The AM Forum

Hi all..today had an hour long QSO with John G3YPZ on 21.420 on AM..both of us running low power well under 100 watts..at times John was 20db over S9..although I cud not get on ystdy I'm aware he was there yakking with Tom W0TDH and others..fellas it's time to dust off that gear..sure this cud be just a random event but sometimes it can go on for a few days..and considering Tom is in NC it isn't just a New England opening...have fun ya all...73 de DAVE WB1EAD

Hi All..well ystdy was a bust NADA..however had a gud QSO with John G3YPZ at approx 1330 UTC..he was finishing up with Nick OWZ in Canada..later I turned rig on at 1705 UTC 21.420 called John but who pops in but Aldo IW5EKR with a nice signal from the mobile..he hit 5/9..going back to the shack til 1800 UTC then shopping..someone is missing out and it cud be you reading this....73 de DAVE WB1EAD

Hello..another day another dollar..I wish..today no G3YPZ..however Aldo dropped by and said he cud hear John and Tom W0TDH yakking on 21.420..so we went to 410..he was 5/9 easy..I returned to 420 and later caught Mervyn GW8TBG calling..we yakked a bit and I went back to chores..Tom hooked up with Mervyn a few minutes later..still cud not hear Tom..
                          Dat's my story and I'm sticking to it..73 de DAVE WB1EAD

Been listening all day and its been very quiet

Gotta call CQ once in a while!   ;D

Hi All..Steve is right and I sure have done my share of CQing..however today and ystdy has not been gud..plenty of activity in the SSB portion but nothing hoid yet on AM..Tom did e-mail and say he's hearing John G3YPZ but NADA here..FWIW I think there's a contest running too..and again nuttin on 10mtrs 29 MHZ...tomorrow..??  73 de DAVE WB1EAD
PS: that french SW station is bombing in at 20 over up at 21.690....

Dave,

I keep calling CQ and seeing a blip on the panadapter. Maybe that's you?
Frustrating to 'see' signals and yet not be able to demodulate them.
I'll continue calling CQ ... I see SSB signals and a glimmer of AM activity just above my noise level.

73

Daniel

At noon today I had a nice QSO with Dan, KD4UMU … booming in from Knoxville on 21.440 MHz. Fun times …

Hey Dan..that's great..can't be me ur seeing a "blip' on..however I was busy today but managed to snag CT1EHI..Marcos was 5/9 plus plus..gud audio never went below 10 over 9 here..only one though..but I had to scoot for errands..this was at 21.435 AM at 1727 UTC..I actually did hear Tom W0TDH on 21.430 yakking with someone a little bit later but he was barely S3 here..
                      That's the scoop from here in the NE one mile or so in from the Atlantic   73 de DAVE WB1EAD

I was listening to 9A7V (Eugen Calopa) in Croatia around noon yesterday. He was on 21.205 for quite a while. I was using a simple vertical and a Pierson KE-93 mobile receiver...

Hello agn..todays tally is G3YPZ..21.420 at 5/5..PA3JKN 21.404 at 5/7..John was running a BC-610.!!..GW8TBG on 21.400 at 5/5..running HB equipt..finally CT1EHI Marcos at 21.430 with a 5/9++ signal all between 1300 to 1500 UTC..heard litely in the background a W3 calling too...the SSB gang below was packed with signals..but still no 10mtrs..73 de DAVE WB1EAD

Propagation is here!

Lots of AM signals this afternoon.

AB4KY, W7KDL, VE6CLG ... and more!

Yahoo!

