View Full Version : Holy Cow! ALL bands were really open today!
KD6WAG
02-26-2008, 05:47 AM
From SoCal I hit Colorado, Mississippi, Arkansas, Arizona, Oregon and Utah on 10m with a vertical "Hamstick" and 90 watts.
On 20m, I hit Australia and Russia all on a "Hamstick" dipole and running 100 watts.
I didn't try 6m, but my 6m-fanatical-friend said that band was open for several hours today. Ahhh, I can't wait for the sun spots to really start working their "magic."
73
kl7aj
02-26-2008, 05:51 AM
From SoCal I hit Colorado, Mississippi, Arkansas, Arizona, Oregon and Utah on 10m with a vertical "Hamstick" and 90 watts.
On 20m, I hit Australia and Russia all on a "Hamstick" dipole and running 100 watts.
I didn't try 6m, but my 6m-fanatical-friend said that band was open for several hours today. Ahhh, I can't wait for the sun spots to really start working their "magic."
73
Well, all up to 17 meters anyway. Still haven't heard a peep out of 15, 12, or 10 in the past decade.
eric
KD6WAG
02-26-2008, 05:57 AM
Well, all up to 17 meters anyway. Still haven't heard a peep out of 15, 12, or 10 in the past decade.
eric
Eric, you should have tried the VP6DX DXpedition crew on Ducie Island this past two weeks........I got 12, 15 and 17meters several times throughout the day this past week! Right now, 10, (((11))) and 12m are open. In fact, 20 is currently open as we speak.
If you stay on 28.400 USB, you'll hear talk on 10m. You won't hear anything if you don't try calling "CQ" on those bands.
It's just like dad used to say to me, "Son, you will never win the lottery if you don't play the lottery."
The other thing that comes to mind is perhaps your antennas aren't tuned up to snuff. I had a problem with my 10m antenna until I did some changes to it. Now it works like a champ.
73 and don't give up on 10, 12, 15.
Disclaimer: I talk on 11m SSB on a LEGAL CB radio. ;)
kl7aj
02-26-2008, 06:37 AM
Eric, you should have tried the VP6DX DXpedition crew on Ducie Island this past two weeks........I got 12, 15 and 17meters several times throughout the day this past week! Right now, 10, (((11))) and 12m are open. In fact, 20 is currently open as we speak.
If you stay on 28.400 USB, you'll hear talk on 10m. You won't hear anything if you don't try calling "CQ" on those bands.
It's just like dad used to say to me, "Son, you will never win the lottery if you don't play the lottery."
The other thing that comes to mind is perhaps your antennas aren't tuned up to snuff. I had a problem with my 10m antenna until I did some changes to it. Now it works like a champ.
73 and don't give up on 10, 12, 15.
Disclaimer: I talk on 11m SSB on a LEGAL CB radio. ;)
This is Alaska.....a different planet as far as propagation goes.
Eric
kl7aj
02-26-2008, 06:41 AM
MUF at high noon today. 18MHZ. I think it will be a while before we see 10 meters up here. :( *sighhttp://maestro.haarp.alaska.edu/cgi-bin/digisonde/ionogram.cgi?pick.x=517&pick.y=221&tmin=20080220&tmax=20080227&xmin=88&xmax=599
KD6WAG
02-26-2008, 09:09 AM
This is Alaska.....a different planet as far as propagation goes.
Eric
Eric, I wasn't paying attention to the fact you're in Alaska. My bad. Well, I guess I'd suggest that you go "portable" and come down here in the lower 48 for a vacation. Bring your ham equipment. (Hi hi). At least you're in "God's Country." I wish I lived in Alaska.
73, and I hope the propagation window opens for you guys up there in Alaska.
N8CPA
02-26-2008, 10:51 AM
MUF at high noon today. 18MHZ. I think it will be a while before we see 10 meters up here. :( *sighhttp://maestro.haarp.alaska.edu/cgi-bin/digisonde/ionogram.cgi?pick.x=517&pick.y=221&tmin=20080220&tmax=20080227&xmin=88&xmax=599
Or...you could get on your bicycle...
