OT - Solar activity article
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A short, but interesting article on solar activity in 'The Economist' magazine's website - article number 18833483, titled 'Sun Down'.
Researchers believe we are heading for an extended solar minimum is the bad news. I do not know enough about the subject to have an opinion, but the article is well written. 73s Randy K6CRC K3#2051 [hidden email] ______________________________________________________________ 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 |
Re: OT - Solar activity article
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* On 2011 16 Jun 11:42 -0500, Randy Cook wrote:
> A short, but interesting article on solar activity in 'The Economist' magazine's website - article number 18833483, titled 'Sun Down'. > > Researchers believe we are heading for an extended solar minimum is the bad news. I do not know enough about the subject to have an opinion, but the article is well written. If it's so, then we're in for a long period of time where DX will be found on the lower bands with infrequent, if any, openings beyond Es on 10m. Reliable DX will require large arrays on 15 and 20m and power. The days of working the world on a coat hanger on 10m and F2 openings on 6m will be the subject of amateur radio lore for a couple of generations. For those who can manage the arrays, 80 and 160m will offer fabulous DX opportunities during the winter months. With an SFI around 64 to 67, 80, and to a lesser extent 160m, will go "long" shortly after dusk and will not be the reliable NVIS bands we expect them to be. How do I know this? Anyone on HF from late 2007 through 2009 has already experienced it. I'm not trying to be pessimistic, just realistic. A minimum will have short spurts of solar activity most likely, they will just be weak and shortlived. If anything, propagation will become quite predictable. ;-) 73, de Nate, N0NB >> -- "The optimist proclaims that we live in the best of all possible worlds. The pessimist fears this is true." Ham radio, Linux, bikes, and more: http://www.n0nb.us ______________________________________________________________ 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 |
Re: OT - Solar activity article
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No article, no discussion on any reflector will bring any change in this
solar cycle. I'll just see what happens and accept all propagation, good or bad. 73 Arie PA3A ______________________________________________________________ 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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In reply to this post by Nate Bargmann
No more "hard sky" like 1956 in my lifetime if that actually plays
out. In 1956 watched my friend's ham dad work the west coast from Ohio, on 10 meters AM, 5+9 both ways, with a Johnson Ranger 35 watts AM literally into a wet salty spaghetti noodle. REALLY impressive and fun to a seventh grader that eventually turned into K2AV. We also did window screens, bed frames. 11 meters was an infrequently used ham band. Been waiting for a 1956 repeat on the propagation. If we got that, KX3 and a wet noodle about all one would need. Sigh. 73, Guy On Thu, Jun 16, 2011 at 1:51 PM, Nate Bargmann <[hidden email]> wrote: > * On 2011 16 Jun 11:42 -0500, Randy Cook wrote: >> A short, but interesting article on solar activity in 'The Economist' magazine's website - article number 18833483, titled 'Sun Down'. >> >> Researchers believe we are heading for an extended solar minimum is the bad news. I do not know enough about the subject to have an opinion, but the article is well written. > > If it's so, then we're in for a long period of time where DX will be > found on the lower bands with infrequent, if any, openings beyond Es on > 10m. Reliable DX will require large arrays on 15 and 20m and power. ______________________________________________________________ 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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In reply to this post by Randy Cook
I am not so sure I really want to see a very active cycle :-)
With the explosive sales of HF gear over the last few years, and a big rise in activity etc, the bands will get swamped with signals IF we get a good cycle. You will need every filter you can muster, to pull a readable signal out of the ensuing RF quagmire:-) Be good for Elecraft's filter options sales!! 73, Jack VK4JRC Sent from my iPod Touch ______________________________________________________________ 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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In reply to this post by Arie Kleingeld PA3A-2
That's the stuff Arie. Learn to dig the weak ones out, even at the peak. It'll make you a better operator in the troughs. 73, Tom Amateur Radio Operator N5GE On Thu, 16 Jun 2011 19:56:55 +0200, Arie Kleingeld PA3A <[hidden email]> wrote: {snip] > >I'll just see what happens and accept all propagation, good or bad. >73 >Arie PA3A > [snip] ______________________________________________________________ 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
Amateur Radio Operator N5GE
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In reply to this post by Jack Chomley
I have to disagree on that one. 15 and 10m bands are hugely underutilized these days even when there are decent openings. I will take what I get but would certainly welcome higher sunspot activity with the better openings on the higher bands. So far the current cycle is a dud. There was some glimmer of hope earlier in the yeatr, but now it has leveled off again.