Oh for sure Dan..but ur hearing stuff I can't..today here on the east coast was Howarth GW3TMP on 21.420 AM with what I wud say was a "strapping" signal..a solid 5/9+..nice QSO for almost 30mins..I had to scoot as I was the designated driver for the XYL for op check up for cataracts done ystdy....gud luk guys & gals..yup it's most certainly alive.!  73 de DAVE WB1EAD

Hello der..not much from here lately since it's been very quiet..??..there is a bit of SSB chatter below..mostly J5T on 21.310 split..I did work WB5IRI Doug on Monday with a 5/9 strapping sig with ex modulation..on the back corner of Mr Mosely to boot..
I did hear someone very faint after say.."back to you Tom"..so I'm guessing W0TDH was busy below me in N Carolina.?.not much of a report but I did run into VE6CQ on SSB on 20mtrs..Rick is "chomping" on the bit to get back into AM..he and Glenn G8NOF were always there it seems when the band opened..including 10mtrs 29mhz..73 de DAVE WB1EAD

Hello agn..hope everyone had a gud weekend..todays report is for a short time today on 15mtrs..too many chores goin' on..yakked with John G3YPZ whom I hoid calling CQ on 21.420..somewhere around 1230 UTC..nice sigs and John went to his K3 after a bit..it turned into a half hour "Q"..reports were 5/7 5/5 and a little QSB..all Q5 though..had to QRT at around 1300 UTC and left with John calling CQ agn..if there was more activity I was not there....73 and Happy Nearfest!  de DAVE WB1EAD

Hi All..yup it's still alive and actually was 10 mins ago..Sunday worked IW5EKR Aldo with 5/9 both ways..Monday it was busy but chores kept me away..today it was for me the return of a blast from the past..Glen G8NOF who b/4 I grabbed him was yakking with Nick VE2OWV..Glen said the "Timtron" was lurking but too many miles between Tim & I..heard John PA3JKN near or on 21.404 with his BC-610..worked Kevin N0BQV..nice S9+ sig from MO..was told that K1GUP was around and of course W0TDH Tom..only "cool cat" missing was VE6CQ and soon maybe ol' pal Bob HB9ASQ..dat's it from up here..expecting the Nor Easter later..
                         Have Fun  !! 73 de DAVE WB1EAD

Yep .. 15-meters AM is happening!
SFI = 101 and climbing ..

N0BQV, WA5TGK this morning with signals on 21.420 and 21.430 simultaneously

Timtron just a blip on the noise floor .. but there!

Hi all once agn..to echo what Dan just posted it certainly is very alive especially today..great to work ya Dan..!!..right after I cleared with Dan in comes WA5TGK Tim..excellent sig & audio yet agn..followed by Kevin N0BQV..all three of these ops know how to put together a FB station..my pleasure working them all..this all occurred between 2000 to 2100 UTC just a few minutes ago..BTW hard to believe but where I'm located the band is still open to Europa as we go towards nite fall here..no more AM from over there but plenty of SSB below 21.400..not much on 10mtrs but it won't be long I think....
                           Enjoy the openings guys/gals  73 de DAVE WB1EAD

Dave,

Nice to hear you again. Sorry about my early departure. My Mother-in-Law turned on the dishwasher and it wiped out 15-meters with QRN. Your signal got swallowed up. I had mentioned to her not to start the darn thing when she heard me downstairs talking on the radio. She felt terrible .. but I quickly pivoted and told her that the band was improving and that we would have many opportunities to talk again.

I am tickled .. to see 15-meters hoppin'

73

As I type, 6:40 PM EDT today, lots of trans-equatorial  propagation between North and South America on 10 and 15 meters and even the WARC bands. SSB, CW, and digital seem to be the norm at this time. There's even some Far East propagation.

