I'm still in shock. 75m was open this morning to JA, although partially destroyed by CHINESE RADAR again. Signals were S7 to S8 in Panama for the first time in weeks...maybe months. BTW, the radar kept me from making a contact with a Chinese BH4 the other morning, so they are equal opportunity jammers.
12-24-17 -- back to poor path to JA & HL for me, but W6UC had good rx and worked them. Radar after 1120Z.
12-26-17 -- Overcame the radar to work Hat, JA6BJT. He was 59+5; gave me a 49 (radar). I heard Barry working the late shift after I left this morning but I don't know if there was any DX for him or not.
12/30/17 -- 75m was not great but managed to work 4 JA stations before Barry arrived. Not a real opening to JA yet! Wenty, 6Y5IC has a new beverage toward JA and was able to hear them talking ... just needs a little better propagation. The RADAR came on later, around 1140Z.
MUF - Sunlight
Saturday, December 23, 2017
Wednesday, December 20, 2017
Mike is in TX - now we'll get DX!
12-20-2017 News Flash ...Mike, W9MK will be QRV from TX this week! Now we'll have some DX action. *That is if he can drag his lazy behind out of bed. The dynamic duo, W9UCW & W9MK should bring out all of the rare DX that has been taking a break from 75m for the past year. Now if we could just get W6UC to swim across and disable the Chinese RADAR....
Update, Fri. 12-22 I was right. All kinds of DX the past 2 days. A BH (China) even called me this morning. However, he was very weak and the (China) radar took him out. Mike is headed back home, so we will see....
**** Rules for efficient working of DX (not DXpeditions):
Update, Fri. 12-22 I was right. All kinds of DX the past 2 days. A BH (China) even called me this morning. However, he was very weak and the (China) radar took him out. Mike is headed back home, so we will see....
**** Rules for efficient working of DX (not DXpeditions):
- First, their callsign & be sure that they have yours
- Then, & only then, their report & confirm yours
- THEN, your name ... not your equipment, weather, etc.
- Chit chat like...Conditions are not very good, I'm not hearing you very well, lots of noise here, my grandkids are brilliant, bla, bla, bla are not helpful and often confuse the DX station. They certainly use up time while other stations are waiting! My 3 cents worth -- HP3AK
Saturday, December 16, 2017
Going, going, gone...
12/16/17 -- Warning -- the following may not be optimistic. In spite of doing the same thing over and over, the results are the same. I have very poor propagation to both JA and VK / ZL in the mornings now. In contrast to what I have always been told, the band has been getting progressively worse over the years as the sunspot numbers have declined. "Some days it's not even worth chewing through the restraints!"
Signals from Asia were so weak this morning that I could not even hear the Chinese RADAR, even though it was very strong in JA. My few contacts with VK and ZL over the past many weeks have been down 5 to 12 dB (1 to 2 s-units) from what they were a few months ago. They are much weaker that a year ago.
Signals from Asia were so weak this morning that I could not even hear the Chinese RADAR, even though it was very strong in JA. My few contacts with VK and ZL over the past many weeks have been down 5 to 12 dB (1 to 2 s-units) from what they were a few months ago. They are much weaker that a year ago.
Sunday, December 10, 2017
Where are Low Bands going, or are they GONE??? Is it Global Warming?
Good Evening Optimists and DXers,
80 meters in the morning seems for this Mid-Westerner has become a different band this year. I have heard a couple of the Big Gun JAs but could not work them. VK/ZL are rare this year. OH was on this morning almost readable at sunrise but KE9L could not raise him. Several DXers stop by to visit the 80 meter DX window but don't stay long or come back often. The East coast guys at 3793 are having a similar experience.
And with the Chinese Radar continues to win the day blanking out most JAs and other Asian DXers.
The bands are a changing at least for me. I like working 40 meters in the evening however most times there is not much DX in the evening. ZS6CCY Bill is a fixture on 40 phone and is strong but he is almost the only game in town most evenings.
