"In 2009, cosmic ray intensities have increased 19% beyond anything we've seen in the past 50 years," Cosmic rays cause "air showers" of secondary particles when they hit Earth's atmosphere. They pose a health hazard to astronauts. And a single cosmic ray can disable a satellite if it hits an unlucky integrated circuit. [Source:Universe Today] What does it mean for radio propagation?
This morning I worked 3 stations on 40 meter with SSB: OZ/DL1EBR/P Axel from Fano Island, Denmark; GI3SG Martin from Belfast, Northern Ireland; and F8BDF Eugene from Le Vaudoue, France.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
I was listening on 40 meter and heard Henk PA7TWO calling CQ DX. His signal was strong so he must be in the neighborhood. His QTH is Alkmaar, that is nearby my QTH. It is always nice to catch a PA station on HF.
The weather is changing. The summer, though alright and very fine, is gone. We have overcast and a bit drizzling rain. Temperatures are dropping to normal values for this time of year. The parasol is in the barn, so we are making up for autumn. Also very nice time of the year for making walks along the beach or in the forest.
I worked this morning GW1INK/P summits from the air, South Wales on 40 meter SSB. He had a strong signal 59 here. Also worked GWØFJQ Alun from Gelli Rhondda, Wales.
First I was listen on 20 and 30 meter, nothing special to hear. Poor conditions. Then on 40 meter I heard M/PAØHLT working on 7.087 KHz with SSB. Very strong signal 59+. I called him and we had a QSO and Henk gave me also a 59+ from Ruthvoes, Cornwall, UK. His hometown is Almelo, The Netherlands. He is QRV from Ruthvoes for a week. Saturday he leaves for home.
As a SWL the Trio Kenwood R-599 was my first professional receiver. I was very proud with this wonderful amateur band receiver. I monitored the amateur bands for a few years and then I was studying for my license. In 1976 I got my C license, only for VHF and UHF. But I wanted to work on HF so I was studying CW and when I reached the 12 words per minute I did the exam. So a half year later I got my Full license. Unfortunately I sold the receiver... shame on me.
Despite of two sunspots, the HF bands seems to be abandoned. On 20 meter or higher is nothing to hear. On 40 meter a few stations. This morning I worked DJ3AX/P Lutz from Leinatal, Germany with CW on the 40 meter band. I saw that the status of the sun: Solar X-rays are active. What this mean for the propagations, I don't know. But I leave the rig for today. Tonight we have a dinner with the wifes old colleagues. Tomorrow night a party and Sunday evening again a dinner with my eldest son and his wife. So I avoid the scale for a few days. Hi.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
I heard Mike GMØCME from Gardenstown, Scotland, UK on 40 meter with SSB this afternoon. He was S9 with me, I got a 57 with QSB. Very nice signal indeed. Distance 750 km. Also worked I3BZK ssb 40 m; LAØHK ssb 40 m; and OE3FPA/QRP PSK31 40m; WSPR DX: VK6POP 14168 km 40 m 5 watt. [View log]
Last night I was monitoring 500 KHz for radio amateurs. I was curious if my antenna could pick up low frequencies. I read about it by Roger G3XBM. And yes, I received the WSPR signal from SM6BHZ, 2 watt, distance 725 km. Not bad at all. I received also a station called OL7OOI, could be a station from the Czech Republic or a pirate. Unfortunately, I can not transmit on the low frequencies. I will certainly listen on 136 KHz and look for radio amateurs. I am still a SWL, I was for many years back then. More and more I got interested by the lower frequencies instead of higher bands such as 20 meter or higher. The only problem is my antenna. Last year I am active also on 40 meter and I love that band. Before that I was only qrv on 20 meter or higher. The Solar Flux rises up to 76! Wow, that was a long time ago. We must take advantage of this situation.
The two spots were hiding behind the sun, but now they are visible. Two brilliant spots could be the start of cycle 24. The Solar Flux is up to 75 now. Would this be the end of a sunspotless period? This morning I worked LA5SAA, Mike from Tau, Norway with SSB on 40 meter. We had a little nice chat, Mike was running 500 watts. It was nice that Mike could hear me. It has been a long time I had a SSB QSO on 40 meter. I worked YU7AOP Milan from Zrenjanin, Serbia on 20 meter with SSB; and DBØMVB Gerhard from Berlin, Germany on 40 meter with SSB and also HB9VELO from Vezia, Switserland and SN2ØØ9EM Tom from Lodz, Poland. DX with WSPR: RW9FZ on 30 meter 3226 km.
