Two solar scientists—Matthew Penn and William Livingston, with the National Solar Observatory (NSO) in Tucson, Arizona—are predicting that by 2016 there may be no remaining sunspots, and the sun may stay spotless for several decades. They’re basing their prediction on the measurement of the magnetic field strength of 1,500 sunspots since 1990. What they have found is that the average strength of the magnetic fields is declining. When the magnetic field strength falls below a particular value, sunspots are unable to form.
Propagation
The W8SRC Repeater Guide
“The W8SRC Repeater Guide” is a database of analog FM repeaters across SE Michigan, parts of NW Ohio, and parts of SW Ontario that is constantly updated based on my reception.
On a linked repeater system, “Activity” refers to the activity of that particular repeater being transmitted on.
PLs in parentheses mean that the repeater sometimes requires the given PL. If you want to key up a repeater on this database with a PL in parentheses, key up the repeater with carrier access first; if that fails, use the given PL.
At the bottom of the post you will see the most recent 5 updates of the database and their according dates. Updates include additions, deletions, or any frequency, PL, VOIP node, or callsign change of a repeater, as well as if a repeater goes down or back up.
Repeaters in bold indicate any involvement in repeater programming that I have done.
For information on the nets that take place on some of these repeaters, check out the post, “Southeastern Michigan Area VHF/UHF Nets.”
Metropolitan area covered (County[ies] covered)
Frequency | Input | PL | Callsign | Activity | Comments | |
Ann Arbor area (Washtenaw) | ||||||
29.640 | 29.540 | 114.8 | W8UM | Inactive | Linked to 444.975 in Ann Arbor | |
145.150 | 144.550 | 100.0 | N8DUY | Active | Skywarn/ARPSC, courtesy tone introduced by W8SRC | |
145.230 | 144.630 | 100.0 | W8UM | Medium | EchoLink node 301138 | |
146.740 | 146.140 | 100.0 | W8PGW | Inactive | Owned by WB8UPM (SK) | |
146.920 | 146.320 | 100.0 | W8FSA | Active | Wide-coverage repeater, ARPSC Backup, YSF repeater, programming mentioned by W8SRC | |
146.960 | 146.360 | (100.0) | W8RP | Active | ||
224.340 | 222.740 | W8UHW | Down | |||
224.380 | 222.780 | (100.0) | W8PGW | Inactive | ||
443.050 | 448.050 | 107.2 | N8LBV | Inactive | Sometimes linked to 446.075 in Monroe | |
443.650 | 448.650 | 100.0 | N8AMX | Very inactive | ||
444.075 | 449.075 | 82.5 | WR8DAR | Very inactive | Sometimes linked to 444.350 and 927.125 in Dearborn | |
444.975 | 449.975 | 107.2 | W8UM | Inactive | Linked to 29.640 Ann Arbor repeater | |
446.150 | 441.150 | 100.0 | W8SRC | Active | Wide-coverage repeater, at 72 watts ERP from 32 feet AGL, YSF repeater, SMRN linked repeater system (sometimes), EchoLink node 446150, IRLP node 4674, AR Newsline, ARRL Audio News, NOAA weather receiver | |
927.9875 | 902.9875 | 131.8 (use D025) | W2PUT | Inactive | Linked to 51.740 locally, and 444.100 and 927.4875 in Milan, IRLP node 4428 | |
Chelsea area (Washtenaw) | ||||||
145.450 | 144.850 | 100.0 | WD8IEL | Medium | YSF repeater | |
146.980 | 146.380 | 100.0 | WD8IEL | Medium | YSF repeater | |
224.160 | 222.560 | 100.0 | KC8LMI | Medium | Programmed by W8SRC; remote base; linked to 442.100 in Detroit | |
