What's Going on with The Sun & HF?

[KC2UCA]

The current cycle has been disappointing although newer technologies mostly digital modes have made it easier to work DX in the face of bad propagation and I would hope in the future we see better conditions and with proliferation of digital modes work DX in abundance

73's
Kabir Rekhi KC2UCA

[W0EVE]

Ive been around for a few hf radio peaks,and some not so good,
but it aways has been interesting,and talked to a lot of nice guys
so hang in there and wait for the next surprise,youll love it w0eve

[ZB2FK]

Ken I agree with you that this cycle is not what we all normally expected. I did not expect my QSO count on 160 and 6m to be the lowest ever. Consider for a moment a sailing yacht crossing an ocean and being caught in the doldrums. No progress and becalmed for days on end. A similar situation to what is happening with the propagation at the moment. When the wind picks up again and progress is resumed after a long wait a great feeling of excitement replaces boredom overnight. You can certainly look forward to such a feeling when things start happening again. It is an unforgettable and pleasant experience. Apart from having it in the blood (joke) what lures us to be Radio Amateurs is the challenge of surviving these vagaries of the propagation and emerging with renewed vigour to face with exitement the surprises the bands will hold for us (soon I hope). What makes it interesting is precisely the unpredictability. For reliability you use the internet ( sometimes not even that works ! ) Most of us are quite frustrated with the current situation. Some turn to fixing their antennas or fishing, others to hiking or photography and before you know it presto the PARTY begins. IT WILL GET BETTER SOON MARK MY WORDS. Look forward to working you soon. 73s, your brother in Ham Radio, Ernie ZB2FK

[KF6HAP]

Get up early and try 40M. KF6HAP

[N7COA]

Got my first ticket back in 1958 then was relicensed in 1975 after uncle sam was done with me. My favorite dead band story is my sitting at my desk studying and hearing nothing on my old HW-101. Then this beautifully clear voice asked if the freq was in use. I said go ahead and YB8ACK and I had an armchair QSO for about 45 minutes. When we finished and I cleared the whole world seemed to be calling him. Montana to Indonesia on a dead band. No such thing as a dead band. There is almost always propagation in some direction. The trick is listening.