What can one do when there are no good conditions for SSB or CW contacts? PSK31 is a good option. Or digimodes in particular. The amateur bands are abandoned at daytime, especially the higher bands. I turned on WSPR this morning and the unmanned station did his job. I saw LA6TPA regular in my reports. Normally I watch for a WSPR DX, but it's also nice to see what the signal is doing to one station or grid. In this case LA6TPA. It is just a try, because I had to do a lot of other things today, such as gardening and painting. But I can think of serious investigations about propagation during dawn or nightfall and what it does to the SNR. So I can do something meaningful with my QRP rig, waiting for sunspot cycle 24 to start.
Tonight I worked with BPSK31 on 40 meter UA2FHZ, Anatoly from Kaliningrad, Russia. With WSPR I jumped the big pond K1JT and W1XP.
A Solar Flux of 71 promised fair conditions on HF, even 30 - 20 meter. But I heard not so much. At 17:30 UTC on 20 meter (14.060 MHz) I give a call, who knows but I heard no CW station on 20 meter. So I went to WSPR 30 meter. Best DX was N3ZM 6024 km 11:32 UTC. And a new US state Pennsylvania, number 7. Also reported by RA3ZSE 2275 KM; SV8BUR from Lefkas Island 1964 km; and LA6TPA 1375 km.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
This nice QSL card belongs to OP4D Patrick from Charleroi, Belgium. I worked him on 40 meter BPSK31. Also worked: OE5BTM, Walter from Attnang-Puchheim, Austria; OK1VPO Milos from Duchov, Czech Republic. With CW I worked SK7DX on 40 meter. My only station for the Scandinavian Activity Contest, because I do not participate in this contest.
Ever heard about LID? I don't. I found this video on Youtube by KC7FYS. I quote him:
Just another average day, out with my wife and son, biking through the rice fields and concrete neighborhoods. My first foray into the 17 Meter band (18.068-18.168 MHz) came out well. Purported to be using only wire antennae, Hans DL5SDF, is stationed in Mindanao, Philippines with 100 watts. I was pleased as punch to hear this one station on this WARC band--but I made the mistake of working him twice. He came back with my signal report of 529 and LID LID.
I found this old quote from a hundred years ago, from a telegraph operator's letter. It cites the usage of the word 'lid' do describe a bad operator. "As an employee of the Western Union Telegraph Company, W. L. Matteson was familiar with the rich vocabulary of insults that telegraph line operators had developed over the years, including, as noted in this article, "lid" and "ham" to describe incompetents. However, at the time this letter appeared popular usage was changing, and many amateur radio enthusiasts had already begun to use "ham" as a casual general description for their fellow amateurs. (In contrast, referring to amateurs as "lids" continues to this day to mean that you are questioning their basic competency.)"
Today no ham radio I think. My daughter is ill, she catch a cold, and now she at home on the couch. We watched together the video 'Dirty Dancing' because I like Patrick Swayze. RIP. To young to die.
Conditions were not too bad today, I could work at least a few CW stations. And the outside wire is back on. With CW I worked: SNØPL on 20 meter, and on 40 meter OM4KW and LY2PX. With PSK31 OM7OM (received his eQSL) LA7MNA both on 30 meter, II2ANA and S54JK on 40 meter. I heard A41LD (Oman) with SSB on 40 meter, but I didn't try to work him because of pile up. Now it's time to go to bed. See you. 73, Paul
Back in the seventies I had a paper QSL card. I send a lot around the world by the bureau. I got plenty back. They end up in shoe-boxes, and finally in the attic behind a wall. I never hang them at the wall. Why I don't like paper QSL? 1. I must find a printing company. 2. I think it is too expensive. 3.I must sort the cards into the correct order, otherwise they won't be accepted by the qsl manager. 4. Receiving cards takes too long, sometimes years! 5. I have to pick up the qsl cards by the qsl manager. I have to bike a few miles. It is like snail mail. It takes toooooo long. So I like eQSL because it is the new way of arrange things at home. Fast and easy.
