Re: [Elecraft] (K1, KX1, K2, K3): Is the Sun Broken?
Just because the sun has no spots does not mean it is inactive. Lately there have been some coronal mass ejections which have fed the Heaviside layer with much needed ions. Aurora have come as far south from the magnetic north pole as Washington. Twenty meters has been open at odd times too. Seasonal E openings are still popping up but they are less common now as we get into high summer in the northern latitudes. But, if propagation is poor, that does not mean you have to give up on amateur radio. Keep practing sending code using the handy 'TEST' feature. Or you could rework your antennas, build another kit, study for that upgrade, lay out radials for your vertical antenna, or even study more theory simply for the sake of knowing how your radio works ;) One day the sun will have more spots on it. All of the skills you have developed during the low spot of the cycle will allow you to have even more fun as propagation gets better. There are many ways to enjoy amateur radio; there is no half full! 73, Kevin. KD5ONS -Original Message- >From: Ron D'Eau Claire <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Sent: Jul 17, 2008 10:21 AM >To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net >Subject: [Elecraft] (K1, KX1, K2, K3): Is the Sun Broken? > >This applies to all HF rigs ;-) > >While you're sitting around waiting for the next big solar cycle, you might >enjoy checking out this story from NASA about old Sol. This was passed onto >me by my buddy Mychael, AA3WF (the "toroidguy"): > >http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2008/11jul_solarcycleupdate.htm?list96374 >8 > >I look at that spike back in the late 50's fondly. That was my first solar >cycle as a Ham. > >At least there's no sign we're going to experience another 70-year long >spotless "Maunder Minimum" > >Ron AC7AC > >___ >Elecraft mailing list >Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net >You must be a subscriber to post to the list. >Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > >Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm >Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] (K1, KX1, K2, K3): Is the Sun Broken?
Wow, a contrarian view of the solar cycle from a NASA physicist, standing firm against the "growing buzz in lay and academic circles". Or is it. Since the recent "clarification" of Administrator Michael D. Griffin's heretical view on global warming the number of NASA people who are willing to take a public position against any aspect of the global warming dogma are probably fewer than the number of sunspots in July. I don't think you willl be hearing any of them speculating about the possibility of another Maunder Minimum, however interesting and informative such speculation would be. Anyhow, there is a cure for poor band conditions: a new K3. Even if there are no signals I can switch the NR on and off. Amazing. I wish every rig had NR like the K3. I bet that would put a few more people on the bands. 73, Drew AF2Z On Thu, 17 Jul 2008 10:21:42 -0700, Ron AC7AC wrote: >This applies to all HF rigs ;-) > >While you're sitting around waiting for the next big solar cycle, you might >enjoy checking out this story from NASA about old Sol. This was passed onto >me by my buddy Mychael, AA3WF (the "toroidguy"): > >http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2008/11jul_solarcycleupdate.htm?list96374 >8 > >I look at that spike back in the late 50's fondly. That was my first solar >cycle as a Ham. > >At least there's no sign we're going to experience another 70-year long >spotless "Maunder Minimum" > >Ron AC7AC > ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] (K1, KX1, K2, K3): Is the Sun Broken?
Great article, Ron. Nice to see were we fit in the recent cycle. It was interesting that the graph of sunspot numbers doesn't show even a hint of the biggest solar storm of the past millennia (Aug 26-Sep 4, 1859). There weren't a LOT of sunspots, but there were some really BIG ones. Naked Eye (smoked glass, please!) visible. It had effects similar to EMP and would really be a disaster today. Fields far over 20 volts/kilometer would do more than burn down telegraph stations and electrocute telegraphers. We'd lose most every transformer on the grid. I wonder what percentage of spares to the total in use transformers the power companies and distribution transformer manufacturers have stockpiled? Dan / WG4S / K2 #2456 While you're sitting around waiting for the next big solar cycle, you might enjoy checking out this story from NASA about old Sol. This was passed onto me by my buddy Mychael, AA3WF (the "toroidguy"): http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2008/11jul_solarcycleupdate.htm?list96374 8 I look at that spike back in the late 50's fondly. That was my first solar cycle as a Ham. At least there's no sign we're going to experience another 70-year long spotless "Maunder Minimum" Ron AC7AC ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] (K1, KX1, K2, K3): Is the Sun Broken?
...there is a cure for poor band conditions: a new K3. Even if there are no signals I can switch the NR on and off. Amazing. I wish every rig had NR like the K3. I bet that would put a few more people on the bands. 73, Drew AF2Z --- I find the low frequency bands (160, 80, 40 and occasionally 20) a great deal of fun with frequent surprises during sunspot minima. But I'm not hung up on getting a 5/9 report from outer "somewhere else" on a distant continent every time I get on the air, and don't mind spending a while tuning around on a seemingly-dead band. Ron AC7AC ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] (K1, KX1, K2, K3): Is the Sun Broken?
I was surprised to work DX on 10m over the weekend. Several countries in Europe on 10m, as well as Morocco. Portugal on 6m, my first 6m contact. David Wilburn K4DGW Ron D'Eau Claire wrote: ...there is a cure for poor band conditions: a new K3. Even if there are no signals I can switch the NR on and off. Amazing. I wish every rig had NR like the K3. I bet that would put a few more people on the bands. 73, Drew AF2Z --- I find the low frequency bands (160, 80, 40 and occasionally 20) a great deal of fun with frequent surprises during sunspot minima. But I'm not hung up on getting a 5/9 report from outer "somewhere else" on a distant continent every time I get on the air, and don't mind spending a while tuning around on a seemingly-dead band. Ron AC7AC ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] (K1, KX1, K2, K3): Is the Sun Broken?
>Wow, a contrarian view of the solar cycle from a NASA physicist, >standing firm against the "growing buzz in lay and academic circles". >Or is it. >Since the recent "clarification" of Administrator Michael D. Griffin's >heretical view on global warming the number of NASA people who are >willing to take a public position against any aspect of the global >warming dogma are probably fewer than the number of sunspots in July. >I don't think you will be hearing any of them speculating about the >possibility of another Maunder Minimum, however interesting and >informative such speculation would be. Obviously, the current sunspot cycle, as well as global warming and the precessing of the poles, is caused by the Bush administration and the big oil companies. Where is Al Gore when you need him? These problems, however, are the least of our worries. Check out the following: http://www.thespoof.com/news/spoof.cfm?headline=s5i7193 73 de nn0b, --Steve ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
