15m is hopping...

What a great day on 15m it was today! I thought I would get out an do an activation as I don't plan on doing any activations over the weekend as the CQ WW SSB Contest will be on, I don't feel like fighting over-powered QRO stations with my QRP transmitter to try and make a contact.

Propagation today was: SFI=130, SN=98, A Index=6, and the K Index=2. Radio, as usual, was my KX3 with 10 screaming watts into a hamstick. There was a fair bit of QSB, but not enough to cause any real issues.

I actually started the activation on 40m, but after two contacts the band simply dried up and I couldn't rustle up any other contacts at all. So, off to 15m it was.

First DX in the log today was Bernd DL2DXA in Dresden, Germany. He was followed by GW0RQC, OE1DXU, DL1AX, F4ILH, DA2PK, ON4ON, IK3SWB/qrp, G0RQL, OS8D, EA2CPG, IZ4NPE, and SP8DSX. Interestingly, IK3SWB/qrp was using 5w SSB, and he was 55 into my station, and I received a 53 from him. 

The whole time I was activating today I was wondering what my Dad, VE7CVQ (SK), would think of POTA. He was a CW only guy, very rarely did he pick up a mic. I don't remember him ever doing Field Day, he just operated from the shack like 95% of hams did in those days. But you know, I like to think he would enjoy it. I'm sure the size of today's radios would shock the hell out of him. He had the complete line of the Heathkit SB-101, top of the line for its day. 

Here's todays contact map:

Oh yeah, I heard today from a US operator that QRP doesn't work........who knew????

Stay Safe Out There!!

Back to VE-5141

With the bands being in such good shape today I couldn't resist getting out into a park again and doing some operating. It's so much better operating with no noise floor, than the constant S7 at home.

The weather was superb here as well, it got up to +10C, which after the cold we have had, is fantastic.....I think I finally thawed out!

The propagation was: SFI=181, SN=151, A Index=4, and the K Index=2.  I didn't hear any QSB today at all, even with the Bz sitting at -2.5. 

With all the stars aligning I went to Lemoine Point, VE-5141, and set up. It took me 40 minutes to get 25 SSB contacts in the log, using both 10m and 15m.  I put F4ILH, IK2BYY, SO5CAL, G0RQL, 2E0VRX, SP8BJU, DH4PSG, DK1RS, and OE4JHW, in my log which absolutely made my day!  

The fact I'm doing this with my KX3 set at 10w, and only using various hamsticks as my antenna, is just amazing. This weekend, if I can get out, I'm going to try this with my 29' vertical wire, and see what I can do.

Here's todays contact map:

Be Well, and Stay Safe Out There!

10m was rocking!!

Yesterday, November 15th, I decided to do a mid-morning activation of VE-5141, Lemoine Point Conservation Area, a local to me, POTA spot.   

The weather, for this area, at this time of year, was spectacular.  Sunny, +7C (44.6F), and a deep blue sky.  Not a drop of rain or snow in sight.  It was just an absolutely beautiful day.

The day before during an activation of VE-5142, Parrott's Bay, I had great success on 10m, so today I decided to do the whole activation, if I could, on 10m.  Many of my activations have been done only on 40m, but I had never tried to do this on another band.

Luckily for me 10m was just alive with good signals.  First in the log was F4FTJ, and in rapid succession PU1JSV, 2E0VRX, OE4JHW, F4ILH, IK1GPG, EA1BUL, and F4HZR followed.  This was the first time I made POTA contacts with Brazil and Austria, that just made my day.  The Brazilian station was S9 +20 to me, just an outstanding signal.

The radio was my KX3 set at 10w.  The antenna of the day was a 10m Hamstick on the roof of my truck using a 5" mag-mount.  

The day's propagation was: SFI=124, SN=40, A Index=6 and the K Index=3.  There was no, to very little QSB, and the LIDS and deliberate QRM'ers stayed away for a change.

Hopefully if this run of good weather and decent propagation holds for a few more days, I can get out and do a lot more portable operating, because you know before long the snow will start to fly around here.

Here's the days contact map:

Keep Well, and Stay Safe Out There!