Good Evening,
Beware the ides of November. Well since then it has snowed a number of
times. I think this morning's offering was number 6 for the season. Between
the snowfall, the torrential rain, and the howling winds it has been rather
pleasant. Having a large pile of well seasoned wood keeps life at bay as well
as the wilderness. There are a bunch of critters sitting outside the window
looking at me with "puppy dog eyes" wanting to lay by the fire. As long as
they are fairly well house trained they can come in. Who am I to complain? My
house keeping often requires a shovel and a shop vac.
Propagation has been good this week. Solid contacts with little QSB. Some
noise but nothing to complain about. The sun has had a few spots and there has
been a solar stream hitting the earth for much of the week. If the skies were
not continuously cloudy I may get a look at them. But there is this stream of
storms aimed at mid to Northern Oregon on an almost permanent basis for the
last few weeks. When it drifts south the snow level drops. When it moves
northward the winds increase. Luckily all the broken branches hung up in the
trees have been blown free.
Oh, I did lose an antenna this week. Not so much the antenna but the
feedline. I heard a whumping sound on the roof. I wandered out to look after
the light of dawn was bright enough to allow me to see things. No, the antenna
is still up. However, later, when I tuned the antenna (#1) I found the SWR was
vastly different than it had been. But when my mentor called I forgot all
about that and replied on antenna #1. He thought I was kind of weak. Hmmm...
I wonder why? He was hearing me transmit through a feedline coiled up on my
very wet roof. When I switched to antenna #2 the results were much better.
The antenna is still up however the feedline had broken cleanly at the
connection to the two legs. Hopefully there will be a break in the rain so I
can get up there, drop the antenna, and solder it back together. Maybe it will
be during a period when the snow is falling. Propagation is so much better
when the antennas are hoisted or repaired during inclement weathe
r. No howling blizzards in Western Oregon so I will take what I can get.
Please join us tomorrow evening.
1) Hail signs (first letter or two of the suffix of your call)
2) NCS help (as well as QSP/QNP <relay> help)
Sunday 2300z (Sunday 3 PM PST) 14050 kHz
Monday 0000z (Sunday 4 PM PST) 7045 kHz
Stay well,
Kevin. KD5ONS
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