I've been on the radio since the 80 ' s and here lately ,I have not experienced skywave probation now a days like back in the eighties. For example from one to forty on channel spectrum you would here the strongest signals on every channel including SSB. It was magical. I hope some day soon I could hear that again.
Thanks, this is very encouraging. My main interest (and reason for wanting to upgrade to General Class, at least) is in DX. Like many hams, I started out completely enthralled with SWL as a kid and loved pulling in stations that were often barely audible. Of course, that included not only broadcast stations but radio amateurs. I hoped to get my ham license way back then, but life intervened, so I didn't until just a few years ago. I tried to get passionate about VHF and FM, which is neat in its own way, of course, but it doesn't thrill me the way the prospect of DX does. I'm also an avid hiker and nordic skier, so I'd like SOTA to become a significant part of my amateur radio experience. Thanks again!
hi from Australia i was on cb27mhz two weeks back working a station in north Carolina from Melbourne Australia not a ham band but i was thrilled to have made the contact .
not terribly common right now at the bottom of the sunspot cycle....27/28 MHz, and 50/144 MHz will get some occasional propagation with medium/long distances just for a brief time here lately......in the NW USA here, I've seen many 28 MHz and 50 MHz posts.....a few Hawaiian and Japanese stations reporting some propagation on 28 and 50 mHz....it'll get better in a few years.....even the ham radio bunch is suffering, just like the CB'er's are at the moment....think you guys call it "freeband" or "freebanding".....some modes are now legal for UK op's now as of a few months ago I think.....
Hi Jim, thanks for another very instructive presentation. Being a relatively new general ( just over a year) I have found your topics easy to understand. Thanks again Roger W8RLP
Thanks for the video, I recently took my technician's test and passed with a perfect score, I'm now waiting for my license to appear on the database so I can get on the air. Thanks so much for the inspiration!
Hi Jim, Just passed my General class test and am looking forward to getting on HF. Your videos have been a great help to me, very informative, Please keep them coming! 73 de N3USK
Thank You Jim. Just got my License a week ago. went for my General at same time I took the Tech License and got it. Been watching you videos and learning. 73 KE0OUR
Last solar minimum I was strictly QRP. I found that QRP was much easier at the bottom of the sunspot cycle because there were less people on the HF bands and the bands were quieter. But I'm not doing QRP these days, so some solar activity would be nice....
I'm glad I stumbled upon your videos, I was going to ask the question will there be DX even at the weakest sunspot cycle but you answered that question at the start, I hear DX on 11 meters all the time, I've made a few contacts, I enjoy this, I'm thinking of getting into ham myself, cb got me interested in ham because of the contacts I've made there, I hear ham can get out a lot farther, thank you for your awesome videos I'm subscribed
I have passed my Foundation exam I believe thats the equivalent of americans "Technician" license and I honestly have to thank you for showing me all these websites! they are things I have been wanting to track peoples DX's absolutely amazing thanks Jim! It's time to save up for my HF rig now! they are very expensive haha so worth it how ever.
It is a learning curve that takes a while. You will get it figured out. Look for a local estate sale or a local guy with a rig that is being sold off cheap. That does happen. You are at the beginning of a really fun time. Have fun! 73, Jim
Thanks, Jim. Long time no hear, but I trust we'll get a qso one of these days. I'm currently activating OF2K, but 20 haven't been all that good with very little coming through from the west coast. Tom OH6VDA (ex JW6VDA).
Hi Tom, Hopefully we will have propagation between OH6 and W6 soon. I worked Martii in ZA. It is sure nice to connect with you again. I very much enjoyed our many QSO's from JW. I hope to hear you soon Tom. 73, Jim
Mares Tails. I actually saw some myself this summer. I am 67 and believe they were the first I have ever seen (or at least to know what I saw). The ones I saw only lasted about 5 to 10 minutes. Quite a sight.
I am limited to indoor antennas in a ground floor flat. I at least have a large lawn in front of my window facing east from my qth in west London. I built a 110cms mag loop with a large homebrew motor controlled capacitor, and it worked well, but it was very bulky for a small lounge and I sometimes could physically feel the rf when I spoke into the mic. I am now gearing up to use a multi-tap hf mobile vertical with a view to qrp cw on mainly 40 and 20m. Hams such as myself can feel very frustrated when we hear others using multi element beams on very high towers. During one cntact with my loop on 20 I was running 60 watts and a mid-Italian station gave me 57 and I gave him 59+10, so maybe I should regard it as a greater challenge to be risen to than those who have it easy? I am old fashioned and consider amateur radio to be communication rig to rig over the air and not to use internet etc to lean on ha ha ... (G0TEO)
Hi Jim thanks for another great video. Can you give some more examples of your references to the A index and K index please? In your vid you mentioned A index was 7 and K was 1. I'm guessing these are good conditions but what are some examples of best and worst conditions? Today I looked 7/11/17 the A index is 9 and K index at 2100 UTC was 1 with no space storms. I am just beginning to venture into HF and it's a frustrating beginning so I am trying to learn more about the conditions that may help me have more success.