443.575 | 448.575 | 100.0 | KC8LMI | Active | CMEN linked repeater system (sometimes), EchoLink node 41083, AllStar node 28236, programmed by W8SRC | |
Howell area (Livingston) | ||||||
145.410 | 144.810 | 162.2 | K8JBA | Down | ||
146.500 | 147.500 | 186.2 | N8EOC | Medium | ARPSC, Shared Non-Protected Repeater (SNPR) | |
146.680 | 146.080 | (162.2) | W8LRK | Active | Skywarn, AllStar node 50026, EchoLink node 336906 | |
224.500 | 222.900 | 100.0 | W2GLD | Down | AllStar node 27052 | |
442.575 | 447.575 | 162.2 | W8LRK | Very inactive | ||
442.675 | 447.675 | 131.8 | W2GLD | Medium/down? | EchoLink node 636674, AllStar node 27845, YSF repeater, WiRES-X node 11066, HF/6m/2m remote base, AR Newsline, ARRL Audio News, NOAA weather alerts | |
444.525 | 449.525 | 100.0 | W8LRK | Inactive | ||
Jackson area (Jackson/Ingham) | ||||||
51.620 | 51.120 | 100.0 | KA8ZXX | Inactive | Wide-coverage repeater | |
145.470 | 144.870 | 114.8 | W8IRA | Active | IRA linked repeater system (linked to Lansing) | |
146.880 | 146.280 | 100.0 | W8JXN | Medium | Skywarn | |
147.360 | 147.960 | 100.0 | KA8HDY | Medium | SMRN linked repeater system (sometimes), remote base, YSF repeater, programmed by W8SRC | |
443.175 | 448.175 | 77.0 | WD8EEQ | Inactive | ||
443.875 | 448.875 | 136.5 | KC8LMI | Very active | SMRN linked repeater system, wide-coverage repeater, HF/6m/2m/70cm remote base, YSF repeater, programmed by W8SRC | |
444.175 | 449.175 | 100.0 | KA8YRL | Inactive | IRLP node 4463 | |
444.900 | 449.900 | 131.8 | K4KWQ | Medium | Low-coverage repeater, IRLP node 4672, remote base, programmed by W8SRC | |
Lansing area (Ingham/Eaton/Shiawassee/Clinton) | ||||||
51.700 | 51.200 | 192.8 | WB8RJY | Very inactive | Wide-coverage repeater | |
52.960 | 52.460 | KD8PA | Down | |||
145.390 | 144.790 | 100.0 | W8BCI | Very active | ||
145.470 | 144.870 | 107.2/100.0 | W8IRA | Medium | IRA linked repeater system (linked to Jackson) | |
146.700 | 146.100 | 107.2 | W8BCI | Medium | ||
146.940 | 146.340 | 100.0 | W8BCI | Active | ||
147.020 | 147.620 | 100.0 | N8DVH | Inactive | YSF repeater | |
147.080 | 147.680 | 103.5 | K8CHR | Inactive | ||
147.220 | 147.820 | 100.0 | WA8KIM | Down? | YSF repeater | |
147.280 | 147.880 | 100.0 | KB8LCY | Active | CMEN linked repeater system, Echolink node 41083, Allstar node 28236 | |
224.980 | 223.380 | 100.0 | W8BCI | Inactive | ||
442.025 | 447.025 | 173.8 | N8JI | Inactive | ||
442.050 | 447.050 | 100.0 | N9UV | Inactive | YSF repeater | |
442.400 | 447.400 | 100.0 | N8DVH | Inactive | YSF repeater? | |
442.425 | 447.425 | 100.0 | KD8PA | Usually medium | ||
442.525 | 447.525 | 107.2 | KC8QYW | Inactive | CMEN linked repeater system (linked to 444.575), EchoLink node 41083, AllStar node 28236 | |
442.900 | 447.900 | 77.0 | W8MSU | Inactive | YSF repeater. MSU ARC net every Thursday night at 8 pm ET. | |
443.350 | 448.350 | 100.0 | K8VEB | Medium | WiRES-X node 11013 | |
443.525 | 448.525 | 100.0 | W8CLI | Inactive | ||
443.625 | 448.625 | 100.0 | N8HEE | Medium | ||
443.700 | 448.700 | WB8RJY | Medium | Does not identify itself | ||
444.000 | 449.000 | 173.8 | N8TSK | Inactive | Identifies as N8TSK and KD8AGP | |
444.275 | 449.275 | 100.0 | WA8KIM | Medium | EchoLink node 8126, WiRES-X node 11149, programming mentioned by W8SRC | |
