Super tropo conditions across EU on VHF/UHF

During the period between 17th-21st December 2007, many UK amateurs experienced some of the best tropospheric propagation conditions in several years.

The lift was particularly favourable in the North of England and along the East coast of Scotland, with stations on 144MHz working well into the Baltic States, Russia and the Ukraine.

The DX cluster was reporting contacts with YL, ES, UA2, UT2, OH, OH0, UR, RA3 and UY5. It appears that propagation was also extensive on the 70cm and 23cm bands, too.

One of the best-reported contacts occurred on 2M between GM0TGE (IO87) and UR5LX (KO70) at a distance of around 2,700Km. This contact is even more remarkable given that the path extended across the landmass of EU and so was not solely due to sea ducting.

The opening did not, however, favour everyone and stations in the South and West of the UK reported that very little was being heard.

It will be interesting to read reports of this remarkable event over the coming months in order to determine the range and extent of the super DX that was worked on VHF and above.

David, G4DHF