On May 6, 2015 history was made on contact across the Atlantic on VHF bands on the W-E path: The new D4C 2m beacon was received on Tropo for several hours in the Caribbean by PJ4VHF Dave on Bonaire on almost 4700km path. The band was open for 90 minutes from 0100-0230 UTC May 6, 2015. Report 519 on a TS-2000 with 2 x 13 element yagis.
Beacons were set up from the Monteverde Contest Team D4C and in particular by HB9DUR and IZ4DPV. We thanks HB9OK Tera radio club for providing the old unused equipment laboratory tested from HB9BCD Carlo. We are glad that our efforts help the VHF community. Let’s work for more with the aim of a two-way communication.
We are encouraging any Caribbean and south American station with 2m capability to keep listening to D4C/B on 144.436 MHz and to spread out the news as well as stations in the U.K. on the other direction.
Thanks to PJ4VHF Dave for this fantastic reception and happy DX’ing on VHF.
References:
Recorded reception: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZmBANS5ong&feature=youtu.be
Check the updated Tropo maps by world areas here: http://www.dxinfocentre.com/tropo_nat.html#hour6
Congratulations on this amazing reception over nearly 5,000 km. on 144 MHz. If anyone had been at the Cape Verde beacon site, there could have been a two-way contact across the Atlantic on two meters–a first!
Thank you for your comment. We are worging with N7BHC / PJ4VHF on a new generation beacon to be installed at Cape Verde station. As the project will be defined, we will be searching for contributors/sponsors to help us in trying to achieve the goal of a two-way communication. Stay tuned!