Weekends Not Made For Cycle 24

I'm totally frustrated with solar flux indice numbers hitting a zenith Monday through Friday then dipping into double digits before Saturday sunrise. Is it understood that this working stiff in a hardhat wants wireless action when Friday night finally arrives. What is it with Cycle 24? I feel like my shackadelic man cave is out of synchronization.

Like, last weekend when QDH notched a few more DXCC entities off the list then a storm hits the ionosphere. Conditions go flat for NAQP CW. This week, Five Cities DXers are logging some serious DX out of Europe and Africa, and I'm watching Cycle 24 numbers jonesing for the weekend.

Then, as a robust Cycle 24 prediction is to a Cycle 24 Maunder Minimum, the bottom falls out. The numbers squelching any hope that 10m might open for the low profile, low power operator with less than optimal antenna systems. I'm observing SpotCollector and it is all about 20m even though it is the season for this band.

Okay, this is my first full 11 year cycle since re-entering ham radio and I'm not letting sunspots stand in the way of fun. I'm over to QDH's QTH tomorrow morning to continue working my 160m vertical antenna project however weekends weren't made for Cycle Twenty Four.

Turn on, Tune Up, and Operate.   

My 10,000 Hour RadioSport Challenge | 9,652 - 28 = 9,624 Hours To Go

Practice, practice, and practice again.

RadioSport is fun and is an excellent ham radio teaching tool. I'm learning about yagi antenna systems, propagation, and logging software after SL opened his shack door for guest operating while gaining a mentor. The latest series of solar storms taught me to be a little more patient, develop a better operating strategy, use the strength of one's antenna systems, and operate accordingly.

I would like more time however most mid-forties are asking for more time as well. It seems there isn't enough of this precious stuff when the weekend rolls around.

I'm learning that a yagi antenna captures signals based on the number of reflectors and its boom length. The greater the number of reflectors results in a narrow beam width. A narrow beam width is efficient for listening and transmitting energy at the desired location? Additionally, I have not learned how-to solve port selectivity when using N1MM Logger because SL and I ran into this problem yesterday afternoon. His ICOM 756PROiii and the computer are talking that is tracking the frequency however the memory keyer failed ie. port 5 is in use when engaging the memory functions?

Lastly, I learned that matching an antenna system is not as a efficient as a tuned antenna system. We tricked the ICOM 756PROiii into the correct load on the 80m antenna however its efficiency on 15m/20m left a lot to be desired. I'm basing my observation off of yesterday's result.

The winter RadioSport season is on the horizon and I'm looking forward to learning about our great hobby.

Do it with wire antennas!