A Quote by N2UGB: "If all that matters in the world is one more award then, perhaps, another QSL-road might be taken. I am not a paper chaser. I use eQSL to say hello and thanks for the QSO. Nothing more. I get great satisfaction sending and receiving them. I've received paper QSLs in the mail that have had the contact info computer generated. Is this any better? I don't think so. But they are appreciated and direct-mail responded to." From eham.net
Or a Quote by K2NCC "What an amazing service! You get printable QSL cards, online logbook, QSO schedule requests, propagation forecaster, plenty of ham-related resources, easy to use interface; All this for free! Add a bunch more features for just a few bucks a year. I recommend using it, even if you're a hard-core paper QSL collector. Remember, not everyone else is. Some people live in places where they're lucky to have a radio, let alone pay for DX postage. The hobby shouldn't be about how many 30-second QSOs you can verify."
I don't print the eQSL cards. Then the whole thing starts again. Shoe-boxes, they wander around everywhere. And the print quality is poor. So I store it om my computer, made a back up on a USB stick. And put them on my web site so other amateurs can watch my collection if they want to. I don't bother if not every QSO ended up in a QSL card. I am happy with the QSL cards I get, but I don't get depressed when I don't get one. What counts is the QSO itself, that's the main meal, a QSL card is only a dessert.
A few years ago we spent our holidays near Mont Saint Michel, Normandy, France. It's a very lovely place to visit. Today I worked F5KAQ/P on 40 meter with CW, one of the few stations I heard. He was working from Tombelaine Isl. in the bay of Mont Saint Michel. Last night I worked ESØIC, Meeme from Kassari Island, Estonia on 30 meter with BPSK31. Unfortunately, the second part of our QSO was lost because of heavy QSB. With WSPR I come across a lot of the same stations. Tonight 2 new stations on 30 meter: KB8UUM from Washington, DC and S51CN from Slovenia. Because the USA is a very big country, I will mention from now on from which state they come. I have now worked 6 states.
W3BCW reported my tiny little signal on 40 meter with WSPR and my new antenna: CR antenna. And CR stands for Curtain Rail. How low profile can a radio amateur be? I defy physical laws, and antenna theory. I just tune with the Miracle Whip a aluminum curtain rail in the living room, and I have a perfect SWR and RF output. Only from 30 meter and lower bands. 20 meter or higher doesn't work. 30 and 40 meter are perfect. After 2 minutes I was reported by W3BCW, W3HH and W9HLY (6165 7285 and 6509 km) with WSPR on 30 meter. You can't say the Curtain Rail doesn't radiate. So back to 40 meter, I heard SN7ØR with CW, I called him and he returned immediately with a 599 report. With PSK31 I worked SP2SGN and SA4AVS on 40 meter. I'm still amazed about this performance.
I have to strip my wire antenna for a few days because they are cutting branches from the trees before my house. So I have to remove the wire before they cut my antenna wire. Today I received a few new eQSL cards. And I uploaded my license to eQSL for a AG status. I have to find an another solution. Maybe my curtain rail. I like the video with the old tube AM radio.
This eQSL card was in my Inbox. It is my only 10 meter QSO I have made. Probably a sporadic E reflexion. My antenna system is not suitable for 10 meter. Only my Miracle Whip barefoot and indoors, and that's what i did. So I am happy with this confirmation with S51ZZ.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Yesterday I worked DL2PAN Andre from Neustadt, Germany on 40 meter BPSK31. It was a nice 2-way QRP QSO. There was almost no PSK activity at 11 hours UTC. Only Andre came back for me. Today I worked UA3GX Yuri from Dankov, Russia on 40 meter with BPSK31. Tonight I worked EA4DB Jose from Madrid, Spain om 30 meter BPSK31, also on 40 meter OE6JFG, Franz from Krieglach, Austria and HB9BWY, Norbert from Sachseln, Switzerland.
