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Elecraft CW Net Report for July 10th & 11th, 2011

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kevinr@coho.net

Elecraft CW Net Report for July 10th & 11th, 2011

Good Evening,
What in the world has happened to propagation lately? On twenty meters
before the net I scanned the band and found a number of folks on the air.
But when I called the net I heard nothing for the entire time. First
skunk for me in nine years. I guess it had to happen sometime but why did
it not occur during the depth of the solar cycle? According to
SpaceWeather.com there are many spots on the sun but they are not
improving propagation. During the last few months I keep checking to see
if my antenna has fallen down.
Luckily forty meters was not as bad. It is still limited to the West
Coast but at least I could hear a few folks. Only the first two on the
following list however. The next two were relayed to me by Dale. I heard
just a peep from Phil but nothing at all from Don. Guess San Diego is out
of my range! I wonder where my twenty meter signal was landing? It sure
seems to have missed North America.

On to the lists =>

On 14050.5 kHz at 2200z:
No stations heard.

On 7045.5 kHz at 0000z:
K6PJV - Dale - CA - K3 - 1183
NK6A - Don - CA - K3 - 4569
NS7P - Phil - OR - K3 - 1826
AE6II - Don - CA

I can only hope twenty meters improves over the week. I know the
weather is going back to wet and chilly again. For the next week the
highs will be in the 50s. I am glad I still have wood left for the
stove! We had a few days of warm weather and sun. That was nice. 74
degrees one day felt hot. I am glad the thimbleberries were in full bloom
for the warm days. The bees have been very active with them right outside
my radio shack window. Hopefully a lot of berries will be set since these
are my favorites. Year by year my patch of them grows larger. It won't
be long before I get to compete with the deer to eat them :)
Until next week stay well,
73,
Kevin. KD5ONS (Net Control Operator 5th Class)

-
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Mark Stennett

Re: Elecraft CW Net Report for July 10th & 11th, 2011

I heard no traffic on 40 this time. Propagation to TX was not working.

On 07/10/2011 10:11 PM, Kevin Rock wrote:

> Good Evening,
> What in the world has happened to propagation lately? On twenty meters
> before the net I scanned the band and found a number of folks on the air.
> But when I called the net I heard nothing for the entire time. First
> skunk for me in nine years. I guess it had to happen sometime but why did
> it not occur during the depth of the solar cycle? According to
> SpaceWeather.com there are many spots on the sun but they are not
> improving propagation. During the last few months I keep checking to see
> if my antenna has fallen down.
> Luckily forty meters was not as bad. It is still limited to the West
> Coast but at least I could hear a few folks. Only the first two on the
> following list however. The next two were relayed to me by Dale. I heard
> just a peep from Phil but nothing at all from Don. Guess San Diego is out
> of my range! I wonder where my twenty meter signal was landing? It sure
> seems to have missed North America.
>
> On to the lists =>
>
> On 14050.5 kHz at 2200z:
> No stations heard.
>
> On 7045.5 kHz at 0000z:
> K6PJV - Dale - CA - K3 - 1183
> NK6A - Don - CA - K3 - 4569
> NS7P - Phil - OR - K3 - 1826
> AE6II - Don - CA
>
> I can only hope twenty meters improves over the week. I know the
> weather is going back to wet and chilly again. For the next week the
> highs will be in the 50s. I am glad I still have wood left for the
> stove! We had a few days of warm weather and sun. That was nice. 74
> degrees one day felt hot. I am glad the thimbleberries were in full bloom
> for the warm days. The bees have been very active with them right outside
> my radio shack window. Hopefully a lot of berries will be set since these
> are my favorites. Year by year my patch of them grows larger. It won't
> be long before I get to compete with the deer to eat them :)
> Until next week stay well,
> 73,
> Kevin. KD5ONS (Net Control Operator 5th Class)
>
> -
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>
>

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alorona

Re: Elecraft CW Net Report for July 10th & 11th, 2011

In reply to this post by kevinr@coho.net

Kevin,

When I was a kid walking with my grampa on a beautifully sunny day between the
rows of cornstalks in his backyard, often he'd turn to me and say, in Spanish,
"It's gonna rain." I would ask him how he knew that, and he would point to his
knees. His joints apparently could tell him that things weren't quite right.

Before my Dad died last year, he had told me, "Something is wrong with these
sunspots. They aren't normal," and darned if he doesn't seem to have been right.
Maybe it was his joints, but these sunspots just don't seem to have the oomph
that they should. There are plenty of sunspots visible right now, but they can't
kick up the solar flux to save their lives. In fact, the sunspot number has been
nearly equal to the solar flux, which is highly unusual.

