Whats the deal with the Tropo?

[SCPD]

the last 3 mornings in a row, I have had the Local SO dispatch completely covered over with Skip. Angelina County, Wise County, Parker county and Cedar Hill on 154.7250. a VHF TRS out of Ellis County is Bleading bad on 154.8900 Bonham Fire Ch. I heard the Control Channel for STARNET better than the Collin Co. Control Channel yesterday.

I allways bring up "Skip" but this is "Out of Season" skip isn't it? Tropo-time is gennerally Fall and Early spring? it this a partial result of the Weather events happening?

Makes for some awesome Listening.

 

[ka3jjz]

It's a fallacy to think that tropo is limited to 1 or 2 seasons. Truth is, it can happen in any season - and there are many mechanisms that can trigger it. Bill Hepburn's Tropo Forecasts site is an excellent place to start. You can select the 'Gulf Carribbean' area from a list about 2/3 of the way down the bottom of the site. You will see maps with that area in colored outlines, with the forecast of possible tropo conditions. (No, it's not specific city by city, but it's good enough for a general idea...) Just a little ways down from there are links with explanations about the various types of V/UHF DX, including Tropo. Well worth taking the time to read - and bookmark, if you're interested in Tropo DX.

Oh yes, before I forget - it's geared toward TV/FM DXing, but scanner listening works the same way....73s Mike

 

[Russell]

Spring time and cool weather have always been excellent conditions for skip in Texas. I the past I've heard Houston DPS in Richardson using a handheld scanner w/a regular duckie (inside).

 

[rattlerbb01]

OK, it is absolutely ridiculous this morning. Bexar County Water District system ID7724 is overriding the Bryan Brazos County System IDA710. And I live in Navasota! I am tracking the Bexar County system since the control channel is on 868.1625 and the Bryan system is on 868.4375. I like tropo times because I pick up a lot of neat stuff I have never heard, but this is kind of annoying.

 

[safetyobc]

http://home.cogeco.ca/~dxinfo/tropo.html

that may help

 

[kkn50]

04/14/2006

154.025 - Helotes FD repeater has been broadcasting comms from Waveland, Mississippi all morning. Input is 150.805.

Just heard a fire at 604 Old Spanish Trail in Waveland.

Interesting monitoring.

 

[kkn50]

And tropo maps, http://home.cogeco.ca/~dxinfo/tropo.html , indicate great ducting in south Texas tomorrow (Saturday).

 

[jcboss]

My father made multiple Florida contacts from central Texas on 144.2 MHz SSB yesterday. He said he hadn't seen tropospheric ducting of such intensity in many years. His antenna is about 70 feet up and he was running as low as 50 watts.

 

[otter9309]

4-15-06 a.m. Traffic from Miramar, FL. on 154.250. FD unit was requesting USCG to stop a speeding boat.

 

[Sanscanman]

Been picking up Gainesvill FL Fire on 154.325 , and locally 157.100 Notice to Mariners out of port aransas. lots of intersing stuff poping up right now, and the rest of the week should be just as interesting

 

[muddy mudskipper]

holy crap. that is some serious skip!

 

[mancow]

Those maps seem to be pretty accurate. I'm near KC and it was definitely kicking in here earlier. Every repeater frequency on 2 meters brough something up.

I didn't think to try SSB with the FT100D. :evil:

 

[SCPD]

Ducting

I gave up on HF monitoring, mega-Overload! I am listening to Angelina Co./Lufkin on 154.8900 and its covering Bonham Fire. I am 18 miles from the Bonham City of: repeater tower and Lufkin is giving them a run for their money.

Thanks for the tropo links ya'all. this year is gonna be a heck of a year for Long distance ID's. In fact I have StarNet up and running just because the last week between 1AM and 9AM they are 5X5.

 

[SCPD]

Where are DPS 1400's assigned at? and KGY202 or 102 are out of Lampasas (159.2100) and Providence Hospital (Waco) (SIMPLEX) Car to Car on 154.205 Man! this is HOT Tonight!

 

[SCPD]

OK this is just stupid tonight, On Inter-City and 159.2100 I am Hearing San Antonio DPS 155.4600 Is locked Out, it is just a mess of Junk! Mclennan Co Sheriff on 154.875 are as Loud as DSO on 155.6700 and I am getting intermitten Control Channel hits from Shreveport LA. TRS KKC-523 Waco, Loud & Clear (159.2100) this is Incredible!

 

[SCPD]

Look at todays Chart! Momma, Break Out the Copper and Aluminm Foil!

 

[rattlerbb01]

yeah, I knew tropo was crazy when I heard a fire tone on 153.950 pl 123.0 and a console time in the eastern time zone with nothing but a pro-96 and a stub antenna.

 

[scrotumola]

I live near Pleasanton, which is 30 miles south of San Antonio. On saturday night/sunday morning I was picking up a fire department somewhere in Louisiana working a fire at a casino. This was using back-of-set antenna on my receiver!

 

[SCPD]

Picked up a distress Call on Marine VHF Ch-16 last night out of Mobile Alabama, a Barge was missing. the home port was St. Jo. This morning, I am tracking the Tulsa OK. Motorola System.
Last night I had to go off search. DPS was incredible, I was even hearing Digital odulation from region-4 Very well. 155.4600 was just complete nonsence. but in the mess I was hearing Region-1, 2, 8, 6 and a little 5. the Tropo-Map for today also shows extreem levels in South Texas.

 

[Para078]

Ducting

Yesterday morning I spent five hours listening to AMR in Jackson, Ms on 155.4. It was almost as clear as it was in the trucks when I worked there. Heard one of the mobile repeaters kick on once. Heard someone use a phone patch to a Providence Hospital on Med 4. Still wondering if it was Waco or Mobile, Al.