Hello..agn another very busy day between 21.400 to 21.450.!.had the chance for a half hour I cud spare here to snag GW3TMP Howarth followed by W1VZR Pete just down the coast from me and then N0BQV Kevin once agn..all these FB ops running Rangers..all with great audio..signals were for the most part 5/9 sometimes plus..this all occurred around 1430 UTC on 21.420..
                                 Dat's da story..over & out  73 de DAVE WB1EAD

I could here someone talking at 21.420 at 22:55 UTC . But could not make out what they were talking about. Hope conditions get better here in North East 73 Gil K3GTS
 

Hello all..too many chores and honey dos today..so I only got a few minutes around 1800 UTC..called and was answered by Kevin N0BQV..minor prob on Kevins rig..a bit of a hum issue that he traced to a mic he was using..I signed off at 1815 UTC but best guess considering the activity below it must've been open for awhile...Gil GTS are you sure..?..ur UTC time is way past prop at least here in ME..?..maybe locals yakking.?.it cud be JA or UA9 but wow that wud be fantastic..I called out today at the time reported (1800 UTC)but normally it's on the downside of Europa contacts possible...anyhoo gud luk  73 de DAVE WB1EAD

Hello agn..someone e-mailed the other day and wondered why I stopped posting..well it cud be I post too much.?.so I'll try to make it a "weekly" thing..every day for a week now I've had QSOs on 15mtrs AM..sometimes only one but other days multiple "Q"s..stateside as well as Europa..only day that the band was dead was Wed..solar flare I think.?.all this between 1200 UTC til past 1600 UTC..QSB sometimes..QRN/QRM very little of that..actually I suppose I cud have posted on 10mtrs as last Sunday was a blockbuster on 29 mhz..only oddity was no Q lasted more than say 3 mins b/4 drifting totally away..all the "action" is here on 15mtrs for now..c ya on 15 !!   73 de DAVE WB1EAD

Hi All..I'm back with a lowdown on this bands AM activity from here in N England..been busy but lots of contacts every day last week..started off Monday this week with a "Q" with Tim WA5TGK near Dallas..a gud long ragchew..today caught Marcos CT1EHI calling CQ at 21.430..big signal as always from him..did a fair amount of just listening for several days as well..the usual suspects......all of this for me is between 1400 to 1700 UTC..in a nutshell it is open..gud luk  73 de DAVE WB1EAD
PS: I wish I cud report on 10mtr AM activity but NADA since Sunday last day of the CQWW contest...

Hi All..well the 15mtr band has been sorta down for over 4 weeks now..however today with higher numbers it's starting to perk..heard and worked John G3YPZ at 1510 UTC..gud QSO..he was working K3XR previous..after that heard Doug WB5IRI calling CQ so off we went..great signal on Doug mostly S9+..did hear also W4WCD with a 30 over signal give his callsign and that was that..?..lots of S1 to 2 signals but not enuf to copy who..as an aside from this up above the end of the phone band there's a new to me SW station at 21.470..BBC world wide..at 40 over for an hour..1400 to 1500 UTC..as ya know there are several stations there up to 21.600 from various parts of the globe.....over and out from New England  gud luk !! 73 de DAVE WB1EAD
PS: yakked ystdy with Rick VE6CQ on 15 SSB..he is chomping at the bit to get back to AM on 15mtrs

Yes 15 meters often open!
But mostly I can hear the stations in AM not strong.
Like today, this afternoon by me!
I heard a station from the USA on 21420 khz.
But I hear only a few words and then his signal were gone...

Such effect I have often last days on 15 meters.
Then I am 100% sure there is a station....

But I keep my ´eyes and ears' around 21420 khz..... hi, hi... ;D


Greetings,

Henk
pe1mph

I just worked G3YPZ on AM on 21.420. 59 both ways!

Hi All..well here's todays run down..FWIW ystdy was also very gud..today I got on late but at 1611 UTC worked Glen G8NOF who was yakking with Michelle VE2XK..after that Glen was called by neighbor Timtron WA1HLR..I drifted off to 21.410 and worked John G3YPZ for quite a long time..John has without doubt the ability to hear "a pin drop"..I've always believed in the saying "if ya can't hear 'em ya can't work 'em"..left the rig for a bit came back at 1720 UTC to pick up Kevin N0BQV for a ragchew..great signal from him without an amp to boot..just after W4GUZ Brandon was there with his flex setup and amp..very nice !..followed by ol' buddy Tom W0TDH with the 7300 and amp and yagi pointed NE..Tom left after at least a half hour QSO to try his luk on 10mtrs..BTW 10mtrs at least in the usual SSB portion seemed very much open..
                 With the flux number well above 100 15mtrs for now is the place to be..all of the above was going on between 1400 to well past 1800 UTC..probably still happening as I type..?..MERRY CHRISTMAS/HAPPY NEW YEAR ALL...!!!
                                                 73 de DAVE WB1EAD