Al W6LX

________________________________
From: Kevin Rock <[hidden email]>

According to SpaceWeather.com there are many spots on the sun but they are not
improving propagation.
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g3ymc

Re: Elecraft CW Net Report for July 10th & 11th, 2011

In reply to this post by kevinr@coho.net

On 10 Jul 2011 at 20:11, Kevin Rock wrote:

> According to
> SpaceWeather.com there are many spots on the sun but they are not
> improving propagation. During the last few months I keep checking to
> see if my antenna has fallen down.

Depends on what you class as 'many spots'. Most of them are minute
specks and hardly visible to the eye. I use http://www.solarham.com/
which seems to give more accessible information than spaceweather.

Note that the current sunspot number of 67 does NOT mean there are 67
spots. There are at present 27 spots in 4 groups - 4x10 + 27 = 67 -
with most of them in one sprawling group 1247. The K index is shown as
3, which is not good, and the solar wind speed is increasing, another
bad sign.

I did have some fun in the IARU contest over the weekend, but not that
much in the way of DX worked. Yes, there are times when I look outside
to see if the antenna is still up...

73 Dave G3YMC

http://www.davesergeant.com

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Gary D Krause

Re: Elecraft CW Net Report for July 10th & 11th, 2011

In reply to this post by kevinr@coho.net

I've noticed the same thing. It's as if something is absorbing our signals.
Things are happening!!!

Gary, N7HTS

On Sun, 10 Jul 2011 20:11:07 -0700
"Kevin Rock" <[hidden email]> wrote:

Merv Schweigert

Re: Elecraft CW Net Report for July 10th & 11th, 2011

Its been kept a secret for a few years now but is bound to come to light,
its been found that during a weekend with high activity, such as a contest
all the K3s that are on the air suck the RF from the bands,
Everyone using the K3 is searching for every stray smidgen of RF out
there and as we all know if a K3 is tuned to a signal it extracts a
certain amount of energy from that signal, thus when there are many
K3s active and tuned to these weak signals there is almost no RF
left to extract for others.
Thats why you hear the comments "my K3 hears signals others do not"
etc. They can be called RF suckers in one sense, the more k3s active there
are the worse the "propagation" or conditions will become.
You may have noticed in the past few years since the introduction of the
K3 that conditions have not improved and in fact seem to be getting
worse, perhaps in correlation to the number of K3s in use?
Elecraft is working at fever pace to try and come up with some solution
to this problem, and firmware is in testing stages for the K3 to transmit
a very low level signal back on the air to replace the RF that it has
sucked out. So standby when you hear conditions improving you know
that the test have been successful and E will shine again with new and
futuristic developments in the hobby.
So far it does not appear there are any lawsuits over the removal of so
much RF from the spectrum, but it is suspect they may be forthcoming
by other radio manufacturers who are undated by calls their radios are
not receiving as well.
The retransmit module will be a small daughter board that will fit in the
K3 with no problem and will be minimal charge. Those not installing the
new update will be subject to being called signal hogs and signal suckers
and if found participating in contests will be disqualified.
73 and good DXing Merv K9FD/KH6

> I've noticed the same thing. It's as if something is absorbing our signals.
> Things are happening!!!
>
> Gary, N7HTS
>
>
> On Sun, 10 Jul 2011 20:11:07 -0700
> "Kevin Rock"<[hidden email]> wrote:
>
>> Good Evening,
>> What in the world has happened to propagation lately? On twenty meters
>> before the net I scanned the band and found a number of folks on the air.
>> But when I called the net I heard nothing for the entire time. First
>> skunk for me in nine years. I guess it had to happen sometime but why did
>> it not occur during the depth of the solar cycle? According to
>> SpaceWeather.com there are many spots on the sun but they are not
>> improving propagation. During the last few months I keep checking to see
>> if my antenna has fallen down.
>> Luckily forty meters was not as bad. It is still limited to the West
>> Coast but at least I could hear a few folks. Only the first two on the
>> following list however. The next two were relayed to me by Dale. I heard
>> just a peep from Phil but nothing at all from Don. Guess San Diego is out
>> of my range! I wonder where my twenty meter signal was landing? It sure
>> seems to have missed North America.
>>
>> On to the lists =>
>>
>> On 14050.5 kHz at 2200z:
>> No stations heard.
>>
>> On 7045.5 kHz at 0000z:
>> K6PJV - Dale - CA - K3 - 1183
>> NK6A - Don - CA - K3 - 4569
>> NS7P - Phil - OR - K3 - 1826
>> AE6II - Don - CA
>>
>> I can only hope twenty meters improves over the week. I know the
>> weather is going back to wet and chilly again. For the next week the
>> highs will be in the 50s. I am glad I still have wood left for the
>> stove! We had a few days of warm weather and sun. That was nice. 74
>> degrees one day felt hot. I am glad the thimbleberries were in full bloom
>> for the warm days. The bees have been very active with them right outside
>> my radio shack window. Hopefully a lot of berries will be set since these
>> are my favorites. Year by year my patch of them grows larger. It won't
>> be long before I get to compete with the deer to eat them :)
>> Until next week stay well,
>> 73,
>> Kevin. KD5ONS (Net Control Operator 5th Class)
>>
>> -
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> Elecraft mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>>
>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>
>

Gary Gregory

Re: Elecraft CW Net Report for July 10th & 11th, 2011

I can report as a FT for the 'new' RF TX board (KTXRF3) that in a recent
contest we were told we were the only station that could be heard on the
bands. It appears to be working well and maybe a tweak or two to the FW is
all that is required prior to production.