:D
n4qwb
02-26-2008, 03:30 PM
The conditions were indeed wild. We had a great opening on 6m according to a lot of the VHFers in town. And on 10m, I heard several stations in TX that were 20+. I haven't heard a peep on that band in the last few months. 20m stayed open several hours later. I could still hear a UA0 at around 0200Z.
It sure made making PSK contacts on 14.070 challenging. My waterfall was full! Still able to work Martinique through all the activity though.
Dangit! I took my 6m down last Winter. :mad:
Ah well.... I wanted to slap a small beam up this spring anyway.
I'm hoping the brief openings I'm hearing on the upper bands now indicate a fun spring is in store for us all!
I had Sporadic Es on 6m for over 4 hours last evening from PA. The band was really hot, quite unusual for the end of Feb. From looking at the propagation maps, there were several Es across the US with nearly all areas from coast to coast getting at least some action. I had propagation to the midwest states and most of the south. I even heard a couple W7 stations from AZ briefly.
I'm usually somewhere between 50090 and 50099, look me up!
Dave
ab8ma
02-26-2008, 05:51 PM
MUF at high noon today. 18MHZ. I think it will be a while before we see 10 meters up here. :( *sighhttp://maestro.haarp.alaska.edu/cgi-bin/digisonde/ionogram.cgi?pick.x=517&pick.y=221&tmin=20080220&tmax=20080227&xmin=88&xmax=599
Or...you could get on your bicycle...
:D
Want a map? :)
KI4RVH
02-26-2008, 06:33 PM
Well, all up to 17 meters anyway. Still haven't heard a peep out of 15, 12, or 10 in the past decade.
eric
I've worked lots of 10 meters in the last year or so. I've worked Ducie and T19KK on 15.
73
Chris
KI4RVH
02-26-2008, 06:36 PM
It was a very good day. I worked Australia from NC on 20M. Best DX for me ever! I was thrilled.
73
Chris
KB5FSV
02-26-2008, 06:47 PM
There has been Sporadic-E here on the MS Gulf Coast all morning long today on 6meters especially out to the west into California. Been listening to stations chat on 50.125 to 50.135
For those that don't "hear" anything on 15/12 and 10 trying putting out a call.
Too many listening and nobody talking.
I had contacts on 17-10 last Sat afternoon.:D
G0GQK
02-26-2008, 10:27 PM
This propagation thingie must have only been happening in Gods country because there wasn't much happening where the heathens live !
G0GQK
KB3LIX
02-26-2008, 10:39 PM
I'm a heathen, and I heard activity today.
Even picked up a new DXCC entity, Tajikistan on 20m RTTY this morning, shortly after dawn local time.
Made the day worthwhile.
KI4ITV
02-26-2008, 11:10 PM
Ive got those working man's blues.
:(
kc7gnm
02-27-2008, 01:43 AM
Ive got those working man's blues.
:(
Yeah I know what you mean. Sucks having a job and all. LOL :)
KB3LIX
02-27-2008, 02:31 AM
Yeah I know what you mean. Sucks having a job and all. LOL :)
That is the BEST part of being retired.
I have virtually unlimited time to "play" radio.
It is all up to how much time I want to spend, and how much sleep I want to lose.
kc7gnm
02-27-2008, 02:44 AM
That is the BEST part of being retired.
I have virtually unlimited time to "play" radio.
It is all up to how much time I want to spend, and how much sleep I want to lose.
Well I am retired but still have to work. Can't live on just an Army Retirement. :)
KC9GUZ
02-27-2008, 02:45 AM
Disclaimer: I talk on 11m SSB on a LEGAL CB radio. ;)[/QUOTE]
Tsk, tisk, shame on you for admitting this on QRZ!:p The older hammies will come and slap you with a wet noodle!:D
Oh heck! tonight I was too tired after work to turn on a radio, Well now I am hearing all sorts of signals on 80 and 40 M! WOW !
KB3LIX
02-27-2008, 05:09 PM
20m RTTY was smokin this morning.
Lots of good DX to be had.