Podcasting since 2005! Listen to Latest SolderSmoke
Showing posts with label solar cycle. Show all posts
Showing posts with label solar cycle. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
NA5N, a Solar Flare, and the Very Large Array
I think I said before that Paul, NA5N, has one of those "dream jobs" for a radio amateur. Confirmation of this came in a message he posted to QRP-L today:
We're running a special experiment today using the VLA antennas to observe at 74 MHz (a protected radio astronomy band) and at 327 MHz. We've hung dipoles just below the antenna subreflectors, acting as a virtual ground, and of course the 88ft dia. dishes to illuminate the dipoles. Picks up a lot more power from the sky than I would have thought (about 30dB gain over the same dipoles in free space).
Anyway, about 0830 MST, suddenly the system temperature climbed about 200 deg. K. Our switched power calibration injected into the LNAs showed no shift, meaning the jump in power came from the sky, not from the electronics. The power plot looked just like a solar flare. Checked the NOAA site, and sure enough, we had an M4 solar flare from region 1618 ... about smack in the center of the sun. About 1530UTC=0830MST=1030EST, Wed. Nov. 21.
NOAA has since measured the shock wave from the CME at 1918 km/sec. This is a fairly strong shock wave, and coming from the center of the sun means planet earth will be pretty close to the bulls eye.
The first time in my life I witnessed a major solar flare in real time watching the "sky power" plots. Pretty neat. First time the astronomers involved in this experiment have witnessed a solar flare as well real time.
Region 1618 has produced numerous C- and M-class flares past couple of days with high potentials of future activity. This will ionize our E/F layer for elevated MUF and weak signal reflection. Check the bands if you're not at work.
This 1918 km/sec. shock wave headed for us will almost assuredly trigger a major geomagnetic storm in a couple of days. If it hits Friday evening, it will trigger likely aurora over northern U.S. It may hit Saturday. I'll check the NOAA predictions later today and post as to the expected shock wave arrival.
72, Paul NA5N
Socorro, NM
Currently inside of VLA antenna #5, west arm.
http://www.vla.nrao.edu/
Our book: "SolderSmoke -- Global Adventures in Wireless Electronics" http://soldersmoke.com/book.htm Our coffee mugs, T-Shirts, bumper stickers: http://www.cafepress.com/SolderSmoke Our Book Store: http://astore.amazon.com/contracross-20
Labels:
Harden-Paul,
propagation,
solar cycle
Monday, June 25, 2012
Poor Conditions: SFI 89. Venus Transit Hero
There's today's image from SOHO. Pretty barren. That's why conditions on the HF bands are so poor today.
While looking for this I came across this account of Venus Transit Heroism:
In the days of heroic astronomy, Chappe d'Autoroches not only risked his life twice to obtain critical, new knowledge from transits of Venus, but gave his life to help others in dire need. Here is his tale from the h2g2 web site in an article entitled "Forgotten Male Astronomers:" A French expedition led by Jean-Baptiste Chappe d'Autoroche (1728 - 69) went to Tobolsk, Siberia, to record the 1761 Venus transit. The team survived a treacherous river crossing and a lengthy journey through difficult, boggy conditions, eventually arriving at their destination just six days before the transit was due. Just before the transit, Jean-Baptiste was attacked by some of the locals, who believed he had caused unusually severe spring floods by interfering with the Sun. Cossack guards managed to save the team of astronomers, who eventually managed to make good observations of the Venus transit.
The French Academy were so pleased with the success of his mission that they engaged Jean-Baptiste to record the next expected Venus transit, due in 1769. He specified that he would travel anywhere in the world as long as the temperature wouldn't be below freezing. Tragically, when Jean-Baptiste and his team arrived at Vera Cruz in Mexico, they found themselves in the middle of a plague [yellow fever] epidemic. Instead of moving on to a safer place, the team decided to remain and help care for the sick villagers.
