Meteor scatter skeds with MSK144: periods, frequencies and the best times

Updated 2026-10-27 · SQ3SWG

Meteor scatter (MS) uses the short-lived ionised trails of meteors burning up about 100 km above the Earth. A trail reflects VHF signals for a fraction of a second to a few seconds, which is enough for a digital mode to get a message through. MS works every day, and contacts of about 500 to 2000 km are possible on 2 m and 6 m even with modest stations.

Mode and frequencies

Most MS today uses MSK144 in WSJT-X, which decodes even very short pings. Common activity frequencies in Europe are around 144.360 MHz on 2 m and 50.280 MHz on 6 m. For a sked, pick a frequency a few kHz away so you do not disturb random activity, and agree the period length – both stations must use the same one.

Who transmits first

Both stations transmit in alternate periods. Agree clearly who sends in the first period and who in the second; WSJT-X calls them "Tx even/1st". A sked where both stations transmit at the same time can't work, so this is the most important line of the agreement.

When to try

Sporadic meteors are most frequent in the early morning local time, when your side of the Earth faces the direction of the Earth's motion, and least frequent in the early evening. The big showers bring many more meteors, and some of them very bright ones: the Quadrantids (early January), Lyrids (late April), Eta Aquariids (early May), Perseids (mid-August), Orionids (late October), Leonids (mid-November) and Geminids (mid-December).

Making it work

• Allow time: 30 minutes to an hour on 2 m, depending on distance and station size.
• Beam slightly off the direct path – a few degrees towards where the reflections happen often helps at shorter distances.
• Keep the computer clock accurate to a fraction of a second; MS periods are short.
• A contact is complete with both callsigns, reports and a confirmation (RRR), as WSJT-X sequences it.

Propose the sked in the 2 m or 6 m room with the frequency, the period, the time and who transmits first in the note.