Category Archives: Propagation

Why it is going to be so hard to work Alaska on 160-meters

Posted on February 19, 2019 by robert

160-meter communication between New England states and Alaska can be very challenging due to its high latitude and proximity to the magnetic pole. To begin with, the path distance is approximately 3,400 miles, which is going to require at least … Continue reading →

Posted in 160-Meters, Propagation | 2 Comments

Year-end DX/WAS Summary

Posted on December 31, 2017 by robert

2017 was a slow year for DX & WAS.  I suspect due to a combination of working most of the easy ones and a rapidly declining Solar Cycle 24.  It is hard to imagine how poor things will be for … Continue reading →

Posted in 160-Meters, DX, Propagation, Satellite, Solar Cycles, WAS | Leave a comment

X9.3 Solar Flare Hits today ~ 12:02 UTC

Posted on September 6, 2017 by robert

A massive solar flare struck the earth today, a X-class 9.3.  This is the largest flare of Solar Cycle 24 by far.  It does have an Earth-directed CME that will be following on the heels of an earlier M-class flare/CME. … Continue reading →

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Nice 6-meter Opening Today

Posted on July 6, 2017 by robert

The JT65 segment of 6-meters was white hot today.  Even heard Joe Taylor (K1JT).  Map below shows stations that heard my signals around 21:00 UTC today.

Posted in From the OM, Propagation | Leave a comment

First Radials on the Ground for Inverted L

Posted on June 3, 2017 by robert

I’ve been using a low loop, about 450 feet of wire, around 20 to 30 feet off the ground for years.  It worked well for me, enabling me to get 9-band DXCC and 8-band WAS.  But the sunspots have diminished, … Continue reading →

Posted in Antennas, DX, Propagation, Testing | 1 Comment

QRP Still Rules the World; even on 80 Meters

Posted on February 13, 2017 by robert

Yesterday I decided to set my radio up on a QRP (5 watt) beacon mode on 80 meters (I used a propagation mode called WSPR, transmitting once every 10 minutes).  I let the rig run from about 4:45 PM local time … Continue reading →

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Don’t know that I’ve ever seen this before…

Posted on July 7, 2016 by robert

Day and night, all HF bands are “Poor”

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DXCC Update for June

Posted on July 2, 2016 by robert

Not much of a change in the last month, pretty much matching the sharp decline in solar activity as the cycle fades into history. So in the past month, one new country has been added, bringing the total to 255 … Continue reading →

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Goodbye Solar Cycle 24

Posted on January 20, 2016 by robert

Goodbye Solar Cycle 24, you were fun while you lasted! Propagation is really impacting the K5P (Palmyra Island), VP8STI (South Sandwich Island), and VP8SGI (South Georgia Island), DXpeditions. I note that solar levels appear to be somewhat higher than when I … Continue reading →

Posted in From the OM, Operating, Propagation | Leave a comment

K1 Assembly Complete

Posted on January 1, 2016 by robert

I completed and installed the two coils in 50 minutes.  I then spent another 40 minutes doing the TX tests and alignment.  That brings the total time to 25.75 hours. The initial transmitter testing went well, with coils almost peaked … Continue reading →

Posted in From the OM, Propagation, QRP | Leave a comment