Something strange on a Sunday...

Swifty · 16 January 2005, 16:44

Hi all,
Had the boat on the drive today to clean some antifouling off. I had the VHF on to pass the time on ch23 (Thames weather reports) and dual watch. At 11.30 there was a securite call regarding a gale warning, nothing unusual there, but it came from Netherlands coastguard. Now im about a mile inshore and roughly half way between dover and london.
The Netherlands must be about 80 miles? Im not sure whether it came in on 23 or 16 as I was under the boat at the time.

Was it a freak of the Ionosphere or something more simple. Reception was weak but clear.

Anyone ever come accross something like this before? or are the gremlins waiting to strike.

Tim.

gingercoastie · 16 January 2005, 19:58

High pressure systems can make vhf signals travel for incredible distances some times.

At Falmouth we can ofter hear stations as far away as Solent and Liverpool. It doen't half make channel 16 confusing (thank god for DSC)

Richard B · 16 January 2005, 20:25

We once listened to Mike C and Andre conversing on their VHFs - they were south of the IOW (just off St Catherines Point) and we were north of the IOW (at Lymington).

However, I know that amateur radio enthisiasts like to exploit atmospheric conditions - I have a copy of MS Word that was sent by modem over ham radio from Australia to the UK. I don't know how many "hops" it took!

Hightower · 17 January 2005, 11:53

On 10 meter band a skip is between 1500 and 2500 miles depending on the conditions Richard, this skip distance increases as the radio wave increases in size. I'm sure that someone else with more knowledge could tell you more.

Andy

Ribald · 17 January 2005, 16:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard B

I have a copy of MS Word that was sent by modem over ham radio from Australia to the UK.

Oopps - methinks that you can expect a knock on the door from Mr Gates' "boys" in the not too distant furture then