Lately 40 has opened to Europe in the afternoon starting around 1pm Central Time and ending by dinner time. Good and even some rare DX have been spotted and worked on both Phone and CW. I do really like my (new to me) Rotatable Dipole. It is a quiet antenna and really offers a great option over the Hytower which has always been a good antenna on 40 meters. Only a few of the big gun EUs working in the US at our sunset in the evening. Better days ahead.
My Ft-2000 is still in the shop. It is still a mystery as to what happened. I was under the impression that I may have gotten too much RF into the receiver. It seems that it is a control board issue which is not close to a receiver input so the hunt for the fix continues. So maybe I did not do it. LOL
We are at a time in the year where our sunrise is about an hours and a half before panama so Jay is in and gone before Texas and Illinois have any impact from the suns power. Global Warming impact?? I believe the impending sunspot minimum is the larger issue on the weather changes as well how are bands are acting.
And lastly I think that the age of this group of DXers has an impact on our ability to remember what that last sunspot minimum looked like. Just saying! And I resemble that remark.
Best 73
Stay Thirsty My Friends
W9MK
80 meters in the morning seems for this Mid-Westerner has become a different band this year. I have heard a couple of the Big Gun JAs but could not work them. VK/ZL are rare this year. OH was on this morning almost readable at sunrise but KE9L could not raise him. Several DXers stop by to visit the 80 meter DX window but don't stay long or come back often. The East coast guys at 3793 are having a similar experience.
And with the Chinese Radar continues to win the day blanking out most JAs and other Asian DXers.
The bands are a changing at least for me. I like working 40 meters in the evening however most times there is not much DX in the evening. ZS6CCY Bill is a fixture on 40 phone and is strong but he is almost the only game in town most evenings.
Lately 40 has opened to Europe in the afternoon starting around 1pm Central Time and ending by dinner time. Good and even some rare DX have been spotted and worked on both Phone and CW. I do really like my (new to me) Rotatable Dipole. It is a quiet antenna and really offers a great option over the Hytower which has always been a good antenna on 40 meters. Only a few of the big gun EUs working in the US at our sunset in the evening. Better days ahead.
My Ft-2000 is still in the shop. It is still a mystery as to what happened. I was under the impression that I may have gotten too much RF into the receiver. It seems that it is a control board issue which is not close to a receiver input so the hunt for the fix continues. So maybe I did not do it. LOL
We are at a time in the year where our sunrise is about an hours and a half before panama so Jay is in and gone before Texas and Illinois have any impact from the suns power. Global Warming impact?? I believe the impending sunspot minimum is the larger issue on the weather changes as well how are bands are acting.
And lastly I think that the age of this group of DXers has an impact on our ability to remember what that last sunspot minimum looked like. Just saying! And I resemble that remark.
Best 73
Stay Thirsty My Friends
W9MK
Tuesday, November 28, 2017
Ho Hum - As in China Radar Hum
Sunday, 11/26/17 -- noise here, no signals except ZL1ICU who cannot hear much with his S9 noise level.
Monday, 11/27/17 -- noise & radar so went to 40m early. Worked JA5WU (strong on 3 el. quad); VK7FRJG (foundation class 10 watts) was 4x7; VK4BR was 20 over!
Tuesday, 11/28/17 -- problems again with local power company. I was up at midnight to start my generator and worked DF2BO loud on his 2 el.Optibeam (owner of co.) beam and a couple more Europeans at 05:50 Z. Radar started on-time at just after 11:00 Z but managed to work JP7FSO 57 & 57 15 minutes before the extra noise generator started. Phil, W6UC was in and very helpful as usual. John, VY2WW showed up at 15/9 and Lubos, KP2AD was in an hour after his sunrise at 10/9. Very good band conditions but not much DX! ----Then worked Peter, VK6APZ on 40m long path at 22:25Z (45 min. before my sunset).
11/29/17 -- Ho-hum, worked 2 US & 1 VE6.
11/30/17 -- 4 US stations, yawn
12/1/17 -- VY2WW, OK
12/2/17 -- Radar washout
12/3/17 -- Repeat of 12/2
12/4/17 -- VK3ZJ last worked on 75m in 2008. 5 x 8 with me. In 2008 he was running a KWM2 to a bobtail curtain --- China RADAR on at 11:20 or so today & very loud from 3780 to 3820 (3.8000 center)
12/5/17 -- Radar shut off early, before 11:00Z, so myself & W6UC worked Hat, JA6BJT a few minutes later. 75m was open for me to JA for the first time in several months so we could have worked many more stations in the North Pacific if they had been on the air.
