[NLRS] AU2010

[Bill Davis Jr]

  Hi Guys

  M Class flare reported very early GMT today. Remember those?? K index is "zip" at the moment (5:12pm)

  A little bit of AU last week, I even had to mail a couple of QSLs for 2m AU QSOs. AWU was a new grid for both and a new state for one. HEY, there IS new blood at VHF!! Since I ran on the wrong 2m antenna for several contest skeds, I figured I should verify that the EME yagi still worked. I have enjoyed several new initials off the moon this week. The moon is in a pretty poor area of the sky, but still some nice Qs. I wanted to be sure that that TS-2000 wasn't going to "kill" my WSJT EME activity. Seems to work just fine. Gary and I struggled to hear each other on 1296 and 902 this morning and 10Ghz signals have been absent except for snow scatter and aircraft scatter for a couple of weeks. Last Sunday Connie W0ANH was 20 over 9 on 2m here for 10min or more, that was as good as I have heard him for a long time. As you can see, the bands are still interesting. When I turned on the 6m gear this morning at 7:05am there was Bill (K0CER now W0WIO) down in Ames calling CQ on 50.125 I couldn't attract his attention. He runs QRO with stacked 7elem yagis high up. He had the array at 120deg, so I was 100deg off his heading!!

  All that being said, the longer days make me think of the beginning of fishing season..... NO .... AU2011!! Same day, May 14, 2011,  I can fish most anytime. Today frozen fish seems to be the more logical, -16deg again this morning with a high today of 11deg. 

  The technical program is VERY CLOSE to being complete. I would like to pick up one more session for the afternoon presentations and again looking for a presenter for the LoTW. Since my first post, 3 people brought to my attention the very great increase in price for a VUCC application now. I had long anticipated VUCC application via LoTW but I had failed to read about the fee structure after I heard that is was now possible. ARGH I think I am done with VUCC now... SO ..... I have the feeling that this subject may come up with or without a formal presentation and I "fear" that fewer people, not more may be interested in LoTW after seeing this.

  (1) Anyone else with program ideas?

  (2) Anyone with a shack activity or equipment creation you want to share?

  (3) Anyone want to tackle a LoTW discussion, introduction?

73  Bill  K0AWU  EN37ed  

(AU2011 Tech Program Chair)