[GreenKeys] Hoffnet

[Roy Norris]

That's great Jim.  Congratulations on your retirement !  I have been the
same for about 6 years.  It's wonderful !  All the time I want, finally,
to fool around with Ham radio and read some good books, intermixed with
a little ocean power boat cruising.

I'll look forward to hearing you on the HoffNet.  I should have a dipole
back up this weekend and will start transmitting again.

Yes, I wish we could get some of the old activity going on 20 meters.
It used to be my favorite band for RTTY.  But I am rather long sinded
and it takes me at least several lines, just to acknowledge someone's
call  !!  Also, I have been trying to focus on our 30 meter frequency
until we get at least a minimal level of activity going.

Recently, I did a rather comprehensive study using a good propagation
program of what band would be best for us to use.  The three candidates
that would best support cross country communications are 20, 30 and 40
meters.  20 meters is only open to the entire country for about 3 hours
per day.  30 meters will work for about 10 hours per day.  And forty
meters will work for about 10 hours as well but mostly after midnight.
Also, average signal strengths for a cross country path on 30 meters
running 150 watts output are at least as good and often better than on
40 meters running 1500 watts !!  So 30 meters is our best choice at this
point in the sunspot cycle.  40 meters during daylight hours just has
too much D layer absorption to be useful on cross country paths.

Best regards -- Roy Norris, K4EEG

-----Original Message-----
From: greenkeys-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:greenkeys-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Don and Diana
Cunningham
Sent: Friday, July 02, 2004 11:09 AM
To: Roy Norris; jim at ka1eui.net; greenkeys at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [GreenKeys] Hoffnet

Roy,
I am now retired (as of July 1, HURRAY!) and WILL join all of you on 30m