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Introduction to DXTV from the U.K.

I began to take an interest in DXTV in 1981. It was the middle of the summer, so I was past the peak of the Sporadic E season for that year. Although then I had no idea what Sporadic E was. That winter as my interest in radio broadened I read up on propagation, so was ready for the 1982 season.

I have always kept a log book, and now they number to nine. When the BBC Computer arrived on the scene I took an interest in Databases & used my logs to create one. I started to enter logs from that day onwards. Three years ago I changed to a PC.

Again I took an interest in Databases & started to use the DOS version of DataEase. Then I changed to Windows & Microsoft Access.

The transition from DataEase to Access was no problem. However I was left with 10 years of logs that had not been entered. This I decided to amend a couple of months ago so started entering all my logs from 1982 to when I started with a PC in 1993.

The results are quite interesting as I have passed through the peak of a sunspot cycle and the long stage downwards to the trough. Now we are once again experiencing an upward trend as the sun awakes from its 4 year slumber. Both the lean and plentiful years of Sporadic E show themselves up nicely now, as do the years of F1 and F2 propagation. So I thought it would be nice to look back and pick out the interesting times.

 

Below is a graph showing the Sun Spot cycle from the years 1986 to the present day. When I started in 1982 I had just missed the peak of Cycle 21. 1983 to 1987 saw a big drop in the annual count. The year 1989 saw a huge increase to 157, peaking in July. The following two years the numbers stayed in the 140's. Then in 1992 started falling rapidly again to the minimum in May 1996.

Sunspot Cycle 22

I realise that Sporadic E is not directly related to the Sun Spot count, but it certainly matters when other types of propagation want to be explored, such as F layer reflections.

Out of interest I include the sunspot data from 1982 so you can check against your own records.
Sunspot Numbers over the last 10 years
1980:154.6 1981:140.5 1982:115.9 1983:66.6
1984:45.9 1985:17.9 1986:13.4 1987:29.2
1988:100.2 1989:157.6 1990:142.6 1991:145.7
1992:94.3 1993:54.6 1994:29.9 1995:17.5
1996:8.6 1997:21.5 1998:64.3 1999: 


MY FIRST EXPERIENCE OF F LAYER PROPAGATION

I have very modest receiving equipment. For many years I have used a Bush monochrome dual standard set. The aerial was an original BBC Band One Aerial. Only in the latter years have I upgraded to a D100 converter from HS Publications in Derby.

At home my aerial is a simple dipole in the loft space. No room outside.It is difficult at times to decide what is Sporadic E and what is not. That might seem a strange statement, but at certain times of the year at certain stages of the Sunspot Cycle I have found it so. We are told that the Sporadic E season starts in May and finishes in September, peaking in June. December and January also see "official" openings. So what about the other months. When we see pictures are they E's or some other mode of propagation ?

It is now we have to start & look higher, to the F Layers. Also to the times when H.F. propagation is at it best, around Spring and Autumn/Winter.


NOVEMBER 1988
This could have been my first taste of propagation other than Sporadic E.


DATE TIME COUNTRY CHANNEL ITU
03 November 1988 11:15 Spain E2 E
17 November 1988 10:51 Spain E3 E
17 November 1988 11:23 Spain E2 E

Above are my logs for November 1988. Officially the Es season has finished. The sunspot count was around 125, HIGH.

So, are these loggings my first F1 layer reflections or abit of rogue Sporadic E reflections. Or even Leonids Meteor Scatter reflections ?

The outsider I would think is Sporadic E. The favourite, F1 Layer. I have no idea how the Leonids favoured in 1988, but the above openings were abit too long lasting to be MS, I think.

FEBRUARY 1989
Unlike November 88 when I was not sure, this was the Year and Month I had my first taste of propagation other than Sporadic E and knew it. The sunspot count for that month was around 145, HIGH. So the month started with Es type sightings, Spain. However due to the month & state of the sun the odds are these were reflections via the F1 layer, short F, and not via the E layer. One hop only, so no picture distortion. The main difference from Es type reception is that there is less QSB.

Also note the times, it seems that all reception of this type hovers around the same few hours.

DATE

 TIME COUNTRY CHANNEL ITU
14 February 1989 09:48 Spain E2 E
14 February 1989 10:06 Spain E2 E3 E
14 February 1989 10:06 Spain E2 E3 E
14 February 1989 10:26 Spain E2 E3 E4 E
14 February 1989 11:01 Spain E2 E3 E4 E
25 February 1989 09:12 Arabic E2 ?
25 February 1989 10:01 Arabic E2 ?
25 February 1989 11:01 Arabic E2 ?