It was good to see that Adam M6RDP is going WSPR. And I saw beautiful DX, when I peek in Adams log. Hail to the Digi Modes! Because its hard nowadays to get through with a SSB QRP signal. Even CW is not the solution. Only the digimodes such as PSK31 and WSPR will bring us somewhere. Tonight I worked on 40 meter with PSK31 RD3BD, Vladimir from Moscow, Russia.
WSPR DX: WB2LMV, Napanock, NY; 5787 km. Not far from Dick N2UGB (Amsterdam, NY) approx. 90 miles.
As a radio amateur you have to log your transmissions in a logbook. In the early days I used a paper logbook. But when I was back again after many years I wanted to use my computer for logs. First I tried Ham Radio deLuxe, with a beautiful log program on board. But when my system was crashing and install Win XP again I could not import properly a good back up. Though I made one, I was missing a lot of data. Help. I thought I could trust my back up. Since then I made a simple spreadsheet in Excel, I put a back up on a USB stick and no problem at all. Since August 2008 till now I had 3 call signs. The Dutch QSL manager is going crazy: who is that man? I put a new service on my web site: my simple logbook entries are visible. (Life itself is complicated enough) So, over the period PA9B, PAØPSY and PC4T my logbook can be consulted by other radio amateurs. (See sidebar on the right) Today I downloaded XMlog, because it can convert to ADIF files. Have any one experiences with this program? Can it be used for eQSL? Or can it be used for uploading files for a contest? Please let me know. Also on my site (Sidebar) a link to my on-line logbook WSPR activities. I will only blog special WSPR calls such as DX. Have a nice weekend! And who knows: maybe a nice QRP contact shows up.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
On photo the special event station SN12ØOSP, operator Marek, I worked him with PSK31 on 40 meter. Also worked UR5WCQ, Pavel from Drohobych, Ukraine on 40 meter with PSK31. It was not possible to make any contact with SSB or CW. With PSK31 and WSPR is always a chance to work someone. I heard a lot of CW stations on 160 meter but they didn't hear me.
I never heard of the ham radio Swan 700-CX. The rig is from 1973, with tubes which gives 450 watts PEP output. But I like it very much although it's not a QRP rig. Today I got a message from Hamshop about the MFJ antenna tuners vs Icon transceivers. It seems to be that the Icom transceivers could be severe damaged. Especially the IC-7000. Some Icoms are burned up.
Today is a special datum: 09-09-09. This will happen only once. On photo the town Kavala, Greece where SV7KDO lives. He reported me on 30 meter WSPR. Distance 1970 km. Also RA3ZSE on 30 meter, 2275 km. [View log] With BPSK31 on 30 meter I worked ES3RM Mait from Jarvakandi, Estonia. Today I did a lot of painting around the house. Tomorrow more to do. The cat was curious and walked over the wet painting. Aaargh... Tonight I'm going to watch the soccer game between Scotland and The Netherlands. [video] WSPR DX: VK6BN 40M; W3CSW 30M; W1XP 30M; RA3ZSE 30M; EA8AY 30M; OH2BMH 30M; [view log]
I had a sked with Adam M6RDP with PSK31 on 40 meter. At 20.00 UTC I called and listen, but did not hear Adam. I saw F/PA1ALG/P calling Adam, so I knew he was there, but still nothing to hear. Next time better, after that I had a QSO with9A3IJ Kruno from Osijek, Croatia, and MØEDY, Eddy from Exmouth Devon, UK. Almost near Adam's place! And CU2AO Carlos from Ponta Delgada, St. Miguel Island, Azores. half way the QSO an Italian station came on top of our QSO, so I lost CU2AO. That's a pity. With WSPR 22.16 UTC reported by G8JNJ on 160 meter.
A very nice HF Propagation Prediction Tool by NØNBH. It automatically find you coordinates by ip address. You can choose for short path or long path. Lower frequencies or just the higher frequencies. So it is a helpful tool and I use it for a few weeks now. WSPR: Yesterday I was reported by GM4SLV (Shetland Islands) on 40 meter. And this morning W3XP on 40 meter, 5549 km. BPSK31: 8SØPSK 20 m; RV3WT 20 m; G6BFI 30 m, ON3GTS 30 m; PBØACU 40 m;
This morning at 5.30 UTC I was WSPR-ing on 30 meter and was spotted by W3HH, from Ocala, Florida. Distance 7285 km. Most Americans I worked are from the North East Coast. Now I will collected the states. The best time to work Florida is 11-12.00 hours UTC.
