Propagation Improvements of Late

[Steve - K4HX]

Explains the good conditions the last few days or more. From the ARLP046 Propagation de K7RA:

Suddenly this week we see an exciting and dramatic rise in sunspot
activity. The daily sunspot number was 188 on Monday, November 12,
higher than it has been in over a year. The last time the daily
sunspot number was as high was on November 9, 2011, when it was 208.
Prior to last November, we have to go back nine years into the
previous solar cycle, November 26, 2003, to find a number this
large.  Back then the daily sunspot number was 209.

The average daily sunspot number from November 8-14 was 104.9, over
twice the previous week's average of 49.7. Average daily solar flux
was 129.5, more than 32 points above the previous week's average.


Sunspot numbers for November 8 through 14 were 71, 65, 68, 106, 188,
108, and 128, with a mean of 104.9. 10.7 cm flux was 104.1, 115.1,
122.2, 133.3, 143.8, 146.2, and 142.1, with a mean of 129.5.

[Steve - K4HX]

If the SSN stays up, we could have some nice world wide conditions. Here's a prediction for tomorrow if the SSN were to be 150 (probably won't) from my location using 100 watts and a 4 element Yagi at 35 feet (my set up) and assuming a low triband beam on the receive end. From what I've seen recently, the predicted signal strength seems a little low (at least into EU).

[W2VW]

If the SSN stays up, we could have some nice world wide conditions. Here's a prediction for tomorrow if the SSN were to be 150 (probably won't) from my location using 100 watts and a 4 element Yagi at 35 feet (my set up) and assuming a low triband beam on the receive end. From what I've seen recently, the predicted signal strength seems a little low (at least into EU).

Looks like something isn't quite right.

[Steve - K4HX]

Or I'm just PW! 

[Pete, WA2CWA]

For 10 meters and even 6 meters, Sporadic E ionization generally doesn't care if the sunspot numbers are high. I suspect many of the previous morning 10 meter openings into Europe were due to Sporadic E. However, getting more F2 ionization from sun activity is a plus for more long haul activity from 15 meters on down, and if the MUF creeps up to 10 meters and above, that's even better. The down side is that localized 75 or 40 meter activity generally suffers.

[W2VW]

Interesting Pete.

Did you get all the aluminum aloft?

Say that 10 times.

[Pete, WA2CWA]

Interesting Pete.

Did you get all the aluminum aloft?

Say that 10 times.

No, everything is still on the ground. The Tri-bander has problems on 15 meters so I'm dismantling all the traps and cleaning and checking the internal coils. The 35 year old traps have never been apart so it's been a project. I'm hoping I can get it mounted on the tower some time this coming week barring no unforeseen problems.

Tri-Bander on left - 6 meter beam on right



Also, 6 meter beam revealed a major problem when I took it down. See below. That's a huge hole in the boom directly under where Director 3 is attached. I suspect, that if I had kept the antenna on the tower, Sandy's high winds would have snapped the boom at this location. Pictures are going over to M2 on Monday.



Tower nested and bare and it's "normal" look:

     

[W2VW]

Excellent decision to take that stuff down.

Best of luck putting it up soon.

[KL7OF]

looks like a bullet hole in that 6 meter beam....Good Luck

[Steve - K4HX]

"Where's all those big AM mauls?"

Worked a few EU stations this morning including a mobile. Nothing stateside this afternoon except an illegal CBer on 29012 with a new toy. He was 5/9+10.