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Condx

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John Wiener

Condx

Are the bands really this bad or is there something wrong with my K2?

John
AB8O
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AC7AC

Re: Condx

CONTENTS DELETED

The author has deleted this message.

Geoffrey Mackenzie-Kennedy

Re: Condx

Ron D'Eau Claire wrote on Tuesday, January 13, 2009 4:26 PM :

> That's pretty typical for the "bottom" of the sunspot cycle. The bands
> don't
> die. The optimum frequencies just move down during this time.
>
> Ron AC7AC

---------------------------------------------------------

Condx on 40m have been good here but the skip has been long. Great to hear
Californian stations (long path), KH6 and V85 during our early afternoon.

73,
Geoff
GM4ESD

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Stephen W. Kercel

Re: Condx

In reply to this post by John Wiener

John:

The bands are really that bad.

73,

Steve

John Wiener wrote:

> Are the bands really this bad or is there something wrong with my K2?
>
> John
> AB8O
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>

Gary, W7TEA

Re: Condx

In reply to this post by John Wiener

And I thought it was my CCandR antenna! Occasionally I hear some DX, but
most of the time I hear only QRN and a weak signal or two here and there.

73, Gary W7TEA

<quote author="John Wiener">
Are the bands really this bad or is there something wrong with my K2?

John
AB8O
_

73,

Gary W7TEA K3 #1001, #5763

Gary Smith

Re: Condx

> Are the bands really this bad or is there something wrong with my K2?
>
> John
> AB8O

I've tried three different radios in the last week to compare this K3
with.

The bands $&|< right now.

Bad...

Gary
KA1J
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Iain MacDonnell - N6ML-2

Re: Condx

Gary Smith wrote:
>> Are the bands really this bad or is there something wrong with my K2?
>>
>> John
>> AB8O
>
> I've tried three different radios in the last week to compare this K3
> with.
>
> The bands $&|< right now.

What was that, Gary? QSB took you out :)

~Iain / N6ML

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Doug Faunt N6TQS +1-510-655-8604

Re: Condx

In reply to this post by Gary Smith

Hm, I was just about to ask the same thing- I can't even hear the W1AW
RTTY bulletin. I did have a bad coax connector yesterday.

73, doug

From: "Gary Smith" <[hidden email]>
Date: Tue, 13 Jan 2009 18:07:55 -0500
Content-description: Mail message body

> Are the bands really this bad or is there something wrong with my K2?
>
> John
> AB8O

I've tried three different radios in the last week to compare this K3
with.

The bands $&|< right now.

Bad...

Gary
KA1J
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AC7AC

Re: Condx

In reply to this post by Geoffrey Mackenzie-Kennedy

CONTENTS DELETED

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Mel

Re: Condx

After getting my SteppIR up last fall, My first DX on 40 was Italy from central California, wonderful feeling, yes?

Mel, K6KBE

--- On Tue, 1/13/09, Ron D'Eau Claire <[hidden email]> wrote:

From: Ron D'Eau Claire <[hidden email]>
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Condx
To: "'Elecraft Discussion List'" <[hidden email]>
Date: Tuesday, January 13, 2009, 3:34 PM

Yes, I've worked some 40 DX over those distances too. Often can't hear
California from Oregon on 40, but get a 599 from Oceania on what often
sounds like a "dead" band until the signal appears.  

Of course, that's a function of being close to the MUF, which does drop
down
to 7 MHz and even lower these days. 

I
 suspect a lot of Hams are used to seeing the MUF stay above 21 MHz. They
simply aren't used to 40 or sometimes 80 meters acting like 20, 15 and 10
meters in more active sunspot periods. 

Of course, RF absorption by the low-altitude solar-generated ions is more of
a nuisance on the lower frequencies until a bit after local sunset.  

Ron AC7AC 


-----Original Message-----

Condx on 40m have been good here but the skip has been long. Great to hear 
Californian stations (long path), KH6 and V85 during our early afternoon.

73,
Geoff
GM4ESD 

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Mel

Re: Condx

In reply to this post by AC7AC

After getting my SteppIR up last fall, My first DX on 40 was Italy from central California, wonderful feeling, yes?

Mel, K6KBE

--- On Tue, 1/13/09, Ron D'Eau Claire <[hidden email]> wrote:

From: Ron D'Eau Claire <[hidden email]>
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Condx
To: "'Elecraft Discussion List'" <[hidden email]>
Date: Tuesday, January 13, 2009, 3:34 PM

Yes, I've worked some 40 DX over those distances too. Often can't hear
California from Oregon on 40, but get a 599 from Oceania on what often
sounds like a "dead" band until the signal appears.  

Of course, that's a function of being close to the MUF, which does drop
down
to 7 MHz and even lower these days. 

I
 suspect a lot of Hams are used to seeing the MUF stay above 21 MHz. They
simply aren't used to 40 or sometimes 80 meters acting like 20, 15 and 10
meters in more active sunspot periods. 

Of course, RF absorption by the low-altitude solar-generated ions is more of
a nuisance on the lower frequencies until a bit after local sunset.  

