2013 CQ World Wide WPX CW Latest SWPC 3-day Space Weather Forecast

Good morning from inside #hamr shackadelic as I'm preparing for the 2013 running of CQ World Wide WPX CW scheduled to begin later this afternoon. I'm operating from W6AB, Satellite Amateur Radio Club with its clubhouse about 750 feet above sea level including clear take-off angles toward all continents. Our local weather is spectacular with expected blue skies, warm temperatures peaking in the low seventies, and gusting winds.

I'm entering either high or low power, single operator all band, assisted with tri-bander, wire overlay this year. My power category depends on component availability and I'll make my determination later this morning.

Please, keep in mind, it is never too late to read the rules prior to sitting in the chair and firing up your console of wireless equipment. Likewise, use #CQWPX hash tag as CQ World Wide WPX homepage continues harvesting our tweets, for world wide social interaction. I emphasis the rules especially if you decide to tweet your status while following additional commentary.

Sending best result vibes to all participants this year! Let's have fun.

Contest on.

WM7D's Solar Resource Page click here.
SunSpotWatch click here.
NOAA / Space Weather Prediction Center click here.
Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) Radio User's Page click here.
NOAA Ovation Aurora (Test Product) click here.
HAARP Spectrum Monitor 1-30 MHz click here.

Latest SWPC 3-day Space Weather Forecast: Joint USAF/NOAA Solar Geophysical Activity Report and Forecast SDF Number 143 Issued at 2200Z on 23 May 2013

IA. Analysis of Solar Active Regions and Activity from 22/2100Z to 23/2100Z: Solar activity has been at low levels for the past 24 hours. The largest solar event of the period was a C3 event observed at 23/1450Z from Region 1756 (S20E27). There are currently 7 numbered sunspot regions on the disk.

IB. Solar Activity Forecast: Solar activity is expected to be low with a chance for M-class flares and a slight chance for an X-class flare on days one, two, and three (24 May, 25 May, 26 May).

IIA. Geophysical Activity Summary 22/2100Z to 23/2100Z: The geomagnetic field has been at quiet to unsettled levels for the past 24 hours. Solar wind speed, as measured by the ACE spacecraft, reached a peak speed of 475 km/s at 23/1933Z, however ACE/SWEPAM data became suspect due to proton contamination from the 22 May M5 flare. Total IMF reached 8 nT at 23/1656Z. The maximum southward component of Bz reached -4 nT at 23/0949Z. Protons greater than 10 MeV at geosynchronous orbit reached a peak level of 1660 pfu at 23/0650Z. Protons greater than 100 MeV at geosynchronous orbit reached a peak level of 2 pfu at 22/2105Z and the event ended at 23/0745Z. Electrons greater than 2 MeV at geosynchronous orbit were also suspect due to proton contamination.

IIB. Geophysical Activity Forecast: The geomagnetic field is expected to be at quiet to minor storm levels on day one (24 May), quiet to active levels on day two (25 May) and quiet to unsettled levels on day three (26 May). Protons are expected to remain above threshold on day one (24 May), are likely to cross threshold on day two (25 May) and have a chance of crossing threshold on day three (26 May).

2013 CQ WPX CW?

The summer highlight RadioSport event is about to transform the ionosphere and test the metal of high frequency operators this weekend yet not a word at the blog nor tweet in the #hamr flow. I do not want to speculate neither state directly my thoughts however am I missing something? After all, CQ Magazine's summer signature event recently changed leadership, as Randy, K5ZD was promoted into the CQ World Wide DX chair.

I'm curious why the silence especially given past interaction either at the blog or Facebook generated tweets?

The standard of interaction was set and it created a sense of excitement especially for those of us who connected during WPX SSB weekend. Our tweets were seen world wide as we road the storm into Saturday afternoon when reports suggested rapidly changing conditions while lifting everyone's morale. We certainly enjoyed every minute thereafter until the finish clock signalled zero hour on Sunday late afternoon.

In the meantime, I'm listening to Imagine Dragon's "Radioactive" as my theme song heading into CQ Magazine's signature summer event, wondering if I'll detect any transmission from the 'new' leadership at CQ WPX?

73 from the shackadelic near the beach.

