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Ellisville, MS, USA
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Updated: Apr-26-2024 7:15pm

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Date:

Apr-26-2024

Friday

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Ellisville

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VHF/UHF Weak Signal Page

Current 144 MHz Band Conditions (Click for Details)
WWV Alert Message		Data from DXRobot
144 Es in N.A.	Aurora	144 Es in Europe	Today's MUF & Es

The "Today's MUF / Es" shows the daily 144MHz High MUF and Es times. The blue bar indicates 50MHz Es and the green bar indicates 70MHz Es times. The graphic is updated every 5 minutes.
Last 100 Spots on 50 MHz (And other bands)

VUCC Totals

This is a list of my VHF/UHF Century Club Program (VUCC) totals.

Content last changed: April 21 2024 17:19:03

Award	Worked	Label	QSL sent	Confirmed	Submit	Checked	Total	Tot Conf
MIX	.	3	19	244	.	.	266	244
PHO	.	2	22	215	.	.	239	215
CW	.	4	.	8	.	.	12	8
DIG	.	6	.	102	.	.	108	102
IMG	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Mode Total	.	12	22	325	.	.	359	325
50MHz	.	3	19	244	.	.	266	244
70MHz	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
144MHz	.	.	.	2	.	.	2	2
220MHz	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
440MHz	.	.	.	1	.	.	1	1
900MHz	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
1.3GHz	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
2.3GHz	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
3.3GHz	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
5.6GHz	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
10GHz	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Sat	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Band Total	.	3	19	247	.	.	269	247

Solar-Terrestrial Data

Click Here For Solar Indices by Month Since 1991

G4FON - Koch Method CW Trainer - Software Download

I have always had an interest in the VHF/UHF Weak Signal segment of our Ham Radio hobby. Back in my younger days I worked a lot of 50 MHz, 144 MHz, 220 MHz, and 432 MHz. I worked some EME (Earth-Moon-Earth, or Moon Bounce) during those days back in the 70's and early 80's. You may ask what do I mean by "VHF/UHF Weak Signal"? What I am talking about is mainly working in the CW and SSB segments of these bands over great distances or running EME. I worked satellites during those times, also. I had several great mentors in the VHF/UHF Weak Signal arena. George Chaney, W5JTL (SK) of Vicksburg, MS; Rex Turner, W5RCI (SK) of Marks, MS; Paul Wilson, W4HHK (SK) of Collierville, TN; and George Tew, NC5Y (SK) of Jackson, MS were my mentors in this area of our hobby. You can read about them on my "Mentors" page.

George Chaney, Rex, and I would talk every morning and every night. We would normally get on around six in the morning and at eight at night. We would talk about construction or antenna projects we were working on. Back in those days I had stepped up to a Kenwood TS-700S. This was the 10 watt all mode 2 meter transceiver. When trying to work contests or distant weak signal stations I had a pair of 4CX250B's that could be easily driven by this rig. I remember one Sunday night George Chaney and I were talking to each other. I was running about 3 watts and had my beam pointed towards Vicksburg. After awhile, a station broke in and asked where we were. George went back to him and told him and he replied, that he was a WA2 in Poughkeepsie, NY. For the next hour or so, the lower end of 144 MHz sounded like 20 meters during the CQWW DX Contest! That was some of the best fun I ever had. I worked tons of new states and grids that night and if it were not for all the QRM on the bands, I could have worked even more. I never turned my antenna and never flipped on the amp!

Hepburn Tropo Index Map:

HF 10 Meter (28 MHz) Propagation Map:

This map uses 10 meter spots to compile it’s 28 MHz propagation map. It is real time, but you must manually Refresh this page. Click on the map and the spots with the callsigns will be listed and is clickable. Click on the callsign for their detailed information. Distance is measured in kilometers.

DXMAPS Real Time 28 MHz Propagation Map

VHF(50 MHz) Propagation Map:

This map uses 6 meter spots to compile it’s 50 MHz propagation map. It is real time, but you must manually Refresh this page. Click on the map and the spots with the callsigns will be listed and is clickable. Click on the callsign for their detailed information. Distance is measured in kilometers.

