Today was interesting on 10m.
Got to the radio a bit earlier, and the band was open to the East with UN7 and similar.
Later more wide spread openings, worked into 7Q7 and Z21, 4Z4, EX8. Heard VU2, 5E (Morocco), 4J, ZD7.
The half wave antenna works nicely. I still want to improve my 10m capability before winter, if possible.
2015-09-30
2015-09-29
10m activity
Looks like 10m is really waking up now.
After yesterday with very little activity I had some activity most of the afternoon here. QSOs into ZS6, UN7, 5E (Special event station in Morocco) and 4J3. The UN7 called me on my CQ. Then there was a local OZ, just e few km away.
Further heard were A93, 4X4 and CX. meaning that I had QSOs with 3 continents and heard a 4th.
Yes, 10 is really waking up.
Just shows that my own CQ calling activity helps, at least for me. the last few days I have been calling CQ for up to more than half an hour, so yes, it takes some patience ...
Now for improving my own 10m signal. What to do ? A rotating beam is not in the planning, I would reserve that for VHF/UHF (6m/4m and up). The other options will be elevating the feed point of the antenna, or find a vertical with more gain. There exists a combined 6m/10m antenna, 5/8 on 10 and 2x5/8 on 6m. The gain on 10 would probably provide me with 2dB more signal, probably in effect a bit more due to a lower radiation angle. other option could be vertical stacking or making a collinear antenna.
Fixed wire beam ? A possibility. If I could find a 9m or higher support point it may be possible to make a Double quad element, possibly with a few reflectors, creating a low hanging "Hybrid Double Quad" (Design by DL7KM). This could provide some decent gain of about 8dB if high up. I wonder how it will work in such a low height.
A simple fixed direction 2 element quad antenna. Not too difficult to construct, and should have a reasonable effective gain, even at such a low height. Probably worth looking into.
Power amplifier ? Not the option I am looking too much for, my 100W have done reasonably well with the present vertical - and it has no effect on reception.
Other ideas ?
After yesterday with very little activity I had some activity most of the afternoon here. QSOs into ZS6, UN7, 5E (Special event station in Morocco) and 4J3. The UN7 called me on my CQ. Then there was a local OZ, just e few km away.
Further heard were A93, 4X4 and CX. meaning that I had QSOs with 3 continents and heard a 4th.
Yes, 10 is really waking up.
Just shows that my own CQ calling activity helps, at least for me. the last few days I have been calling CQ for up to more than half an hour, so yes, it takes some patience ...
Now for improving my own 10m signal. What to do ? A rotating beam is not in the planning, I would reserve that for VHF/UHF (6m/4m and up). The other options will be elevating the feed point of the antenna, or find a vertical with more gain. There exists a combined 6m/10m antenna, 5/8 on 10 and 2x5/8 on 6m. The gain on 10 would probably provide me with 2dB more signal, probably in effect a bit more due to a lower radiation angle. other option could be vertical stacking or making a collinear antenna.
Fixed wire beam ? A possibility. If I could find a 9m or higher support point it may be possible to make a Double quad element, possibly with a few reflectors, creating a low hanging "Hybrid Double Quad" (Design by DL7KM). This could provide some decent gain of about 8dB if high up. I wonder how it will work in such a low height.
A simple fixed direction 2 element quad antenna. Not too difficult to construct, and should have a reasonable effective gain, even at such a low height. Probably worth looking into.
Power amplifier ? Not the option I am looking too much for, my 100W have done reasonably well with the present vertical - and it has no effect on reception.
Other ideas ?
2015-09-27
10m activity - or lack thereof.
A few days ago I installed a vertical half wave antenna for 10m in the garden. It was moved up a bit yesterday, and immediately, at the first test, I worked into South America (CE). OK, 10m has improved since the late summer doldrums, but it was a surprise to get a reply from a not too strong station on F2 propagation, even if I used 100W this time.
This week end there has been a RTTY contest on the HF bands, and here is the point : 10m had signals coming in for several hours, QSB and all, some of them approaching S9. However, the only signals I heard on 10 CW today were PY2XC and one other PY, not nearly as strong as the RTTY stations. Yes, I realize that the RTTYs were contest stations with high power and big antennas, yet, if I recall correctly, PY2XC is not that small a station, either.
This leads me to one inescapable conclusion (one that should not surprise anyone) : 10m is open much more often than we discover, because of one simple problem - people think there is no propagation, and therefor do not even *TRY* to call on 10m - and, as we all know : Listening to another station listening is a poor way of making contacts. It is a vicious circle : No contacts, so no activity, so no contacts, etc... So, today I programmed my memory keyer and tried some CQ calls in 2 15-30 min periods of the afternoon - for now with no QSOs.
OK, now that I have a decent antenna for 10m I am planning to try the good old fashioned CW CQ method, especially in this winter season, because it might be the last good winter season on 10m for a *long* time. No one knows how long ...
I would probably also see if there is any local FM activity on or near 29.600.
I intend to do something similar on 6m, especially at the beginning and end of the sporadic E season.
Also, I intend to monitor 27MHz for possible propagation, there seems to be some SSB activity on 27.555, so a receiver on that frequency is in the planning. Yes, one more antenna ;)
So there we are, look for me between 28.020 and 28.030 when the band looks like it could be open. In the evening I may try to be on 29.600 or there about. Later I should become set up for digital modes on 10, probably some WSPR during my not-so-radio-active periods of the day.