Dayton in the Rearview Mirror | Smoke Curls

I finished reading Jeff, KE9V's insightful commentary into the Big Show in Dayton, Ohio and I recommend reading his post. His insight is both objective and pragmatic.

Dayton in the Rearview Mirror | Smoke Curls: You couldn’t spit without hitting a booth manned by somebody that no one has ever heard of, promoting their new SDR offerings. This technology has reached the point of true democratization. Anyone can jump into the business of providing amateur radio transceivers and accessories crafted from low-cost hardware. I see this as good news and a positive sign that the future of amateur radio won’t be dictated by BIG companies.

The K7RA Solar Update | 6 Meter Commentary

What is sporadic E? According to Radio-Electronics, "Es, arises when intense clouds of ionisation form in the E region of the ionosphere. Sporadic E clouds vary greatly in size and also in intensity of the ionisation. Some clouds maybe a few meters across, whereas others have been seen that are over 200 km across."

Furthermore, according to Radio-Electronics, the mechanisms behind sporadic E ionization is not yet fully understood with several phenomena that may give rise to its formation --

1. Electrical storms extending high in altitude with electrical effects well above the clouds possibly supplying the required energy to form sporadic E clouds.
2. Upper atmosphere winds with shear force winds in the upper atmosphere may give rise to sporadic E clouds. 

I'm posting screenshots on Twitter of 6 meter signal trace activity and National Weather Service doppler radar screenshots. So far, I've seen significant activity in relationship to storm locations, especially in the Northeast and Midwest. However, with relatively few storms of note in the Southwest, may shear winds rising off the desert floor create enough energy to form sporadic E clouds?

The K7RA Solar Update: Jon Jones, N0JK, of Lawrence, Kansas, wrote: “Every dog has his day. I worked Luis, LU9EHF (grid square FF95), in Argentina on 50.130 MHz with 5 × 9 signals at 2159 UTC on May 10. I was running 100 W to a dipole antenna in the attic over the garage. 

I suspect a fairly high wave angle to the E-skip link, given the strength of LU9EHF’s signal on the dipole. Perhaps a chordal hop E-skip linking to to trans-equatorial propagation? It was one of the more remarkable things I have heard on 6 meters.

ARRL Announces New Version of LoTW Software

The proof is in the software and a lot is riding on the LoTW open source development project when client-side applications become available for download on Monday.

One of the chief complaints heard at local club meetings is the tedious conversion process from .adif to .tql files then uploading the new file at the website. However, as of Monday, you can sign and upload over the internet in one operation according to the release.

ARRL Announces New Version of LoTW Software: After much testing, the ARRL will release a new version of Trusted QSL, the open-source development project responsible for developing and maintaining the three Logbook of the World (LoTW) client-side applications: TQSL, TQSLCert and the TrustedQSL library. After six weeks of public beta testing, version 1.14 is ready for official release and will be available for download from the ARRL website beginning Monday, May 20.

The K7RA Solar Update | 6 Meter Commentary

I'm observing National Weather Service doppler radar map throughout the day as an S1 solar radiation storm pummels the ionosphere according to Space Weather Now in addition to several storms tracking across the country. Last night, I observed 6 meter signal traces from the Pacific Northwest to Midwest however zero trace out of California, Nevada, Arizona, or Utah.

Nothing heard on 50.125 MHz from my location on the central coast of California.

The K7RA Solar Update: Jon Jones, N0JK, of Lawrence, Kansas, wrote on May 4: “There was an interesting opening today from the Midwest to South America. I was mobile (my wife was driving) on Kansas highway K-10 (just east of the K-7 intersection in Olathe) and I heard K3PA, K0HA and N0XA calling CQ or calling some of the DX. I didn’t hear any DX until 2150 UTC, when PY3RO showed up on 50.115 MHz SSB. He worked a ham in Kansas City and I called after their contact. I had a quick contact with him, and he peaked to 5 × 7.

The K7RA Solar Update | 6 Meter Commentary

I'm going to post comments on 6 meter activity throughout the summer.