DXMAPS Real Time 50 MHz Propagation Map

6 Meter Cluster

VHF(70 MHz) Propagation Map:

This map uses 4 meter spots to compile it’s 70 MHz propagation map. It is real time, but you must manually Refresh this page. Click on the map and the spots with the callsigns will be listed and is clickable. Click on the callsign for their detailed information. Distance is measured in kilometers.

DXMAPS Real Time 70 MHz Propagation Map

VHF(144 MHz) Propagation Map:

This map uses APRS data to compile it’s 144 MHz propagation. It is real time, but you must manually Refresh this page. You must Zoom in for more detail. Look for yellow and red areas and hover over them to display the callsigns. Click on the callsign for their detailed information. Distance is measured in kilometers.

MennoLink VHF APRS Propagation Map

DXMAPS Real Time 144 MHz Propagation Map

2 Meter Cluster

VHF(222 MHz) Propagation Map:

This map uses 1.25 meter spots to compile it’s 222 MHz propagation map. It is real time, but you must manually Refresh this page. Click on the map and the spots with the callsigns will be listed and is clickable. Click on the callsign for their detailed information. Distance is measured in kilometers.

DXMAPS Real Time 222 MHz Propagation Map

UHF(432 MHz) Propagation Map:

This map uses 70 centimeter spots to compile it’s 432 MHz propagation map. It is real time, but you must manually Refresh this page. Click on the map and the spots with the callsigns will be listed and is clickable. Click on the callsign for their detailed information. Distance is measured in kilometers.

DXMAPS Real Time 432 MHz Propagation Map

70 Centimeter Cluster

(SHF) Above 450 MHz Propagation Map:

This map uses Super High Frequency UHF/Microwave spots to compile it’s this propagation map. It is real time, but you must manually Refresh this page. Click on the map and the spots with the callsigns will be listed and is clickable. Click on the callsign for their detailed information. Distance is measured in kilometers.

DXMAPS Real Time SHF (Above 450 MHz) Propagation Map

VHF/UHF Propagation Modes:

VHF and UHF are not thought to be bands where propagation affects your signal, but there are times when your signal will propagate well beyond their normal limits. VHF/UHF "Openings" happen sporatically and you cannot predict them as well as HF propagation. VHF and UHF can be affected by the following conditions, though:

Tropo - Tropospheric signals happen in the part of the atmosphere close to the surface and up to about 25,000 feet or 7,620 meters. Such signals are thus directly affected by weather systems up to several hundred miles. A major storm system or a cold front that is approaching can create Tropo openings. As it cools in the evenings it can create Tropo openings, as it is in the morning when the inverse happens, cool to warm conditions. When it is very warm and there is a high pressure system with cloudless and windless skies, Tropo will improve weak signals from distant stations. Another symptom of Tropo conditions is when adjacent TV stations on the same channel start to interfere with each other. Summer and Fall are the best times for Tropo openings and UHF signals can be enhance to distances up to about 1,000 miles or 1,600 kilometers or more for single hops. At sunset the upper air and surface air cool at different rates causing a temperature inversion. A similar effect happens at sunrise. Normally VHF/UHF signals travel into space but the inversion effectively reduces sky wave radiation from a transmitter. With temperature inversion the signal is refracted over the horizon rather than continuing into outer space. Fog also produces Tropo openings. The heating of the upper level of the fog causes a temperature inversion. It occurs in the evening an continues overnight and clears at sunrise over a period of around 4 - 5 hours.

Sporadic E - Sporatic E is an unusual form of radio propagation using characteristics of the Earth's Ionosphere. Whereas most forms of skywave propagation use the normal and cyclic ionization properties of the ionosphere's F region to refract or bend radio signals back toward the Earth's surface, Sporadic E propagation bounces signals off smaller "clouds" of unusually ionized atmospheric gas in the lower E region that is located at altitudes of approximately 55 to 100 miles or 90 to 160 km. This occasionally allows for long-distance communication at VHF frequencies not usually well-suited to such communication. Sporadic E occurs during June-July and early August and again in December and January. As the name suggests this condition is very sporadic and learn how to be patient in your waiting for it to occur.

Aurora - The Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis occurs in the northern parts of Canada and can also be seen from northern United States, Europe, and Asia. The Southern Lights or Aurora Australis happen in high southern latitudes in Antarctica, Australia, New Zealand, and South Ameriaca. Aurora is caused by a solar storm or Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) that hits the Earth's Magnetosphere and can have an effect on radio propagation. If can affect VHF and UHF propagation in a positive manner and HF propagation in a negative manner. To use the aurora you should point your antenna north to work a station to the south as signals bounce back from the aurora in the Northern Hemisphere and the opposite in the Southern Hemisphere.

