Good Evening,
I think Spring is back here in Oregon. I saw the sun a few times and
today a light jacket was all that was necessary to go walking. Some of
the daffodils had had their stems exploded by freezing so there are now
quite a batch dusting the house with pollen. Good thing I am not too
allergic to them. Hopefully Pat will enjoy her favorite flower and the
smell they make.
The sun has gone eleven days without a spot. This is the longest blank
spell since the last solar minimum in 1996. This may mean we are at the
very bottom now; there is nowhere to go but up. We can have thoughts of
casting lines to mount our ten meter vertical antennas. But do not get
too anxious, another couple of years will have to pass before that band
will open consistently.
On another list I read of a rumor of lack of RF capability from
Oregon. Luckily I've never noticed such being the case. I advised them
to check their antennas since I've recorded nary a skunk on 40 meters
since we started ECN/40. ECN/20 has come close but even that band has not
drawn a blank. Maybe those folks live close to the famed Oregon Vortex :)
I was busy again this week but did have a chance to try twenty meters
at least twice. It was open once and the second time it was not as
happy. The true test will come tomorrow evening when we call across the
continent and see what occurs. I'll be using my newly recovered antenna
in its inverted V configuration. I was given great signal reports last
week; some folks mentioned they had never heard me as well or as strong.
The contact which shocked me was Fred, K6DGW. He sounded like he was
sending 100 watts from my driveway! He was one reason I oriented my V to
aim in his direction. I wanted to make sure I could work the West Coast
direct instead of requiring a relay station.
Enough already, I have a movie to watch and some soldering to do :)
Please join us:
Sunday 2300z (Sunday 4 PM PDT) 14050 kHz
Monday 0200z (Sunday 7 PM PDT) 7045 kHz
Kevin. KD5ONS
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