Dream on people... It's going to be a while until we see cycle 24 in full swing. We will start seeing some minor improvements by April 2010, but the peak of the cycle is predicted to happen by Oct 2013. So don't expect some great HF conditions, especially the upper bands until well into 2012. In the mean time clean up your shack, do some antenna work and find some other stuff to do.
Dream on people... It's going to be a while until we see cycle 24 in full swing. We will start seeing some minor improvements by April 2010, but the peak of the cycle is predicted to happen by Oct 2013. So don't expect some great HF conditions, especially the upper bands until well into 2012. In the mean time clean up your shack, do some antenna work and find some other stuff to do.
Why should I do other stuff when there is DX to be worked right now on 15m? Actually, I've been working DX on 15m for a while now. Now when the peak gets here the conditions will obviously be better, but you're head is on crooked if you think there is no DX to work on 15m.
Why should I do other stuff when there is DX to be worked right now on 15m? Actually, I've been working DX on 15m for a while now. Now when the peak gets here the conditions will obviously be better, but you're head is on crooked if you think there is no DX to work on 15m.
Exactly.
I must've worked at least a couple of dozen Stateside stations on 15m, some VK's on 12m and one FR on 10m....and that's only for today.
Had I not moved to the higher bands I could probably have spent the entire day working into N America.
I've been spending a lot of time on 2m lately doing HSMS and trying other digital modes and doing stuff other than DXing. The following is the result of casual operating for the last few weeks, just 15m, using a mixture of CW, SSB and RTTY, from San Francisco.
ZB2FK, 5N/LZ1QK, ZS2DL, BX5AA, KH0/JR2DOL, TI2AIM, KP2HC, 7X4AN, PT7CB, 9J2BO, TL0A, EA8CN, XR0Y, VP2MUM, 9G5TT, TR8CA, EA8URL. And that's just from 2009-10-29. I just so happened to have got the last few confirmed via LoTW for my 15m DXCC endorsement last month.
I also worked 5 all time new DXCC entities since the beginning of this month and confirmed via LoTW; TR8CA, YO9FNP, FP/KV1J, IM0/IK0FMB, ZC4VJ. I even worked VQ9LA in Chagos via long path on 20m with a 2 element yagi and I am waiting for that card to arrive for another all time new one confirmed.
There is nothing to wait for, the DX is there now.
I have been working 15 and 17M for the last 3 weeks or so making many contacts 4z4, 6v7,DL6,DO5, EA1, EA8,EC7,EI9,EW8,FM5 and the list goes on and on.. Most of those contacts were made on 17m but contacts on 15m are almost as plentiful. You simply have to scan the freq. and listen and you'll hear them calling for the US! I usually get them with just one answer to their CQ's.. If you're looking for some good DX'ing without the crowd climbing all over each other... 15m and 17m is where to find it on a daily basis.. have fun and good luck!!
Instead of spending so much time chasing lousy DX on 15 meters, you should spend more time learning how to spell... HAHAHA!
LOL, unfortunately I edited the post and failed to proofread it afterward, because I do know the difference between their, there and they're. Thanks for the chuckle, hi.
17 meters have been very good into Japan in the afternoons from Florida, with JAs sometimes S9 plus. EA8 was coming in S9 on 15 meters earlier today, but few signals were on the band.
I think folks just aren't aware that the bands are opening up, so they don't get on. The CQ WW should be most interesting this weekend. Of course, the sun is blank again!
I'm tired of being patient!! I've been waxing the 10 meter beam for a year now, dadgummit!! C'Mon Sunspots!!
.............Bob
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ex-W4DFW Ham since 1970. ARRL Life Member and Volunteer Counsel
I've been waxing the 10 meter beam for a year now, dadgummit!! C'Mon Sunspots!!
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