After several decades absence I have been operational on 2 metres SSB since the end of February 2018. I have been using an old Eighties FT290R and a small amplifier running only 25 watts to a 7-element antenna.
I have not observed any spectacular tropo openings, but last week we had some propagation into Scandinavia.
On 8th October in the evening I worked
OZ6OL JO65dj 878 km
SM7DTT JO65lj 923 km
SM7NR JO76rc 1091 km
And on the morning of 9th
SM7NR JO76 again with minimal activity from UK.
On 70 cms with one watt SSB from an FT790R I worked on the morning of 9th:
OZ9FW JO65co 882 km
And in the UKAC 70 cms contest in the evening of 9th with one watt:
SK7MW JO65mj 923 km
OV2T JO46qh 774 km
The opening seemed very localised. There was not much good propagation in between, at least as far as my location in Hockley, Essex was concerned. However, good results can be had with a modest station. I am hoping to have a bit more power soon.
Amateur Radio News from Jon Stow, G4MCU 