4853km TEP opening at 432 MHz from Curacao to Argentina
Brett, PJ2BR in Curacao in the Caribbean reports that on the 5th of February 2023 (01:18 UTC), his 432 MHz signal were heard by Javi, LU5FF in Argentina by Trans-Equatorial Propagation (TEP). The distance was 4853 kms!
This really is ground breaking news. It was only on the 4th of February that I put up a post about what was up to then the only 432 MHz reception report via TEP in South America and that was from 1978. I tagged PJ2BR on Twitter about the post and a few hours later, we have a second 70cms TEP report!
Proof of Concept… For this TEP opening on 432 MHz, PJ2BR was using the Q65b weak signal mode. This is significant because it means that modern digital weak signal modes can be used for TEP openings at 70cms. It’s not a case of there being too much doppler or spreading of the signal that only CW can be used. This would likely require a much stronger signal for a contact to be made.
For the record, here is a screen grab off the PSK Reporter website before it disappears.
Let’s hope that this news will encourage more stations in the Caribbean and in South America to try to make a TEP contact on the 432 MHz.
More info as I get it…
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