When will the sunspots return?

[Radio]

So how long will it be before the sunspots bring the good DX back?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20110614/ts_afp/usspacesun

Maybe longer than we had hoped?

[Andy N1ORK]

Wade,
Right after you get your 4 element STEPP-IR beam on a 75' tower and a 1500 watt amp.

[KF5BET]

GREAT....I have been waiting for the atmosphere to open up. At this rate I might not be alive when it does finally happen....

[Radio]

Originally Posted by Andy N1ORK

Wade,
Right after you get your 4 element STEPP-IR beam on a 75' tower and a 1500 watt amp.

I suspect the absence of sunspots my drive the market for such things. As it is, feeding 100 watts into my 2 element 5 band quad up about 70 ft will have to do.

Perhaps CW and PSK-31 type modes will be the DX of the future.

I need to do more HF... shoot, I need to do more ham radio, period.

[Andy N1ORK]

Wade,
With that antenna, you don't need a STEPP-IR. A quad is much better.

[KF5BET]

I'm with you Wade. Haven't been on the hf rig in months. Barely on 2m on the way to work and home....maybe by the time I settle down from all my chores the sunsposts will be here...

[Radio]

Originally Posted by Andy N1ORK

Wade,
With that antenna, you don't need a STEPP-IR. A quad is much better.

And cheaper. My Cubex quad was under $400 when I got it. And somebody gave me the tower, a 55' Rohn tilt over and 25' of mast. It was a sweet deal! I still can't get over how quiet a quad is on receive.

OK, enough bragging.

[W5DOK]

I took my Thunderbird tri-bander down a year ago to replace some trap covers and add new hardware and just haven't been in any particular hurry to put it back up. Looks like I can leave it down a few more months and not miss anything. Besides, it's a rippin pain to put up. Fortunately, I have a Genie boom lift and that helps a little.

[Radio]

Then again, NOAA weighs in on the sunspots or not debate...

http://www.noaa.gov/features/03_prot...sunactsup.html

So I guess we'll wait and see who's right. I guess I won't be packing up the HR rig just yet.

[WD8QBQ]

To get ready for the decline. Get your order in for the biggest amp you can afford and the best antenna!

JIM

[W9WLS]

Just when I was thinking about selling my old Henry 2K3 , because I don't use it.

[ke0me]

I am assuming that most RV's have zilch for shielding in their radio and TV cables from external signals, so has anyone had any issues using their radios (HF- SSB or CW) in a campground?

I would think that having a decent ground on the HF rig might help reduce interference, but that's a guess.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

Dick
KE0ME

[NN5I]

Originally Posted by Andy N1ORK

Wade,
With that antenna, you don't need a STEPP-IR. A quad is much better.

Now why would you say that?

[NN5I]

Originally Posted by ke0me

I am assuming that most RV's have zilch for shielding in their radio and TV cables from external signals, so has anyone had any issues using their radios (HF- SSB or CW) in a campground?

I would think that having a decent ground on the HF rig might help reduce interference, but that's a guess.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

Dick
KE0ME

Interesting question, Dick, and I look forward to reading the replies. But did you mean the question with respect to US interfering with THEM, or the other way 'round?

[NN5I]

When will the sunspots return? Never. We may hope for some new ones, but the old ones aren't ever coming back.

[Radio]

Originally Posted by ke0me

I am assuming that most RV's have zilch for shielding in their radio and TV cables from external signals, so has anyone had any issues using their radios (HF- SSB or CW) in a campground?

I would think that having a decent ground on the HF rig might help reduce interference, but that's a guess.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

Dick
KE0ME

I have never had a complaint about RFI in a campground, and I have actually asked neighbors if they had problems. Good grounding in the RV environment seems to help performance of the radio on receive, taking out electrical noise from converters and such. And of course it might help on TX too.

At least that has been my experience.

[Mr. Ham]

The latest predictions said that we are entering a solar minimum, the likes of which has not been seen since the early 1600's.
The prediction said that we will not have any major events for the next 300 years.
I don't think that any of us will be around in 300 years, and neither will amateur radio....