This morning I heard SSB stations on 30 meter (10.139.91 MHz) just in the WSPR section of the 30 meter band. I think they speak France, but I don't speak France, so what is it all about? [listen to a fragment]
Scientist David Archibald explains in detail the phenomenon that sunspots have more to do with the earth’s climate than other factors. It looks like we get a Dalton minimum again, no sunspots for a long time.
Conditions must be pretty good tonight. I was WSPR-ing on 30 meter (where I can find many radio amateurs) and was reported by VKØBP Bob at Davis Station, Antarctica. Good for 14.733 km; my absolute record for QRP. Also a new DXCC Country WSPR and new continent. Unbelievable that my 5 watt signal is heard at the other end of the world with my Miracle Whip antenna + 10 m wire. And keep in mind there are no sunspots. So what will happen when there are sunspots again? Whoa! Other stations YU1UN 1478 km; RA3ZSE 2275 km; K2ZD 5850 km; K1JT 5924 km; W3CSW 6156 km; N1PQ 5555 km; and many others from Europe. [View a part of my log] While the rig was working I picked up my daughter (11) who was for the first time with her school-class to a disco party. As a father, I was a bit worried. Going out for the first time without her daddy and mum.
Last night I worked HA3LI with WSPR on 40 meter. He is my 22 DXCC WSPR. I wonder why the most radio amateurs prefer 30 meter for WSPR. On 40, 80 or 160 meter are worldwide at the most 4 or 5 radio amateurs active. It could be so interesting when more radio amateurs were using other frequencies. WSPR is not common in use. And there are approx. 2,000.000 radio amateurs, at the moment are worldwide 155 radio amateurs active, so 0,008%
I would say, download the WSPR software and run WSPR. While you do the shopping with the YL, your rig is doing a great job for you.
Today I received with WSPR E6JKH (grid PA60) what is obviously a pirate. Also VXØELM or PG2CEV are probably pirates. I don't know but they are not in QRZ.com or other Ham registrations. My new DXCC WSPR country is OY3JE Jan from Faroe Island on 30 meter. Distance 1250 km. Maybe the very low power and invisibility invite pirates to work on these frequencies. [view log]
Conditions are at the moment (14.00 hour local time) worse on HF. On 40 meter I hear only one weak CW station. The rest of the band is completely dead. Only 20 meter were a few stations but weak to hear. When I woke up this morning I turned on WSPR on 80 meter and LA2XPA, from SmØla Island reported me. Distance: 1215 km.
About 16.00 hours local time I heard HB9VELO working on 40 meter. It was the only station I heard. It was pretty quiet on 40 meter. So I called him (SSB). He came back for me with a 59 report. Sometimes I don't understand the propagations.
The PKW Super Bazooka is a highly abridged vertical antenna without radials for 1,8-30 MHz. With its length of only 3.4 m. The Super Bazooka very suitable for amateurs with little space. It is obvious that the performance of this antenna are limited compromise. The antenna is feed by means of a broadband matching network with SO 239 connector. Stainless steel fixings. Due to highly varying impedance to high frequency spectrum is adjusted using an automatic tuner with a wide adjustment range Antenna Tuner necessary. The stand pipe should be grounded. Adriaan PE2KP has tested the Bazooka antenna, the smaller one (2,2 m in length). The Super Bazooka is with its length of 3,4 meter suitable for 160 meter. If that is true, I doubt it. But every extra length will help on the higher bands. But having small antennas is always a compromise. But when you are limited in space, you have to find another solution and is the Super Bazooka an acceptable alternative.
I like the Ten Tec stuff. In my early days I had one, and the transceiver had a good rx. It was a Triton I, very nice one, unfortunately, I sold the rig many years ago. I looked on Youtube and find video's of the Ten Tec company, but what a poor quality video and terrible sound. [watch the video] Can't they purchase a good camera? Today's video is The Argonaut-V HF Transceiver Model 516F. And it's good to see someone with a straight keyer. Very nice equipment.
"In 2009, cosmic ray intensities have increased 19% beyond anything we've seen in the past 50 years,"
