PDA

View Full Version : When will the sunspots return?

Radio
06-19-2011, 06:09 PM
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
06-20-2011, 04:20 AM
Wade,
Right after you get your 4 element STEPP-IR beam on a 75' tower and a 1500 watt amp.
KF5BET
06-20-2011, 11:19 AM
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
06-20-2011, 06:55 PM
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
06-21-2011, 07:13 AM
Wade,
With that antenna, you don't need a STEPP-IR. A quad is much better.
KF5BET
06-21-2011, 01:10 PM
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
06-21-2011, 03:13 PM
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. :waggle:
W5DOK
06-21-2011, 06:05 PM
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
06-23-2011, 04:04 PM
Then again, NOAA weighs in on the sunspots or not debate...

http://www.noaa.gov/features/03_protecting/whenthesunactsup.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. :radio:
WD8QBQ
06-25-2011, 04:51 PM
To get ready for the decline. Get your order in for the biggest amp you can afford and the best antenna!

JIM :bag:
W9WLS
06-26-2011, 06:28 AM
Just when I was thinking about selling my old Henry 2K3 , because I don't use it.