Now the beefy stuff starts. 25 February 1989, ARABIC. I could not ID these, too much picture distortion. Therefore only one mode possible, F2 multi hop, the real DX !!!

MARCH 1989
Again, high Sunspot activity, around 131. So perhaps once again short F1 layer propagation ? The times might favour Sporadic E though. Once again multi hop F2 reception from an Arab Country.

DATE TIME COUNTRY CHANNEL ITU
5 March 1989 09:30 Arabic E2 ?
20 March 1989 14:15 Spain E3 E
20 March 1989 15:01 Spain E2 E3 E
20 March 1989 16:01 Spain E2 E
20 March 1989 16:26 Spain E4 E
23 March 1989 08:22 Italy IA IB I
23 March 1989 08:38 France L2 F


The 1989 Sporadic E season then followed.


May : 63 Loggings June : 253 Loggings
July : 217 Loggings August : 89 Loggings
September : 25 Loggings


As you can see, a very good season indeed, with plenty of activity in June and July.

The August Logs are low due to 2 weeks holiday. So a good Sporadic E season took place in 1989, the year Sunspot Cycle 22 peaked.

OCTOBER 1989
An interesting month. Mixed reception of Troppo from Holland on E4, F2 layer from the unknown Arabics & also Iran.Then there's Germany, Italy & Spain. The times now are interesting. Italy at 18:23, 19:52 and Germany at 19:33. Could these be Es?

Spain at 11:01 fits in with being Short F. The sunspot Count for October was 157.

DATE TIME COUNTRY REGION CHANNEL ITU
17 October 1989 08:21 Holland Lopik E4 HOL
17 October 1989 18:23 Italy   IA I
17 October 1989 19:33 Germany Grunten E2 D
17 October 1989 19:52 Italy   IA I
18 October 1989 10:22 Spain   E2 E
25 October 1989 11:57 Arabic Unknown E2 ?
27 October 1989 10:40 Holland Lopik E4 HOL
27 October 1989 11:00 Arabic Unknown E2 ?
27 October 1989 13:30 Holland Lopik E4 HOL
29 October 1989 07:41 Unknown Unknown E2 ?
29 October 1989 09:02 Arabic Unknown E2 ?
30 October 1989 11:01 Spain   E2 E
31 October 1989 08:14 Iran   E2 IRN


NOVEMBER 1989
The month started with the usual Arabic F2 layer stuff. Getting used to it now, though still very frustrating at not being able to ID much, other than the FuBK Test Card from Iran.This though was the month for Short F. If you take out the Arabic loggings, it looks like the month of May.The Sunspot Count was around 157. Again, HIGH.

DATE TIME COUNTRY REGION CHANNEL ITU
01 November 89 07:55 Arabic Unknown E2 ?
01 November 89 11:23 Arabic Unknown E2 ?
01 November 89 13:50 Russia   R1 RUS
02 November 89 09:00 Arabic Unknown E2 ?
02 November 89 10:16 Sweden Sweden E2 E4 S
02 November 89 10:34 Spain Spain E4 E
02 November 89 10:43 Norway Norway E2 NOR
02 November 89 10:45 Norway   E3 NOR
02 November 89 10:57 Norway   E3 NOR
02 November 89 11:14 Norway   E3 NOR
02 November 89 11:17 Norway   E2 NOR
02 November 89 11:41 Norway Norway E4 NOR
02 November 89 12:01 Unknown Unknown E3 ?
02 November 89 12:06 Iran   E2 IRN
02 November 89 12:28 Spain   E3 E
03 November 89 11:04 Spain   E2 E
04 November 89 08:20 Arabic Unknown E2 ?
04 November 89 10:09 Arabic Unknown E2 ?
05 November 89 08:07 Arabic Unknown E2 ?
06 November 89 08:01 Arabic Unknown E2 ?
06 November 89 09:55 Czech Republic Praha R1 CZE
06 November 89 10:08 Czech Republic Praha & Budejovice R1 R2 CZE
06 November 89 10:40 Yugoslavia Kopaonik E3 YUG
06 November 89 10:50 Germany Grunten E2 D
06 November 89 11:05 Italy   IA IB I
06 November 89 11:06 Czech Republic Praha R1 CZE
06 November 89 11:09 Switzerland Bantiger E2 SUI
06 November 89 12:30 Spain   E2 E3 E
06 November 89 12:30 Spain   E2 E3 E
06 November 89 13:30 Spain   E2 E
07 November 89 07:53 Russia   R1 RUS
07 November 89 08:16 Russia   R1 R2 RUS
07 November 89 08:16 Russia   R1 R2 RUS
07 November 89 09:07 Russia   R1 R2 RUS
07 November 89 09:07 Russia   R1 R2 RUS
07 November 89 10:04 Russia   R1 RUS
08 November 89 09:00 Arabic Unknown E2 ?
09 November 89 07:50 Arabic Unknown E2 ?
10 November 89 08:10 Arabic Unknown E2 ?
11 November 89 08:15 Arabic Unknown E2 ?
12 November 89 08:00 Arabic Unknown E2 ?
15 November 89 11:33 Arabic Unknown E2 ?
20 November 89 09:10 Iran   E2 IRN
23 November 89 09:24 Arabic Unknown E2 ?
27 November 89 09:46 Unknown Unknown E2 ?
27 November 89 16:12 Germany   E2 E4 D
27 November 89 16:28 Italy   IA I
27 November 89 16:30 Unknown Unknown E2 ?
27 November 89 17:24 Arabic Unknown E2 ?
27 November 89 18:50 Germany Grunten E2 D
27 November 89 19:10 Germany Grunten E2 D
28 November 89 09:56 Arabic Unknown E2 ?