444.575 | 449.575 | 107.2 | N8OBU | Pretty active | CMEN linked repeater system (linked to 442.525), EchoLink node 41083, AllStar node 28236 | |
444.850 | 449.850 | 141.3 | WC8CLI | Inactive | ||
445.500 | 440.500 | 94.8 | KD8AGP | Very inactive | Shared Non-Protected Repeater (SNPR) | |
910.250 | 439.250 | N8OBU | ??? | ATV repeater (LSB input, AM output) | ||
927.525 | 902.525 | 131.8 (use D073?) | KB8FUN | ??? | ||
Flint area (Gennessee/Shiawassee/Saginaw) | ||||||
51.860 | 51.360 | K8DAC | ??? | |||
145.190 | 144.590 | 100.0 | W8YUC | ??? | ||
145.290 | 144.690 | 100.0 | N8IES | Medium | APCO-P25 repeater, can key up with FM transceivers | |
145.410 | 144.810 | 91.5 | W8YUC | Down | CMEN linked repeater system, EchoLink node 41083, AllStar node 28236 (also used in West Branch, but still inactive, and not linked up) | |
146.780 | 146.180 | 151.4 | W8CMN | Medium | CMEN linked repeater system, EchoLink node 41083, AllStar node 28236 | |
147.060 | 147.660 | 100.0 | N8NJN | Inactive | Low-coverage repeater, sometimes linked to 224.060 | |
147.100 | 147.700 | 100.0 | KC8KGZ | Active | ||
147.240 | 147.840 | 103.5 | K8DAC | Active | ||
147.260 | 147.860 | 100.0 | KC8KGZ | Very active | Skywarn, linked to 224.480 | |
147.340 | 147.940 | 100.0 | W8ACW | Medium | ||
147.380 | 147.980 | 100.0 | N8NE | Inactive | ||
224.060 | 222.460 | 100.0 | N8NJN | Inactive | Sometimes linked to 147.060 | |
224.180 | 222.580 | 88.5 | KF8UI | Medium | ||
224.280 | 222.680 | 103.5 | K8DAC | Down | ||
224.480 | 222.880 | 100.0 | KC8KGZ | Inactive | Linked to 147.260 | |
224.620 | 223.020 | 100.0 | W8FSM | Inactive | ||
224.860 | 223.260 | 100.0 | N8IES | ??? | ||
224.960 | 223.360 | W8YUC | Down | |||
442.000 | 447.000 | 107.2 | N8UMW | Inactive | ||
442.300 | 447.300 | 91.5 | W8YUC | Inactive | ||
442.350 | 447.350 | 107.2 | W8FSM | Active | CMEN linked repeater system (sometimes), EchoLink node 41083, AllStar node 28236 | |
442.625 | 447.625 | 100.0 | N8IES | Medium | ||
443.200 | 448.200 | 151.4 | KC8YGT | Down | ||
443.450 | 448.450 | 156.7 | KB5TOJ | Down? | ||
443.975 | 448.975 | 67.0 | KB8PGF | Inactive | Low-coverage repeater | |
444.025 | 449.025 | 100.0 | KB8SWR | Medium | CMEN linked repeater system (sometimes), EchoLink node 41083, AllStar node 28236 | |
444.200 | 449.200 | 107.2 | W8ACW | Inactive | ||
444.375 | 449.375 | W8JDE | Inactive | |||
444.600 | 449.600 | W8JDE | Inactive | |||
444.650 | 449.650 | 100.0 | KC8KGZ | Inactive/down? | ||
927.5375 | 902.5375 | 131.8 | N8VDS | Inactive | CMEN linked repeater system, EchoLink node 41083, AllStar node 28236 | |
927.6875 | 902.6875 | 131.8 (use D025?) | W8FSM | ??? | ||
1253.250 | 439.250 | KC8KGZ | ??? | ATV repeater, input on LSB mode, output on AM mode | ||
South Lyon (Oakland) | ||||||
147.040 | 147.640 | 110.9 | N8SL | Active | YSF repeater, AllStar node 29789 | |
White Lake (Oakland) | ||||||
145.490 | 144.890 | 67.0 | N8BIT | Down | ||
Clarkston (Oakland) | ||||||
146.840 | 146.240 | 100.0 | W8JWB | Active | ||
Detroit area (Wayne/Oakland/Macomb/Essex, ON) | ||||||
51.840 | 51.340 | 100.0 | K8PLW | Inactive | Back on the air! | |
53.760 | 53.260 | 151.4 | W8FSM | ??? | ||
53.940 | 53.440 | NE9Y | ??? | |||
145.110 | 144.510 | 100.0 | W8DET | Inactive | ||