Click link on contest below to see current year dates/times/rules.

VHF+ Contest Calendar
Name	Month
WASH 2m Simplex Contest	January
ARRL January VHF Contest	January
CSVHFS Spring 2m Sprint	April
CSVHFS Spring 222 Sprint	April
CSVHFS Spring 432 Sprint	April
CSVHFS Spring Microwave Sprint (903 MHz and above)	May
CSVHFS Spring 6m sprint	May
Maritime QSO Party	June
ARRL June VHF Contest	June
SMIRK 6m Contest	June
IARU Region 1 50 MHz Contest	June
CQ Worldwide VHF Contest	July
NJ QSO Party	July
ARRL UHF Contest	August
SEVHFS Fall 6m Sprint	August
ARRL September VHF Contest	September
SEVHFS Fall 2m Sprint	September
SEVHFS Fall 222 Sprint	September
SEVHFS Fall Microwave Sprint (903 MHz and above)	September
SEVHFS Fall 432 Sprint	October
PA QSO Party	October
NY State QSO Party	October
RAC Canada Winter Contest	December

VHF+ Contest Calendar
Name	Date
Ohio ARES Simplex Contest	Saturday, 08 January (10 AM - 4 PM EST)
WASH 2m Simplex Contest Southwest PA	Saturday, 08 January (7 PM - 11 PM EST) phone, CW, digital
ARRL January VHF Contest	Saturday, 15 January (1900 UTC) - Monday, 17 Jan (0359 UTC)
Maine 2m FM Simplex Challenge	Saturday, 02 April (12:00 noon - 4:00 PM Eastern)
CSVHFS Spring 2m Sprint	Monday, 11 April (7 PM - 11 PM local)
CSVHFS Spring 222 Sprint	Tuesday, 19 April (7 PM - 11 PM local)
IARU Reg. 1 50 MHz MGM Contest	Saturday, 16 April 1400Z - Sunday, 17 April 1400Z
Ontario QSO Party	Saturday, 16 April 1800Z - Sunday, 17 April 0500Z and Sunday, 17 April 1200Z - 1800Z
CSVHFS Spring 432 Sprint	Wednesday, 27 April (7 PM - 11 PM local)
San Bernardino Microwave Society 2.3 GHz and up Contest	24 hrs total Sat, 30 April (6 AM local) - Sun, 01 May (11:59 PM local)
CSVHFS Spring Microwave Sprint (902 MHz and above)	Saturday, 07 May (8 AM - 2 PM local)
CSVHFS Spring 6m Sprint	Saturday, 14 May (2300 UTC) - Sunday, 15 May (0300 UTC)
ARRL June VHF Contest	Saturday, 11 June (1800 UTC) - Monday, 13 June (0259 UTC)
SMIRK 6m Contest	June 18 (0000Z) to June 19 (2359Z)
IARU Region 1 50 MHz CW/SSB Contest	Saturday, 18 June (1400 UTC) - Sunday, 19 June (1400 UTC)
CQ Worldwide VHF Contest	Saturday, 16 July (1800 UTC) - Sunday, 17 July (2100 UTC)
222-MHz-and-Up Distance Contest	Saturday, 06 August (1800 UTC) - Sunday, 07 August (1759 UTC)
10 GHz and Up Contest - First Round	24 hrs total Saturday, 20 August (0600 UTC) to Sunday, 21 August (11:59:59 PM local)
Fall 6m Sprint	Saturday, 13 August (2300 UTC) to Sunday, 14 August (0300 UTC)
ARRL September VHF Contest	Sat 10 September (1800 UTC) to Mon 12 September (0259 UTC)
10 GHz and Up Contest - Second Round	24 hrs total Saturday, 17 September (0600 UTC) to Sunday, 18 September (11:59:59 PM local)
SE VHF Society Fall 2m Sprint	Monday, 19 September (7 PM - 11 PM local)
SE VHF Society Fall 222 Sprint	Tuesday, 27 September (7 PM - 11 PM local)
SE VHF Society Fall 432 Sprint	Wednesday, 05 October (7 PM - 11 PM local)
SE VHF Society Fall Microwave Sprint (902 MHz and above)	Saturday, 08 October (8 AM - 2 PM local)
PA QSO Party	Saturday, 08 October (1600 UTC) to Sunday, 09 October (0400 UTC) and Sunday, 09 October (1300 UTC - 2200 UTC)
NY State QSO Party	Starting Saturday, 16 October (10 AM Eastern) and lasting 12 hours
UK 6m Group Winter Contest	Tuesday, 01 December, 2022 (0000 UTC) to Sunday, 31 January, 2023 (23:59:59 UTC)

