Exploring the 20m Ham Radio Band After Dark

There are times when perhaps er should explore the possibilities of some of our ham radio bands rather than simply listen to what stations are coming through. Here, Peter G3OJV, explore the 20m ham radio band after dark. He tries to penetrate the propagation, even when the band is quite quiet.
The 4BTV Vertical antenna that Peter used.
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[@peterallgood8544]

Hi Peter from another Peter as well! G8RXZ here. Just this last week got onto HF with a new FTdx10 and had my first EVER international QSOS despite being licenced in 1979 but only VHF till now - returning after 30 year hiatus. Your videos have been most helpful thank you so much. I just tried out the RBN and it really does work!

[@watersstanton]

Welcome back. It’s a nice radio. Hope all goes well with the new HF station. 73 Peter.

[@Jan_Talcott_100]

Peter, thank you for this video. I'm always learning from you. You are greatly appreciated.

[@mysteryham4065]

Great video. Finally, a simple and straightforward explanation of RBN for my needs. Thank you again from North Carolina.

[@dandypoint]

Excellent information. I use the RBN all the time. From what I can determine the RBN stations are sometimes using small vertical antennas with low gain, so not being heard or displaying a low SNR does not mean that with a good dipole on both ends you can not make a good QSO. I also compare antennas the same way. For example my mobile antenna set up for portable in my back yard is consistently 10 dB lower than my dipole at 40 feet. If you hear a station calling CQ you can put in his call and see where he is being heard. Sometimes that’s very interesting.

[@GMT_400]

Good video. Keep in mind too that some RBN receivers, such as mine, are running a small loop non-resonant or other wideband antenna and preamp. So your signal received may actually be better when considering an in band antenna at the far end of propagation.

[@watersstanton]

Good point. Thanks.

[@seanfoley7097]

I've noticed the last two nights at 20 m is has been busier than 40 and 80 I just got off the radio now and it's 0530 Zulu and it's still busy

[@watersstanton]

Wow!

[@user-nf5bq6tn7m]

Thank you . Always enjoy you . WV8DA

[@mikegraham7601]

Great ider wil try this soon thanks Peter

[@watersstanton]

Have fun

[@mikewalsh511]

I didn't even know this kind of utility existed! This is fantastic.

[@bigmartin]

The RBN is fantastic and very easy to use. Just remember to enter your callsign info the search box others you’ll get loads of other stations hitting beacons.

[@wildbill1]

Thanks Pete I’m going to try this myself!

[@watersstanton]

Hope you enjoy

[@daveflanagan6510]

I have been using the RBN for a few years and had some nice surprises when testing. I sent 'test' as you do and omitting a 'k' at the end as it's an 'invite to reply' really. I've just sent a test call at 1951z and had an 11dB hit with VK2RH ... I run 100w using a Mosley Mini triband dipole in NE/SW position. Dark path return from VU2 and E28; all about 11/14dB. Thanks for the videos Dave GW4ZAR

[@watersstanton]

Good to hear from you Dave.

[@Alf991]

Really interesting. Thank you for all your vids, from a swl intending to get foundation this year.

[@watersstanton]

Go for it!

[@MrToymod]

Do it.

[@Russ-]

Thank you, very interesting. I have often wondered how the reverse beacon worked.

[@watersstanton]

Give it a go.

[@SteveBrace]

Thanks for that Peter. I just had a play! - 2E0PTY

[@watersstanton]

Yes it is a great DX tool.

[@johnmarron1944]

Hi Peter been using it for many a year especially when testing one antenna against another to see which is performing better I had over a 100 hits before 8 this morning a lot were into usa a few vks etc so put a call out cq for over 40mins never got a reply. Lol 😢.keep the vids coming love them all .73

[@marshred]

My Best DX is on 20m, 1am-5am central time, from Southwest LA, on an OCFD antenna driven by an AL-811 amp.

[@watersstanton]

Good to hear.

