Our Sun Dials Down the Brightness: Solar Storm Forecast 06-09-2018

K4KYB · Jun 12, 2018

10-11 meter bands have been crazy good last three weeks all the way through 1:30am

W5DFN · Jun 16, 2018

KA1BSZ said: ↑

I don't know how many arguments I had with the ARRL staff about propagation. I told them up here in Vermont,I'm limited to a dipole and a hf mobile station, both 100 watts. I can hear dx stations,but europe, once in a while Asia,some south America,but never anything else. They claimed there's plenty of dx out there..ya if you got a 100 foot tower and 13 element beam and kw amp. But us little guys with qrp,mobiles,100 watts and a dipole can't hears as good. They said if you can hear them, you can work them and that is simply not true! Propagation up here in the northeast is very poor.never hear anything on 15 meters and above. I used to back in the 80's and 90's had a big gun station and call cq once and get a pile up. now with 100 watts and tarheel or dipole, call cq all day and never get a bit but if you do and most people when they find out your mobile,your qrp, then their response is " OH I HAVE BAD QRM,QRN,YOUR SIGNAL IS FADING BAD,XYL IS CALLING,HAVE A TELEPHONE CALL,ETC,ETC,ETC. " and that's because they don't want to chat with a low powered station,so they make an excuse. I've always said, if every one used just 100 watts and no amplifiers,everyone would work everyone and there would less qrm. So it is natural to answer the most powerful,big s-9 plus signal with big booming voice instead of a low voice of 100 watts that sounds like their in the back of the room.
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W5DFN · Jun 16, 2018

Actually, I will try to work any station that answers my call. HOWEVER, if you are so far down in the noise, that I can only get a word now and then using headphones, the I admittedly lose interest pretty quickly. I have a rather modest station with an ancient Force 12 C3E at 10 meters for 20 -6 meters (Yes, it will load up on 6, albeit broadside to the boom). For 160, 80, 60, and 40 meters I have a fan dipole at 12 - 10 feet above ground. Maximum power I can run is about 750 watts and not that on all HF bands. I don't see the point in complaining about the stations I can't reach -- and I have talked to the South Cook Islands on 100 watts. Almost any antenna system can be improved and amplifiers are affordable, my suggestion would be to see what you can do to make your station easier to copy and settle for what you can get.

G0GPF · Jun 17, 2018

KA1BSZ said: ↑

I don't know how many arguments I had with the ARRL staff about propagation. I told them up here in Vermont,I'm limited to a dipole and a hf mobile station, both 100 watts. I can hear dx stations,but europe, once in a while Asia,some south America,but never anything else. They claimed there's plenty of dx out there..ya if you got a 100 foot tower and 13 element beam and kw amp. But us little guys with qrp,mobiles,100 watts and a dipole can't hears as good. They said if you can hear them, you can work them and that is simply not true! Propagation up here in the northeast is very poor.never hear anything on 15 meters and above. I used to back in the 80's and 90's had a big gun station and call cq once and get a pile up. now with 100 watts and tarheel or dipole, call cq all day and never get a bit but if you do and most people when they find out your mobile,your qrp, then their response is " OH I HAVE BAD QRM,QRN,YOUR SIGNAL IS FADING BAD,XYL IS CALLING,HAVE A TELEPHONE CALL,ETC,ETC,ETC. " and that's because they don't want to chat with a low powered station,so they make an excuse. I've always said, if every one used just 100 watts and no amplifiers,everyone would work everyone and there would less qrm. So it is natural to answer the most powerful,big s-9 plus signal with big booming voice instead of a low voice of 100 watts that sounds like their in the back of the room.
Click to expand...

I run a QRO station /FTdx5000 /Mosely pro 67B /1.5 KW and in the last year i have only ran with rig power no amp. let me assure you my friend if I hear you I will reply. To me it makes no difference where or who /or your license level, I will always reply.Us older people are so close to the grave that we treat every contact as the last one that we will make.
PS if I run full power with antenna fully extended and call CQ I could be waiting just as long as you for a reply. Tried it a few times and decided not to waste any more electricity talking to fresh air. Dont give up hope some of us older operators are allways looking for stations like yours
with regards
peter G0GPF

K5CO · Jun 17, 2018

About a year from October I am guessing we will see solar panel arrays destroyed by surges from seriously changed sun activity. What a mess for landfills; but good operating conditions for those loving DX.

KD6BZN · Jun 17, 2018

So, a volcano exploding tons of everything nasty into the stratosphere doesn't effect the climate, but my F-250 is the devil... ok then

N1OOQ · Jun 18, 2018

I keep reading the title of this thread as "our sun dials"... And then I realize it's another dead bands thread.
Sun dials are cool.

Our Sun Dials Down the Brightness: Solar Storm Forecast 06-09-2018

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