Friday and Saturday evening's 'Midwinter 630m Activity' event was an interesting demonstration of the band's capability and, by most accounts, a real success.


At first-glance, the propagation gods appeared to favor Friday night but I'm not really so sure as both nights were quite different.

Friday night's extremely high winds and pounding rain played havoc with most of the west coast antenna systems, producing fluctuating SWR's and scopematch traces dancing crazily for most of the night. Geomagnetic conditions were playing tricks on both evenings as well, with the K-index varying between '1' and '4' ... but the sudden dip to '1' on Saturday night was immediately obvious out west. Stations that had struggled to hear any signs of the CQ-ing VE7's suddenly reported aural reception and several quick contacts were made before calling it a night at around 0700Z. Some of the lower ERP stations were never able to crack the Saturday night, generally high, K-curtain, making for a less interesting night.

courtesy: NOAA and http://www.solarham.net/planetk.htm

The highlight of the event was assuredly the activity from Canada's most recent arrival to the band, Mitch (VE3OT) in London, Ontario. A veteran 2200m operator, Mitch recently modified his system to add 630m capability and after a few setbacks, managed to provide a lot of excitement for the crossbanders back east. I'm sure that Mitch's participation has resulted in many eastern amateurs making plans for 630m in the months ahead.

Mitch managed twenty-five two-way crossband contacts, all along the eastern seaboard and as far south as Texas, with his well-heard 200W and 340' backyard loop ... proving once again that you don't need to live in the country with several acres to have a ton of fun on 630m!

VE3OT's Crossband Coverage courtesy: https://www.google.ca/maps

'Backyarders' in VE7 land also had fun, with VE7BDQ, VE7CNF and VA7MM working crossbanders across the PNW and down into California, Utah and Nevada. Although my own system can also fit into a backyard (with kindly help from the neighbours!), it doesn't quite qualify for such description as my antenna is mounted almost over the ocean, with an unobstructed seawater horizon looking towards the rest of North America and to the north.

An interesting observation, noticed during previous events and reconfirmed once again, is the ability of the smaller and lower antennas used by some of the city stations, to propagate much stronger signals into closer regions such as Washington, Oregon and northern California.

On more than one occasion, my signal was reported as 'unreadable' or 'just above the noise floor', while the other backyarders were reported with, sometimes, 'booming' signals. I can only surmise that these antennas offer more high-angled (NVIS-like) radiation compared with my high seaside inverted-L, which likely has a lower takeoff angle ... Saturday night's activity tended to back up this observation. When it comes down to it, I think that all amateur 630m antennas are basically NVIS radiators due to their small size and low height but some are just a tiny bit 'less NVIS' than others!

As conditions enjoyed a short spike late on Saturday evening, NO3M and WA3TTS, both in Pennsylvania, reported good reception of my CQ's and crossband QSO's were quickly completed with both stations, as well as with KB5NJD in Texas. During the short propagation lift, ABØCW, in Colorado, also called in for a quick exchange, indicating that my previously unheard signal had quickly built from nothing to a 549.

Another highlight of the night was a report from Paul, K7CW, from his quiet receiving location in Tahuya, Washington. Paul reports reception of both VE3OT and VO1NA, with the latter being a 'first' from the west coast!

Hi Steve,

Here is my report of things I took part in or observed tonight:

0204Z - Worked VE7SL 473/3566 kHz RST 559.

0209Z - Worked VE7CNF 476.5/3558 kHz Pretty fast QSB RST 529 to 559.

0214Z - 0409Z WG2XSV 476.1 Beacon RST 559. Announced QRT and QSY at 0409Z.

0219Z - Heard VO1NA 477.4 kHz Weak with QSB. I could get or or three characters now and then. Too weak to attempt a QSO. Signal faded to nothing after about 15 minutes.

0225Z - Heard VE3OT 477.0 kHz Weak but much better than VO1NA. Also with QSB fading to nothing. I called several times, but couldn't tell if he came back to me. Strong enough to make a hopeful try. Also disappeared after about 15 minutes.

0241Z - Came across WD2XSH/20 RST 599+ in QSO with WH2XGP RST 589. 474.5 kHz.

0300Z - WD2XSH/20 472.0 599+ now in beacon mode.

0400Z - VE7BDQ 474.0 kHz RST 539 showed up and called CQ twice. I responded on 3555 kHz, but he did not call me back. He then disappeared from the QRG. There was a strong birdie on 475 kHz, but I don't think VA7MM came on.

0409Z - WG2XSV 476.1 Beacon interrupted by announcement of QRT and QSY.

0434Z - Came across VE7BDQ 474.0 kHz again calling CQ. He worked VA7JX, but apparently couldn't hear me.

With that, I took one more look for VO1NA and stopped.

Another interesting night.