12/6/17 -- Shame & dishonor on the once great Empire of China - RADAR centered in the DX Window of 75m SSB! Went to 40m & worked a couple of JAs & U.S.
12/7/17 -- RADAR again; DX very weak on 75m & 40m today.
12/8/17 -- Company here, no ops.
12/9/17 -- Finally worked som DX. Dave, ZL2OK/P called in from the beach after his midnight .. he's working too hard.
12/10/17 -- RADAR Loud until about 1105Z, then less strong. W6UC, myself & W9UCW looking...& looking...& looking for DX.
Monday, 11/27/17 -- noise & radar so went to 40m early. Worked JA5WU (strong on 3 el. quad); VK7FRJG (foundation class 10 watts) was 4x7; VK4BR was 20 over!
Tuesday, 11/28/17 -- problems again with local power company. I was up at midnight to start my generator and worked DF2BO loud on his 2 el.Optibeam (owner of co.) beam and a couple more Europeans at 05:50 Z. Radar started on-time at just after 11:00 Z but managed to work JP7FSO 57 & 57 15 minutes before the extra noise generator started. Phil, W6UC was in and very helpful as usual. John, VY2WW showed up at 15/9 and Lubos, KP2AD was in an hour after his sunrise at 10/9. Very good band conditions but not much DX! ----Then worked Peter, VK6APZ on 40m long path at 22:25Z (45 min. before my sunset).
11/29/17 -- Ho-hum, worked 2 US & 1 VE6.
11/30/17 -- 4 US stations, yawn
12/1/17 -- VY2WW, OK
12/2/17 -- Radar washout
12/3/17 -- Repeat of 12/2
12/4/17 -- VK3ZJ last worked on 75m in 2008. 5 x 8 with me. In 2008 he was running a KWM2 to a bobtail curtain --- China RADAR on at 11:20 or so today & very loud from 3780 to 3820 (3.8000 center)
12/5/17 -- Radar shut off early, before 11:00Z, so myself & W6UC worked Hat, JA6BJT a few minutes later. 75m was open for me to JA for the first time in several months so we could have worked many more stations in the North Pacific if they had been on the air.
12/6/17 -- Shame & dishonor on the once great Empire of China - RADAR centered in the DX Window of 75m SSB! Went to 40m & worked a couple of JAs & U.S.
12/7/17 -- RADAR again; DX very weak on 75m & 40m today.
12/8/17 -- Company here, no ops.
12/9/17 -- Finally worked som DX. Dave, ZL2OK/P called in from the beach after his midnight .. he's working too hard.
12/10/17 -- RADAR Loud until about 1105Z, then less strong. W6UC, myself & W9UCW looking...& looking...& looking for DX.
Tuesday, November 14, 2017
China Radar Intentional Interference
Since the Chinese radar centers on the 75m DX window, it is quite apparent that their interference with amateur radio use of the band is intentional! I am not going to suggest a boycott of all Chinese hams, but China is certainly a rogue nation in ham radio land.
I have no DX in the log from Nov. 9 through 12. Yesterday was another radar day as was today. Yesterday I worked VK9MA on 40m SSB and ZL2XC on 75m (poor prop). Today I had a nice chat with VK3SS on 40m.
Wednesday, 15 Nov., worked ZL1ICU on 75m ssb with difficulty...BY-radar again & signals about S7 both ways, just above the noise & in the radar.
Saturday, 18 Nov., a very low angle day as signals from all directions were much stronger on the 3 loops than on on the Waller Flag (higher angle horizontal). BH4IGO was in very strong on 3796 at 11:27 Z. I worked him, but W9UCW (& AA9BD) believed that he was on a remote as the signal was 15/9 from the southeast in S. TX. **Another "remote" possibility is what Barry called "spotlight" long path, but I did not check to the southeast. I often do not check the long (reverse) path as it takes too long to rotate the Waller Flag by 180 deg. Remember that I worked IZ8CCW at 11:11Z on 11 Jan. 2017 on 3796 SSB. Another "impossible" event. The rule is: "Work 'em first, check later."
