Another Day in the Parks...

It was another beautiful day here in Eastern Ontario, lots of sun and blue sky.   Todays activation was VE-6003, the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail.  The trail runs along the Ontario shores of the Great Lakes from the Quebec border to the Manitoba border, and luckily for us here in Kingston, passes through four of our local POTA Parks.

Today, for the first time in a long time, I did not use my Hamsticks.  Instead I used my tactical mini SOTA pole and a QRP EFHW antenna cut for 40/20/15/10m.  Along with the antenna was a 1:1 Common Mode Choke.  The antenna and choke came from Tim, N9SAB, in Waukegan, IL.  The antenna also works very well on 17m and 6m.  I know it doesn't load at all on 12m, but I have never tried it on 30m.  The support pole is 6 metres high, or 19'6".

To be very honest I did not see any difference between using the hamsticks or the EFHW.  I suppose the only difference was the better signal reports I received today,  but as you will see from the map below, there was no real difference from where my signals normally reach with just the hamsticks.

Propagation today was:  SFI=144, SN=109, A Index=13, and the K Index=2.

Here's todays contact map:

Stay Safe Out There!!

Back Out In The Parks...

After 12 days of garbage propagation, today was finally a good day and I managed to pull off a successful POTA activation.  Not only was the propagation good, the weather was spectacular.  Of course something had to spoil the day, and I forgot my clipboard so it made writing my log a bit difficult.

The propagation numbers were:  SFI=149, SN=118, A Index=19, and the K Index=1.  There was quite a bit of QSB, but it was easy to work around it.  

Here's todays contact map:

While the contacts were not very spectacular, the idea that the bands were good enough to actually make contacts again was spectacular.

Nine of the contacts were made on 40m, and six were made on 20m.  I did try 15m but nobody answered my CQ's.  The radio was my KX3 with hamsticks.

I'm looking forward to getting out tomorrow morning and doing it all over again.  Hopefully this time I'll get a few more contacts.

Stay Safe Out There!

An Update to my Updates...

Looks like another few days of rough radio work.   Hopefully it will sort itself out for next week.

Here's the latest chart:

Stay Safe Out There!

And.....Here We Go Again...(Updated) and (Updated again)...

Here's the Space Weather forecast for the next three days, it's certainly not looking very good.  So far I'm not very impressed with the propagation of this solar cycle, it certainly isn't shaping up to be what they originally forecast for it.

This past week the propagation has been abysmal and it looks like next week won't be any different!

Update as of 0200 UTC, 7 May:

Update as of 1800 UTC, 9 May:

Not Much Improvement...

It was a rather mediocre time on the bands this morning, the affects of the last round of poor propagation was still being felt. Hopefully that will change over the next few days.

The propagation numbers were:  SFI=154, SN=79, A Index=10, and the K Index=1.

Weather wise it was wet, cold, and very windy, not at all what you would expect from there 1st May. It was, in fact, what my friends would call a "hot chocolate" type day.

Here's todays contact map:

All of my contacts, but one, were on 20m today.  Normally it is the other way around.  Along with poor propagation we also had some severe QSB, which certainly didn't help matters.  Radio was my KX3 and a 20m and 40m Hamstick.

It took nearly an hour to put 13 contacts in my log book, it normally never takes that long.  I'm hoping the bands improve and the good propagation returns soon.

Stay Safe Out There!

More Lousy Propagation...UPDATED...

Here's the propagation outlook for the next three days......might be tough going on Monday.

 

Stay Safe Out There!!

Here's the latest on April 24, 0100 UTC:

And the latest on April 24, 0700 UTC:

QRPTTF is over for this year...

Today was the 2023 running of QRP To The Field....so I went out and found a field and operated there.  It was wet and miserable....but I had fun.

Today's propagation was: SFI=151, SN=85, A Index=9, and the K Index=0.  There was some QSB, and more than a few LIDS out there, but we survived.

I finished with 22 contacts in the log and 10 multipliers, so I'm happy with that.  

Here's today's contact map:

Stay Safe Out There!!

QRP To The Field...

Coming this weekend, is this years edition of QRP to the Field.  This year it's open to both CW and SSB stations, it's one of the few that does allow SSB.

Rules and information can be found HERE on their website.

Here in Ontario the event runs from 0800 to 1800 EDT on Saturday, April 22nd.  Check the Rules for the timings in your part of the continent.

I'm planning on getting out and playing in the event.  As they have now allowed SSB I feel it should be supported, although I'll probably do CW as well.

Stay Safe Out There !!

A Good Weekend...

My trip to Portland Bay Conservation Area went very well.  The bands were very busy with all the US State QSO Parties, and the Ontario QSO Party, but it was also POTA's Annual Spring Support Your Park event.

The Conservation Area is actually quite small, but it is very picturesque, and right on off the highway.  It took me 45 minutes to drive there from home, and Kieran VA3KS, was already there set up, waiting for me when I arrived.

First up was some 2m and 70cm simplex work that netted us some contacts, as did a quick visit to 6m.  Kieran, with 15 contacts in his log, left and went north a few kilometres to Mill Pond Conservation Area, and activated there.  I stayed at Portland and made more contacts on 10m, 12m, 15m, 17m, 40m, and 80m.  20m was just wall-to-wall signals and I didn't waste my time going there to try and fight the big guns for a few contacts.

The propagation was up and down, and the QSB was deep and causing the signals to go from S9 to S0 in milliseconds.  The numbers were: SFI=174, SN=151, A Index=7, and the K Index=2.  No rare DX was worked, in fact no DX was worked at all.  My furthest contact was with Tim WI6NG, in California.  

Kieran came back to Portland in time for us to pack up for lunch.  We went to the Portland Restaurant and some great food, if you're ever in Portland I highly recommend the place.

When we returned to the Conservation Area, another ham friend, Ranson VE3RCD, from Smiths Falls was waiting for us.  He had seen our note on the POTA spotting page about being QRT for lunch and had driven down to see us.  Ranson and I stuck around for a few more hours while Kieran left for home.  

It was disappointing to only be able to put 44 contacts in my log in the 6 hours I was there, but it was well worth it...just being able to relax and play radio in the great weather was reward enough.

As usual the KX3 and my Hamstick collection worked flawlessly together.

Here's the days contact map:

My setup in the back of my van:

Stay Safe Out There!!

Portland.....Here We Come...

That's Portland, Ontario, ...not Maine or Oregon.  Tomorrow I'm heading there to meet up with another ham to activate Portland Conservation Area, VE-5957, for the Spring Support Your Parks Event.

Our weather for the past few days here has been spectacular...temps anywhere from 20C to 27C., and it's looking good for tomorrow as well.  So the good weather, plus the Support Your Parks Event, equals a road trip.

This will be the second time I have activated this conservation area, it's right on the historic Rideau Canada, and is very quiet electrically.

Propagation wise things have not been the best, but I noticed today that the SN had finally broke one hundred again, so if that remains for tomorrow we should be ok.  Today I did a short activation of VE-5141 at Lemoine Point on 40m and 15m, and did quite well.  The propagation numbers were:  SFI=160, SN=149, A Index=6 and the K Index=2.

Here's todays contact map:

Let's hope everything aligns tomorrow and we have a successful day.

Stay Safe Out There!!