[OZAPRS] Surpise for 40m !!!

[Rob - VK6LD]

Hi Scott,

orana> Well I've just noticed I have received to packet frames from

orana> 2010-03-21 11:36:53 UTC: VK6LD-15>>APOTC1,VK7HSE-4,VK7RHT-1,WIDE2*,qAR,VK7HSE-3:!
orana> 3500.40S/11719.55E(/A=000124 12.7V 27C

orana> 2010-03-21 12:52:35 UTC: VK6LD-15>>APOTC1,VK7HSE-4,VK7RHT-1,WIDE2*,qAR,VK7HSE-3:>HF APRS:
orana> IC706MK2G Outbacker OpenTracker+

orana> So maybe 40m will show a little more promise...

I hooked up my HF packet on the weekend and have left it running the
past few days to get an idea of how the propagation works on 30M & 40M
across the day & night.

I am heading off on a bit of a bush trip in about 6 weeks time so
wanted to know the best frequencies to use during daytime & nighttime
hence the reason for running it.

I am also suprised how long the bands are open for. Most of my packets
are being heard in VK2 & VK4 as well as VK7 & VK8 & ZL for a large
part of the day. Suprisingly I haven't been heard by the VK3MY-4
gateway on 30M - Maybe off frequency at my end?

From what I can see 30M does seem to be open from here for more hours
of the day & night, but maybe this is also the greater spread of the
igates around the states. I probably need to leave the HF APRS running
on 40M for a bit longer to get a good idea of the propagation in
relation to the igates.

A couple of other suprises was being heard by VK6UZ-4, who is only
400kms north of me - quite a short hop for 30M and the other one from
last night is:

2010-03-22 19:55:23 UTC: VK6LD-15>APOTC1,GATE,VK3CV-1,WIDE2*,qAR,VK7JH-1:!3500.36S/11719.55E(350/000/A=000067 12.5V 25C

Does VK3CV-1 have HF APRS services (it seems to be VHF from the raw
packets) or maybe it has gone through some other route like VK7DIK-4
and the raw data isn't quite accurate.

All in all I am quite impressed with the HF side of APRS. I think I
have inspired another local amateur to install his HF radio into his
car and get on HF APRS.

Thanks again for the signal report.

73's

Rob...
VK6LD