Anyone with marine HF able to try a sked at 1900BST today?

whipper_snapper

whipper_snapper

Well-Known Member
Joined
9 Aug 2006
Messages
6,487
Location
Kenya
Visit site
I don't suppose anyone with access to an HF radio with marine freqs is in a position to help me with a radio call this evening ? In 45 minutes!!

A friend on a boat in Scotland with newly installed SSB has asked if he can call me to test the setup. Frankly the chances of success from Scotland to Kenya are tiny. If anyone is (much) closer to Scotland than I am and is interested to try for a call to him, please drop me a PM.

Thanks!
 
Yes

East-West is better at this time than N-S

Is it after sunset in Kenya, suspect it is. you will probably be better a bit before sunset.

Perhaps a lower frequency may be better at this time - have you a band around 8 - 10 Mhz you could try?

BBC World Service are transmitting on 9410 and 6005 to East Africa at this time.

Perhaps try listening for these xmissions and select a band as close in frequency to the best of these channels.
 
Yes we are GMT+3 sunset is around 1530GMT. Just had a chat with a bloke in Bath on 14MHz and the whole world and his brother is now calling me! What it is to have a popular callsign! Tried 16 and 12, judging by the noise and the propagation predictions they should just about be capable, but it will always be a tough test.


73!


(BBC is screaming in on both those freqs, but their multi KWatts probably helps!)
 
Ahh

Didn't realise you had Ham bands too.

Guess 14 is probably the best bet.

10 is cw only and 7 is usually hopelessly crowded, but your callsign would attract some attention I guess.

Its often worth having a listen on the broadcast bands, gives you some idea of propagation. Not been on the bands myself for months so don't really have a feel for what its like at the moment. Even then most of my activity was on 80 and 160 so not much exotic stuff.

I'm on GMT + 4 so its my bedtime.

73 es gud DX
 
hi Whipper Snapper. It looks like you didn't get anyone to talk to your mate in Scotland and presumably you failed also.
It is a fascinating subject HF propagation. You may have had more success from Kenya to Scotland than southern UK to Scotalnd but it all depends on the time of day frequency and even direction across the sunset line. (or paralell). But i am sure i am not telling you anything new. This is just for the other readers. Spoilt on satelites and undersea cables they know nothing of the varagies of HF.

Here in Oz all official(ie distress) marine HF is by DSC calling initially then change to a different frequency for talking to a government station. It means there a loads of old non DSC crystalised HF available but the only thing you can do is talk to other boats on a sched.

good luck (is it any more peacefull in Kenya) olewill
 
We hear the VeeKays best on 14mhz around 08:00 to 10:00 GMT. I just use a dipole so you'd need magic ears or DSP to hear me. Much easier to use IRLP /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif we are 5510
 
The forums really should have an unofficial summer ham net for the European waters.
Preferably around 06.00GMT. Anyone care to suggest a suitable frequency?
May I suggest 7085, which is still given as a med net on websites.
Or maybe 3785 if yachts can arrange long enough aerials!
Countersuggestions please.
 
We are launching our boat this weekend - with the ground plate now in and the antennae on we will be looking to test the SSB this weekend / next week.

Is the BBC World Service the best place to start to get incoming signal? What about transmission - is there a common 'radio check' like VHF 16 or should I schedule a test with another user at some point?

Jonny
 
BBC is not ideal, it is very powerful but directed away from UK, so you get very strange effects within the UK.

For receive tests you could try Shannon Volmet ( http://www.yachtcom.info/Frequencies.htm ).

For transmit tests, it sounds as if you folks in Europe should get together for a net! One question - do you have an SWR meter fitted ?
 
Hi - will listen into Shannon Volmet.

Still a couple of bits to finish off on the installation (need to connect the cable between the Auto Tuner and the Antennea - its all run, but needs the terminals soldering onto the ends; and need to run the copper between the Auto Tuner and the ground plate). Hoping to get them done over the weekend - so will test next week.

Re SWR meter ... no we don't. Our set-up is Icom M802 with AT140 linked to Dynaplate and Shakespeare Pacific Whip.

Jonny
 
It would be a good idea to put a SWR meter between the transceiver and the ATU.

A whip aerial has a relatively narrow bandwidth and it may be that the auto ATU has difficulties on some frequencies. Also auto ATU tend to have limits to the range that they are able to tune.

Even if everything is perfect the ATU will effectively monitor the aerial and immediately show you if there is a problem with it. It also gives you a visible assurance that you are actually pumping some RF up the spout.

For a relatively modest cost they can be invaluable.

You must be nearly ready to set off into the wide blue yonder if your setting up your wireless.

BTB I suggested Whipper listen for BBC on those frequencies to check if there was decent propogation from UK to East Africa. If you can get Shannon at a good strength you should be ok.
 
I will be interested to try my new backstay antenna when the boats back in the water (Clyde) later in the month. (12m ant length).
Re Kenya: I had contact with Sth Africa on 3.795 MHz yesterday at this time (1930 UTC), suggest the lower frequencies will be better provided you have a reasonable antenna for them. (Using 1/4 wave here).
 
Med sked

7085 should be Ok
06.00GMT means 08.00 local time in the west and central med, and 09.00 in Greece/Turkey.
It's also immediately after the Wx net run on 8122 from 05.30GMT
The earlier times are good for propagation and interference, and should be b4 skippers start their engines and set off, especially for those of us who travel every day!!
 
Re: Med sked

For those with ham licences, there is the 14.303meg daily sked at 0800 and 1800 zulu. Depending on where you are, you will hear either or both sides of the conversation. Non -hams can listen but will not get a response if calling.
Most sets will have autotuners these days, so if you can hear, you can probably transmit OK. There will be an SWR/Power indicator of some sort built into the set. Assume all these maritime SSB ops have done the course? (in which case they should know all this)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top