[HCARC] NVIS - Local 10 meter Propagation Test

[Kerry Sandstrom]

Gary,

Ham radio is full of terms and expressions from the old days which have 
little meaning now.  In rthe early days wavelength was mainly used.  When 
hams talked about moving "down" they were talking about going to shorter 
wavelengths (and higher frequencies).  There was no way to directly measure 
frequency then.  Everything was in terms of wavelength.  Times have changed. 
Now frequency is what everybody uses and the meter designations of our bands 
have little real meaning, they are just names.

If you want to find the ionosonde data, it is at 
http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/ftpmenu/lists/iono_day.html.  SWPC is the space 
Weather Prediction Center in Boulder, CO.  if you just go to 
http://www.swpc.noaa.gov you will find an unbelievable amount of information 
about the Sun and the relationship between the sun and radio conditions on 
the earth.

Yes, a lot of people now get their Extra license without ever getting on the 
radio.  When there was a Morse code requirement and a 2 year experience 
requirement it was more difficult to get on as an Extra without having spent 
a lot of time on the radio.  Times change, but radio is still fun.  I 
noticed that the people who were involved in the experiment the other night 
were all old guys and all Extras.  That just happened.  I guess we're all 
lifeless and don't having anything else to do.  Gale, made it a point to 
pick a band and frequency where everyone could be involved.  Besides the 
guys that called in, were there any others who listened in?   Gale was 
looking for participation from thre largest number possible.  The whole 
purpose was to encourage as many people as possible to get on HF and to find 
a frequency/time where any of us, Extra or Tech or whatever, could get on 
and chat about whatever.  Unfortunately, 10 meters may not be the best 
choice and we may have to try the General bands/frequencies.

Kerry