Sunday, 19 Nov., John, VK2WEO came back to my CQ DX at sunrise. He was buried in my noise, very weak, but embarrassingly he gave me a 59 and likewise copied W6UC the same. Lots of lost souls from the US calling Sweepstakes in the DX window. DUH! Sweepstakes is the antithesis of a DX contest! (Jay's rent-a-brain store is now open!)
Monday, 20 Nov., Peter, VK6APZ came through at 48 just at his sunset. He was hearing well, as he always does. Abe, JA1MSS was in my noise at 36 and gave me a 45. I also worked several east coast stations & Alain, VE2ENM (strong as usual). Lubos, KP2AD was in briefly at an hour after his sunrise. Mike was hung over from a weekend of wild parties and was too late to join in. Phil, W6UC (Dr. DX) was pleasantly present all morning. 😄📻📡
Tuesday & Wednesday, 21 & 22 Nov., RADAR both days. Managed to work Ron, VK3IO at my sunrise on 3796 -- weak both ways as he was 3x8 & I was 4x8. Old man Barry was on 1.5 hrs after my sunrise at 5x5 callin CQ DX at his sunrise. (No one needs TX!)
Thursday & Friday, 23 & 24 Nov., RADAR again. Worked 3 U.S. stations & Abe, JA1MSS on Thanksgiving morning. But conditions are still very poor to JA & VK from HP as they have been for several months. Friday I worked South Carolina, then TO2SP on Saint Barthelemy on 40m. 75m DX was a washout! Thanks China!!!
I have no DX in the log from Nov. 9 through 12. Yesterday was another radar day as was today. Yesterday I worked VK9MA on 40m SSB and ZL2XC on 75m (poor prop). Today I had a nice chat with VK3SS on 40m.
Wednesday, 15 Nov., worked ZL1ICU on 75m ssb with difficulty...BY-radar again & signals about S7 both ways, just above the noise & in the radar.
Saturday, 18 Nov., a very low angle day as signals from all directions were much stronger on the 3 loops than on on the Waller Flag (higher angle horizontal). BH4IGO was in very strong on 3796 at 11:27 Z. I worked him, but W9UCW (& AA9BD) believed that he was on a remote as the signal was 15/9 from the southeast in S. TX. **Another "remote" possibility is what Barry called "spotlight" long path, but I did not check to the southeast. I often do not check the long (reverse) path as it takes too long to rotate the Waller Flag by 180 deg. Remember that I worked IZ8CCW at 11:11Z on 11 Jan. 2017 on 3796 SSB. Another "impossible" event. The rule is: "Work 'em first, check later."
Sunday, 19 Nov., John, VK2WEO came back to my CQ DX at sunrise. He was buried in my noise, very weak, but embarrassingly he gave me a 59 and likewise copied W6UC the same. Lots of lost souls from the US calling Sweepstakes in the DX window. DUH! Sweepstakes is the antithesis of a DX contest! (Jay's rent-a-brain store is now open!)
Monday, 20 Nov., Peter, VK6APZ came through at 48 just at his sunset. He was hearing well, as he always does. Abe, JA1MSS was in my noise at 36 and gave me a 45. I also worked several east coast stations & Alain, VE2ENM (strong as usual). Lubos, KP2AD was in briefly at an hour after his sunrise. Mike was hung over from a weekend of wild parties and was too late to join in. Phil, W6UC (Dr. DX) was pleasantly present all morning. 😄📻📡
Tuesday & Wednesday, 21 & 22 Nov., RADAR both days. Managed to work Ron, VK3IO at my sunrise on 3796 -- weak both ways as he was 3x8 & I was 4x8. Old man Barry was on 1.5 hrs after my sunrise at 5x5 callin CQ DX at his sunrise. (No one needs TX!)
