If you’ve ever been hunting that elusive DX and wish you’d get a notification on your phone or tablet when the bands are open?… then HamAlert is what you’ve been waiting for! More at http://bit.ly/3HJoo3Z 00:00 | Intro 00:16 | What is HamAlert 00:50 | HamAlert setup 01:42 | Where to get HamAlert

And now for something different - Sporadic E propagation in 2 minutes (ish). If the comments are encouraging, there'll be more 2 minute-ish videos! Feel free to suggest topics. Sporadic E propagation is a type of radio wave propagation that occurs in the E layer of the ionosphere. The E layer extends from about 90-120km above the earth’s surface. Here's how it works More at http://bit.ly/3Ymaxao 00:00 | Intro 00:08 | What and where is the E layer? 00:40 | 1475km Es 2m contact with VK4OX 01:05 | How E clouds are formed and work

Our Sun could be on the verge of one of its strongest cycles since records began, so if you're an amateur radio operator it may pay to strap yourself in. The Termination Event is a new idea in solar physics, outlined by Scott McIntosh and Bob Leamon in a December 2020 paper in the journal ‘Solar Physics’. Extreme space weather can cause problems for communication networks including amateur radio as well as satellites such as GPS, power distribution networks, and aviation. Understanding the Sun and its cycles is key to predicting space weather. Keep a watch on your favourite solar weather site as it's shaping up to be an interesting few years. More at https://bit.ly/3RSzA20 00:00 | Scenario 00:30 | Introduction 01:55 | Solar cycle 02:19 | Terminator Events 02:45 | Research findings

Local radio Interference. It’s the bane of the Radio Amateur’s life. There are two types – one you can’t do much about such as power line interference and the neighbour’s solar installation, and one you can do something about - local interference, such as dodgy battery chargers and cheap and nasty LED lighting. This video will give you an idea of what to look for and where. More at https://bit.ly/3QUbQJi 00:00 | Introduction 00:37 | LED light interference (EMI) 02:11 | Other sources of local interference.

Digital amateur radio has become very popular in recent years. FT8 is now more popular than SSB… but what about voice modes? Dstar is more or less standard on all new Icom radios now and DMR is gaining momentum too. It’s a new way of communicating but with new modes comes new procedures. This video will show best practice when it comes to using digital voice modes. Digital radio relies on internet-connected servers, routing and switching. It’s a truly global network of interconnection. This takes time so the way you operate and the gaps you leave between overs are critical to a successful contact. As a back story, Craig, VK3NRC approached me on behalf of the Victorian D-Star User group to make this video. For more information, head over to their website at http://www.dstar.org.au/

Sporadic E propagation is a result of highly ionized patches or “clouds” that occasionally form in the E region of the ionosphere at altitudes between approximately 80 and 150 kilometres. Communication distances of 800–2000 km can occur using a single Es cloud. This variability in distance depends on a number of factors, including cloud height and density. MUF also varies widely, but most commonly falls in the 25 – 150 MHz range which includes the amateur radio 2 meter, 6 meter, and even the 10-meter bands. Strong events have allowed propagation at frequencies as high as 250 MHz. 0:00 | Introduction 1:13 | Atmospheric Layers 1:42 | The Ionosphere 2:48 | The Troposphere 3:35 | The D Region 4:12 | The E Region 5:16 | The F Region 6:19 | Sporadic E Propagation 9:12 | Signal Refraction and MUF 13:00 | Sporadic E effects on HF and longevity More at https://bit.ly/3QYru6D

WSPR stands for "Weak Signal Propagation Reporter"… a protocol used for weak-signal radio communication between amateur radio stations. It’s fully automated and reports to the WSPRnet.org server in real-time. In this video, we’ll take a quick look at WSPR and what you can learn from it. More at https://3fs.net.au/vhf/wspr/

VHF propagation beyond that of line-of-sight occurs by using the troposphere, the Ionosphere, or an obstacle such as the moon or a building. There are three types of tropospheric propagation, or “tropo”, which take signals a significant distance beyond the horizon: 1. Enhanced tropospheric refraction occurs when there is a significant increase above the normal value of the refractive index in the atmosphere. 2. Tropospheric ducting occurs when radio waves are trapped within channels bounded by sharp changes in refractive index and… 3. Tropospheric scattering, which arises from small-scale variations in the refractive index. These modes occur almost exclusively in the lowest few kilometres of the troposphere where the air density and water-vapour content are greatest. It’s also worth noting that the refractive index decreases with height. 0:00 | Introduction 0:46 | The troposphere 1:20 | Refraction 1:54 | The most common VHF and UHF propagation 2:11 | The 3 types of Tropospheric Propagation 3:05 | Enhanced Tropospheric Refraction 4:00 | Tropospheric Ducting 4:12 | Surface Ducts 5:28 | Elevated Ducts 6:33 | Tropospheric Scatter 7:48 | Radiation Inversions 8:19 | Subsidence Inversions 10:20 | Aerological charts (BoM) 10:52 | Propagation prediction charts 11:12 | VKspotter More at https://3fs.net.au/tropospheric-propagation/

Working VHF DX is a lot of fun, but it can be challenging. In this video, I’ll show you the tools I use to work VHF from -20 to 40 over. The 6 and 2 meter bands can be a lot of fun, after all, they don’t call 6m the magic band for nothing. These bands come to life as we come out of winter and head towards summer. In the southern states of Australia, 6 meter activity kicks of late October with big signals from one end of the country to the other, even New Zealand, JA, and beyond. There are two methods of VHF propagation, tropospheric ducting, and Sporadic E. 0:00 | Introduction 0:23 | 6 and 2 meter bands 0:51 | The two methods of VHF propagation 2:07 | WSPR - Weak Signal Propagation Reporting 3:02 | VK Spotter 4:05 | Hepburn Charts 4:45 | Propagation paths 6:11 | Getting on the air 6:33 | WSJT X More at https://3fs.net.au/