Scotland to China opening on 50MHz

Did I get this wrong? In my last post I suggested:-

As I write this on 23 July I am assuming that these propagation modes have closed for this year ... maybe not!

"... maybe not!" And so it proved.

On 30 July I could see that some stations south of me were working into Japan though there was nothing from Japan heard here. I reckoned that something might happen so I beamed at about 30 degrees and started calling CQ. I worked OH5KNL, SM0GNS and OH1EEZ, all in the right direction. It seems to be the case that Es towards the Nordic region is necessary for propagation to opening towards East Asia.

Then I was called by BG3OJZ at 08:48 and completed that contact. This was followed by working three more stations in China, including BA4SI at +01dB. Shortly afterwards BA4SI peaked at +06dB. I topped it off by working JE6WOQ at +00 at 09:16. I also called but did not complete with two more stations in China and two in Japan.

50MHz contacts over 7900km at GM4FVM on 30 July 2025

The distance increased at the start of the opening from 7963 to 8423 and then 8928km. The propagation then shifted slightly to the East at 8382 and finally 9096km. Not bad dx for me.

Someone suggested that I should explain why this happened so late in the year when this type of propagation is usually associated with the end of June equinox. I have no idea about why this happened.

I heard at least six other GM stations take part in this event, plus two GIs. This suggests that there is nothing special about my station or my location.  

Despite several failed attempts I had only contacted one station on 6m in China before, and that was BA4SI on 27 June 2024. The problem with this later opening is that I cannot lower my vigilance as July comes to an end. If this can happen at the end of July, then can any propagation happen at any time?

73 Jim

GM4FVM