2 Meter SSB Nets and Groups
Name	Time	Frequency
The 205 Morning Group	8 AM Eastern daily	144.205 Northeast US
Beam Spinners	8 AM local daily	144.200 Sun - WA7KYM DN71 Mon-Wed & Sat - KG0OR Fri - K0OJ DN70
Northern Lights Radio Society	Sunday 9 PM CST	144.260 KA0PQW EN33
Lowcountry Digital	Sunday 8:30 PM Eastern Wednesday 8 PM Eastern	145.700 KH6TY FM02
Western States Weak Signal Society - Disbanded as of January 2007	Sunday 5:30 Pacific	144.200 K6TSK DM03 N8DEZ DM04
Pacific Northwest VHF Society	Sunday 8 AM local Tuesday 8 PM local	144.240
ECVHFS	Sunday 10:30 AM Eastern	144.250 K2SMN FN20
St. Pete	Sunday 8:15 PM Eastern	144.210 WA4GCH EL87
Roadrunners Microwave Group	Sunday 9 PM Central	144.150 K5LLL EM10
Packrats	8 PM Eastern	144.150 N3ITT FN20
N0PB	Monday 8 PM Central	144.250 N0PB EM39
Florida SSB	Monday 7 PM Eastern	144.210 WA4JWU EL98
Rocky Mountain VHF	Monday 8 PM local	144.220 W0EDW DN70 K0MLM DN70
Upper Rio Grande	Monday 8 PM local	144.250 NM5F DM65
Guelph (Ontario)	Monday 9 PM Eastern Wednesday 9 PM Eastern	144.245 VE3XTM EN93
San Diego	Tuesday 7 PM local	144.230 W6IPT DM13
Mud Toads	Tuesday 8:30 PM local	144.175 N4RZP FM17
W5VHF	Monday 8 PM Local	144.190 KD5ZVE EM26 K5SW EM25
North GA	Monday 8 PM Eastern	144.210 W4TMW EM84
Quebec	Tuesday 8 PM Eastern	144.240 VE2JWH FN35 VE2DC FN35
AM Nostalgia	Tuesday 7 PM Central	144.950 KC9CUK EN52
Deep South Texas SWOT	Tuesday 9 PM Central	144.250 N5SSH EL07
The 144.240 Net	Wednesday 8 PM CDT (7 PM CST)	144.240 WB9LYH EN54
The 144.252 Net	Monday 8:30 PM Eastern	144.252 K8TQK EM89
North Texas SWOT	Wednesday 9 PM Central	144.250 W5FKN EM13
SWOT Net	Thursday 8 PM Central	144.250 K5YG EM50
OK SWOT	Thursday 8 PM Central	144.250 KD5ZVE EM26
SE Ohio SWOT	Thursday 8 PM Eastern	144.250 AB8XG EM89 KD8DJE EM89
Q5 net	Thursday 7 PM Central	144.220 N9JBW EN61
Northeast Weak Signal net	Thursday 8:30 PM Eastern	144.250 W1COT FN31
Atlantic SSB	Friday 8:30 PM Eastern	144.240 WB4IXU EM86
Chicago-Ohio	Friday 7 PM Central	144.215 KD8IME EN71
Chesapeake	Saturday 9:30 PM Eastern	144.205 W3BFC FM18
Atlantic Coast 2m SSB Net	Sunday 8:30 PM Eastern	144.230 N5PIP EL96
Central Texas 2m SSB Operating Event	Thursday 9:00 PM Central	144.250 NE5B EM10
2m Road Runner Microwave Group Net	Sunday 9:00 PM Central	144.150 K5RMG EM10