73, Paul K7CW

Thanks also to AI8Z in Colorado and W7OIL in Washington for submitting  reception reports!

THE LOGS

From Mitch, VE3OT, in London, ON:

Friday night:

NØFW (OH)
WA3TTS (PA)
KB5NJD (TX)
K4LY (SC)
K3OO (PA)
VE3MM (ON)
N4PY (NC)
WA9ETW (WI)
K9LA (IN)
NO3M (PA)
N2TK (NY)
KK8X (MI)
N2ZK (NY)
N8RR (WV)
VA3SC (ON)

Saturday night:

WD8DSB (IN)
K3UL ( PA)
WB2QMY (NJ)
AA1P (MA)
W2JEK (NJ)
WA3LAB (PA)
K3PA (KS)
NF4C (NC)
W1VD (CT)
WØJW (IA)

From Joe, VO1NA, in Torbay, NF:

N1CGP (ME)
VO1FOG 
VO1BQ
reception reports from around the province, almost all reporting
a positive reception. Also got reports from DF6NM and PAØRDT


From John, VE7BDQ, in Delta, BC. (a description of John's station as well as other VE7's, can all be viewed here):

KGØD/7 (WA)
KU7Z (UT)
VE7KW
WØYSE/7 (WA)
VE7BGJ
W6RKC (CA)
WB2AWQ (NV)
VE7CNF
VA7MM
VE7SL
VA7JX


From Toby, VE7CNF, in Burnaby, BC:

Friday night:

KU7Z (UT)
WØYSE/7 (WA)
VE7KW
VE7BGJ
KGØD/7 (WA)
W6RKC (CA)
VE7BDQ
VA7MM

Saturday night: 

K7CW (WA)
N7BYD (MT)
WØYSE/7 (WA)
VE7SL
VA7MM

As well, Toby was copied on QRSS3 mode in Illinois, late Saturday night.

From Mark, VA7MM, in Port Coquitlam, BC:



From myself, VE7SL, on Mayne Island, BC:

Friday night:

VE7KW
KU7Z (UT)
W6RKC (CA)
VE7BGJ
KB5NJD (TX)
NO3M (PA)
KGØD/7 (WA)
VA7MM
WØYSE/7 (WA)
WB2AWQ (NV)


Saturday night:

K7CW (WA)
VE7CNF
VA7CNF
VA7JX
K7SF (OR)
VE7BDQ
KB5NJD (TX)
N7BYD (MT)
WØYSE/7 (WA)
NO3M (PA)
ABØCW (CO)
WA3TTS (PA)
VA7MM

For an even more detailed description of the weekend event, see KB5NJD's 630m blogs here.

Thanks to all participants ... you have created another successful 630m operating event. Hopefully U.S. amateurs will have access to the band before next winter, allowing all of the two-way activity to take place within the band itself ... how different that will be! Otherwise, another crossband weekend will be in store for the fall of 2016!
Steve McDonald, VE7SL, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from British Columbia, Canada. Contact him at [email protected].

Here is this week’s space weather and geophysical report, issued 2016 Feb 08 0222 UTC.

Highlights of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 01 – 07 February 2016

Solar activity was at low levels throughout the entire period. Several regions produced low level C-class events, the largest a C5/Sf at 04/1822 UTC from Region 2494 (S11, L=162, class/area Dki/270 on 07 Feb). A filament eruption observed beginning on 05/1939 UTC near S19W28 was associated with a CME that is anticipated to be a glancing blow midday on 09 Feb. Several other small filament eruptions occurred but none were expected to be geoeffective.

No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit was at normal to moderate levels.

Geomagnetic field activity began the week at quiet to unsettled levels. Active to minor storm conditions were observed early on 03 Feb due to a co-rotating interactive region (CIR) followed by the onset of a positive polarity coronal hole high speed stream (CH HSS). Quiet to unsettled conditions were observed during largely nominal solar wind conditions from 04-07 Feb, with the exception of an isolated active period on 07 Feb due to prolonged negative Bz.

Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 08 February – 05 March 2016

Solar activity is expected to be at low levels throughout the forecast period.

No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to be at normal to moderate levels with high levels possible from 12-16 Feb and 19-23 Feb following subsequent CH HSS events.

Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be at unsettled to active levels with isolated minor storm periods on 08 Feb due to prolonged negative Bz and negative polarity CH HSS effects. Quiet to active conditions are likely to continue into 09 Feb as effects continue along with a possible glancing blow from the 05 Feb CME. Quiet to unsettled conditions are expected from 10-12 Feb as a recurrent positive polarity HSS moves into a geoeffective position. Mostly quiet conditions are expected from 13-16 Feb. Quiet to unsettled conditions are expected from 17-19 Feb with active periods possible on 18 Feb due to effects from a recurrent negative polarity HSS. Predominately quiet conditions are expected from 20-29 Feb. Quiet to unsettled conditions are expected with isolated active periods possible on 01-03 Mar as another positive polarity CH HSS becomes geoeffective. Quiet conditions are expected to close out the forecast period.

