Just completed a 50MHz EME QSO with Pete G8BCG.... not a new DXCC, but a new grid. Screen grab below shows several sequences of Pete calling me.

To say conditions on 6m earlier today (UTC) were interesting, is to understate the facts. And, whilst the conditions weren't exceptional (when compared to past cycles) the duration and intensity of the TEP opening for this cycle, which started in QG62lp from 0630z and continued until after 1000z, was!

Signals from JA were very strong, with a large foot print that included HL and BY stations, and the later is where I concentrated. The lack of propagation to BV was also interesting. Randsom BV2DQ was operating throughout the opening, but had limited paths available to him, and when skeds were tried was not heard. However, Fred KH7Y was heard on scatter when he was beaming into the intensely ionised region.

6m WSPR was run for a short while, but only one RX station in JA (JQ1HDR)was active providing two reception reports one at +7db the other at +11db.

This morning awoke to a very quiet band, and a wandering 'birdie' on 50.1106MHz (seen below):

E51BKM / E51GMH - a few photo's

Operating in Rarotonga - Alan E51BKM and 6m yagi. Alan E51BKM at the microphone.

Meeting up with Jim E51JD (L-R Alan E51BKM/VK4WR, Graeme E51GMH/VK4FI, Jim E51JD)

Operating from Aitutaki - 6m yagi

Finally updated the contesting 'wall of fame' in the shack, with all of the CQWW certificates now displayed.

DXpedition to Vanuatu 2012 - YJ0VK

 An ODXG team of 6 amateur radio operators from Australia will once again be activating YJ0VK from Port Vila on Efate Island, Vanuatu from the 21st of April till the 5th of May.

More information for current YJ0VK DXpedition can be found at the following:

http://yj0vk.odxg.org/yj0vk2012/default.html

Interesting conditions commencing on 6m. Backscatter from Remi FK8CP is very volatile  with MS like pings elevating his signal rapidly. But the most interesting has been the 'multipath' effect on Chris VK4HJ from Cooran. The screen grab below shows the twin trace being received on VK4HJ's CQ at 2329z.

VK8BI IOTA OC-185: Arrived in Gove. Next stop Bremer Island.

VK8BI IOTA OC-185: Arrived in Gove. Next stop Bremer Island.: I’ve arrived in Gove (Nhulunbuy) in East Arnhem Land which is the town that I depart to take the boat to Bremer Island. Before I was an am...

Besides the odd JA via TEP, the last two days have been typified by the lack of propagation - only to be expected when the SFI has been low. But today the SFI has improved [SFI= 127; A = 8; K = 1] but still now prop!

Has given me some time to get the new SignaLink USB interface working on the IC-7600 station. This now means I have separate and complete digital capabilities on both the Yaesu and Icom stations.

Very quiet this evening... but Fred KH7Y just being heard above the noise. EME levels with MS like enhancements. Have heard very clear 'CQ CQ' and 'KH7'.. here's Fred's signal as captured on Spectrum Lab.

And to rub salt into the wounds, here's Dave A92IO CQn on 50.115MHz @ 0957z

The unusual conditions continue. Here's a screen shot of DU7/PA0HIP (right hand trace) and VK5PO CQn on 50.105 @  0947z.

The change in the blue is from adjusting the bandwidth of the CW filters.

Yesterday was fairly poor with few signals heard. Only signal of note was Fred KH7Y just after 0430z

But what a day... band was absolutely dead this morning, but the last two hours has been very exciting (well for me at least). Not that I got to work anything new, but did hear three new DXCCs: 9M0L (Spratly Island), 3W2BB (Vietnam) and A92IO (Bahrain) - all heard but not completed.

Also heard today were DU7/PA0HIP, KH7Y, BA4SI, and numerous HLs and JAs.

All with solar indices at SFI: 97, A: 19, K: 3

Congrat's to Paul VK4MA who did complete with A92IO... great effort.

Condx today were very depressed... Remi FK8CP's usual CW scatter was present, but little else.

Alan VK4WR operating as E51BKM worked Phil TI7/N5BEK at just before 2115z raising our hopes...

Then late this afternoon VK6s worked 9M0L.... hopes still high, but reality low (VK6 is 3,400km away!!)

It's just on twelve months since a storm pushed the 6M2WLC out of 'wack'. So not to waste an absolutely beautiful day in QG62lp, I took the opportunity today to correct this.

Now the 5 el 20m mono bander and the 6M2WLC are again pointing the same way!

Condx showed promise this morning... heard Ed N5DG on 50.1106 CW @ 2350z below one of the locals CQn continuously, called CQ many times on 50.100 but no luck.

Continued doing my chores.. even got the 75m loop back up in the air after the nylon rope holding one corner broke. Then even found some time to play on the 4X4 track this afternoon.

But then got hung up on a rock ledge exiting the creek, and needed a snatch recovery to get out!

Conditions started good this morning with an Es link to ZL and then Phil TI7/N5BEK heard...

Hopefully the day will improve!

E51 6m DXpedition

VK4FI and VK4WR will be operating from Rarotonga (BG08ct) and Aitutaki (BH01??) from 8th April for 2 weeks.

Main band will be 6 metres with some HF.

Callsigns E51GMH and E51BKM.

Icom IC-706MkIIG
5 element Cushcraft yagi

Been away again for a few days, and returned to the shack late this afternoon. R1 and CCTV1 carriers heard earlier, but at 0725z heard Fred KH7Y calling CQ on 50.1106 under local QSO. QSY to 50.105 and we completed 519 both ways.

As I type this KH7Y is still CQn and signal now 529 at times. Image below is a screen grab of Fred's signal at 0743z.