The K7RA Solar Update: Lance Collister, W7GJ, of Frenchtown, Montana, wrote about recent 6 meter adventures: “Well, I think the solar flux index being over 145 on Saturday (May 4) probably moved the trans-equatorial propagation further north than usual -- and with the early onset of E-skip, which just happened to connect me to Texas just at the right time late in the afternoon -- I got my first ionospheric link to South America on TEP this solar cycle. On Saturday, I completed SSB and CW contacts with Uruguay, Argentina and Brazil. The next day, the solar flux index was still over 135 and I worked Chile weakly on CW, although I didn’t seem to have a good strong E-skip link like on Saturday. I’m still searching for Ecuador, Bolivia and Suriname.”

From ARRL | Ward Silver, N0AX, Elected President of Yasme Foundation

A congratulatory shout out to Ward Silver, N0AX who is now leading the Yasme Foundation into #hamr future.

Ward Silver, N0AX, Elected President of Yasme Foundation: “I’m thrilled and grateful to be following Wayne Mills, N7NG, as President of the Yasme Foundation,” Silver told the ARRL. “Our founders -- Lloyd, W6KG, and Iris Colvin, W6QL -- saw DXing as a motivator for technical and operating excellence. As ham radio accelerates into its second century, we hope to continue supporting forward-looking projects and awards around the world that encourage international operating and enable innovation.

My 6 Meter Summer Challenge

Listening is three quarters of the effort and the remaining 25 percent is right place, right time. The magic band is definitely not like operating on high frequency where I have spent all of my operating time since the late seventies. I have known the wonders and, now, I'm learning 6 meters especially on the central coast of California is much like sailing an ocean in the company of a very high frequency transceiver.

My Buddipole is located on the first floor deck perpendicular to Highway 101 which connects northern and southern California. The antenna seems to attract attention from those coming and going within our HOA community when located in the front yard. I am looking forward to the best location of three when Friday afternoon arrives. Also, I lengthened the whips to a very respectable 1.5:1 standing wave ratio, when located outside on the first floor.

Activity plummeted on this wavelength early in the week perhaps as a result of back to back solar storms with concurrent radio blackouts. However, signal traces picked up this afternoon, as storm systems tracked across the Pacific Northwest and Texas. I noted brief transequatorial activity out of the Gulf states meanwhile not enough for my off center fed dipole on the first floor terrace.

In the meantime, I'll listen on either 50.125 (USB) or transmit on CW calling frequency 50.090, when time allows.

73 from the shackadelic near the beach.

DX World | Heard Island DXpedition 2015

Decisions like this are not easy especially as cost continues rising to a point of diminishing benefit for the organizer. Or, siege style expeditions have peaked and, going into Cycle 25 small and lit may achieve the same result at half the cost. If the lightweight DXpedition emerges as one of preferred choice to activate most wanted entities then it maybe time to consider one criterion -- DXpedition success depends on its loud signal?

The focus could shift from that of 'loud' is the responsibility of the DXpedition to that of antenna systems and receivers at one's operating location. Additionally, signal swarm management has to improve at both ends, from sending Morse code not at the speed of the DXpeditioneer rather at the speed of the swarm, as one example.

We've enjoyed over four decades of relatively stable DXpedition cost to benefit returns however we may not have the same luxury as the next four decades unfold? Perhaps, there maybe a significant uptick in digital DXpeditions operating low power to include Morse code, as these modes are proven performers under less than optimal conditions.

Overall, a $1.5M dollar price tag achieves a sense of untenable and unsustainable; Cordell Expeditions is sharp coming off their recent Clipperton success. The bottomline is the bottomline that is beginning to shape how-to organize an expedition to activating one on the most wanted list for the benefit of the world's DXing community.

Chase DX with respect and patience.

DX World: We wish to announce that the expedition to Heard Island has been rescheduled for January, 2015. The primary reason for this decision was the cost of using the preferred vessel, the Marion Dufresne to put the team on Heard Island for the required time. In spite of extensive negotiations and rescheduling of the cruise, it became clear that the cost of using this vessel will exceed $1 million, and therefore the total cost for the project would be about $1.5 million, as we noted earlier. In spite of our plan to increase the team size to 50 (which the M-D can accommodate) to partially cover this cost, we reluctantly concluded that sponsorship at this level would be impossible.

