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!!

Sunday on the Air...

I was not going to go out and activate today as the forecasted propagation was supposed to be pretty bad. So I thought about it for a short while and thought, "what the heck, let's go give it a try". You know what they say, "A day playing radio is better than doing the honey do list".

Wow, what a surprise I had, it was a good move to go to Lemoine Point Conservation Area!

The propagation numbers were not spectacular, but seemed to be decent enough.  They were: SFI=156, SN=80, A Index=36, and the K Index=2. Lot's of bad QSB about as well.

I chose to start on 10m, not a band I use a lot, but it's that time of year when it starts to get active. Did I pick a good time to get on that band! In the first 6 minutes of the activation I worked: OS8D, PR8ZX, F4HJO, EA8CTF, and GM4VYQ. Not too shabby for 10w and a Hamstick!

After a while I moved to 15m and worked EA8DQP, EA8ED, EA3HAB, and EA2EZ. It was definitely a day to speak Spanish. I certainly didn't expect to work 3 stations from the Canary Islands. It just shows you, just get out there and call CQ, you never know who's going to answer your call.

I know there were other DX stations calling me, but they were under my noise floor and I just could not pull them out of the noise. I hate disappointing people, but I just couldn't get them in the log.

It may be a few days before I get out again, we have a series of heavy rain days coming in, starting tomorrow, so I'll hunker down and get some things done around the house before winter hits properly.

The hour I had available to play radio passed pretty quickly, but it was a good day with another 24 in the log.

Here's todays contact map:

Stay Safe Out There!!