[@Ressy66]

Great video Peter, thanks for showing use of RB. Hrmm Hustler, I thought you used a BB7V, do you find hustler better?

[@CamilleCullen-ow6qj]

Great video, many thanks! Robert K5TPC

[@watersstanton]

Many thanks.

[@robertvarner9519]

Nice station. I wish I was proficient in CW.

[@colourist.]

Great video Peter. Peter M0VFX

[@watersstanton]

You are very welcome.

[@jimdavis5230]

Is CW better than PSK31 for dx? I remember using PSK31 some years ago purely for receive. My computer copied stations perfectly despite me not being able to hear anything in the loudspeaker other than noise.

[@watersstanton]

Yes!

[@brianfields4479]

Thanks for sharing. Rbn is a great tool, and can give us a instant idea on what the bands are doing. Down here is south zl, your evening is normally short path, and this far south is quiet. But your am, long path is always open to us, although a little after the greyline for me. 73 zl3xdj

[@watersstanton]

Hi Brian. Thanks for that info. Got your last email and will reply. Sorry delay.

[@MrStanwyck]

Thank you for demonstrating how to use the reverse beacon network. Couldn’t you also have used WSPR as well? Cheers, Bill KC2KNA

[@watersstanton]

RBN gives results in seconds at operational power levels

[@KD9ZHF]

Was that a Kent paddle key? Are they out of business? DX Engineering in the States says they expect a shipment in the summer, but they seem out of business - website contact doesn't work. Thanks for your video, Peter. I always appreciate your educational chats!

[@watersstanton]

I don’t know the make. I got it as a broken item. Found some bolts with the right threads and got it going!

[@KD9ZHF]

@@watersstanton ingenius.

[@johnstevens2163]

Peter, by pure coincidence I was watching this video at 23:00 UTC! I must say it is not a time I had considered operating into G. Also what model is your amplifier? I am looking for an amp that does nominally 400 watts PEP. De John VK4VT

[@watersstanton]

Acom 1010 which has 700W max with single tube. Manual tune oi-network which means it easily feeds my G5RV with no need for external ATU.

[@MidlifeRenaissanceMan]

There are only a few RBNs here in VK land. One in VK6 that you hit, one in Vk3 Victoria and a couple here in Sydney VK2 The ever reliable VK4CT in Queensland has been off the air for some time now In some ways you’re better off using one of the many Kiwi SDRs we have available I’m lucky in that I have VK2RH not too far from my QTH and can guarantee that at least I’m making it to the next suburb. Handy for testing antennas and transmission line matching with real world relative measurements

[@watersstanton]

Many thanks fir the info

[@MidlifeRenaissanceMan]

All good. I like 20m at night….when it’s firing. Had some cracker DX way after midnight As a straight key user, I judge my success by how well the RBN picks up my callsign. Slowest I’ve spotted was 9WPM. I cracked 21WPM a couple of times, but that not easily repeatable given how much I actually get on the air :-)

[@86casimir]

Well done Peter for this video. A site that I didn't know. So I'm going to put it on my computer and do regular tests. Thanks again. 73/F8MGW

[@watersstanton]

You are very welcome. 73 Peter.

[@mewrongway]

So Peter what your saying is that you like to play around in the dark?

[@paulsengupta971]

I didn't know he was a golfer...

[@spondulix99]

At the time you shut down, the sun had risen along the east coast of Australia. You claim that shortly after that, but with your camera then off, you got a response from Australia as documented by the still photo that you took. However, the photo shows that instead of sunrise having progressed further west across Australia, it has moved considerably in the opposite direction. That is, eastward well away from Australia. What is going on here? W1APB

[@watersstanton]

Wrong image used but same spot.

[@spondulix99]

@@watersstanton Wrong and misleading commentary as well.

[@hfBMW]

thanks! WSPR helps me, ab0ts, 73

[@joeplatzner6160]

Great video as usual. Thanks for all you are doing. I'm learning CW, and this looks like a way to test it before I want a reply! KK7JMG

[@watersstanton]

You can do it!