Thursday & Friday, 23 & 24 Nov., RADAR again. Worked 3 U.S. stations & Abe, JA1MSS on Thanksgiving morning. But conditions are still very poor to JA & VK from HP as they have been for several months. Friday I worked South Carolina, then TO2SP on Saint Barthelemy on 40m. 75m DX was a washout! Thanks China!!!
Friday, November 10, 2017
Nothing to Report
Well, another week without much DX. Except for VK2WEO on Tuesday, all of the DX that I worked from Panama was on JT8 on 80 & 40m. JT8 is a "joyless" mode as no personal communication is really possible! I got out of bed an hour early today, only to listen to the China RADAR all morning covering the 75m DX window.
Tuesday, October 31, 2017
The Search Continues...
Monday,10/30/17 -- Just Phil & I, but no DX
Tuesday, 10/31/17 -- Usual suspects, W6UC, W9UCW, KK5PL & HP3AK. The 2 other real DX stations were very weak in Panama and only JA was readable in TX. John, VK2WEO was on briefly @45 in HP and Abe, JA1MSS was only 35 in HP. Not too much QRN here, although I could see lightning bolts to the south in the Pacific.
Wednesday, 11/1/17 -- KK5PL, Woody and W6UC were on early holding down 3796. We all tried, and tried, and tried calling DX, but no answers. I gave one WD8 station his first contact with Panama. The band was poor to bad and the China dragon was active. JA1MSS reported that the radar was S9+10. NOTE: I went to 40m after sunrise and made my first 2 contacts, ever, on FT8. First was KN4LOL because I double clicked on the wrong call. My second ever contact on FT8 was...4S7AB - wow! Being a newbie to FT8, I ran a full kw on the 4S7AB contact and got a +00 report. I am now told that I could have made the contact very well with 17 dB less signal (that's 20 watts folks). Shame on me. 👀☺
Thursday, 11/2/17 -- 75m was quiet, but no one home. I worked John, VK2WEO who was 47 due to weak band.
Friday, 11/3/17 -- radar & noise...a bust!
Saturday, 11/4/17 -- Very high QRN in HP. I chatted with Mike, W9MK briefly on the Internet. We both went off to 40m, he to CW & myself to FT8. I worked a couple of stations on FT8, including NL8F, my friend Tim in Dutch Harbor, AK. I could have worked dozens or hundreds of stations on FT8 if I had stayed around until the band closed. Many were calling and many were rude, calling while I was in contact with someone else. WHY??
Sunday, 11/5/17 -- Daylight savings ended, noise was high, radar was strong in JA, no answers to my CQ DX, nor did I hear an response to W6UC. Backscatter from Phil was back up to normal.
Tuesday, 10/31/17 -- Usual suspects, W6UC, W9UCW, KK5PL & HP3AK. The 2 other real DX stations were very weak in Panama and only JA was readable in TX. John, VK2WEO was on briefly @45 in HP and Abe, JA1MSS was only 35 in HP. Not too much QRN here, although I could see lightning bolts to the south in the Pacific.
Wednesday, 11/1/17 -- KK5PL, Woody and W6UC were on early holding down 3796. We all tried, and tried, and tried calling DX, but no answers. I gave one WD8 station his first contact with Panama. The band was poor to bad and the China dragon was active. JA1MSS reported that the radar was S9+10. NOTE: I went to 40m after sunrise and made my first 2 contacts, ever, on FT8. First was KN4LOL because I double clicked on the wrong call. My second ever contact on FT8 was...4S7AB - wow! Being a newbie to FT8, I ran a full kw on the 4S7AB contact and got a +00 report. I am now told that I could have made the contact very well with 17 dB less signal (that's 20 watts folks). Shame on me. 👀☺
Thursday, 11/2/17 -- 75m was quiet, but no one home. I worked John, VK2WEO who was 47 due to weak band.
Friday, 11/3/17 -- radar & noise...a bust!
Saturday, 11/4/17 -- Very high QRN in HP. I chatted with Mike, W9MK briefly on the Internet. We both went off to 40m, he to CW & myself to FT8. I worked a couple of stations on FT8, including NL8F, my friend Tim in Dutch Harbor, AK. I could have worked dozens or hundreds of stations on FT8 if I had stayed around until the band closed. Many were calling and many were rude, calling while I was in contact with someone else. WHY??
