[NLRS] Cqww vhf

Tue Jul 16 11:56:25 EDT 2024

 And, the Hepburn Tropospheric Ducting Forecast found at https://www.dxinfocentre.com/tropo.html

73, JonW0ZQ

    On Tuesday, July 16, 2024 at 10:53:39 AM CDT, Jim Spence via NLRS <nlrs at mailman.qth.net> wrote:   

  Agree with Duane's assessment on the prop tools.
APRS and DXmaps are both great, but it's important to note that they are showing what the bands were doing 2-5 minutes ago, not what is actually happening NOW.  Given a lot of openings are 2-5 minutes in duration...it's easy to see why these tools aren't bulletproof.
Not sure if it's helpful to anyone, but here's how I generally use the tools:
DXmaps - I keep this on Es MUF 99% of the time.  Some skill/knowledge required to self-filter out garbage (example:  is the 150MHz MUF over EN00 legit or a function of bad spots?).  Watching MUF trends is a good way to have the antennas pointed at the right place at the right time to predict and capture short openings, especially on 2m.  The tools aren't perfect and sometimes good spots aren't reflected in the tool.  Use as a guide only, don't treat as gospel!
APRS - Less useful than DXmaps IMO.  Lots of examples of openings that aren't shown on APRS that are workable or blobs that my QTH is too low of elevation to take advantage of.  While I have this tool available generally, I don't look at it much.  It's of maximum use during known tropo peaks (Sunday AM of contests).
PSKr - Great to see where you're being heard and who is active (or at least active and reporting).  I typically have a tab up per band (50MHz, 144MHz, 432MHz) at all times.  This tool would be useful for analog only ops as well - it shows you active paths that are workable.  Analog ops would need to pay attention to signal levels to determine if CW or SSB (or even FM) would be supported by the quality of the path.  Some knowledge/experience required to interpret the data to understand what an Es cloud center pattern looks like vs. tropo opening vs. meteor scatter.
Key point is none of those tools will complete QSOs for you.  They can certainly make things easier, but the op is required to do the work.  Any station accessories that you can add to your station will make that effort easier...think memory keyers or voice keyers for analog - most modern radios have them built in.  Learn to use them if you aren't using them currently.
I personally find the various chats to be mostly worthless - at the recent K9NS multi in June VHF chats were involved in < 1% of QSOs...something like 0.4%.  Almost a non-factor.  Active stations will be easy to find at the various watering holes per mode.  Chats can help bring a casual op or two out of the woodwork...sometimes.  Chats are probably of most use to find partners to run meteor scatter with...unfortunately a prop mode that many seem allergic to.
Hope this was helpful,
Jim KO9A
    On Tuesday, July 16, 2024 at 09:34:52 AM CDT, Duane - N9DG via NLRS <nlrs at mailman.qth.net> wrote:   

I admit to using APRS map and dxmaps.com to get a general sense of what is going on. But those have both let me down in showing what paths are actually possible. They can mislead you into thinking that things are not as open as they actually are. Same for Hepburn maps. And a lot of Q's actually worked never get posted to dxmaps or similar either. I still pay attention to broader weather patterns etc, and play hunches based on that. And on 6M and Es just have the gear on and running as much as I can when there is a likelihood some Es or other. There is still no replacement for just getting on, looking around, and making noise. Which mode used is irrelevant.

Despite all my complaints about the negatives of external operating aids, there is something much bigger at play, so it extends way beyond those items. And it actually extends well beyond amateur radio itself. And it is not new, it has been trending that way for at least 30 years now.
And I wish I could say that I have some brilliant ideas for how inspire more activity. But I don't have any, I just don't. But one thing I am sure of is the balkanization based on the different technical aspects of the newer amateur modes and gear is not helping. I.e things like:1. "It is not a real radio QSO if I don't aurally hear the signal".2. "It is not a real radio unless it has knobs and buttons".3. "I don't want a computer in, or as part of my radio operating".
Perspective - my guiding principles about different modes and equipment used is pretty simple. I strive to extract as much as I can from the RF that is coming down from my antennas and feedlines. And any technology used to do that, AND which is EXCLUSIVELY WITHIN my station, is all fair game. I'm not interested in trying to draw arbitrary lines around specific bits and pieces of, or types of technology being used within the station itself. But I do seek draw a line between my own station, and any external and parallel communications paths to find or establish QSO's. Hence my frustration with the clear negative effects of Internet based DX aids and real-time scheduling.
And yes, I do get it that the microwave bands are a different game. But 6 and 2 shouldn't ever need to be done that way. And I'm not bothered by remote operations either as long as it is in the context of it being just extra long mic/control cables between the RF I/O box +antennas and where you are physically sitting at. It is actually cool stuff.

But yeah, I can come across pretty harsh at times regarding these subjects... Sorry about that....

DuaneN9DG

    On Monday, July 15, 2024 at 10:00:11 PM CDT, Mary Brown <maryalanab at gmail.com> wrote:  

I don't park on the chats... I will check the APRS map for openings then cq in directions that look promising... I check beacons too, WD9BGA/b is my main indicator to the east, N0LL/b to the SSW... 

I listen more than CQ these days... between my allergies dumping down my throat and lack of sleep(pain from my destroyed spine...) my voice gives out to fast now...

Mary

W0AAT

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