We'll be back after the Vernal Equinox. 73!

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What Everyone Else is Reading

What Modes/Bands Will You Use IN BETWEEN Solar Cycle 25 & 26?

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What Bands/Modes Will You Use IN BETWEEN  Solar Cycle 25 & 26? As we continue to experience unpredictable HF propagation of Solar Cycle 25, it is not too early to start thinking about the bands and modes that you might find to be the best to operate as we move to that IN BETWEEN period of Solar Cycle 25 & 26.  The last few weeks have been rather challenging on the HF bands with lower Solar Flux Indices and lower Sun Spot numbers and consistent high Solar Winds.   As an avid QRP operator it can make for some dismal days. So here is part of my plan for the impending lull of favorable HF band conditions. It was during in between Solar Cycle 23 and Solar Cycle 24 when I became acquainted with an operator who had become frustrated with trying to make SSB/CW contacts with his FT-817 which he rarely used and was eager to get rid of it. I felt bad about the price he asked for as I knew he could get more but he was VERY eager to be relieved of the FT-817. After receiv...
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Autumn Equinox 9/22/2026 - Start Of Kit Building Season

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Its that time of year for most of the Western Hemisphere. AUTUMN!  Shorter cooler days and in some areas frosty. Its the season where some of us cut back on our portable activities and operate from the warmth and comfort of our shacks.  Its also the season when some of us pull out our soldering irons and put them to work.  Be it , repairs or maybe kit building, Autumn can be the start of Kit Building Season. For me, I've got a few projects on my To-Do-List. At the top is the completion of my 2nd Low Band QRP Labs QDX Digital Transceiver.  Since we are moving toward the IN BETWEEN of Solar Cycle 25 and Solar Cycle 26 area, it is likely that I'll be operating more Digital Modes and Satellites than Morse Code and SSB. During the Autumn and Winter months my plan is to run the 2nd QDX unit via Raspberry Pi in JS8Call digital mode from my shack; especialy overnight. I may also look at assembling some other kits.  I came across a YouTube video from the guys at Ham Radi...
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It All Started With "1"

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  It All Started With ... It all started with that first one.  Take a moments to read about some my Parks on the Air activations toward my quest for 10,000 (10 Kilos) contacts from US-7956 / Beargrass Creek State Nature Preserve (EM78df) in Louisville, KY. USA.   August 2021, I took the plunge into Parks on the Air activations.  For over a month I had dabbled in hunting activators from my shack and other portable locations. At the time, my Morse Code skills were suspect as I had done miniscule Morse Code operating since 1991.  It was on a Sunday morning August 8, 2021 that I chose to activate US-7956 / Beargrass Creek State Nature Preserve by using Single Side Band (SSB).  I'm lucky this site is less than four miles from my home and I guess you could say this is how my "Ham on a Bike" activites began,too. That "FIRST" and "SECOND" contacts were 20 meter Park-to-Park with Len / VE9MY and Linda / VE9GLF; from "Springhill Coal Mining National Histori...
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