Gary

On 12 July 2011 01:46, Merv Schweigert <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Its been kept a secret for a few years now but is bound to come to light,
> its been found that during a weekend with high activity, such as a contest
> all the K3s that are on the air suck the RF from the bands,
> Everyone using the K3 is searching for every stray smidgen of RF out
> there and as we all know if a K3 is tuned to a signal it extracts a
> certain amount of energy from that signal, thus when there are many
> K3s active and tuned to these weak signals there is almost no RF
> left to extract for others.
> Thats why you hear the comments "my K3 hears signals others do not"
> etc. They can be called RF suckers in one sense, the more k3s active there
> are the worse the "propagation" or conditions will become.
> You may have noticed in the past few years since the introduction of the
> K3 that conditions have not improved and in fact seem to be getting
> worse, perhaps in correlation to the number of K3s in use?
> Elecraft is working at fever pace to try and come up with some solution
> to this problem, and firmware is in testing stages for the K3 to transmit
> a very low level signal back on the air to replace the RF that it has
> sucked out. So standby when you hear conditions improving you know
> that the test have been successful and E will shine again with new and
> futuristic developments in the hobby.
> So far it does not appear there are any lawsuits over the removal of so
> much RF from the spectrum, but it is suspect they may be forthcoming
> by other radio manufacturers who are undated by calls their radios are
> not receiving as well.
> The retransmit module will be a small daughter board that will fit in the
> K3 with no problem and will be minimal charge. Those not installing the
> new update will be subject to being called signal hogs and signal suckers
> and if found participating in contests will be disqualified.
> 73 and good DXing Merv K9FD/KH6
>
> > I've noticed the same thing. It's as if something is absorbing our
> signals.
> > Things are happening!!!
> >
> > Gary, N7HTS
> >
> >
> > On Sun, 10 Jul 2011 20:11:07 -0700
> > "Kevin Rock"<[hidden email]> wrote:
> >
> >> Good Evening,
> >> What in the world has happened to propagation lately? On twenty
> meters
> >> before the net I scanned the band and found a number of folks on the
> air.
> >> But when I called the net I heard nothing for the entire time. First
> >> skunk for me in nine years. I guess it had to happen sometime but why
> did
> >> it not occur during the depth of the solar cycle? According to
> >> SpaceWeather.com there are many spots on the sun but they are not
> >> improving propagation. During the last few months I keep checking to
> see
> >> if my antenna has fallen down.
> >> Luckily forty meters was not as bad. It is still limited to the
> West
> >> Coast but at least I could hear a few folks. Only the first two on the
> >> following list however. The next two were relayed to me by Dale. I
> heard
> >> just a peep from Phil but nothing at all from Don. Guess San Diego is
> out
> >> of my range! I wonder where my twenty meter signal was landing? It
> sure
> >> seems to have missed North America.
> >>
> >> On to the lists =>
> >>
> >> On 14050.5 kHz at 2200z:
> >> No stations heard.
> >>
> >> On 7045.5 kHz at 0000z:
> >> K6PJV - Dale - CA - K3 - 1183
> >> NK6A - Don - CA - K3 - 4569
> >> NS7P - Phil - OR - K3 - 1826
> >> AE6II - Don - CA
> >>
> >> I can only hope twenty meters improves over the week. I know the
> >> weather is going back to wet and chilly again. For the next week the
> >> highs will be in the 50s. I am glad I still have wood left for the
> >> stove! We had a few days of warm weather and sun. That was nice. 74
> >> degrees one day felt hot. I am glad the thimbleberries were in full
> bloom
> >> for the warm days. The bees have been very active with them right
> outside
> >> my radio shack window. Hopefully a lot of berries will be set since
> these
> >> are my favorites. Year by year my patch of them grows larger. It won't
> >> be long before I get to compete with the deer to eat them :)
> >> Until next week stay well,
> >> 73,
> >> Kevin. KD5ONS (Net Control Operator 5th Class)
> >>
> >> -
> >> ______________________________________________________________
> >> Elecraft mailing list
> >> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> >> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> >> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
> >>
> >> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> >> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> >>
> > ______________________________________________________________
> > Elecraft mailing list
> > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> > Post: mailto:[hidden email]
> >
> > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> >
> >
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>

--

VK4FD - Motorhome Mobile
Elecraft Equipment
K3 #679, KPA-500 #018
Living the dream!!!
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