The other thing to look for will be 10-10 members to make QSOs with. There are some QSO parties in October, so I am hoping to get to some of those.
I am looking forward to learning more about 10m propagation as I go.
This week end there has been a RTTY contest on the HF bands, and here is the point : 10m had signals coming in for several hours, QSB and all, some of them approaching S9. However, the only signals I heard on 10 CW today were PY2XC and one other PY, not nearly as strong as the RTTY stations. Yes, I realize that the RTTYs were contest stations with high power and big antennas, yet, if I recall correctly, PY2XC is not that small a station, either.
This leads me to one inescapable conclusion (one that should not surprise anyone) : 10m is open much more often than we discover, because of one simple problem - people think there is no propagation, and therefor do not even *TRY* to call on 10m - and, as we all know : Listening to another station listening is a poor way of making contacts. It is a vicious circle : No contacts, so no activity, so no contacts, etc... So, today I programmed my memory keyer and tried some CQ calls in 2 15-30 min periods of the afternoon - for now with no QSOs.
OK, now that I have a decent antenna for 10m I am planning to try the good old fashioned CW CQ method, especially in this winter season, because it might be the last good winter season on 10m for a *long* time. No one knows how long ...
I would probably also see if there is any local FM activity on or near 29.600.
I intend to do something similar on 6m, especially at the beginning and end of the sporadic E season.
Also, I intend to monitor 27MHz for possible propagation, there seems to be some SSB activity on 27.555, so a receiver on that frequency is in the planning. Yes, one more antenna ;)
So there we are, look for me between 28.020 and 28.030 when the band looks like it could be open. In the evening I may try to be on 29.600 or there about. Later I should become set up for digital modes on 10, probably some WSPR during my not-so-radio-active periods of the day.
The other thing to look for will be 10-10 members to make QSOs with. There are some QSO parties in October, so I am hoping to get to some of those.
I am looking forward to learning more about 10m propagation as I go.
6m activity
Since my move back to Denmark I set up (the cable to) an old 3 band vertical for 70cm/2m/6m.
This antenna has been used mainly for local FM on 2m/70cm.
On 6m it has been used occasionally with a IC-706 TRX running SSB and (mainly) CW on 6m. Because I got going late in the Es season not so much has been worked. Next year should be better.
Hearing stations (not workable at that moment) from 4X4 and EA8 have been the highlights. Mostly a few station in Europe worked on 6 in the late summer, mostly with CW. It took me a while to find my memory keyer, so that's why.
A better 6m antenna is a must here. Probably before the Es season next year. All antennas needed a lot of maintenance after more than 20 years of dis-use, so things are slowly getting there.
This antenna has been used mainly for local FM on 2m/70cm.
On 6m it has been used occasionally with a IC-706 TRX running SSB and (mainly) CW on 6m. Because I got going late in the Es season not so much has been worked. Next year should be better.
Hearing stations (not workable at that moment) from 4X4 and EA8 have been the highlights. Mostly a few station in Europe worked on 6 in the late summer, mostly with CW. It took me a while to find my memory keyer, so that's why.
A better 6m antenna is a must here. Probably before the Es season next year. All antennas needed a lot of maintenance after more than 20 years of dis-use, so things are slowly getting there.
2015-09-26
Antennas
Got myself moved safely back to Denmark, and got a bit of antennas in the garden.
1) 3 band vertical for 6m, 2m and 70cm. Worked local on 2/70FM, and a bit of sporadic E this summer on 6m.
2) Lately I got myself a multi-dipole for 80/40/20/15/10. Works on 30/17/12 as well. SO I got started doing a bit of CW QSOs ...
3) Decided that 10m might have it last really good winter season, so I set up a half wave vertical (shortened 27 MHz Half wave). Just moved it into the garden and elevated the feed point to about 5m. Came in late in the afternoon and 10 was open to South America and South Africa. Worked CE, CX, ZW (ZS) and PY. Not bad for a first day with the new antenna. Given the opportunity the feed point will get up to about 7m with some good guy wires.
Winter is coming, and I would like to try getting a bit more antennas up, possibly for 4m, and a wide band receiving antenna (active whip (Dressler) or a PA0RDT "mini whip" E-probe). This should work from <100kHz to about 30MHz, the Dressler claims 60MHz).
1) 3 band vertical for 6m, 2m and 70cm. Worked local on 2/70FM, and a bit of sporadic E this summer on 6m.
2) Lately I got myself a multi-dipole for 80/40/20/15/10. Works on 30/17/12 as well. SO I got started doing a bit of CW QSOs ...
3) Decided that 10m might have it last really good winter season, so I set up a half wave vertical (shortened 27 MHz Half wave). Just moved it into the garden and elevated the feed point to about 5m. Came in late in the afternoon and 10 was open to South America and South Africa. Worked CE, CX, ZW (ZS) and PY. Not bad for a first day with the new antenna. Given the opportunity the feed point will get up to about 7m with some good guy wires.
Winter is coming, and I would like to try getting a bit more antennas up, possibly for 4m, and a wide band receiving antenna (active whip (Dressler) or a PA0RDT "mini whip" E-probe). This should work from <100kHz to about 30MHz, the Dressler claims 60MHz).
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