Even though he was mortally ill, Jean-Baptiste managed to record astronomical observations to establish the latitude and longitude of the site. These recordings were vital for the calculations of the astronomers back home in France, and were made with an astonishing accuracy, given the hazardous conditions in which the data were gathered. The observations they made provided some of the best data of the 1769 transit. Jean-Baptiste died of a fever just after the transit, aged 41 years.
A longer and more detailed version of these events can be found here: www.americanscientist.org
Our book: "SolderSmoke -- Global Adventures in Wireless Electronics" http://soldersmoke.com/book.htm Our coffee mugs, T-Shirts, bumper stickers: http://www.cafepress.com/SolderSmoke Our Book Store: http://astore.amazon.com/contracross-20
Labels:
astronomy,
solar cycle,
venus
Sunday, April 8, 2012
We need more sunspots!
Conditions on 17 meters are bad today. I pulled out my 6 inch reflector telescope to do some troubleshooting on ol' sol. Yea, just as I thought: one measly sunspot. Confirmed by the SOHO image above.
There was a discussion on QRP-L recently about historical solar flux data. I started wondering what the SFI was on the day I was born. A few clicks with google brought the answer: On September 14, 1958 SFI was close to 300. Today it was 94. :-(
Something should be done about this! Write to your Congressman! Demand more solar activity!
Our book: "SolderSmoke -- Global Adventures in Wireless Electronics"http://soldersmoke.com/book.htmOur coffee mugs, T-Shirts, bumper stickers: http://www.cafepress.com/SolderSmokeOur Book Store: http://astore.amazon.com/contracross-20
There was a discussion on QRP-L recently about historical solar flux data. I started wondering what the SFI was on the day I was born. A few clicks with google brought the answer: On September 14, 1958 SFI was close to 300. Today it was 94. :-(
Something should be done about this! Write to your Congressman! Demand more solar activity!
Our book: "SolderSmoke -- Global Adventures in Wireless Electronics"http://soldersmoke.com/book.htmOur coffee mugs, T-Shirts, bumper stickers: http://www.cafepress.com/SolderSmokeOur Book Store: http://astore.amazon.com/contracross-20
Labels:
propagation,
solar cycle,
telescopes
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Sunspots: As Good As It's Going to Get
The good news is that conditions are not a lot better than they have been. The bad news is that they won't be getting much better. But take heart guys: the next few years should be pretty good. Now is the time to get those rigs and antennas for the upper HF bands in shape. Construction of a second 17 meter JBOT amplifier begins today (this one for the Azores SSB transmitter).
Our book: "SolderSmoke -- Global Adventures in Wireless Electronics"http://soldersmoke.com/book.htmOur coffee mugs, T-Shirts, bumper stickers: http://www.cafepress.com/SolderSmokeOur Book Store: http://astore.amazon.com/contracross-20
Our book: "SolderSmoke -- Global Adventures in Wireless Electronics"http://soldersmoke.com/book.htmOur coffee mugs, T-Shirts, bumper stickers: http://www.cafepress.com/SolderSmokeOur Book Store: http://astore.amazon.com/contracross-20
Labels:
propagation,
solar cycle
Saturday, December 24, 2011
DSB QRP DX on 17
The solar flux index is now above 131 and the effects are very apparent on 17 meters. (I will pull out the telescope this morning to get some direct confirmation of improved solar conditions!) This morning I worked Daniel, F5BBD, with my little DSB rig with the 5 watt JBOT amplifier. Very solid contact. He gave me a 55. I hear Japanese stations in the evening. And I am hearing guys on 17 who I haven't heard since the last solar cycle: My friend Chris SM0OWX seems to be right where he was when we last spoke.
Our book: "SolderSmoke -- Global Adventures in Wireless Electronics"http://soldersmoke.com/book.htmOur coffee mugs, T-Shirts, bumper stickers: http://www.cafepress.com/SolderSmokeOur Book Store: http://astore.amazon.com/contracross-20
Our book: "SolderSmoke -- Global Adventures in Wireless Electronics"http://soldersmoke.com/book.htmOur coffee mugs, T-Shirts, bumper stickers: http://www.cafepress.com/SolderSmokeOur Book Store: http://astore.amazon.com/contracross-20
Labels:
propagation,
solar cycle
Sunday, December 4, 2011
SolderSmoke Podcast #139
December 3, 2011
http://soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke139.mp3
Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Billy's Birthday (on the range!)