My 6 Meter Summer Challenge

Good afternoon from the alternative #hamr shackadelic as our temperature peaks in the low 70s with a slight northwesterly breeze. I was wrong regarding the ideal location for my Buddipole off center fed dipole. First, locating the antenna system on either terrace was totally inefficient because our condo blocks the entire Pacific Northwest in addition coupling of objects in the near field. My standing wave ratio at both locations averaged 1.9:1 without using a transmatch.

I can understand the utility of a transmatch to cheat the load between a transciever and an antenna system such as off center fed dipoles, random wires, or ladder line fed. However, if you can trim your antenna system to resonance or as near to resonance as possible, consider it as one less component absorbing antenna sustenance that is energy.

Likewise, consider investing in an antenna analyzer, having such an instrument in your quiver is highly recommended. It allowed me to quickly analyze the Buddipole resonant frequency as configured for six meters. The system was resonanting high and I needed to move the resonant frequency in other words lenghthen the arms thus moving downward in frequency. The opposite is true if I needed to move up in frequency that is shorten the arms.

Additionally, I moved the tripod, 18 foot push up mast, center insulator, and whips into the front yard including 50 feet of RG8X into the front yard on Saturday afternoon. Eventually, using .50 increments totalling an inch of extension, the standing wave ratio dropped to a respectable 1.3:1 across 100 KHz of bandwidth. Furthermore, the apex of the antenna system is a few inches above our roof line, this also includes 360 degrees of rotation.

I can quickly assemble the Buddipole antenna system in a matter minutes.

On the other hand, does a storm system produce two effects on this band that is preceding and proceeding sporadic-e while tracking across land mass? The East Coast was highly active during the days of the storm system and for a few hours today as the storm powered down over New England? Also, ionized patches occurred in the west to include Northern California, the first I have seen this season. Although, 50 MHz signal out of Central and Southern California, was less than sparse.

Does heating of our Western deserts and rising hot air mass colliding with mountain ranges like the Wasatch and Sierras agitate and briefly energize the ionosphere at 50 MHz?

Overall, I spent this weekend fine tuning my equipment, patiently waited at 50.125 for a hint of an opening, and refined my operating strategy for the summer. In the meantime, I hope to see you in the log and help those who need grid square CM95 on Morse code.

73 from the shackadelic near the beach.

From ARRL | FCC and GAO Release Recommendations on Receiver Performance

Our Amateur Radio service is a stakeholder of frequency allocations. Priorities are shifting, at least that is my understanding, to that of protecting digital television and handheld wireless devices. Additionally, the onus of direction is also shifting toward that of private enterprise, who is competing for publicly shared allocations.

Our service continues to deal with high frequency generated birdies as a result of poorly designed radio frequency transmitters at our desk tops and wireless routers. A quick Google search of radio frequency interference (RFI) "birdies" revealed 37,000 hits. Currently, the number of birdies on 6m at my location, is ridiculous. The RFI solution sometimes borders on that of alchemy.

The burden is by default that of the individual not of the company who manufactured the poorly designed transmitter.

The question of protecting reception needs re-framed into designing better transmitters? What good is a high fidelity receiver if transmitted spurious signals pollute adjacent bandwidth at 2nd and 3rd harmonics? As I once read a week or so ago, our service has a voice, we can ask manufacturers to design better transmitters that are equal to the performance of today's digital signal processing receivers.

73 from the shackadelic near the beach.

FCC and GAO Release Recommendations on Receiver Performance; Comments Invited: According to the Public Notice, the TAC white paper said that “an interference limits policy approach may not be appropriate in all cases. Are there other policy approaches that should be considered? Moreover, the GAO report identifies the lack of incentives for manufacturers or spectrum users to incur costs associated with using more robust receivers, and the difficulty of accommodating a changing spectrum environment, such as when spectrum is repurposed for a new use. 

”The white paper also noted that “interference being experienced is widely distributed both geographically and temporally. This would be the case when, for example, widely deployed consumer devices like television sets or handheld wireless devices receiving signals ‘over the air’ are interfered with by, say, geographically dispersed private land mobile radio, amateur radio transmitters or other wireless devices operating in an adjacent band. Thus the base case would exclude resolution of interference that arises when multiple radio systems (i.e., transmitters and receivers) are co-located at a single antenna site, or on a single tower, or even share a single antenna on a tower.” The ARRL is studying all the documents in this proceeding and expects to file comments. 

