Are We On An Upturn?...

It was a rough week propagation wise this week. The bands were in terrible shape and very noisy with incredibly deep QSB.  

In spite of this, I decided on Tuesday to head out and try and activate Lemoine Point. The propagation numbers didn't look too bad actually, SFI=151, SN=138, A Index=24 and the K Index=3. I gave up after 40 minutes with no contacts in the log at all. 

On Wednesday I headed out again, this time to Parrotts Bay, and once again the propagation numbers didn't look too bad, SFI=139, SN=112, A Index=9, and the K Index=3. This time I spent an hour calling CQ, both on SSB and CW, and once again I put zero contacts in my log. Pretty discouraging I thought. 

Thursday dawns bright and clear, and I decide to go out and try to operate portable once again. This time it was off to the Frontenac Biosphere. Here's the propagation numbers: SFI=137, SN=113, A Index=13, and the K Index=1. Success!! First in the log was Pierre VE2EH, and I ended up with 13 contacts on 40m, and 2 on 20m. 

Conditions were terrible. The QSB was very bad and some signals completely disappeared in seconds, never to be heard from again. I was just glad to be making a few contacts!

What was very strange is that I, as a 10w QRP SSB station, was getting S6 to S9 signal reports, yet I was hearing them, the 100w home based stations, at about S3 to S4. Very strange conditions.

Here's Thursdays contact map:

Stay Safe Out There!