any serious consideration - 
ubject to a ruling by the Irish folk overseeing the Brenden Trophy; we'll 
eturn to this. E-layer sporadic E is more of a challenge but hardly outside of 
he realm of possibility. During the 2009 Es season a FM DXer of skill in 
orthern Ireland logged, recorded and verified numerous USA stations in the 100 
Hz range including one in Alabama. Of course 100 megs is not 144 but my how 
lose we might be especially if the NA end was in Newfoundland or Nova Scotia. 
e'll also return there. Aurora? Gene Zimmerman is self-convinced the first 
QSO' could be between (northern) VE4 and someplace such as Sweden
 through the Auroral curtain. Certainly possible, as TV DX reports dating back 
o at least 1959 would verify (nobody but me perhaps remembers the hams and TV 
Xers on an ice flow in the Arctic in that era; TF3). What concerns me here is 
hat VE4MA is the logical 'west end' overlooking the obvious; who will be the 
east end?' and 'MA' is not far enough north, in my mind, to make it work 
roperly (he could but then - why has he not already done it?). Perhaps a VE8 
ould be a better shot. And then - there is the 'minor' problem of a 
on-starting new solar cycle.
Which returns us to E-layer meteor. Here is a shocker: From the airport at St 
ohns (Newfoundland - clearly NA) to the town of Santa Cruz das Flores on the 
sland of Flores, the (almost) western most island in the Azores, is 1,212 
iles; easily within meteor range. If the managers of the Brenden Trophy have no 
ifficulty accepting the Azores (and including the island of Flores; it is CU8) 
eing within the 'continental shelf' criteria of the trophy's rules then someone 
t St Johns and someone else at Santa Cruz das Flores on Flores - 1,212 miles - 
ould wrap up the trophy during the 2010 Perseids; like shooting ducks in a 
ond. My own personal opinion is "this is not what the trophy is all about" 
lthough, subject to a ruling from the Irish (which neither Gene Zimmerman nor I 
ave been able to obtain), this might fit their own vision here. So let's rule 
ut this one, just for its "cleverness" and "so what is the big deal here?" 
aseline. (A plane trip from Boston to the Azores
 is weekly low-budget stuff and while that does not put you on Flores, you are 
lose enough for local transport). Let us assume, even if you did this and 
ctually were awarded one end of the Brenden Trophy, this is not the final 
uarter in the game (the St Johns, Newfoundland end of the circuit is hardly 
orth discussion).
However, once we "see" how close two stations could be (1,212 miles) it begins 
o suggest normal 144 Es and possibly tropospheric connection between the two 
ater separated continents. The history of intense Es between two is sketchy 
lthough what we do know from TA Es is mostly favorable for this path. A skilled 
M DXer in northern Ireland has experienced typically one or as many as three 
ouble/even triple hop 100 MHz openings to the VE1, W1, 2 and 4 areas during 
ecent summers - distances in the 2,000 - 4000 mile range as deeply into W4 as 
entral Alabama (the audio tapes available on web are quite exciting). Expecting 
ven Newfoundland to northern Ireland on 144 MHz EE (roughly 1,995 miles) could 
e a long wait and if either end is not monitoring closely, well - perhaps in 
nother ten years it will happen again. The 1,212 mile Flores path looks better 
ll of the time.
And tropospheric on the same 1,212 path? Clearly doable although the 
ewfoundland end is well into the 'cluttered summer weather' zone suggesting two 
hings to me; during the transitional time frame of late May to mid/late-June 
before the high becomes too well anchored in the mid-ocean area) is one 
ossibility. The other is related to hurricanes. An intense storm moving 
orthward with Bermuda as a target creates sharply defined moisture (and 
emperature) gradients and TV/FM DXers have for decades been involved in Nova 
cotia to Florida openings as a well placed 'eye' tracks north. What is totally 
nknown is whether these associated ducts are as prolific on the northern and 
astern side of the storm as they definitely are on the western edge. 