Hi All..been awhile since I've done any postings..the 15mtr band took a minor nosedive there for a week or two..now back up and working well..G3YPZ  WA5GTK  WB5IRI  CT1EHI as well as many others either worked or hoid up here in the frigid NE..most signals seem to peak between 1400 to 1500 UTC..there's a "new" oddity that came on a couple weeks back very near to our phone band top edge..big big signal..BBC worldwide service at 21.470 on AM beaming I think to Somalia..might originate on Cyprus..they're using tubes with handles at 30 to 40 over hereabouts..very clean audio too...
                   OK dat's it from Moose country...gud luk  !!  73 de DAVE WB1EAD

Just got an email yesterday from WA1HLR and he said he's been active on 21.420- 21.440 during the day of late. I never had much luck on the band only
because I never put the time in. I was too busy being a DX star on 17 meters:)

Hello all..for the last week there has not been much of an "uplift" on this band AM wise..some SSB just below centered on 21.300..however the last couple days there has been an increase..today started off working Howarth GW3TMP on 21.410..went to .420 and caught John G3YPZ calling CQ..had a nice l-o-n-g chat with him..left came back an hour later and worked him again..this time when we ended he was called by Timtron WA1HLR..so W2PFY ur right on..Tim was there..the SW station BBC was also there at 21.470 at a whopping 50 over..left John about 30 mins ago so it should still be gud...gud luk !
                                              73 de DAVE WB1EAD

What are you using for an ant Dave? I just got a ready made NOS trapped dipole that is about 30 years old but new in the box.I don't usually buy antennas but this one will fit the back yard and just maybe, hold your breath, I may get it up and hook my AF-67 to it??

He has one left and I'll put the link on here so you can let me know what you think of it?

Glad to hear Tim wuz in there!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/203731891114

Hi Terry..the ant here is a TA-33..Mosely..I've been thru quite a lot of designs..from monobands to verticals..no real wire types though..it looks like a gud design on the one you recently purchased..damn decent price too..the minute I saw the W9INN call I knew it had to be a gud one.....I was not on today for long..the band looked kinda down..only big one was that BBC SW station..did QSO with ES5TTT on SSB earlier..I also hoid Howarth GW3TMP on 21.400 SSB yakking with Tom W0TDH..IMHO AMing was a bust today..oh for sure put that Multi Elmac on..I'm dragging my feet getting the DX-40/VF-1/NC-125 with the EFJ 250-39 TR switch up and connected..right now because of iffy band conditions it's a lot easier using the Kenwoods..
                          Gud luk Terry..maybe work ya someday  73 de DAVE WB1EAD

Band was open this weekend. Made an AM QSO to the west coast from Midwest. 150W carrier on my Drake L4B.

Due to lack of others to talk with, went to the dark side and had a QSO with an OM from Belgium. That was with 500W of power.

Antenna was an 80/40/20 fan dipole 40ft in the air that gets 3:1 SWR on the 15M band.

W9JSW

Hi All..I know not much has been posted by myself but it isn't because no activity here..on the contrary plenty to go around..today was a pleasant surprise as Glen G8NOF was there at 21.440..sig was well above S9..terrific audio from him..also heard Doug earlier..most every day you will find GW3TMP with W0TDH up around 21.400 on SSB but they usually take time to go AM..a week ago I actually heard Henk PE1MPH but he was too busy to break..that's just a snippet of what I hear every day..all that I report on is between 1300 to 1600 UTC for DX..later brings the left coast...enjoy  73 de DAVE WB1EAD