DECEMBER 1989
Now comes a problem. The Sunspot Count is around 153, HIGH.

December is one of the winter months for Sporadic E. So, are the logs from Sweden and Spain Sporadic E or Short F. They could be either, I have no idea at all !!!Holland is no problem, Troppo. The Arabic loggings are F2 multi hop Layer ofcourse.

DATE TIME COUNTRY REGION CHANNEL ITU
01 December 1989 10:08 Arabic Unknown E2 ?
02 December 1989 09:15 Arabic Unknown E2 ?
03 December 1989 10:08 Holland Lopik E4 HOL
03 December 1989 17:37 Holland Lopik E4 HOL
04 December 1989 07:50 Holland Lopik E4 HOL
07 December 1989 09:23 Sweden   E2 E3 S
13 December 1989 17:10 Spain   E2 E3 E
13 December 1989 17:10 Spain   E2 E3 E
13 December 1989 18:00 Spain   E3 E
22 December 1989 17:13 Spain   E2 E
27 December 1989 09:25 Iran   E2 IRN


JANUARY 1990
The Sunspot Count was still good, around 150. Again January often sees Sporadic E. So the chances are that the logs from Spain are E layer. The one Arabic Logging F2.

DATE TIME COUNTRY CHANNEL ITU
03 January 1990 14:07 Spain E2 E
03 January 1990 15:10 Spain E2 E4 E
07 January 1990 09:48 Arabic E2 ?
10 January 1990 16:01 Spain E2 E4 E
12 January 1990 15:22 Spain E2 E
12 January 1990 16:07 Spain E2 E
12 January 1990 17:06 Spain E2 E
12 January 1990 17:07 Unknown E3 ?
22 January 1990 15:51 Spain E2 E


FEBRUARY 1990
Abit leaner compared to February 1989. However I managed one Arabic logging from Iran. Also I assume two Short F loggings from Norway. The Sunspot Count is around 152.

DATE TIME COUNTRY CHANNEL ITU
15 February 1990 09:45 Norway E2 NOR
15 February 1990 10:12 Norway E2 NOR
23 February 1990 09:22 Iran E2 IRN


MARCH 1990
Times are getting hard now. Only one logging from Iran, though this time last year I again only had one Arabic Logging. However this time no Short F stuff.The Sunspot Count was around 152. Still high.

DATE TIME COUNTRY CHANNEL ITU
02 March 1990 08:20 Iran E2 IRN


APRIL 1990
Well, nothing seen in April 1989 at all. This year a few logs from Spain. Could easily be Sporadic E now, especially as May is round the corner. The Sunspot Count was around 149.

DATE TIME COUNTRY CHANNEL ITU
23 April 1990 13:45 Spain E2 E
23 April 1990 14:00 Spain E2 E3 E
23 April 1990 14:00 Spain E2 E3 E
23 April 1990 15:11 Spain E2 E3 E
23 April 1990 15:11 Spain E2 E3 E


The 1990 Sporadic E season then followed.