Sunday, 11/5/17 -- Daylight savings ended, noise was high, radar was strong in JA, no answers to my CQ DX, nor did I hear an response to W6UC. Backscatter from Phil was back up to normal.
Sunday, October 29, 2017
Contest Weekend The DX window was Clogged UP.
The girl is just because I know you guys like girls and Snoopy is because I am tired after the contest.
Some DXers like contests and other do not. I have a mixed attitude about contests. I have this year been working on the CQ Magazine DX Marathon. For those who do not know that is a year long process of working countries on all of the Ham Bands in any mode. FT8 is ok too. I right now have worked 220 countries and all 40 zones. This gives me a score of 260 for the year so far. It is like a contest but more fun because you don't have to stay up all night. LOL My fellow ham got me started in the adventure. I kind of like it as a challenge but it is work and my hobbies are not suppose to be work. Are they?? Well for the record in the contest I worked 421 countries and 214 band countries and I think about 25 different Zones. A big part of the world was not in this contest for NA. There were no real openings to Asia or the South Pacific even on 20 meters. I worked Hawaii and one Australian and a couple of JAs but that is poor considering the Target Rich environment of Japan Ham Radio Operators during a contest. 73 for now. Mike W9MK
Wednesday, October 25, 2017
The Band must be "Under Construction"
Monday, October 23, 2017
A new week...
It's not looking good folks! Terrible band conditions, noise, and "no one home".
I know, I know...optimists.......
Thursday, October 19, 2017
Tue.-Wed.Thur.
Band conditions on 75m have been poor to very poor in Panama. Tuesday I went to 40m to work a few stations. Wednesday was poor with only one JA contact. Today I had a very high static level but managed to work Ken, VK3XYC on 75m. JA was working VK, but signals in HP were very weak. 40m was also noisy and the band was full of weak signals.
Fri.-Sat.-Sun. Bah Humbug! Band conditions on 75m are worse than bad. Few DX stations and those are too weak to copy in Panama.
Fri.-Sat.-Sun. Bah Humbug! Band conditions on 75m are worse than bad. Few DX stations and those are too weak to copy in Panama.
Monday, October 16, 2017
Saturday, October 14, 2017
Noise Noise Noise
Saturday Morning and the storms are rolling through Northern Illinois. I listened to the radio for just a few minutes but ended up grounding everything and working on my Tail-Twister Rotor control. It had been giving me fits for a week or so. What turned out to be a bad 47mf capacitor. All good. Success!
DX for Northern Illinois on 80 has not been good for a while. The JAs are starting to sound good. 40 Meters has been better with some really good DX with Jay on 40 earlier this week.
I did work the 3C0L on 15 meter CW. Huge pileup but got through in the end.
I have been battling a cold all week. I thought I was through with it when it came back in spades. Stay healthy my friends.
73
Mike
W9MK
DX for Northern Illinois on 80 has not been good for a while. The JAs are starting to sound good. 40 Meters has been better with some really good DX with Jay on 40 earlier this week.
I did work the 3C0L on 15 meter CW. Huge pileup but got through in the end.
I have been battling a cold all week. I thought I was through with it when it came back in spades. Stay healthy my friends.
73
Mike
W9MK
Thursday, October 12, 2017
Day-by-day
Thursday - I heard W6UC working JA on 3796, but Japan was too weak to copy here. I had to leave early to pick up yard workers, but Mike mentioned that H40CG was on 40m SSB. So I went up and quickly worked Stan, who had a good signal into Panama. More here tomorrow...
