Yep, it's going to take time. We have to remember it is an 11 year cycle and we're just now starting the upswing.
Instead of watching the clusters folks need to start calling "CQ" again. Who knows what you may work?
Just a heads up guys you can follow Tamitha on Youtube heres a link https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkXjdDQ-db0xz8f4PKgKsag
The concern is from hundreds of years of data is the slower the upswing typically the weaker the cycle. After a great start near the end of last year, we are now very slow with so many long stretches of zero sunspots which might indicate a weak cycle 25. At least solar flux mostly stays in the low 70s which is marginal but somewhat workable on SSB, with occasional drops to 69 or below the last few days. We were lucky to have a Speriodic E opening on 10m in the height of the 10-10 contest a few weeks ago. I made lots of strong 10 meter contacts. Predictions are all over the map from weak to normal to great. With all the monitoring equipment we have of solar winds, proton levels, flux, pictures from SOHO, and from STEREO-A satellite that now partially shows the backside to see what might be coming into earth target, we still have no way of predicting the cycle with any accuracy. Sadly we lost transmission from STEREO-B a few years ago which was also provided close-up sun views.
Indeed! A couple of weeks ago I managed a solid contact from Souther California to France during a SOTA outing. With 5 watts into a random wire. I have had some other DX contacts during SOTA as well. Its makes me wonder where all the hams are at other times. It seems like a lot of people don't get on the air unless there is a contest of some sort.
Her just over two hour watching the Mars landing and her as usual great commentary was very interesting. Was private only to her Patreon members - costs $7/month for her private stuff which I find very worthwhile. She also has a father she talks about with COVID in hospital in Phoenix but she told everyone just got off a ventilator. She has been keeping up her reports even with personal concerns
Agreed...I am esconced in Japan (JJ1INK) and I am patiently waiting for the bands to further open up again.....still trying.. I sometimes wonder if we are cycling down towards another Maunder minimum which was cyclically preceded by the Oort, Wolf, and Sporer minimums. It is something we have little control over so KG3I's advice and recommendation is well taken.