May : 36 Loggings 27 down on last year June June : 174 Loggings 79 down on last year
July : 84 Loggings 133 down on last year August : 76 Loggings 14 up on last year
September : 11 Loggings 14 down on last year

Again 2 weeks holiday in August kept loggings down. However quite a drop in loggings for June & July the peak months, compared to 1989.

JANUARY 1991
Only Sporadic E seen this month. No sign of any Arabic stations at all. Despite this some nice openings for the start of the year. The sunspot count was around 147.

DATE TIME COUNTRY CHANNEL ITU
09 January 1991 16:25 Spain E3 E
11 January 1991 10:32 Norway E3 NOR
11 January 1991 10:37 Norway E2 NOR
15 January 1991 15:47 Germany E2 D
15 January 1991 16:15 Germany E2 D
15 January 1991 16:20 Italy IA I
16 January 1991 14:43 Italy IA I
16 January 1991 15:10 Italy IA I
16 January 1991 17:10 Spain E2 E3 E4 E


FEBRUARY 1991
Well one Arabic Logging. Typical F2 Layer reception, with multi hop distortions. The Sunspot Count was around 147. No Short F1 this time, unlike February 1990.

DATE TIME COUNTRY CHANNEL ITU
05 February 1991 09:47 Arabic E2 ?


March and April 1991 only managed one logging from Spain in the two months.


The 1991 Sporadic E Season then followed:


May : 11 Loggings 25 down on last year. June : 109 Loggings 65 down on last year.
July : 84 Loggings the same as last year. August : 33 Loggings 43 down on last year.
September : 12 Loggings 1 up on last year.

So once again quite a poor season. Loggings generally down compared to 1990, and well down compared to 1989.

JANUARY 1992
The sunspot Count was around 137, still HIGH. Once again Arabic loggings via F2 multi hop. The rest, can only assume Sporadic E.

DATE TIME COUNTRY REGION CHANNEL ITU
04 January 1992 14:05 Unknown Unknown E2 E3 E4 ?
04 January 1992 15:05 Unknown Unknown R1 R2 ?
04 January 1992 17:00 Spain   E2 E
18 January 1992 17:04 Spain   E2 E
18 January 1992 17:05 Portugal Lousa E3 POR
18 January 1992 17:30 Spain   E3 E
18 January 1992 17:47 Portugal Lousa E3 POR
27 January 1992 09:00 Arabic Unknown E2 ?
30 January 1992 09:30 Arabic Unknown E2 ?
31 January 1992 09:39 Arabic Unknown E2 ?


FEBRUARY 1992
The sunspot Count for this month was around 133, still high but a downward trend without doubt. However, the F2 multi hop Arabic loggings were good on days throughout the month. No trouble here, as ALL LOGS were F2.

DATE TIME COUNTRY CHANNEL ITU
01 February 1992 10:00 Arabic E2 ?
06 February 1992 09:30 Arabic E2 ?
08 February 1992 11:37 Arabic E2 ?
15 February 1992 10:30 Arabic E2 ?
16 February 1992 09:00 Arabic E2 ?
17 February 1992 10:00 Arabic E2 ?
19 February 1992 09:50 Iran E2 IRN
20 February 1992 10:00 Arabic E2 ?
22 February 1992 10:15 Arabic E2 ?


The 1992 Sporadic E Season then followed:


May : 57 Loggings 46 up on last year June : 204 Loggings 95 up on last year
July : 120 Loggings 36 up on last year August : 27 Loggings 6 down on last year
September : 7 Loggings 5 down on last year


As you can see, June and July show an increase, though well below the levels of 1989. Once again August has been hit by 2 weeks holiday.

Well 1992 sees the end of Short F and Multi hop F2 layer propagation. It began in February 1989 and ended in February 1992. It will be interesting to see how well we do when this cycle nears its peak in a few years time. I hope, that with all the digital technology appearing, there will still be Band One transmitters around. Without doubt this will be the last time we will have to enjoy DXTV at the peak of a sunspot cycle. Indeed the hobby is entering its final stages as the EEC wants all analogue TV transmitters closed down as soon as possible & replaced by digital ones.

The only way left is to join the Hams on 6M.

We are now into the height of Sunspot Cycle 23. Update to follow. Below is a chart of my Loggings.



Chart of Sun Spot Cycles Since 1954


My DXTV Station at Work.

 Written by William F. Kitching G4FBZ. 


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