AB2TC - Knut
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In reply to this post by Arie Kleingeld PA3A-2
On Thu, 2011-06-16 at 19:56 +0200, Arie Kleingeld PA3A wrote:
> No article, no discussion on any reflector will bring any change in this > solar cycle. And for very good reason. The scientists involved were talking about cycle 25, not this cycle. I attended the press briefing at which the researchers outlined their observations and offered *a range* of possible implications -- from merely a late onset of Cycle 25, as we saw with Cycle 24, to a spotless 25. And at the moment, they were not in a position to hazard a guess on where within that spectrum of outcomes the sun would fall. They were saying: "Hey, folks, we're seeing things at this stage of one solar cycle (24) that look decidedly different from things we've seen at the same point in previous cycles, when the sun is beginning to set the stage for its next cycle. If the trends we see continue, here is a plausible range of possible outcomes." So enjoy this cycle to the fullest. It may -- or may not -- be the last one for awhile. ;-) With best regards, Pete -- Peter N. Spotts -- W1PNS http://www.w1pns.net Email: [hidden email] | Skype: pspotts QCWA #34679 | SKCC #4853T | QRP-ARCI #4174 NEQRP #714 | NAQCC #2446 | GQRP #13202 "Amateur radio is a contact sport. Get on the air and make a contact!" -- Lyle Amundson, K0LFV ______________________________________________________________ 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 |
Re: OT - Solar activity article
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In reply to this post by Arie Kleingeld PA3A-2
Arie,
I well recall that many "experts" were predicting similar gloom in the mid 1950's and were proved wrong by the Grandmother of all solar cycles of our time. Also IMHO our understanding of propagation vs solar activity is still elementary. 73, Geoff GM4ESD Arie Kleingeld PA3A wrote on June 16, 2011 at 6:56 PM: > No article, no discussion on any reflector will bring any change in this > solar cycle. > > I'll just see what happens and accept all propagation, good or bad. > > > 73 > Arie PA3A ______________________________________________________________ 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 |
Re: OT - Solar activity article
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As any QRP operator can tell you, the meaning of "DX" changes from day
to day, and accepting this fact lowers your blood pressure :) Working a weak station is a worthy challenge wether they're across the state or two hops around the globe. Wayne N6KR On Jun 17, 2011, at 2:24 PM, Geoffrey Mackenzie-Kennedy wrote: > Arie, > > I well recall that many "experts" were predicting similar gloom in > the mid > 1950's and were proved wrong by the Grandmother of all solar cycles > of our > time. Also IMHO our understanding of propagation vs solar activity > is still > elementary. > > 73, > Geoff > GM4ESD > > > Arie Kleingeld PA3A wrote on June 16, 2011 at 6:56 PM: > >> No article, no discussion on any reflector will bring any change in >> this >> solar cycle. >> >> I'll just see what happens and accept all propagation, good or bad. >> >> >> 73 >> Arie PA3A > > > ______________________________________________________________ > 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 |
Re: OT - Solar activity article
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Hi Wayne,
Absolutely!! During my last CW QSO with CA on 15m using my K2/100, he could still copy me S4 with my Tx power wound down to 5 watts - and this was at near midnight here when the band here was allegedly "dead". Blood pressure is not a problem for me after 60+ years on the air, cross fingers! 73, Geoff GM4ESD Wayne Burdick wrote on June 17, 2011 at 10:33 PM: > As any QRP operator can tell you, the meaning of "DX" changes from day > to day, and accepting this fact lowers your blood pressure :) Working > a weak station is a worthy challenge wether they're across the state > or two hops around the globe. > > Wayne > N6KR ______________________________________________________________ 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 |
Re: OT - Solar activity article
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In reply to this post by wayne burdick
I have worked some fantastic DX during the bottom of the current cycle,
30M really shines as does 40m and 160/80m really come alive. low activity is no show stopper, it's just that the fun is on different bands. a 1/4 wave vertical for 30m is possible for most and at greyline times during periods of low solar activity out performs my log yagi (due to better low angle takeoff angle) Don't use low solar activity as an excuse to not operate ;-0 just stay active and enjoy the hobby, after-all the colder winders will make you feel less guilty about staying indoors.. On Fri, 2011-06-17 at 14:33 -0700, Wayne Burdick wrote: > As any QRP operator can tell you, the meaning of "DX" changes from day > to day, and accepting this fact lowers your blood pressure :) Working > a weak station is a worthy challenge wether they're across the state > or two hops around the globe. > > Wayne > N6KR -- 73 Brendan EI6IZ ______________________________________________________________ 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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All,
Last weekend in VK we had the 'shires' contest and on 15M I was delighted to work a QRP operator in Illinois who said he was using 5W and a dipole at 25ft. His signal report was a genuine 55....of course I was using my K-Line...:-) Gary On 18 June 2011 09:56, Brendan Minish <[hidden email]> wrote: > I have worked some fantastic DX during the bottom of the current cycle, > 30M really shines as does 40m and 160/80m really come alive. > low activity is no show stopper, it's just that the fun is on different > bands. > a 1/4 wave vertical for 30m is possible for most and at greyline times > during periods of low solar activity out performs my log yagi (due to > better low angle takeoff angle) > Don't use low solar activity as an excuse to not operate ;-0 just stay > active and enjoy the hobby, after-all the colder winders will make you > feel less guilty about staying indoors.. > > On Fri, 2011-06-17 at 14:33 -0700, Wayne Burdick wrote: > > As any QRP operator can tell you, the meaning of "DX" changes from day > > to day, and accepting this fact lowers your blood pressure :) Working > > a weak station is a worthy challenge wether they're across the state > > or two hops around the globe. > > > > Wayne > > N6KR > > -- > 73 > Brendan EI6IZ > > ______________________________________________________________ > 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!!! ______________________________________________________________ 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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In reply to this post by Geoffrey Mackenzie-Kennedy
There are two kinds of "dead" bands: 1) the band is really dead and
it doesn't matter whether anyone is on or not. 2) nobody is on the band and it's open. The contests prove how many times it's really #2. We have a Summer Stew Perry coming up tomorrow and we will see what really goes on in the summer. 73, Guy. On Fri, Jun 17, 2011 at 6:10 PM, Geoffrey Mackenzie-Kennedy <[hidden email]> wrote: > Hi Wayne, > > Absolutely!! During my last CW QSO with CA on 15m using my K2/100, he could > still copy me S4 with my Tx power wound down to 5 watts - and this was at > near midnight here when the band here was allegedly "dead". > > Blood pressure is not a problem for me after 60+ years on the air, cross > fingers! > > 73, > Geoff > GM4ESD > > > Wayne Burdick wrote on June 17, 2011 at 10:33 PM: > > >> As any QRP operator can tell you, the meaning of "DX" changes from day >> to day, and accepting this fact lowers your blood pressure :) Working >> a weak station is a worthy challenge wether they're across the state >> or two hops around the globe. >> >> Wayne >> N6KR > > > > > ______________________________________________________________ > 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 |
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