Many of us have had a difficult year this year with illness, loss of loved ones, uncertain employment, and isolation due to COVID-19.
Let's hope that will all be behind us shortly so we can get on with our lives.
Here’s to a year full of joy, laughter, and unforgettable memories with unforgettable friends...Happy New Year everyone!
Well, I'm not sure about 2021, I don't think things will be back to normal.....or anywhere near normal.....until late next September. I hope I'm wrong, but that's how I see things play out.
So is it a waste of time making plans? What do you guys think?? Some of my ham buddies here think it is. Well, I don't think it hurts to dream, and you never know, things may get better far faster than people think it will.
I have a cross-country road trip all planned out, but that is really not going to happen, as much as I want to visit my brother in British Columbia, that trip is going to have to wait until at least 2022. Instead I'm going to stick with local POTA, Islands, and Lighthouse activations for the foreseeable future. They're pretty safe as I can do them by myself.
There will be a multi-day, mini-DXpedition for POTA though, that's my only exception. I have six POTA sites that I want to activate, and if the parks open (which I doubt they will) then I will make it happen.
As you can see I'm not overly optimistic that things will be much better next year. I hope I'm wrong, but I'm going with my gut on this one.
Stay safe everyone!
It was far too nice to stay home last night......yeah, it's December in Canada and the evening temperature was still hovering around +7C (or 45F).....so, it was off to Fort Henry again for another late night POTA activation of the Kingston Fortifications, VE-4872.
To be honest, I wasn't sure I would make any contacts given the state of the bands this week. At 2359 UTC the propagation was: SFI=83, SN=11, A Index=8, and the K Index=2. Lot's of room for improvement there!
I made a 2m SSB contact with a local ham and then switched to 40m after sending out a spot. Normally you have a response after your first CQ. Not last night....it was 10 minutes of calling before I got a response. I was starting to think it was not the night to be using the KX3 with its 10 mighty watts. The calls came in small spurts, and with 19 in the log I shut down and went for a coffee.
Contacts came from ON, NB, MI, IA, OH, TX, WI, FL, AL, SC, and IN. Not too bad for 10w into a Wolf River Coil Mini with a 9.5' whip.
I'm probably going to get once last activation in before it gets too cold....but you just never know.
Given the amazing propagation we have had over the past week, I'm expecting this years contest to be outstanding. Of course there are some rumours around of a G1 Solar Storm over the next 2 days, so hopefully all will be OK for the weekend.
Rules can be found HERE. Give them a read, they will answer any of your questions.
The only decision I have to make is QRO or QRP this year? I guess I'll wait for Friday before I make that call.
