2metre enhanced propagation

 We have had some enhanced propagation the last few days since 25th December, on Xmas night, we could see sea-fog rolling in from ocean, from nth east after a warm day, I checked repeaters near midnight, noting Mt.Bindo VK2RDX which is normally s-1 at my house was now 60/9, so I checked around other rptrs, 6675 from sth coast was 60/9, I could key 146.900 but no ident,  it could be either VK2RKG in Bathurst or the Newcastle rptr. At 4.30am on 26th December I had briefly got up and noticed it was solid fog outside,  visibility 150metres in all directions, the two streetlights I could see looked like cones of light. by 9am the sun starting to burn off the fog, still Bindo was 10/9.

27th December, the sea fog starting again after dark, by near midnight I could key rptrs, Bindo VK2RDX again at 60/9, found VK2RAB 146.825 Mt. Crawney s-5, VKRTM 146.750 Tamworth s1, and 146.900 was able to be keyed, but no ident, possibly VK2RKG in Bathurst. Checked 6metre rptrs, still the same.

6metre FM repeaters in and around Sydney

 Repeaters status as of 11th December 2022

VK2RAG, Somersby, 53.725 MHz  requires  91.5 Hz  CTCSS tone  - they run Sunday WIA b'cast and callbacks

VK2RWI, Dural, 53.850 MHz - working,  WIA Sunday b'casts will run through this next year

VK2RBM, Blue Mtns, 53.875 MHz - working  requires 123Hz CTCSS

VK2RMP, Maddens Plains, 53.650 MHz  - working  requires 123Hz CTCSS

VK2RSN, Mt Sugarloaf, Newcastle, 53.625 MHz    nil response, I tested yesterday when I was up that way

VK2RGN, 53.700 MHz, Goulburn,   off air according to the Goulburn ARC website.

6metre FM opening today 9 Dec 2022

 I think the first opening  for FM today for this summer period, open to VK3 and VK7, with respect to FM repeaters, it was from Sydney to VK7,  although I see VK3 were seeing VK2 around 6pm AEDST

I worked VK7RCH 53.700- working some locals from Sydney   plus VK7QF, then VK7RAD 53.825 and VK7RAA 53.875,  although sometimes keying two rptrs.

Of course looking from a weak signal perspective it was wide open into Pacific, 3D2 and ZL, up to JA,

actually FM is a good indicator that it wide open for SSB and other weak signals modes.

update on 23cm Repeaters as of 5th December, 2022

 a recap on 23cm repeater systems centered around Sydney as of  5th December, 2022

Here are the operational 23cm FM Analogue repeaters I can work:

OUTPUT / INPUT    CALL          Location

1273.100 / 1293.100 VK2RTZ  Mt. Sugarloaf  - working,  it idents every hour, requires 91.5Hz ctcss

1273.200 / 1293.200 VK2RWC   Chatswood  - working

1273.400 / 1293.400 VK2RAG  Somersby - working, has beep on the tail

1273.500 / 1293.500 VK2RWI Dural  -  yes, it is working again.

1296.850  VK2RMP FM Simplex analogue parrot repeater at Maddens Plains - working, it idents regularly with a CW message

There is also some wide band or frequency  hopping digital signal that comes up occasionally, can be any time of the day, however, it only runs for approximately 30mins, then disappears,  it seems to come from direction of the city,  I won't call it interference, as it maybe a legitimate user of 23cm, as we are secondary users. It just annoying when you scanning. I see this signal down at 1250 MHz and all way up to 1296MHz, sometimes it will keyup Chatswood rptr and also keyup the Maddens Plains parrot rptr. 

1294.000 FM Simplex, not heard anyone since July 2022.

There are other known 23cm Repeaters, i.e VK2RRR Razorback and  others at Blue Mtns, Walcha, Muswellbrook, Lismore and Jervis bay,  all these have been unfortunately been cancelled, scrapped or never completed.

Murchison Radio Telescope project in Western Australia.

 this is news article from ABC News,  absolutely  fantastic presentation from ABC News, 

I love to see high tech space research,  great to see Australia leading with a major integral part of the overall radio astronomy project, I can't wait until 2028 when it is expected to be completed.

https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/construction-begins-on-world-s-largest-radio-telescope-in-wa/vi-AA14TdMS?ocid=entnewsntp