Tony Dixon G4CJC

Tony's 10 Metre Band Report
21 January, 2009

A very poor week by any standards.
TS7C was heard most days by quite a few stations, unfortunately not by Yours Truly, me.

TU5ASQ (Ivory Coast) popped up on Thursday heard by non-other than EA5ASQ with an apology of “Test sorry”. Why?? If Juan reads this perhaps he can tell us why he was doing it?

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Monday: TS7C, 9A2009ST, I0DLP, IS0GQX, VE3FGU, DO7YYZ, PD5SS, 9A5ST, DL1USB, DL5VZ, DL9MCD, DO4DXA, EA1AST, F4FDA, IK1JGS, IV3ONZ, IZ0MJG, K4JPC, KD5PBR, M0CCQ, NP3CW.

Tuesday: TS7C, PY5EW, PU2WAD, PU5ATX, PU2BFG.

Wednesday: TS7C, 9W2TZ, RX3AGD, VE3FGU, N8WUG, VA2RF, XE2ES/B, 9W2DI, 9W2VVH, AA0BV, KD4ESV, LY2YD, PU2BFG, VE2LCM, WB7BBI.

Thursday: TS7C, TU5ASQ, 3D2BA, 9W2RZ.

Friday: KK6D, 9W2LLK, BG4TRF, K5AB/B

Saturday: TS7C, SV8FMY, HG8W, RV1AC, F8BBL.

Sunday: K1HP/KH2, HG8W, VK2IR, FO5JR, HA3RJ, K9FA, 6W/DL2RMC, JA0DCQ, 6K5AQY, JA1NVF, K4JPC, WA9GJU.

Finn Braaksma (no call sign given) from Australia said on Thursday 15/01/2009,
“Hi tony ,I am new to this frequency. I wonder if you can help me find a proper mobile aerial as I use a 27 meg one which is obviously not intended for a ranger 2950. Also reports that the sunspots are inactive may be a reason the band is quiet but then I get to go to remote places where I don’t even get a phone signal. Best of luck for the new year.”

As the Ranger 2950 is a mobile 10/12m only rig I’d suggest a mobile antenna such as the Ringo antenna from Cushcraft. Try this link Strictlyham. There are of course lots of others depending on circumstances. Re the sunspots, we are in a lull or dip of the 11(ish) years of the Sunspot Cycle so yes Ten Metre (28MHz) activity will be low.

VK5MRD, Dave has hit a snag this week, work! and a VHF/UHF Field Day.

“Thursday 15/01/2009. Stations worked were:- VK2IET. I am back at work now so I have not had a chance to get behind the mic. I hope the band will open up over the weekend! The temperature was up to the low 40ºC here on Tuesday way too hot to be in the radio room with no air conditioning.

Friday 16/01/2009. Stations heard were:- VK2RSY/b, VK4CQ, VK6RBP/b, VK6RWA/b and VK8VF/b. Stations worked were:- VK1XP, VK2ACH, VK2EBN, VK2DON, VK2VEL, VK4KY, VK6VCK and VK6ARA.

Sunday 18/01/2009. Stations heard were:- KH6RC, ZL2MHF/b, ZL3TEN/b, VK2RSY/b, VK3RMH/b, VK4RTL/b, VK4CQ, VK6RBP/b, VK6RWA/b and VK8VF/b. This weekend in Australia saw the Summer VHF/UHF field day. I spent a fair amount of time working stations on 6m 2m and 70cm.” Aha, so that’s where Saturday went.

“Wednesday 21/01/2009. Stations heard were:- JA6DSG, 9W2RZL, ZL2UI, ZL4CZ, ZL2MHF/b, ZL3TEN/b, VK2RSY/b, VK3RMH/b, VK4FTDN, VK4RTL/b, VK4RKC/repeater, VK6RBP/b, VK6RWA/b and VK8VF/b. Busy once again, bring on the weekend and lets hope the band will open!”

Nobody has requested a sked with PY2XC, Carlos yet. If you’d like to give it a try then use the link at bottom of this page “ Click here to send Tony your report”. Just put Sked PY2XC in the “The callsigns you have worked” box, and don’t forget your email.

Contests : Saturday 0000 - Sunday 2359 YLISSB QSO Party, Saturday 0600 - Sunday 1800 REF (French) Contest, Saturday 1200 - Sunday 1200 BARTG RTTY Sprint Contest, Saturday 1300 - Sunday 1300 UBA DX Contest and Saturday 1700 - Sunday 1700 SPAR Winter Field Day.

Upcoming activity though not guaranteed to be on 10m. Information from DXwatch.com and 425DXnews

HB All Swiss amateurs can use the prefix HB8 and HE8 during the whole of 2009 to celebrate the 80 th anniversary of the Swiss National Amateur Radio Society.

Sun: A new sunspot is emerging and it is a strange one. The low latitude of the spot suggests it is a member of old Solar Cycle 23, yet the magnetic polarity of the spot is ambiguous, identifying it with neither old Solar Cycle 23 nor new Solar Cycle 24.

A meteoroid of unknown size hit Earth's atmosphere over Scandinavia on Jan. 17th (1909 UT) and disintegrated in a thunderous explosion. The fireball was so bright it turned the night time sky blue.

And so we (Stoke) were beaten by Chelsea in injury time. 2 goals in 3 minutes! After we had scored and held them till the 88 th minute! No disgrace. The fans were great (except for 3 guys who just wanted to abuse the Chelsea fans and didn’t watch the game). We shouted and cheered and sang till the final whistle. Now the lads have two weeks off and are training in Dubai. Then it’s Manchester City with or with out the £100 million Kaka. What can I say? You could buy our entire team and the Brit Stadium 3 or more times over for that.

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