VHF Coverage in Bangalore-Kochi Route

I tested the VHF repeater coverage between Bangalore and Ernakulam on 21st and 23rd. The following repeaters are available en route:
Bangalore VU2TWO
Yelagiri VU2VCM
Yercaud VU2TCD
Kodaikanal VU2KOD
Nelliampathy VU2BCM
Idukki HEN
Kochi CHN

The Yercaud, Kodi and Nellampathi gives a very good coverage for over 100s of kms. The following is the longest distance that I could work.
Yercaud from Krishnagiri till Coimbatore
Nelliampathy from Sankari till Thrissur.

On 21st, I worked with VU2ZUB on TCD, VU3NKK on KOD and VU2PEY, VU2PPL on BCM

Good VHF Tropospheric Propagation

Today the VHF Propagation was so good that I was able to work with the Kodaikanal (VU2KOD at 300kms) and Nelliampathy (VU2BCM at 285kms) repeaters from Bangalore.

This is clearly a "Tropospheric ducting" propagation where the signals are refracted back to earth. This seems to be a regular phenomenon in South India especially found during this time of the year (feb).

ISS SSTV TX Decoded

Time: 1-FEB-2015 0550IST
Equipment:
Receiver - Baofeng UV-3R
Antenna - Fixed 3EL VHF Yagi (Luckily ISS was facing the antenna during the pass)
Sound Recorder - Android app installed in Moto G mobile phone (16KHz WAV format)
SSTV Decoder - MMSTV software in Windows XP (Settings - Auto Slant enabled, rest Default)

Installed VHF/UHF antenna

Installing the antenna at my QTH was a challenge because of the limited access to terrace. The only options are above the lift head room or the water tank. Both are flat concrete surface and any mast would need a base stand. There are already dish tv antennae on top of these. The lift head was chosen to have future expand ability and to restrict unnecessary access.

A base was made to order. A 4 feet 2" GI pipe with support structure was fabricated. Later this could be used to mount a rotator.

The base was anchored on the roof and an 8 feet PVC water pipe was placed. This is the mast for the VHF/UHF 3/4 element yagi antenna made by VU2MSA.

HLF-400 cable  (around 70feet) was routed to the bedroom through the electrical duct. Was instantly able to trigger Yercaud(140kms) and Yelagiri(110kms) repeaters with 4W output, with the antenna facing south-south-west.


Was able to work Mullayanagiri (220kms) and Thirumalaivayavoor (245kms) during the 2015 VHF Hill topping contest.

Licensed finally

Got the Amateur Radio license finally after being an SWL for a very long time.

Here is the timeline of my amateur radio license application and further milestones.

2010 December: Wrote General Grade Exam at Bangalore (Little Elly School)
2011 January: Gave the Morse Code Test (Did not clear the receive part)

[Goes to cold again]

2013 November: Joined IIH and attended classes (Only the radio regulations part)
2014 January: Wrote Restricted Grade Exam at IIH Bangalore (25/1/2014)
2014 April: Results declared (11/4/2014) +76days
2014 July: Got a call from the Police Station for the verification (17/7/2014) +97days
2014 Sep: Got the letter from WPC notifying grant of licence and payment of fees (01/09/2014) +46days
2014 Sep: Got a letter from WPC stating that the attestion has deficiencies - Attesting officer's Name, Designation and place of posting should be mentioned. (26/09/2014)
2014 Oct: Re-sent the attested copy for age proof (08/10/2014)
2014 Nov: Called WPC Delhi to inquire the status. Told that the license is under approval and it would be sent in a week's time. (13/11/2014)
2014 Nov: Got the license by speedpost (28/11/2014)

Took 307 days from the day of writing exam.