ZM2E will be conducting transmisions on 137 kHz at Quartz Hill from 31 March to 2 April 2007.

The transmissions will be 0.2 Hz frequency shift (137776/137776.2) and with dot length to suit conditions. A beacon strategy has been agreed between participating stations: ZM2E will beacon with Z at FSK120 starting at 15 and 45 minutes past an hour, and other participants (all on unique frequency slots) will also beacon with FSK120 from the hour and half hour (see table for beacon ID short call sign). If beaconing shows a path opens, then a QSO attempt will commence, in which case the beacon sequence lapses. Dot length during QSO mode will be selected by each station, for what they think suits conditions, so there can be no advance notice of how third parties can best sticky beak on a QSO attempt. At ZM2E we will have several PCs and run a range of Argo dot length displays, so we can handle anything that comes our way.

If ZM2E is not in QSO mode within an hour or so of Quartz Hill sunrise, then to facilitate possible reception reports from EU we will go to continuous beacon mode, sending ZZZ. at FSK120, and with timing of each Z starting on the hour and ten minute rests thereafter.

There is a bed and mattress firm in Wellington with a slogan: "You get more Zeds at Wellington beds". How that compares with ZM2E can be checked out from any listener reports. We would hope that you get more Zeds from Quartz Hill, but the last laugh may be on us with the threat of watching eyelids during the third night.

There is no internet access at the remotely located Quartz Hill station, but we will likely travel to town during daylight hours to check email.

Here is a list of the particpating stations over the period 31 March to 2 April 2007:

Station
Short call sign
DFCW frequencies
Grid square
Sunset
Sunrise
Path length to ZM2E

VO1NA
V
137776.9/137777
GN37OR
2155z
0915z
16246 km

VY1JA
J
137778.1/137778.25
CP20KW
0345z
1424z
12227 km

ZM2E
Z
137776/137776.2
RE78IR
0610z
1841z
-

UA0AET
U
137775.4/137775.6
NO65KX
1140z
2330z
13236 km

RX9BS
X
137776.4/137776.6
MO05UI
1420z
0130z
15024 km

UA4WPF
W
137777.0/137777.2
LO66PU
-
-
15559 km

RA3YO
Y
137777.6/137777.8
KO73DG
1615z
0325z
16789 km

R6L
L
137778/137778.2
KN97LN
1548z
-
16480 km

Note that the current amateur world record distance for a 136 kHz two-way contact is 10311 km, between ZM2E and UA0LE on 20 March 2004.

73, Bob ZL2CA (other ZM2E operators are Mike ZL4OL, David ZL4DP and possibly Con ZL2AFP)

Posted by ZL1AZE on March 30, 2007