Ron AC7AC 


-----Original Message-----

Condx on 40m have been good here but the skip has been long. Great to hear 
Californian stations (long path), KH6 and V85 during our early afternoon.

73,
Geoff
GM4ESD 

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daleputnam

Re: Condx

In reply to this post by Iain MacDonnell - N6ML-2

drop into the Fox Hunt tonight, on 80 at 0200z between 3550 to 3570.. and find the fox.
You can also find a lot of hounds.. and they are all running 5 watts or less...
Great way to test antennas and.... and find out how the band is doing.
Also great fun too!!

--... ...-- Dale - WC7S in Wy

> >> Are the bands really this bad or is there something wrong with my K2?
> >>
> >> John
> >> AB8O
> >
>

Windows Live™ Hotmail®: Chat. Store. Share. Do more with mail. Check it out.
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Dave-K7DAA

Re: Condx

In reply to this post by John Wiener

Here in Northern California, 40 meters is all but unusable within 2 or
3 hours after sunset, and 30 meters acts more like 20 these days--
fading out badly as soon as the sun gets close to setting. 20 is even
worse than earlier this year--today is typical, with nothing much
heard after about 3:30 PM local time--really rotten!

The main thing I notice is that 40m is so bad at night lately, and
shows no sign of improvement. Even last weekend's NAQP CW contest
couldn't keep an "opening" going on 40m Saturday evening--everyone
just faded away before the contest ended at 10 PM local.

That only leaves 80 and 160 for night work, and they've been pretty
decent, actually. Thank goodness we have allocations spread around
the HF spectrum.

The sunspot activity is kinda like the economy right now--we're all
hoping we just saw the bottom, and it's all "up" from here.

Strange times.

72 es 73,

Dave (K2 #6390)
http://www.k7daa.com

On Jan 13, 2009, at 7:34 AM, John Wiener wrote:

K5DNL

Re: Condx

Hello All,
Condx have been ok in Oklahoma , I worked 4 EU stations this morning and @ 2057 UTC worked
VK4BLK running the K3 @ 20 watts and an old tribander.
This is normal here , however I am running JT65A weak signal mode.
73 all gd dxing

Ken K5DNL
------------------------------------------

--- On Tue, 1/13/09, Dave-K7DAA <[hidden email]> wrote:

> From: Dave-K7DAA <[hidden email]>
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Condx
> To: "Elecraft email email" <[hidden email]>
> Date: Tuesday, January 13, 2009, 6:18 PM
> Here in Northern California, 40 meters is all but unusable
> within 2 or
> 3 hours after sunset, and 30 meters acts more like 20 these
> days--
> fading out badly as soon as the sun gets close to setting.
> 20 is even
> worse than earlier this year--today is typical, with
> nothing much
> heard after about 3:30 PM local time--really rotten!
>
> The main thing I notice is that 40m is so bad at night
> lately, and
> shows no sign of improvement. Even last weekend's NAQP
> CW contest
> couldn't keep an "opening" going on 40m
> Saturday evening--everyone
> just faded away before the contest ended at 10 PM local.
>
> That only leaves 80 and 160 for night work, and they've
> been pretty
> decent, actually. Thank goodness we have allocations
> spread around
> the HF spectrum.
>
> The sunspot activity is kinda like the economy right
> now--we're all
> hoping we just saw the bottom, and it's all
> "up" from here.
>
> Strange times.
>
> 72 es 73,
>
> Dave (K2 #6390)
> http://www.k7daa.com
>
>
> On Jan 13, 2009, at 7:34 AM, John Wiener wrote:
>
> > Are the bands really this bad or is there something
> wrong with my K2?
> >
> > John
> > AB8O
> > _______________________________________________
> > Elecraft mailing list
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> > Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
>
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w7go

Re: Condx

In reply to this post by Doug Faunt N6TQS +1-510-655-8604

Worked TS7C yesterday on 20 with the K3.
559 here in NV.

73,

Tony W7GO

Doug Faunt N6TQS +1-510-655-8604 wrote:

> Hm, I was just about to ask the same thing- I can't even hear the W1AW
> RTTY bulletin. I did have a bad coax connector yesterday.
>
> 73, doug
>
> From: "Gary Smith" <[hidden email]>
> Date: Tue, 13 Jan 2009 18:07:55 -0500
> Content-description: Mail message body
>
> > Are the bands really this bad or is there something wrong with my K2?
> >
> > John
> > AB8O
>
> I've tried three different radios in the last week to compare this K3
> with.
>
> The bands $&|< right now.
>
> Bad...
>
> Gary
> KA1J
> _______________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
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>
>

drewko

Re: Condx

Worked KL7 stations three times in past few weeks on 20m in
afternoons, the last time a couple of days ago. Also KH6 on 40m. This
with a 10-watt K3 and random wire from SNJ. Moderate pileups. CW, of
course.