145.170 | 144.570 | 100.0 | KA8SPW | Inactive | ||
145.210 | 144.610 | 123.0 | WW8GM | Inactive | YSF repeater | |
145.270 | 144.670 | 100.0 | K8UTT | Medium | Linked to 224.520 | |
145.330 | 144.730 | 100.0 | WR8DAR | Very active | Skywarn | |
145.350 | 144.750 | 100.0 | K8UNS | Active | ||
145.410 | 144.810 | 118.8 | VE3EOW | Medium | ||
145.430 | 144.830 | 100.0 | W8JIM | Inactive | ||
145.470 | 144.870 | 118.8 | VE3RRR | Medium | ||
146.640 | 146.040 | 100.0 | W8HP | Very active | ||
146.760 | 146.160 | 100.0 | KE8HR | Active | ||
146.860 | 146.260 | 100.0 | KK8GC | Medium | ||
146.900 | 146.300 | 100.0 | W8OAK | Very active | Skywarn | |
147.000 | 147.600 | 118.8 | VE3WIN | Medium? | ||
147.060 | 147.660 | 118.8 | VE3III | Medium | Canwarn, YSF repeater | |
147.080 | 147.680 | 100.0 | N8LC | Active | AR Newsline, YSF repeater | |
147.140 | 147.740 | (100.0) | N8KD | Medium | ||
147.160 | 147.760 | 100.0 | WR8DAR | Active | ||
147.180 | 147.780 | 100.0 | K8UO | Very active | ||
147.200 | 147.800 | 100.0 | WA8MAC | Inactive | ||
147.220 | 147.820 | N8EDV | Very inactive | |||
147.240 | 147.840 | WY8DOT | Medium | YSF repeater | ||
147.330 | 147.930 | 151.4 | KC8LTS | Inactive | APCO-P25 repeater, can key up with FM transceivers | |
224.360 | 222.760 | 103.5 | KC8LTS | Very inactive? | ||
224.460 | 222.860 | N8EDV | ??? | |||
224.520 | 222.920 | 100.0 | K8UTT | Very inactive | Linked to 145.270 | |
224.700 | 223.100 | 100.0 | K8PLW | Medium | ||
442.075 | 447.075 | 123.0 | K8FBI | ??? | APCO-P25 repeater, possibly linked to the N8XN 444.225 repeater | |
442.100 | 447.100 | 107.2 | K8PLW | Inactive | Linked to 224.160 in Grass Lake | |
442.175 | 447.175 | 123.0 | KC8LTS | Very active | CMEN linked repeater system, EchoLink node 41083, AllStar node 28236 | |
442.275 | 447.275 | 100.0 | W8TX | Very inactive | ||
442.475 | 447.475 | 88.5 | W8JIM | Inactive | ||
442.500 | 447.500 | 107.2 | WB8ARC | Active | IRLP node 4460 | |
442.600 | 447.600 | 123.0 | K8FBI | Active? | APCO-P25 repeater, possibly linked to the N8XN 444.225 repeater | |
442.775 | 447.775 | 107.2 | N8BK | Very inactive | EchoLink node 331551 | |
442.700 | 447.700 | 107.2 | K8PLW | Inactive? | Low-coverage repeater | |
442.800 | 447.800 | 107.2 | WR8DAR | Medium | ||
442.925 | 447.925 | 100.0 | N8LC | Inactive | Low-coverage repeater, EchoLink node 47081 | |
443.025 | 448.025 | 107.2 | KD8IFI | Inactive | YSF repeater | |
443.075 | 448.075 | 123.0 | WW8GM | Very active | Most active repeater in the Detroit metro area, recently surpassing 146.760 | |
443.100 | 448.100 | 82.5 | WR8DAR | Medium | ||
443.125 | 448.125 | 107.2 | WR8DAR | Medium/down | ||
443.150 | 448.150 | 107.2 | K8WX | Down? | ||
443.225 | 448.225 | 107.2 | W8HP | Inactive/medium | YSF repeater? | |
443.475 | 448.475 | 88.5 | W2PUT | Active | ||
443.550 | 448.550 | 107.2 | KA8WYN | Inactive | ||
443.625 | 448.625 | 151.4 | KC8UMP | Inactive/down? | ||
443.725 | 448.725 | 107.2 | W8CMC | Down | Remote base, sometimes linked to Local 1 on DMR, programming mentioned by W8SRC | |
444.000 | 449.000 | 100.0 | WB8CQP | Inactive/down? | ||
444.225 | 449.225 | 107.2 | N8XN | Medium | YSF repeater | |
444.300 | 449.300 | 118.8 | VE3RRR | Inactive | ||
444.325 | 449.325 | 107.2 | W8OAK | Medium | ||
444.350 | 449.350 | 82.5 | K8UH | Inactive | ||