Don’t forget to visit our live space weather and radio propagation web site, at: http://SunSpotWatch.com/

Live Aurora mapping is at http://aurora.sunspotwatch.com/

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Win7 working smoothly on my Mac bookpro

I have been operating JT-65 lately and as most of you know who use this mode it offers a nice time management bonus……between exchanges of info you can multi task. I have taken advantage of this with blog writing, surfing the net and updating LOTW as well as EQSL. I wanted to take it a step further by utilizing my KX3 and the living room! I wanted to bring JT-65 and possibly PSK-31 to the recliner in the other room. First off I tried to use a netbook that I had gathering dust but it was just way to slow, it’s very good for email and such but not multitasking of rig software. I then decided to move my Mac laptop into the world of ham radio…but….with a small hitch. I had a copy of Parallel Desktop 8 I was using some years ago, it allows you to load windows on your Mac PC and you can switch between Mac and Windows you then have the best of both worlds. When your PC starts it starts in Mac format with a desktop icon that allows you to enter the Windows world! I loaded the program without issue and then loaded on my Win7 Pro and now I have a Mac book-pro that can run both OS’s. The main reason for doing this is to utilize my many Windows based ham programs. I have tried the free software on the internet for dual OS’s but have found they just don’t do the job. Here is what has happened up to this point I “attempted” to load Win4k3suite but I was informed that my window 7 did not have Net Frameworks 4 installed. Finding and installing this simple program was a frustrating experience. The Microsoft links just did not seem to work, I was told the “site was no longer available. Other sites (and I have experienced this many times in the past) gave you the impression you were downloading Net frameworks 4 but it turned out it was some other commercial program. When I finally and I mean FINALLY found the program it just plain refused to load! A Google search informed me this is not unusual and Microsoft has a fix that I downloaded and all worked fine then. At this point I just have Win4k3suite loaded and ready for install. This will get my rig control up and going and then it’s time to install WSJT-X software, A PSK software and then finally Meinberg NTP time server software.
Mike Weir, VE9KK, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from New Brunswick, Canada. Contact him at [email protected].

In this episode, Martin M1MRB / W9ICQ is joined by Leslie Butterfield G0CIB, Edmund Spicer M0MNG, Matthew Nassau M0NJX, Andy Mace 2E0IBF and Chris Howard M0TCH to discuss the latest Amateur / Ham Radio news. Colin M6BOY rounds up the news in brief, and this episodes feature is an interview with Ham Radio Author Don Keith N4KC

• Congressman Calls for FCC Action
• LIDS - The 'Less Involved Data Society'
• Morse code: A staple in the Navy IW toolkit
• Available UK Amateur / Ham Radio Call Signs
• Ham Radio Foundation Course for iOS and Android
• Australian Pico Balloon PS-58 Receives Contacts
• Ham Radio Tower Dispute
• SARL Leap Year Challenge

Colin Butler, M6BOY, is the host of the ICQ Podcast, a weekly radio show about Amateur Radio. Contact him at [email protected].

In this episode, Martin M1MRB / W9ICQ is joined by Leslie Butterfield G0CIB, Edmund Spicer M0MNG, Matthew Nassau M0NJX, Andy Mace 2E0IBF and Chris Howard M0TCH to discuss the latest Amateur / Ham Radio news. Colin M6BOY rounds up the news in brief, and this episodes feature is an interview with Ham Radio Author Don Keith N4KC

• Congressman Calls for FCC Action
• LIDS - The 'Less Involved Data Society'
• Morse code: A staple in the Navy IW toolkit
• Available UK Amateur / Ham Radio Call Signs
• Ham Radio Foundation Course for iOS and Android
• Australian Pico Balloon PS-58 Receives Contacts
• Ham Radio Tower Dispute
• SARL Leap Year Challenge

Colin Butler, M6BOY, is the host of the ICQ Podcast, a weekly radio show about Amateur Radio. Contact him at [email protected].

Amateur Radio Weekly is curated by Cale Mooth K4HCK. Sign up free to receive ham radio's most relevant news, projects, technology and events by e-mail each week at http://www.hamweekly.com.

Connecting the bits and bobs

Bring out your cables

AF1 Audio Filter making crowded band operations pleasurable

CP1 Directional Coupler sending off 20dB attenuated signal to the frequency counter

Frequency Counter fed by the CP1 directional coupler.

W1 Power Meter sending its measurement off to the computer

Richard Carpenter, AA4OO, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from North Carolina, USA. Contact him at [email protected].