Jim, greatly appreciate your videos! What is that waterfall device at the lower left corner of your bench? I’m looking for a waterfall display without getting into an SDR. Is that possible?
Great video Jim. I am new to the Hf and I love to Dx. I am buying a yagi in spring and not sure what to go with, mono or tribander. why did u take 15 meter down? would you recommend mono instead. thanks again. JIM. ..KB8YBG
Dead bands ? Just keep calling CQ. There is always someone out there and the bands are never dead. In fact, now that it's more random and a little harder it makes it more interesting and mysterious. Now is as good a time as any to get into amateur radio :-)
Hi Jim, Nice video as always. I am missing our morning 20m QSOs. One more tool that I use for checking propagation is Reversed beacon network. www.reversebeacon.net/ Just send CQ + your call couple of times on CW a you get pretty clear picture to what areas of the world propagation exists on the band and how well you are heard there. Even those who do not know Morse code can do that by sending from the computer.
I'm still new to HAM, I just passed my Tech and General this morning, through email I also noticed people place a number, like you did, "...73..." What does that entail? Thanks
Jim: You are a wealth of information and a very good ambassador for amatuer radio operators. Thanks ever so much.
I've been on the radio since the 80 ' s and here lately ,I have not experienced skywave probation now a days like back in the eighties. For example from one to forty on channel spectrum you would here the strongest signals on every channel including SSB. It was magical. I hope some day soon I could hear that again.
Thanks, this is very encouraging. My main interest (and reason for wanting to upgrade to General Class, at least) is in DX. Like many hams, I started out completely enthralled with SWL as a kid and loved pulling in stations that were often barely audible. Of course, that included not only broadcast stations but radio amateurs. I hoped to get my ham license way back then, but life intervened, so I didn't until just a few years ago. I tried to get passionate about VHF and FM, which is neat in its own way, of course, but it doesn't thrill me the way the prospect of DX does. I'm also an avid hiker and nordic skier, so I'd like SOTA to become a significant part of my amateur radio experience. Thanks again!
hi from Australia i was on cb27mhz two weeks back working a station in north Carolina from Melbourne Australia not a ham band but i was thrilled to have made the contact .
not terribly common right now at the bottom of the sunspot cycle....27/28 MHz, and 50/144 MHz will get some occasional propagation with medium/long distances just for a brief time here lately......in the NW USA here, I've seen many 28 MHz and 50 MHz posts.....a few Hawaiian and Japanese stations reporting some propagation on 28 and 50 mHz....it'll get better in a few years.....even the ham radio bunch is suffering, just like the CB'er's are at the moment....think you guys call it "freeband" or "freebanding".....some modes are now legal for UK op's now as of a few months ago I think.....
@@cooker4409 : Yes....AM / SSB / FM are all legal on Mid-band (same frequencies as USA CB) now in the UK. The "UK 40" is still FM only.
This was very helpful. Love your delivery and the value of your video(s). KG5LBP -Tom.
Hi Jim, thanks for another very instructive presentation. Being a relatively new general ( just over a year) I have found your topics easy to understand. Thanks again Roger W8RLP
Thanks for the video, I recently took my technician's test and passed with a perfect score, I'm now waiting for my license to appear on the database so I can get on the air. Thanks so much for the inspiration!
Hi Jim, Just passed my General class test and am looking forward to getting on HF. Your videos have been a great help to me, very informative, Please keep them coming! 73 de N3USK
Thanks Jim for the great video, 20m and 17m improving the last days and I worked some station from SA and NA.
Thank You Jim. Just got my License a week ago. went for my General at same time I took the Tech License and got it. Been watching you videos and learning. 73 KE0OUR
this is great to see and very help full Rob Qld Australia 73
Thanks again for sharing knowledge, I have a steep learning curve ahead of me!
You are welcome John. Good luck on the upcoming test. 73, Jim
Last solar minimum I was strictly QRP. I found that QRP was much easier at the bottom of the sunspot cycle because there were less people on the HF bands and the bands were quieter. But I'm not doing QRP these days, so some solar activity would be nice....
I just now got the motivation to read the ham radio book to take my test. 400 questions are a lot of questions to study.
Thanks for the video Jim, I have been working DX late in the afternoon here in the south.
