GEOMAGNETIC STORM WATCH: A large canyon-shaped hole in the sun's atmosphere is facing Earth and spewing a stream of solar wind toward our planet. Estimated time of arrival: 2 to 3 days from now. This has prompted NOAA forecasters to issue a geomagnetic storm watch for March 28th when storm levels could reach category G2--that is, moderately strong. Auroras could descend from the Arctic Circle to northern-tier US states from New York to Wisconsin to Washington. Visit Spaceweather.com to learn more about the incoming solar wind stream and what makes it so potent
Above: This canyon-shaped coronal hole (CH) is a magnetic fissure in the sun's atmosphere where solar wind can escape and flow towards Earth. The underlying image, taken on March 25th, comes from extreme UV telescopes on board NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory.
Tuesday, 21 March 2017
Yesterday I had a nice contact on 40 mtr with OD5ZZ Libanon
Sunday, 19 March 2017
Nice opening this evening on 20 meter to Brazil
The bands where in a good shape this evening. On 40 meter I made contacts in phone with Algeria en Turkey. On 20 meter to Brazil with psk31
<QSO snap>
>>>Hello Gerard Nice to meet you
Report: 599 599
NAME: Elizeu Eliz r QTH: Caucaia , Ceara
GRID LsN: HIDqf
BTU PA7GMU PA7GMU DE PT7AV KN a!
PT7AV de PA7GMU
</QSO snap>
73 Gerard
Tuesday, 7 February 2017
Today I had a very short contact with Ted K2GAV. Conditions where to bad to have I long talk, so I appreciated that I got this nice QSL card
Sunday, 5 February 2017
My first self build 20 meter HF antenna.
Because I was always planning to build an HF antenna I recently purchased an analyser.
With this device you will be standing to tune antennas on the right frequency.
It is also possible to make impedance measurements in order to get the correct matching between antenna and transceiver.
I have examined which antenna the best for me is to build that I can use during the PACC contest.
The antenna must meet a low radiation angle. This is needed for good DX purposes.
The above example are from a 21 Mhz VDA
Most HF antennas are large and therefore a problem to post them in the backyard.
After some searching on the Net, I discovered one of PA3FYM (Remco den Besten) videos on YouTube. In one of his videos I saw a VDA (vertical dipole array) and is easy to build.
Also, the dimensions are limited in order to build a 20 meter antenna.
Fortunately I had most of the stuff already in the house and I immediately started building the antenna. The entire construction diagram of this antenna is described in the DKARS magazine of March 2015. After some saws, drills and screws I put the antenna in the backyard and performed the first measurements. An exciting moment, because you know, finally, never whether it is in practice, as described in theory.
The antenna is as expected a little too low in frequency. A little cut on the bottom two wire solves the problem.
first setup in the garden.
So, I am almost ready to participate the PACC contest.
Today I configured my experimental 30 mtr QRSS grabber and put it temporarily online. My receiver is an IC7410 with a 20 meter long wire 5 bander FED antenna.