444.425 | 449.425 | 118.8 | WR8DAR | Very inactive | Low-coverage repeater | |
444.600 | 449.600 | 118.8 | VE3WIN | Inactive? | ||
444.775 | 449.775 | 123.0 | K8UO | ??? | YSF repeater | |
444.800 | 449.800 | 110.9 | N8OVI | Medium | ||
444.875 | 449.875 | 123.0 | K8UNS | Inactive | ||
444.900 | 449.900 | 107.2 | N8ZPJ | Inactive | ||
927.125 | 902.125 | 131.8 (use D025?) | WR8DAR | Inactive | ||
927.250 | 902.250 | 131.8 (use D025?) | W8FSM | ??? | ||
927.2625 | 902.2625 | 131.8 (use D025?) | W8FSM | Inactive | CMEN linked repeater system, EchoLink node 41083, AllStar node 28236 | |
927.4875 | 902.4875 | 131.8 (use D025?) | KC8LTS | Inactive? | CMEN linked repeater system, EchoLink node 41083, AllStar node 28236 (connected to links or not?) | |
927.5125 | 902.5125 | 131.8 (use D025?) | N8NM | ??? | ||
927.6875 | 902.6875 | 131.8? (use D025?) | K8UH | Medium | Echolink node 71379 | |
Monroe area (Monroe/Washtenaw/Lucas, OH) | ||||||
29.680 | 29.580 | W8HHF | ??? | |||
52.780 | 52.280 | K8OF | ??? | |||
145.310 | 144.710 | (100.0) | W8YZ | Inactive | YSF repeater | |
146.610 | 146.010 | 103.5 | K8ALB | Medium | YSF repeater | |
146.720 | 146.120 | 100.0 | K8RPT | Very active | Skywarn | |
146.940 | 146.340 | 103.5 | N8LPQ | Inactive | Wide-coverage repeater, YSF repeater | |
147.120 | 147.720 | 103.5 | K8ALB | Inactive | ||
147.270 | 147.870 | 103.5 | W8HHF | Very active | Skywarn | |
147.345 | 147.945 | 103.5 | WJ8E | Medium | IRLP node 8786 | |
147.375 | 147.975 | 103.5 | W8RZM | Very active | Skywarn | |
224.140 | 222.540 | 103.5 | W8HHF | Inactive | ||
224.440 | 222.840 | 103.5 | WJ8E | Down | ||
224.540 | 222.940 | 103.5 | WB8OET | Inactive | Low-coverage repeater | |
442.650 | 447.650 | 100.0 | K8RPT | Inactive | ||
442.825 | 447.825 | 100.0 | K8RPT | Inactive | ||
442.850 | 447.850 | 103.5 | W8HHF | Medium | YSF repeater | |
442.950 | 447.950 | 103.5 | WJ8E | Medium | Skywarn | |
443.300 | 449.300 | 103.5 | N8UAS | Inactive | ||
443.750 | 448.750 | 103.5 | KI8CY | Very inactive | Low-coverage repeater | |
443.775 | 448.775 | 103.5 | KC8GWH | Down | ||
443.975 | 448.975 | 103.5 | N8LPQ | Down? | YSF repeater | |
444.025 | 449.025 | 103.5 | W8MTU | Down | ARES | |
444.100 | 449.100 | 82.5 | W2PUT | Very active | Linked to 927.4875 locally, and 51.740 and 927.9875 in Ann Arbor, IRLP node 4428 | |
444.275 | 449.275 | 107.2 | W8AK | Inactive | ||
444.550 | 449.550 | 100.0 | N8OSC | Down? | ||
444.925 | 449.925 | 103.5 | W8MTU | Inactive | ARES | |
444.950 | 449.950 | 103.5 | N8LPQ | Active | ||
446.075 | 441.075 | (107.2) | W8OTC | Inactive | Sometimes linked to 443.050 in Ann Arbor, YSF repeater? | |
927.4875 | 902.4875 | 131.8 (use D025) | W2PUT | Medium? | Linked to 51.740 and 927.9875 in Ann Arbor, and 444.100 locally, IRLP node 4428 | |
927.9125 | 902.9125 | 131.8 | KD8KCF | Medium/down? | SMRN linked repeater system, remote base | |
1285.000 | 1273.000 | WJ8E | ??? | |||
1287.000 | 1275.000 | WJ8E | ??? | |||
Lapeer area (Lapeer) | ||||||
146.620 | 146.020 | 100.0 | W8LAP | Active | Linked to 443.450, Skywarn | |
224.800 | 223.200 | 100.0 | W8LAP | Inactive | ||
442.700 | 447.700 | 100.0 | W8LAP | Medium | ||
443.450 | 448.450 | 100.0 | KG8ID | Medium | Linked to 146.620 | |
Hillsdale area (Hillsdale) | ||||||
