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!!

Busy Weekend Coming Up...

I suspect there will be lots of activity on the bands this coming weekend if the list of contests and other events is correct.

Here's the list:

 

  - POTA Support Your Parks weekend

    - 0000 UTC Saturday to 2400 UTC Sunday

 

  - Ontario QSO Party

    - April 15 1800 UTC to April 16 0500 UTC, and April 16 1200 - 1800 UTC

 

  - Nebraska QSO Party

    - April 15 1300 UTC to April 16 0100 UTC, and April 16 1300 - 2200 UTC

 

  - Michigan QSO Party

    - April 15 1600 UTC to April 16 0400 UTC

 

  - North Dakota QSO Party

    - April 15 1800 UTC to April 16 1800 UTC

 

  - Quebec QSO Party

    - April 16 1200 - 2000 UTC  

Have Fun and Stay Safe Out There!!

Rough Propagation Today...

It was a windy -13C when I left the house this morning, a lot colder than what I was expecting. It's been nearly 2 weeks since I was out to do a POTA activation....so you know it just had to happen!

Today I chose to go to VE-5305, the Frontenac County Courthouse National Historic Site. The Court House was built between 1855 and 1858, and it is a beautiful old limestone building.

This was my third activation here, and it's always a difficult activation, the noise floor is perpetually through the roof, and today was no exception. I started off on 40m, and had to work with a S7 band noise.

I only made 16 contacts today, and it took 5 bands to do that.  Contacts were made on 70cm, 2m, 12m, 15m, and 40m. This was a record activation for band changes for me, and the first time I activated on the 70 cm and 12m bands.   Being the weekend I stayed away from 20m as it was extremely busy with nets of great importance.....or so I have been told on air.

Propagation numbers today were:  SFI=125, SN=23, A Index=13, and the K Index=3.  Let's all hope those numbers improve over the next few days!

I used 2 HF antennas today, my hamsticks, and a 9.5' Buddipole whip for 12m, and that's going to get more use.

Here's todays contact map:

Stay Safe Out There!

Incoming Storm...Updated

Get ready for a moderate (G2) geomagnetic storm watch has been added starting March 24th due to a large coronal hole now facing Earth. The solar wind stream flowing from this hole is predicted to reach our planet by Friday.

Here's an update, 1600 UTC, March 23:

And the current conditions as of 1604 UTC:

And here's the 0148 UTC update...an A Index of 60!!!!:

More to follow as it is made public.

The Amazon Truck...

Hopefully, when the Amazon delivery truck arrives...the wife is out 😀.  But today that wasn't the case, she was home.....oh well. I had ordered a couple of new items for the portable shack to make my life a bit easier.

First up was a Bioenno 12v 3amp battery.  This will allow me to hike into some of the POTA parks and not have a rucksack filled with a big heavy battery.  This one should give me a few hours at 10w.

And, the second item to be delivered was an "Anker Soundcore" powered speaker.  It came highly recommended by Thomas K4SWL and Bill K4NYM who both use one.  After so many hours flying on Chinook helicopters my hearing is not what it should be at all, and this speaker makes a huge difference with the KX3.

Here's some photo's:

Stay Safe Out There !!

Good Conditions...

I finally managed to get out and do another POTA activation yesterday, I needed to, it's been over a week since my last one, and it was time to escape from the house for a while.

The temperature was above zero....well, just...it was +1C.  The wind was pretty cold though, which certainly didn't help.

The propagation numbers were:  SFI=134, SN=23, A Index=7, and the K Index=2.  There was some QSB but not a lot, in fact it really didn't bother me at all.  

As usual in winter I used my KX3 and hamsticks for ease of set-up and yesterday was no different.  It was a slow day POTA wise, but I did hear many station taking part in the Russian DX Contest.  Be what it may, but I only managed to put 11 contacts in the log.  I did make contacts with DX stations in Germany, The Netherlands, Spain, and the Dominican Republic.  Not bad for 10w and a 10m Hamstick!!

Here's yesterday's contact map:

Stay Safe Out There!!