Reunion Island, South Africa Connect on 2 Meters

Phil Mondon, FR5DN, on Reunion Island used this 2 meter antenna to make the first QSO via tropospheric propagation from Reunion to South Africa. [Photo courtesy of Phil Mondon, FR5DN] Reunion Island is just north of the Tropic of Capricorn in the Indian Island. On Thursday, August 14, Phil Mondon, FR5DN, on Reunion Island had a successful QSO with Glen Kraut, ZS2GK, in South Africa on 2 meters. According to Dave Pedersen, N7BHC, this contact is "very likely the longest 2 meter QSO via tropospheric propagation for either country." The 2008 ARRL Handbook defines tropospheric propagation as "radio waves [that] are refracted by natural gradients in the index of refraction of air with altitude, due to changes in temperature, humidity and pressure. Refraction under standard atmospheric conditions extends the radio horizon somewhat... [read full story]