Friday - I got up 1/2 hr. early to listen to noise! W6UC worked the usual JA stations, but no joy in Panama. I stayed until my sunrise, but no DX that I could hear. Bah humbug! I did get on briefly (technically Saturday) at 0007 UTC and worked UV5AHZ, Igor in the Ukraine on 3795. He was 57 in heavy static..of course I was 59 with my phased delta loops. 😈
Friday - I got up 1/2 hr. early to listen to noise! W6UC worked the usual JA stations, but no joy in Panama. I stayed until my sunrise, but no DX that I could hear. Bah humbug! I did get on briefly (technically Saturday) at 0007 UTC and worked UV5AHZ, Igor in the Ukraine on 3795. He was 57 in heavy static..of course I was 59 with my phased delta loops. 😈
Wednesday, October 11, 2017
Wednesday or "Hump Day"
Well, today was interesting. all hands on deck to begin on 3796. W9UCW, K7FX, W6UC, and HP3AK checked it as the usual suspects. It seems the troops were not in a good mood today. Bobby K9FX and Phil W6UC did not sound like the gentlemen that I have experienced most of the time in the window. It is my experience to not spend too much time in the fray and to change channels. So off to 40 I went, and soon to be joined by Jay. It was a great morning on 7137. Chris VK2SR was there to begin with, and he offered the Frequency to Jay HP3AK and myself. We worked a plethora of VKs and ZLs and a few JAs. Lots of gentlemen on the frequency. However, Elvin JA3CZY called in and he attracted a crowd. I usually hear Elvin very well, but not today. I heard the JAs really well early, up until my Sunrise then it was down hill fast. Jay was loud 'till the end. He received some antenna help from K7GI this morning. Good day on the bands. CQ DX
73
Mike
W9MK
73
Mike
W9MK
Monday, October 9, 2017
New Weak...
The week did not begin in a promising way. JQ2SIX was very weak and JA1MSS was not readable through the S9 crashes. The radar was strong for about 15 minutes, right through my sunrise. HC5DX and W6UC (Uncle Chewbacca) were weaker than usual. 40 meters was not much better, with moderate static and weak signals.
Tuesday morning was not any better. No DX on 75m, but China radar started just after 11:00Z.. I did have a nice short chat with my old friend Elvin, JA3CZY on 40m and AE7KI (exVK2APG), Gerry in northern TN.
Tuesday morning was not any better. No DX on 75m, but China radar started just after 11:00Z.. I did have a nice short chat with my old friend Elvin, JA3CZY on 40m and AE7KI (exVK2APG), Gerry in northern TN.
Saturday, October 7, 2017
DX Saturday
Well, a little better conditions but still with a lot of noise from the Gulf and big storms on the entire west coast of Mexico. Taka, JQ2SIX was louder than for many weeks. JA1MSS, Abe, was about normal. JJ3PRT was still coming through to Panama at 35 minutes after sunrise at 5x8 with his beam. I didn't hear anyone from VK / ZL today.
We were still rag chewing in the window, just to please Mike.
We were still rag chewing in the window, just to please Mike.
Friday, October 6, 2017
MIke says....
Friday Morning Blues
Well, This morning was pretty lonely in the DX window. Signals were down and the radar up so RAG-CHEWING in the "DX Window is becoming more egregious. And since a few of the "Violators" are strong signals, they wipe out the entire window. Rules is Rules anyway. 73 for now. May be better tomorrow. We are the optometrist group anyway.
Well, This morning was pretty lonely in the DX window. Signals were down and the radar up so RAG-CHEWING in the "DX Window is becoming more egregious. And since a few of the "Violators" are strong signals, they wipe out the entire window. Rules is Rules anyway. 73 for now. May be better tomorrow. We are the optometrist group anyway.
Sunday, October 1, 2017
Sunday morning
75m was somewhat quieter this morning in Panama. My sidekick, W9UCW came on after going outside with Buster, the puppy. Some of the real DX stations that we worked on 3.796 were: VK2SR, 6Y5TR, JA1MSS, and JG3VWI. W6UC was working many more JA stations after my sunrise.
QRM was thoughtfully provided by KP4 stations (in Florida ??) on 3.800 that were 4 kHz wide...refugees from 3.803, their usual frequency. BTW, 3.803 is still very troublesome for JA stations who have a very narrow frequency window from 3.791 to 3.805! If it were not for the KP4 stations, General Class hams and others from the U.S. could work JA on 3.804 or 3.805 in the mornings.
75m dipoles or inverted V antennas below 40 or 50 feet generally are NOT good for being heard by DX stations..