147.060 | 147.660 | 118.8 | K8HRC | Medium | ||
444.825 | 449.825 | 107.2 | KC8QVX | Medium | IRLP node 4812, AllStar node 46089 | |
Adrian area (Lenawee) | ||||||
145.370 | 144.770 | 85.4 | W8TQE | Medium | ||
443.375 | 448.375 | 107.2 | K8ADM | Inactive | ||
444.675 | 449.675 | 123.0 | W8TQE | Inactive |
Most recent 5 updates:
11/04/23: Re-added 29.640 repeater which changed callsigns from WD8DPA to W8UM and updated 444.975 repeater accordingly.
01/02/23: 146.960 Ann Arbor repeater changed callsigns from WB8TKL to W8RP.
11/24/21: General database updates (mainly activity/status changes) and a few Detroit area repeater additions.
09/09/20: 146.740 Ann Arbor repeater changed callsigns from WB8UPM to W8PGW and changed PLs from 107.2 to 100.0 Hz.
07/26/20: 443.475 Detroit repeater changed callsigns from WR8DAR to W2PUT.
Spaceweather.Com Wants You!
Brad, KG6IOE, spotted this recently on SpaceWeather.Com and posted it to the Glow Bugs mailing list:
*CALLING ALL HAMS:* No hobby is more sensitive to solar activity and space weather than ham radio. So here is a call to ham radio operators: Is spaceweather.com meeting your needs? We welcome your suggestions to improve our website. Submit ham-friendly ideas here: [email protected].
NASA Scientists Blame Dearth of Sunspots on Sluggish Jet Stream
According to a report on the Science@NASA website, researchers think they have discovered the reason behind the dearth of sunspots. At an American Astronomical Society press conference yesterday in Boulder, Colorado, the researchers announced that a jet stream deep inside the sun is migrating slower than usual through the star’s interior, giving rise to the current lack of sunspots.
The good news is that according to their measurements, the jet stream is now finally reaching the critical latitude of 22 degrees, meaning that conditions should return to normal. In other words, no Maunder Minimum, or prolonged period of low sunspot activity, this time around.
Another reason this is good news is that while all this blathering has made for good blog fodder, I’m getting tired of all the complaining. To paraphrase Mark Twain, “Hams like to complain about the solar weather, but nobody does anything about it”!
Operating Notes
Here are some miscellaneous observations from my operations over the past week or so:
- W1MX Turns 100. The MIT Radio Society, whose callsign is W1MX turned 100 on April 30, 2009. There was a great article on the history of the club in the April 2009 issue of QST. I had just read that article last Sunday, when I got an e-mail from KA8WFC, saying that he was going to be operating W1MX that evening. I got him on his cellphone around 8:30, and we made contact a short time later.
It was a great thrill to work a station with such a cool history. And to think that I used to live in Somerville, MA, probably only five miles from W1MX, and never thought to visit the station.
- Short Skip. I’ve noticed lately that the skip on 40m can be very short right around sundown. A week ago, I worked WA8JNM, near Cleveland, less than 150 miles away from me at 8:30pm (0030Z). Tonight, I worked KZ9H, near Indianapolis, not more than 230 miles away, at 9:00pm (0100Z). Both stations were 599 here. Can any of you propagation experts explain this to me?
