[Elecraft] QRP viability during solar cycle min?

[vze3v8dt at verizon.net]

Hi Keith,

During the solar minimum the higher frequencies don't open as often or for as long, that is 10 & 15m.  I find that 20m and 17m are open nearly every day and are both great bands for making QRP QSOs, and similarly I use mostly 17m while HF mobile (I estimate that the poor mobile antenna efficiency with a 100W rig is about the same as QRP, HI HI!).  These bands are open during the daytime and closed (at my QTH) at night generally.

Okay, now for the good part.  If you have a vertical antenna with good radial system to minimize ground loss you've got a great antenna for DX and stateside QSOs on 40m during the night.  I've worked many European DX stations on 40m while competing with 100 to 1 KW stations on the bottom of 40m and have always made QSOs on 7.040 (when the RTTY & PSK31 doesn't encroach).  DX is probably easier on 160 to 40m during a sunspot minimum because more stations that used to be active on higher frequencies are forced to go to lower frequencies if they want to stay active.  Also, there is less D-layer absorbtion so the path losses are less.  Both of these add up to a win-win for QRP!

BTW, I have a Carolina Windom 160 antenna up about 60'.  It is an okay all-around antenna but I've had better antennas, I just can't do anything different currently.  I'd love to have a tower with a yagi, but it would go to waste during the dark hours (which is when I'm home from work to be able to play radio anyway) at this point.  

Don't look for excuses to stay off the air (sunspot cycle minimum)!  Look for opportunities to be active!

73 & good luck!

Mark, NK8Q
K2 4786


>From: "Darwin, Keith" <Keith.Darwin at goodrich.com>
>Date: Wed Jan 11 11:19:39 CST 2006
>To: Elecraft at mailman.qth.net
>Subject: [Elecraft] QRP viability during solar cycle min?

>K1 or K2.  Hmmm, the debate continues.  But wait, we're approaching a
>sunspot min.  My antennas are pretty limited.  I have a 28 foot vertical
>(fed with a tuner near the base) for 40 thru 15 and a dipole at 25 feet
>but that is about it.  No towers, no high wires, no yagis.
> 
>How limiting will 5 or 10 watts (even with that Elecraft Mojo) be under
>current conditions?  Are we entering into conditions where QRP with
>simple antennas will become rather frustrating?  Is it K2/100 time?
> 
>- Keith KD1E -
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