QRM was thoughtfully provided by KP4 stations (in Florida ??) on 3.800 that were 4 kHz wide...refugees from 3.803, their usual frequency. BTW, 3.803 is still very troublesome for JA stations who have a very narrow frequency window from 3.791 to 3.805! If it were not for the KP4 stations, General Class hams and others from the U.S. could work JA on 3.804 or 3.805 in the mornings.
75m dipoles or inverted V antennas below 40 or 50 feet generally are NOT good for being heard by DX stations..
Wednesday, September 27, 2017
Wednesday Morning
W6UC was working stations in the North & South Pacific as usual. However, there was no path from TX or Panama to JA1MSS. Abe was there, but the (China ?) radar was too strong for him to copy. He was below the (usual) noise in Panama. No one answered our CQ toward VK/ZL.
HP3AK, W9MK, and W9UCW ended up on 7142.5 and worked a few stations. VK2SR was booming through at 10-15 over S9 with his 2 element "shorty-forty" beam. W9MK was running his high-tower vertical, W9UCW was on his 565 ft. horizontal loop today with 500 watts, and I was running my 2 el. "ZL Special" beam with linear-loaded elements.
HP3AK, W9MK, and W9UCW ended up on 7142.5 and worked a few stations. VK2SR was booming through at 10-15 over S9 with his 2 element "shorty-forty" beam. W9MK was running his high-tower vertical, W9UCW was on his 565 ft. horizontal loop today with 500 watts, and I was running my 2 el. "ZL Special" beam with linear-loaded elements.
Saturday, September 23, 2017
Saturday morning
The 75m band was open this morning to Japan and to New Zealand & Australia. Several stations came through the noise quite well. It was great to hear Lubos from St. Thomas on and to know that he is OK. The harbor and airport are still closed there due to hurricane damage.
Dave, ZL2OK/P was blasting through from his caravan at the beach. And Joe, JJ3PRT had a good signal, but said that he is still repairing his 75m beam after a storm there. Other stations not heard well (2 x ESP) in Panama were ZL1ICU and JA1MSS. RA0LMO was on after sunrise in Panama.
The usual suspect were represented by W6UC, W9UCW and myself, HP3AK.
Dave, ZL2OK/P was blasting through from his caravan at the beach. And Joe, JJ3PRT had a good signal, but said that he is still repairing his 75m beam after a storm there. Other stations not heard well (2 x ESP) in Panama were ZL1ICU and JA1MSS. RA0LMO was on after sunrise in Panama.
The usual suspect were represented by W6UC, W9UCW and myself, HP3AK.
Wednesday, September 13, 2017
MOE DX Group - Usual Suspects
Morning Optimists Eternal DX Group
North American Chapter
"MOE DX Group"
(As in Larry, Moe, & Curly)
The only requirement for joining the group in chasing DX is a good receive antenna and a transmit antenna that can be heard beyond your state line. Please do not call in unless you can actually hear the DX station well enough to get a signal report. Your call twice should be enough if the DX station can copy you. Do NOT give a signal report nor any of your information until after you have established contact!
Charter members (aka Usual Suspects)-- Everyone has the capability to run 1 KW or more to a very good antenna and to hear a pin drop across the Pacific on a good day. We are available almost every morning and are listed in order of importance 😉, and ability to hear and maybe be heard.
W6UC - Phil - "Dr. DX" in California --- 4 square on 75m -- hears & is heard everywhere!
W9UCW - Barry - in South Texas at the Mexican border & Gulf of Mexico - big vertical and big horizontal loop -- Hi-Z 4 sq rx antenna -- big signal from TX.
HP3AK - Jay - western Panama near Costa Rica -- 3 delta loop array on 75m & Waller Flag rx antenna -- "noise capital of the known universe" -- hears well when QRN is down, 2 or 3 months of the year.
K7FX - Bobby - AZ -- new full size 1/4 wave vertical and lots of radials -- he's a force! Bobby is working on his receive antenna(s).
W9MK - Mike in Illinois -- struggles with JA sometimes, but works into VK/ZL well.
Others to be added later....
What have we heard / worked lately?
(coming soon)
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