- Long Skip. I’m also working DX on 40m. Last night, I got on just after 10pm (0200Z). The band was kind of quiet, so I started calling CQ on 7033 kHz. After a couple of CQs, Alex, SP8ERY called. I quickly looked him up on QRZ.Com, and found a very interesting Web page that included a picture of his grandfather (right). Alex writes, “He was a radio operator during I World War. He worked on simple crystal RX and spark TX and in 1960’s when I was a young boy, he taught me first few letters of Morse code.” Since it was apparent that he knew quite a bit of English, we had a nice chat, not the usual 599/599 TU kind of DX contact.
After working Alex, I heard IY8GM booming at 10 dB over S9. He was an easy catch. I then tuned upband again and called CQ around 7027. There, I got a call from another SP station. When we finished our short QSO, I got a call from OM3CDR. Juraj, as it turned out, also knew some English, so I was able to tell him that I am Slovak-American and had visited his home town, Bratislava.
All in all, it was quite a good night for DX
Lack of Sunspots Make National News
Charles Osgood, a national news commentator for CBS Radio, commented last week on our current lack of sunspots. He says,
The Sun normally undergoes an 11-year cycle of activity — and last year, it was supposed to have heated up — and, at its peak, would have a tumultuous boiling atmosphere, spitting out flares and huge chunks of super-hot gas.
Instead, it hit a 50-year low in solar wind pressure, a 55-year low in radio emissions, and a 100-year low in sunspot activity. Right now, the sun is the dimmest it’s been in nearly a century.
If you’ve been on 20m lately, you already know that, though. To hear or read the rest of his commentary, go to The Osgood File website.
Here’s One for All You Propagation Gurus
This evening, just after dark, I called CQ on 40m CW. On the second call, VE3QO, in Ottawa, ON replied to my call. On that first transmission, he was at least 10 dB over S9, and that’s saying something because the S-meter in my IC-746PRO rarely reads anything over S9. Unfortunately, on the next go-around, VE3QO was a lot weaker, and on his third transmission he was nearly unreadable.
This is not the first time that I’ve noticed this phenomenon. It often occurs just after it’s gotten dark. In fact, I can often predict that this will happen by how strong a station is on his or her first transmission. The more out of the ordinary the signal strength, the more likely it is that the station will also disappear quickly.
My question is what propagation mechanism is causing this behavior? Is it perhaps the combining of the F1 and F2 layers? If that’s the case, why is the calling station so unusually strong on the first transmission?
If the Economy Hasn’t Gotten You Down…
…KN4LF is now reporting another sunspot group from Cycle 23:
On Tuesday January 27, 2009 yet another solar cycle 23 sunspot group (S738) formed near S05E40. If numbered by NOAA/SWPC it will be 11012.
Solar cycle 23 is now 12 years and 10 months long from first spot to present one, an extension of the already record long solar cycle!!!
Spotless Sun: Blankest Year of the Space Age
Science@NASA is reporting that 2008 is the “blankest year” of the Space Age, when it comes to sunspots. To date, the sun has had no visible sunspots for 200 days this year. To find a year that had more days with no sunspots, you have to go all the way back to 1954, which had 241 days with no recorded sunspots.
Although we ham radio operators aren’t excited by this turn of events,
Some solar physicists are welcoming the lull.
“This gives us a chance to study the sun without the complications of sunspots,” says Dean Pesnell of the Goddard Space Flight Center. “Right now we have the best instrumentation in history looking at the sun. There is a whole fleet of spacecraft devoted to solar physics–SOHO, Hinode, ACE, STEREO and others. We’re bound to learn new things during this long solar minimum.”
Oh, well. At least some good is coming from it.
No Sunspots for More than a Month!
Daily Tech reports that it’s now been more than a month since a sunspot was sited. This is the first time that this has happened in more than 100 years. The article notes:
In the past 1000 years, three previous such events — the Dalton, Maunder, and Spörer Minimums, have all led to rapid cooling. One was large enough to be called a “mini ice age”. For a society dependent on agriculture, cold is more damaging than heat. The growing season shortens, yields drop, and the occurrence of crop-destroying frosts increases.
No mention was made of poor band conditions on 20m <grin>