The FCC’s Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) is now seeking comments on whether and how the FCC should implement a policy that “incentivizes improved interference tolerance of wireless systems. Specifically, should the FCC adopt a policy of employing interference limits in certain cases of neighboring bands and services? Should the FCC adopt specific rules for establishing interference limits that are recommended by one or more multi-stakeholder groups? Should the FCC develop a compliance model [where]…there is industry-led establishment of standards and solutions and the Commission would get involved only via special petition?”

My 6 Meter Magic Band Summer Challenge

Good evening from the #hamr shackadelic zone where clear blue sky and a temperature peaking in the mid-70s makes for a good evening to post on my blog. My 6m Magic Band summer challenge is underway with lots of questions especially related to propagation at this wavelength. I opened DX Maps to follow North American 50 MHz signal traffic including the National Weather Service radar map of the United States.

I observed sporadic-e DX Map signal traces, significant 6m activity located in the Northeast, and transequatorial propagation into South America from the Southeast. I noted sporadic-e traces from the Pacific Northwest into the Midwest this morning however there is zero trace from the West Coast as of this evening.

Six meter activity located within the radius of the storm system plowing through the Northeast was highly active. Is there a coorelation between storm systems and intense periods of sporadic-e or could this be casual because of storm generated disturbances in the ionosphere? It is rare on the Central Coast of California to experience storms of magnitude like those of the East Coast.

I did take note that mid-morning West Coast activity was traced at DX Maps then diminished by early afternoon. Are periods of intense sporadic-e activity the exception and not the rule from the West Coast? If so, then sever geomagnetic disturbances like a coronal mass ejection, would improve 6m propagation from my location on the coast?

This is my summer operating challenge and I'd like to answer my questions over the next 90 days! I logged one Q this morning within grid square CM94 with my Buddipole on the first floor terrace effectively radiating about 70 watts.

I hope that you find grid square CM95 in your log sometime this summer that is the Magic Band willing with a little help from our sun.

Ham radio is the ultimate wireless experience.

The Magic Band Season Or Get 6m Active

Good evening from the alternative #hamr location and we are officially in a sever draught on the Central Coast of California. The HOA landscape deconstruction continues with its subsequent bio-mass reduction. Our ambient noise level that is the sounds of native birds has fallen to nearly zero decibels. Likewise, missing in action are scrub jays and humming birds, who shared space with other local airborne species. Privacy shrubbery was pulverized while shade trees morphed into saw dust.

As a result, I'm not sure if naked aluminum is a real good idea until I can determine the look of the new landscape and its bio-mass, this is a fickle situation. Luckily, the project coincided with the seasonal opening of 6m also known as the magic band. I took the time this afternoon and stowed my Kenwood TS850S high frequency wireless set in preparation for my endeavor.

My FT100 is 50 MHz ready and is now in the operating position for my first summer season dedicated to learning about the magic band. I have often read about the excitement that is possible on this wavelength. Likewise, the persistence of our low power, low profile station owners really motivated my summer challenge.

I configured my Buddipole antenna into a 6m off center fed dipole without arms and tuning coils. The antenna is located on our first floor terrace about 10 feet above the ground. A significant coupling issue dampened my attempt at increasing height as stand wave ratio rose significantly as the feed point approached the ceiling. I found a median point however I haven't ruled out my coax as its overall length is twenty five feet and mostly laying coiled up at the bottom of the tripod.

There are three possible locations for the antenna system that is first floor, second floor, and front yard. I have plenty of opportunity to experiment with each location as the radius of the antenna is relatively small in comparison to a high band flat top dipole. I'll keep you posted as to the results of each location while hedging my second floor terrace out performs the other two locations?

In the meantime, I'm feeling pretty stoked about experiencing 6m propagation as DX Maps was on fire with transequatorial propagation (TEP) into the afternoon. I have never really experienced a hard core sporadic-e opening on this wavelength neither F2 or TEP and life is too short for one mode or one wavelength only.

Ham radio the ultimate wireless experience!