There are many alert systems in place, not the least of which is the WTFDA (TV 
nd FM DXer) 'message board' providing near-real time reports of what is being 
eard (or seen), by whom and where. There are also lists available of 
ssentially all of the European FM radio stations - with TR power and other 
ssential information. Of note here: even if your local FM band is overloaded, a 
umber of high power European stations operate below 88.0 where unless you 
appen to live where VHF channel 6 is still functional, you have clear sailing 
using for example the recently released extraordinary Sony XDR tuner or full 
eceiver - you can actually be on [say] 99.1 and listen to white noise 
mmediately adjacent to [say] 50kw on 99.3 just down the street). Terceira FM 
tations are propagation indicators - whether EE or tropo. Located on a 
ignificant elevation above the western side town of Santa Barbara, 3300+ feet 
t the tower base, are 90.5 (22kW), 101.1 (only 400 watts; Radio Club de 
Angra) and 104.4 (Radio Horizonte; 1kW). The communications central for this 
sland is paved road to the top (called Serra do Cum). There are no (known) FM 
tations on Flores but west of Terceira and certainly 'in the way' for any 
irect ducting are Sao Jorge (FM 107.2), and Faial/Pico (FM 100.2). 90.5 on EE 
eems reasonable and at 22 kW and the 3300+ antenna height it (Antena 1) should 
et out very well. 
And this takes us where? Terceira works - we have history on that at a sea-level 
ocation which even an optimistic person would find 'unlikely.' Detail of which 
M stations, at what height 'asl/msl' is lost but I believe there would be a 
uickly discernible 'pattern' if we knew station by station what was received at 
ajes Field. Terceira also has a paved parking lot at around 3300/3400 feet ASL 
my XYL and I have been there) and by driving the roadway down to Santa Barbara, 
ou can select a height 'asl/msl' to suit your objective. One clue in all of 
his will be the FM broadcast band (86-108 MHz), pre-loaded with the previously 
isclosed Terceira frequencies as well as those for Pico/Faial. Unfortunately, 
0.5 is 3400'+ and if my 'high west-low east theory' is correct, 3,400+' on the 
ast end could easily be above the duct. Just think K6MYC!
There remains the unanswered question as to whether 'the Azores' does in fact 
atisfy the Irish Brenden Trophy definition of Europe. And a subset to that. 
Some' sources suggest Flores and Corvo (the two most westerly islands in the 
zores - Flores makes 'mechanical sense' while Corvo does not) are in fact 
connected to the 'North American Plate' which is a physical description of 
hether they are part of Europe or North America. If the Irish were to rule 
gainst Flores (and Corvo), at 1,212 and 1207 miles respectively from St Johns, 
hat leaves Terceira and Faial plus Pico as eastern sites (adding roughly 150 
iles to the 1,212 Flores - St Johns path).
Clearly Terceira is continental-shelf-Europe and while 1,417 miles from St 
ohns, the 'paved parking lot' of some size at 3,400 or so feet ASL makes 
xcellent sense; almost. The site is overloaded with FM band (previously cited), 
V (band 3 - 174-216 MHz) and an undefined number of 150-170 MHz repeaters. 
hink Mount Wilson or the Empire State Building, on a lesser scale, and you have 
he 'images' these will create in a super-sensitive 144.200 MHz receiver system. 
n the other hand, being 'in the parking lot' at tower-base is probably not 
here you should be anyhow (remember - ducting - 'high west, lower east'); and 
he winding roadway down to the near-coastal town of Santa Barbara rapidly gets 
ou out of the near field radiation problems there. I know - I have done it. 
Locations on Faial and Pico have mechanical problems; Faial, for example, while 
t gets to 3,420' ASL, is without a navigable road on the west side that allows 
p-down testing. Pico is marginally - but not much - better. It all looks nice 
on a map' until you arrive and learn you cannot 'get there from here.' In other 
ords, lacking suitable western-island vantage point receiving location (east 
nd of the path), none of what is there makes much sense. Except; except that if 
t gets in the way (as Faial's 3,420' might do) with a duct that is trying to 
each the US mainland (a duct at 600' ASL running into the 3,420' elevation on 
aial would be dead, instantly).
A 'remote receiver' at Santa Barbara, Terceira (yes - K1WHS) makes some sense if 
here is telecoms to support it coming back to the states. A properly programmed 
ony XDR with scan tune and some carefully selected FM band channels (not to 
onflict with the 'local' Azores channels) could be half the 'test;' the other 
alf is anyone who has the ability to monitor Azorean FM channels (such as 90.5) 
hould be equipped to do so 24 x 7 from at least mid-May to mid-August. And a 
eminder aside: The Irish need to sit down and tell us 'The Azores DO count as 
urope - for the Brenden Trophy ' - otherwise we are back to a far longer and 
ess likely set of paths. (K6EDX/ZL4AAA) 
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