73,
Drew
AF2Z

On Tue, 13 Jan 2009 20:56:05 -0800, Tony W7GO wrote:

> Worked TS7C yesterday on 20 with the K3.
>559 here in NV.
>
>73,
>
>Tony W7GO
>
>Doug Faunt N6TQS +1-510-655-8604 wrote:
>> Hm, I was just about to ask the same thing- I can't even hear the W1AW
>> RTTY bulletin. I did have a bad coax connector yesterday.
>>
>> 73, doug
>>
>> From: "Gary Smith" <[hidden email]>
>> Date: Tue, 13 Jan 2009 18:07:55 -0500
>> Content-description: Mail message body
>>
>> > Are the bands really this bad or is there something wrong with my K2?
>> >
>> > John
>> > AB8O
>>
>> I've tried three different radios in the last week to compare this K3
>> with.
>>
>> The bands $&|< right now.
>>
>> Bad...
>>
>> Gary
>> KA1J
>> _______________________________________________
>> Elecraft mailing list
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>>
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>>
>>
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Bruce McLaughlin-2

Re: Condx

In reply to this post by w7go

I did the same thing. 599 both ways on 20 CW. But conditions vary widely
from day to day. Today 20 was pretty bad here in Ohio.

Bruce- W8FU

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Tony Morgan
Sent: Tuesday, January 13, 2009 11:56 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Condx

Worked TS7C yesterday on 20 with the K3.
559 here in NV.

73,

Tony W7GO

Doug Faunt N6TQS +1-510-655-8604 wrote:

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Chuck - AE4CW

Re: Condx

Yes, 20m seems highly variable the last few days, but between 14:00 and 15:00 UTC today, I managed seven stations on SSB over a big chuck of Europe and bypassed a number of Italians. Later in the day Liberia and Brazil came up. Not too impressive but better than I've heard in a few days. The antenna was a Cushcraft R5 vertical, not the strongest, and 100 watts in an S6-7 noise environment.

Chuck, AE4CW

---
Chuck, AE4CW

timjp

Re: Condx

Chuck et. al.,

Yes, 20m was really sparse today EXCEPT I worked a YS3 (a new one for me) at around 2100z and a JH9 at 2300Z with my K3 @ 5 watts cw to an inverted L. Sometimes weird (and poor ) condx can be surprising!

Tim K5OI
Ruidoso, NM

On Wed, Jan 14, 2009 at 8:08 PM, Chuck - AE4CW <[hidden email]> wrote:

Yes, 20m seems highly variable the last few days, but between 14:00 and 15:00
UTC today, I managed seven stations on SSB over a big chuck of Europe and
bypassed a number of Italians. Later in the day Liberia and Brazil came up.
Not too impressive but better than I've heard in a few days. The antenna
was a Cushcraft R5 vertical, not the strongest, and 100 watts in an S6-7
noise environment.

Chuck, AE4CW

w7aqk

Re: Condx

Hi All,

Condx do seem to be very "selective" these days. The bands will sound dead as a doornail one minute, and then some signal will come out of the woodwork. 20 meters has had some short, but decent, openings here mid to late morning, and then it seems to die. 40 meters is usually best here in the early morning. Much of Asia and the south pacific comes in early here, but I haven't heard all that much from ZL/VK. I suggest you listen around 1300Z (a bit earlier perhaps on the east coast). You are very apt to hear JA1NUT, who seems to get on nearly every day, and with an outstanding signal. I tend to use him for a "beacon" as to how the band is doing. I've worked him with everything from 1 watt to 100 watts over the last several weeks, but if he's not S9+, I know the band is not in great shape. I'm not hearing much of anything above 20 meters. Afternoon openings to Europe on 40 haven't been very good, but I have heard a few good signals from Africa. Also, I keep hearing stations in Texas (probably with good antennas) knocking of Europe contacts with good reports. Obviously my antenna could use some improvement.

The SFI moved all the way from 69 to 70 recently! There just doesn't seem to be much good news in the propagation reports. However, even with pitiful numbers like that, you can snag a couple of contacts if you happen to be listening at the right time.

Dave W7AQK

----- Original Message -----

From: [hidden email]

To: [hidden email]

Cc: [hidden email]

Sent: Wednesday, January 14, 2009 8:25 PM

Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Condx

Chuck et. al.,

Yes, 20m was really sparse today EXCEPT I worked a YS3 (a new one for me) at around 2100z and a JH9 at 2300Z with my K3 @ 5 watts cw to an inverted L. Sometimes weird (and poor ) condx can be surprising!

Tim K5OI
Ruidoso, NM

On Wed, Jan 14, 2009 at 8:08 PM, Chuck - AE4CW <[hidden email]> wrote:

Yes, 20m seems highly variable the last few days, but between 14:00 and 15:00
UTC today, I managed seven stations on SSB over a big chuck of Europe and
bypassed a number of Italians. Later in the day Liberia and Brazil came up.
Not too impressive but better than I've heard in a few days. The antenna
was a Cushcraft R5 vertical, not the strongest, and 100 watts in an S6-7
noise environment.

Chuck, AE4CW

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