Tag Archives: meteor scatter

Working meteor scatter on 2 metres

Posted on July 1, 2025 | Leave a comment

Meteors photo by Baris Karagoz with thanks.

Back in the Eighties I was active on meteor scatter using high speed course with a keyer at 1000 letters a minute (200 lpm), a modified cassette recorder to copy and slow down signals received, and my trusty FT221R. It is a different world now with the new digital technology, so this is an up-to-date summary of current practice.

Working meteor scatter (MS) on 144 MHz (2 meters) is a fascinating part of VHF amateur radio that uses ionized trails left by meteors in the upper atmosphere to reflect radio signals over distances typically between 500 to 2,300 km. Here’s a detailed guide to getting started:

Essential Equipment

Transceiver
- A VHF rig capable of operating on 144–148 MHz SSB (preferably with USB).
- Minimum 50 watts output; 100+ watts is better.
Antenna
- High-gain Yagi (e.g., 10–13 elements).
- Horizontally polarized.
- Elevated on a rotator is ideal for aiming toward target stations.
Computer and Software
- Windows PC or Linux/Mac with emulation.
- WSJT-X software (by Joe Taylor, K1JT).
- Audio interface (e.g., SignaLink or rig’s built-in soundcard support).
Time Sync
- Accurate clock (use software like Dimension 4 or Meinberg NTP to keep your PC within 1 second of UTC).

Basic Meteor Scatter Operating Principles

Meteor scatter works best in early mornings (peak meteor activity around local sunrise).
Most meteors are small but frequent—so-called “sporadic meteors”.
Larger showers (like Perseids, Quadrantids, Geminids) offer longer bursts and better conditions.

⚙️ Digital Mode: MSK144 (Preferred Mode)

MSK144 is designed for fast meteor scatter on 6 and 2 meters.

Operating Cycle

Transmissions are synchronized in 15-second intervals.
Example: You transmit on even minutes (:00, :15, :30, :45), the other station on odd.
Ensure UTC clock sync!

Calling Procedure

Set frequency:
- 144.360 MHz USB is common in Europe.
- 50.260 MHz for 6m (if you move to 50 MHz later).
Call CQ using WSJT-X (MSK144 mode):
- Select “Tx Even” or “Tx Odd” appropriately.
- Set the correct audio levels (watch ALC on radio).
- Watch for decoded bursts in WSJT-X waterfall and text pane.
Exchange Format:
- Call signs → Reports (e.g., R26) → RRR → 73.

When to Operate?

Best Meteor Showers for MS:

Shower	Peak Date	Comment
Quadrantids	Jan 3–4	Short, intense
Perseids	Aug 12–13	Long peak, very active
Geminids	Dec 13–14	Reliable, strong signals

1. Equipment Setup

Core Station Checklist

Item	Recommended Spec	Notes
Radio	All-mode VHF (e.g., IC-9700, FT-847, TS-2000)	Must support USB
Power	≥ 100 watts (brick amp like RM Italy LA250 ok)	Higher power = stronger pings
Antenna	10–13 element Yagi, horizontally polarized	e.g., M2 2M9SSB or LFA Yagi
Feedline	Low-loss coax (LMR-400, Ecoflex 10, or better)	Keep runs short
Preamp	Mast-mounted LNA (optional but helps)	Use RX coax bypass if TX power is high
PC Interface	Rig soundcard or external USB interface (e.g., Signalink)	Must support VOX or CAT control
Time Sync	Meinberg NTP, Dimension 4, or GPS time source	Critical! Clock must be within ±1 sec UTC
Software	WSJT-X (latest stable), MSK144 mode	Also install JTAlert if you want assistance

I hope you found the above useful, and will give MS a go.

My Yaesu FT221R

Posted on February 24, 2024 | 1 comment

As I mentioned, my Liner 2 started my interest in serious operation on the 2 metre band. The Liner 2 was of course SSB only. It did not take long for me to realise that this was my “calling” in amateur radio; it was what I wanted to do.

In 1978 I bought my Yaesu Musen FT221R. It was very expensive and cost over £400 if I remember correctly. I was fortunate in that I still lived with my parents at their home, and although I paid my keep, I did not have other overheads and therefore was able to afford it.

This new rig was a multimode with FM, CW and SSB. On the receive side the sensitivity was not great, but there was available a replacement “front end” available from muTek, a business owned by Chris Bartram G4DGU, which improved sensitivity and handling of adjacent strong signals. The FT221R had the advantage of simply slotting in a board, so the “mod” was very simple.

As sold the tuning dial was analogue only, but there was available an external digital frequency display YC221 which plugged into the back of the rig.

The new radio was very successful in working 144 MHz DX. After a while I graduated to running a 16 element Tonna and then 2 X 16 elements on my 40 feet tower. Those were the days! I had a very good VHF site in Billericay, so I had a lot of advantages, including by then a linear capable of 200 watts.

So, I worked a lot of DX. However I wanted to try meteor scatter, which was partly my incentive to pass the Morse test, which I did with the assistance of my Datong Morse tutor. Meteor scatter in those days was done by receiving 200 words a minute or 1000 letters per minute plus and slowing down to readable levels with a cassette tape recorder and suitable pot. Transmitting at this speed required an automatic keyer. Many of my friends built their own but I had a Datong keyboard keyer which did 1000 lpm just fine, and the FT221R managed to handle it well without any mods. A good system and I worked MS DX mostly down to Southern Europe, looking back at my old log now.

The old thing does work now but still needs some work. 10 watts on transmit, favourable report, receives OK on SSB and FM. It might do with a preamp, but weak beacons are audible.

Addendum: One thing I did not mention is that the rig just plugs into a mains power supply. So convenient! A separate PSU is not required though could be used with 13.8V DC if required.

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Posted in Amateur radio

Tagged 144 Mhz, 2 metres, meteor scatter, SSB, VHF DX

Those were the days

Posted on November 12, 2022 | Leave a comment

I passed the Morse test and obtained my Class A licence in 1981 in order to operate meteor scatter on 2 metres using a high speed keyer, which sent code at 1000 lpm or equivalent to 200 words a minute. Like many others I used a cassette tape recorder with suitable pot to slow the tape down so that I could decipher what was being sent in response from the other end. We used to set up skeds on 20 metres (14 MHz) and that was the other reason I had to pass the Morse test; to be allowed to go on any frequency below 144 MHz in the first place. Incidentally my Yaesu FT221R handled 1000 lpm well without any mods.

We used to alternately transmit and receive in five minute periods and for that reason needed a very accurate clock. My then shack clock is pictured. It kept very precise time to the second once set against the pips on the BBC or the speaking clock on the telephone. This clock did a few years as the shack clock, and then thirty years as the kitchen clock (because that is what it is) and now as we have a new kitchen and new kitchen clock it is back as the shack clock. It has worked faithfully all these years and still keeps very good time. It is a very good example of older technology which just worked!

What helped me most to pass the Morse test in 1981? Well, I had my Datong Morse Tutor. I have never checked how accurate the speed calibration is, but it is supposed to be 6.5 to 37 wpm. I have no reason to doubt that, and it sounds about right, quite literally, as the Tutor still works well after at least 41 years.

I still have the FT221R but have not fired it up recently. On the subject of old technology from the Eighties my original FT290R works well but has needed repairs, and I like FT290Rs so much I have another two available for transverting, or operating on two metres in addition to my modern rigs.

But I just love the way the old clock and the Morse Tutor still work as they always did and I will be using the Tutor for practice as I return to active CW.