What started as a slow morning with few meteor enhancements providing regular short pings, ended up delivering some strong and effective burns that enabled a few completed Qs to occur.

Worked were Brad VK2QO @ 2006z (RS57), Norm VK3DUT @ 2006z (RS57) and VK2QO again @ 2009z (RS57).

Heard throughout this mornings session were: Wayne VK4WTN @ 1955z (RS51) on ground-wave; and Frank VK7DX regularly (RS51) but never long enough to complete.

A very quiet morning for 50MHz MS - only the VK2RSY beacon heard.

After 10 years at this QTH, I've finally decided to get my 12 element 144MHz and 26 element 432MHz DL6WU yagi's onto a tower and get active (albeit selectively) on these bands.

The 432MHz yagi driven element and feed were replaced earlier today (as per the photo's below).

The 144MHz yagi will be done soon!

A poor start to 50MHz MS today. Few pings received and no Qs completed. Brad VK2QO was heard @ 2057z (RST539).

Reports of my TX's were received from Frank VK7DX @ 1944z (RS51) and then by Brad VK2QO @ 2015z (RS51).

An interesting day for 6m propagation. Enhanced propagation into the north Pacific with VK2, VK3, VK5 and VK7 working KH6. KH7Y heard here weakly at RST519, but QRM from domestic traffic too much to try and complete.

The day got even more interesting when the MUF of Es extended well past the 144MHz band. I quickly mounted the FT-857 into the back of the truck and instantly heard Norm VK3DUT RS59 with QSB icw Adrian VK4OX just using the Maldol 1/2w mounted on the rear door.

Just as I set-up the 'field day' 144MHz yagi on the driveway (as below), and the band closed!

A flood crisis in Brisbane, and we've closed down the QRL for a few days... so in between logging in for work to assess what impact we will face, I've had the chance to monitor 50MHz/6m.

Whilst nothing new to much note, some positive signs for another SSSP opening between ZL/VK and OA with Bob ZL2RS hearing Jack OA4TT within the 2300 - 2400z window on CW. I monitored and had CW signals at 3db above the imagination at one stage... but still convinced that it was real!

Later in the day E51USA beacon was received, and at 0222z worked Victor E51CG (RS57). Then at 0414z H44DA was worked (RS53) and to wrap up the day, Willem DU7/PA0HIP was worked at0504z (RS53).

But as this all happens, the city of Brisbane continues to be impacted by a flood crisis not seen since the 1974 floods. Our hearts go out to those impacted... including at least two members of the local 6m community who's house was inundated in the early hours of the day, and wait to see what the impact has been, with the river peak to be felt at 04:00am Thursday morning AEST.

Below is the creek in the valley just near our property taken last night....

Normally just a quiet  1m deep, 5m wide flow!


Please take care and stay safe!

MS condx on 50MHz this morning were poor. While some pings produced good signal strengths, their duration was often far too short.

Worked today was Brad VK2QO @ 2030z (RS51) and again @ 214z (RS53). Although Glenn VK7AB reported hearing me, no Qs were completed.

A great start to 50MHz MS activity this morning! Some good signals received on 50.200MHz as well as an increase in the number of participants in VK4 was heartening to see - welcome to 50MHz MS Charlie VK4YZ and Chris VK4FR.

Glenn VK7AB @ 2015 (RS57) was first in the log, followed by Brad VK2QO @ 2015z (RS55) and then Frank VK7DX @ 2032z (RS55).

Interesting conditions commenced around 2030z... a combination of MS and Es. Base level signals were being supported by an Es like mode, with significant increases in the signal levels being supported by Es. VK7AB was reporting me with signals of RS59, and Frank VK7DX was also being received with signals of up to RS59.

At 2040z the Es commenced to dominate, and John VK7XX was constant RS59.

Groundwave to Wayne VK4WTN was also good, with Wayne maintaining a good RS53-55 signal most of the morning, and also easily rx'ed off the back of the yagi.

Nice surprise - arrived home early from QRL and on checking VKLogger saw that Willem DU7/PA0HIP had worked Alan VK4WR.... a quick connect of the radio equipment and tuning to 50.105MHz SSB and Willem was worked RS57 both ways (@ 0833z). Although not a new DXCC it was nice to work DU for the first time this cycle.

No 50MHz MS this morning... 4WD'ing last night and arrived home at 2am

..... slept in a bit as a result

Condx this morning were well down on normal. Only Brad VK2QO @ 2029z (RS55) heard on a very short MS burn... not long enough to complete. Es started early and attention shifted.