I'm glad I stumbled upon your videos, I was going to ask the question will there be DX even at the weakest sunspot cycle but you answered that question at the start, I hear DX on 11 meters all the time, I've made a few contacts, I enjoy this, I'm thinking of getting into ham myself, cb got me interested in ham because of the contacts I've made there, I hear ham can get out a lot farther, thank you for your awesome videos I'm subscribed
Great information. Thank you
I have passed my Foundation exam I believe thats the equivalent of americans "Technician" license and I honestly have to thank you for showing me all these websites! they are things I have been wanting to track peoples DX's absolutely amazing thanks Jim! It's time to save up for my HF rig now! they are very expensive haha so worth it how ever.
It is a learning curve that takes a while. You will get it figured out. Look for a local estate sale or a local guy with a rig that is being sold off cheap. That does happen. You are at the beginning of a really fun time. Have fun! 73, Jim
Thanks, Jim. Long time no hear, but I trust we'll get a qso one of these days. I'm currently activating OF2K, but 20 haven't been all that good with very little coming through from the west coast. Tom OH6VDA (ex JW6VDA).
Hi Tom, Hopefully we will have propagation between OH6 and W6 soon. I worked Martii in ZA. It is sure nice to connect with you again. I very much enjoyed our many QSO's from JW. I hope to hear you soon Tom. 73, Jim
Thanks for the great info Jim...! Very interesting mate.Hope your getting better. 73;sGlenn from Australia.
Thanks - just what I was looking for.
Excellent Video, very well done !
Mares Tails. I actually saw some myself this summer. I am 67 and believe they were the first I have ever seen (or at least to know what I saw). The ones I saw only lasted about 5 to 10 minutes. Quite a sight.
I am limited to indoor antennas in a ground floor flat. I at least have a large lawn in front of my window facing east from my qth in west London. I built a 110cms mag loop with a large homebrew motor controlled capacitor, and it worked well, but it was very bulky for a small lounge and I sometimes could physically feel the rf when I spoke into the mic. I am now gearing up to use a multi-tap hf mobile vertical with a view to qrp cw on mainly 40 and 20m. Hams such as myself can feel very frustrated when we hear others using multi element beams on very high towers. During one cntact with my loop on 20 I was running 60 watts and a mid-Italian station gave me 57 and I gave him 59+10, so maybe I should regard it as a greater challenge to be risen to than those who have it easy? I am old fashioned and consider amateur radio to be communication rig to rig over the air and not to use internet etc to lean on ha ha ... (G0TEO)
Hi Jim thanks for another great video. Can you give some more examples of your references to the A index and K index please? In your vid you mentioned A index was 7 and K was 1. I'm guessing these are good conditions but what are some examples of best and worst conditions? Today I looked 7/11/17 the A index is 9 and K index at 2100 UTC was 1 with no space storms. I am just beginning to venture into HF and it's a frustrating beginning so I am trying to learn more about the conditions that may help me have more success.
Jim, greatly appreciate your videos! What is that waterfall device at the lower left corner of your bench? I’m looking for a waterfall display without getting into an SDR. Is that possible?
Great video Jim. I am new to the Hf and I love to Dx. I am buying a yagi in spring and not sure what to go with, mono or tribander. why did u take 15 meter down? would you recommend mono instead. thanks again. JIM. ..KB8YBG
good video Jim, thanks. what digital mode/frequency are you monitoring there?
great video and good DX!
Dead bands ?
Just keep calling CQ. There is always someone out there and the bands are never dead.
In fact, now that it's more random and a little harder it makes it more interesting and mysterious. Now is as good a time as any to get into amateur radio :-)
qsl....there is always DX Jim ;)
by the way Jim.....i miss that funny and happy intro of yours. pls put it back in again.
73s Sascha PD9Z
I just did that. It is uploading now. How to use a straight key. See you on 20 meters soon! You always have a big signal over the North Pole. 73, Jim
Could you post a URL for Whisper?
wsprorg.net click on maps and pick the band...great information 73, Jim W6LG
wsprnet.org/
Can you give the actual website for whisper.net? I tried www.whisper.net and got an error message.
dev.wsprnet.org
Hi Jim, Nice video as always. I am missing our morning 20m QSOs. One more tool that I use for checking propagation is Reversed beacon network. www.reversebeacon.net/
Just send CQ + your call couple of times on CW a you get pretty clear picture to what areas of the world propagation exists on the band and how well you are heard there. Even those who do not know Morse code can do that by sending from the computer.
Hey Jim, thanks for your sage advice, 73, KC3BXZ Joe
As usual, thank you for your support Joe. CUL Jim
I'm still new to HAM, I just passed my Tech and General this morning, through email I also noticed people place a number, like you did, "...73..."
What does that entail?
Thanks
LOL , he worked a few Africans