Good Bands...

The HF bands were not too bad today.....for a change!  For the first time in over a month I went out and did a POTA activation, while I won't win any prizes for the number of contacts I made, it was still fun. My big issue today was learning how to operate in the cab of the new truck, it's not a roomy as my old van, and I can see this might be an issue deep in the cold winter months. But we have time to see how we can best operate comfortably in it.

Propagation numbers today were:  SFI=148, SN=78, A Index=8, and the K Index=0.  There was very, very, deep QSB on all the signals, especially those on 20m and 40m.

I'm hoping to get out again tomorrow and see how things go.  Instead of hamsticks I'm planning on using my new 33' mast, and the new hitch mount I bought for the truck.

This mast will give me several wire antenna options to use, and it should still be usable in the winter with snow on the ground.  Tomorrow I'm planning on using a 29' vertical with a 9:1 unum and a couple of 17' ground radials to see what I can do with that.

Stay tuned for that write up.

Here's todays contact map:

Stay Safe Out There!!

International Lighthouse & Lightship Weekend...

The International Lighthouse & Lightship Weekend is coming up fast and will take place on August 19th & 20th.  

An average year sees over 400 lighthouses on the air, and this year should be no different....but so far there are only five Canadian lights registered., pretty sad for a country with three different coastlines!

The rules and other information can be find HERE.

Stay Safe Out There!

K Index of 6+...

Unfortunately for the Colorado 14er Event this weekend the propagation does not look very good. A Strong (G3) geomagnetic storm condition was observed starting at 0600 UTC this morning, the K Index was then at 6+.

Hopefully things will settle down quickly and we can start working DX again.

Stay Safe Out There!

Colorado 14er Event, 2023...

This weekend sees amateur radio operators from around the State of Colorado climbing their high Summits On The Air (SOTA) peaks and communicating with other radio amateurs across the state and around the world. 

Feel free to join in on the fun during the annual event by activating a summit or contacting (chasing) the mountaintop stations. Be aware that many mountaintop activators will hit the trail early with the goal of being off the summits by (1800 UTC) noon due to lightning safety concerns.

This event is normally held the first full weekend in August. Again this year, we will add two bonus days to the Colorado 14er Event. The main two days remain Saturday and Sunday (Aug 5 & 6), while the bonus days are Friday Aug 4 and Monday Aug 7th, for those SOTA enthusiasts that need more than two days of SOTA fun!

The 14er event includes Summits On the Air (SOTA) peaks, which provide over 1700 summits to activate. The Colorado 14er Event was started in 1991, about 19 years before the SOTA program was set up in Colorado. As SOTA grew in popularity, this event expanded from just the 14,000-foot mountains (14ers) to include all of the SOTA summits in the state. They still call it the Colorado 14er Event because, well, that's where it all started and the 14ers are the iconic summits in the state.

Important: The recommended 2m FM frequencies have been changed to 146.58, 146.55, and 146.49 MHz, to align with the use of the North America Adventure Frequency for SOTA (146.58). The National Simplex Calling Frequency (146.52) may be used as appropriate. There will be plenty of action on the HF ham bands, especially on 20m. 

Stay Safe Out There....and SOTA & POTA On!!

Not Looking Good...

It's been mighty quiet around the VE3FI property for the past month.  I haven't done a POTA activation, or any portable radio during July.....just taking a break.  Some days the propagation around here has been so bad we couldn't talk across the street....never mind across the big pond!

However, the propagation over the next few days sure doesn't look too good.

A K Index of 4 or 5 does not make for happy band conditions.  

Stay Safe Out There!

More Propagation Woes...

So far this month I have not done a single outdoor activation, in fact I've hardly been on the radio at all. Between the very high heat and humidity, and the lousy propagation, I just haven't felt the "love"....and that's OK, sometimes a nice break is a good thing.

Another reason for my lack of radio activity is that I have sold my van and bought a new truck. Before I can get the truck set up for operating I need to wait for the new canopy to arrive, hopefully that will be in a few more weeks.

While I enjoyed working from the van it was getting old and starting to show its age.  I'm looking forward to many new adventures in the new vehicle, including a cross-country POTA trip next year. Details to follow.

And my last excuse for the lack of operating and posts here is this.....what seems to have become a typical day around here propagation wise:

Stay Safe Out There.......and try and stay cool!!

IARU HF World Championships...

Coming up this weekend is the IARU HF World Championships.  One of the premier contests of the year...if you run power...it's not a particularly good contest for QRPers, but there's always good DX to be found.

The contest runs from 1200 UTC July 8th to 1159 UTC 9th July.

The rules can be found HERE.

Best Day in Weeks...

Today was my best day on the air in many weeks.  It seems the bands and the propagation Gods got their act together and gave us a decent day to play radio!

At 1430 UTC today the propagation numbers were: SFI=158, SN=119, A Index=8, and the K Index=2.  The bad news was that there was still some very deep QSB happening.  After seeing the propagation forecast for the next few days, I'm glad I got out today and operated portable.  Hopefully it will improve considerably in time for Field Day next weekend.

In 50 minutes I managed to get 39 contacts in my log, including a good contact with Mike, CU3HY, in the Azores.  That was my first QSO with Mike since December of last year.  Todays breakdown was 5 contacts on 40m, and 34 contacts on 20m.

Radio was my KX3, the antenna was a 20m or 40m Hamstick, and I was transmitting a whopping 10w.  

Here's todays contact map:

Stay Safe Out There!