[Elecraft] Another dumb one- Sunspot cycle

[Stan Wilson]

I have been operating for 50 years this month.   So seen several sun
spot cycles.  

I have been operating 50 years this month, so I have lived through
several sun spot cycles.  One has to move with the cycle.   Now is the
time to begin experimenting and working out how to best get on 160, 80,
60, and 40 meters.

You will not work a VK or JA in the middle of the night on 20 meters for
the next couple of years,  but it is possible to work one early in the
morning on 80 meters.

10 meters will come back, just not for micro watt DX for a few years.
Good antenna, good operating skills and a good receiver will let you
communicate at present anyway with a low sun spot number, now if BPL
comes about then that is a different story.  

But today is the time to figure out how you are going to do it.   I
worked all states on 75 SSB the last low number and had fun doing it.
No the antenna was not something super, it was just a simple dipole
about 18 ft off the ground.  KL7 and KH6 were tough but I got both of
them confirmed.  

Many of today's operating problems are no one wants to be first to call
CQ.  Tune your antenna, find out where the gang is hiding out, there are
several hot spots on 80 CW.  You can work 200 to 400 miles any night on
80 and often with the minimum you can hook up with Europe or a VK.
PSK31 works great on 3580 with just a watt to a warbler.   Really cheap
radio, fun to build, fun to operate.    I never did put mine in a case,
Just put some standoffs on the boards and let it sit in front of the
computer, I thought it look cute. 

Now sun flares are bad news, not sure what to do when they are
destroying our reflective layer, maybe that is when we have to work the
locals on VHF.  But the flares only last a day or so.

AGAIN I REPEAT -   NOW IS THE TIME  to   tune up some wire for 80
meters, sharpen your operating skills and make sure you have a good
receiver, if you have a K2 you are third of the way there already.   

De Stan ak0b