Astro-Knack: CCD camera in the telescope. Solar astronomy.
Winter approaches: Shack heating by Heath, Halli, Hammarlund and Drake.
2B troubles on 17 meters.
Rig Re-Cycling: Rebuilding 17 meter rigs from the last solar cycle.
Azores DSB re-build: Oscillator troubles then adding a JBOT.
Manhattan style construction and the need for urban renewal.
Book Review: Steve Jobs. (Woz has the Knack!)
MAILBAG
Our book: "SolderSmoke -- Global Adventures in Wireless
Electronics"http://soldersmoke.com/book.htmOur coffee mugs, T-Shirts, bumper stickers: http://www.cafepress.com/SolderSmokeOur Book Store: http://astore.amazon.com/contracross-20
http://soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke139.mp3
Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Billy's Birthday (on the range!)
Astro-Knack: CCD camera in the telescope. Solar astronomy.
Winter approaches: Shack heating by Heath, Halli, Hammarlund and Drake.
2B troubles on 17 meters.
Rig Re-Cycling: Rebuilding 17 meter rigs from the last solar cycle.
Azores DSB re-build: Oscillator troubles then adding a JBOT.
Manhattan style construction and the need for urban renewal.
Book Review: Steve Jobs. (Woz has the Knack!)
MAILBAG
Our book: "SolderSmoke -- Global Adventures in Wireless
Electronics"http://soldersmoke.com/book.htmOur coffee mugs, T-Shirts, bumper stickers: http://www.cafepress.com/SolderSmokeOur Book Store: http://astore.amazon.com/contracross-20
Labels:
astronomy,
books,
Drake 2B,
DSB,
solar cycle,
SolderSmoke Podcast
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Backyard Solar Astronomy
Over the weekend I took a break from JBOT amplifiers and did something I've been meaning to do for a long time: solar astronomy. I pulled out my old 4.5 inch Tasco reflector telescope and aimed it at old sol. I know, I know, this can be dangerous, but we were careful -- note that Billy is standing on the other side of the business end of the telescope. In his hands is the paper onto which we projected the solar image. I'd always wondered how I would get the sun into the telescope's field of view without risking my eyesight by using the finder scope. This turned out to be no trouble at all: I just looked at the shadow cast by the tube of the telescope and --using the shadow as my guide -- moved the tube until it was lined up with the sun. We snapped a picture of our results. I think our crude effort compared very favorably with the picture from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory. You can see the same sunspots in each image (ours is reversed because we were using a reflector). These images are from 12 November 2011.
Our book: "SolderSmoke -- Global Adventures in Wireless Electronics"http://soldersmoke.com/book.htmOur coffee mugs, T-Shirts, bumper stickers: http://www.cafepress.com/SolderSmokeOur Book Store: http://astore.amazon.com/contracross-20
Our book: "SolderSmoke -- Global Adventures in Wireless Electronics"http://soldersmoke.com/book.htmOur coffee mugs, T-Shirts, bumper stickers: http://www.cafepress.com/SolderSmokeOur Book Store: http://astore.amazon.com/contracross-20
Labels:
astronomy,
propagation,
solar cycle
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Sunspots! QRP DSB contacts on 17 meters
You can see here why I had so much fun in the summer of 2001 with my Azorean Homebrew QRP DSB rig. And why I am now re-CYCLING (get it?) and refurbishing the 17 meter gear that I built last cycle.
I've had the DSB rig on the air yesterday and have worked seven stations (2 watts peak DSB to a dipole).
Back to the Future! Someone on QRP-L said the SFI was recently at 180! Go Sol!
Our book: "SolderSmoke -- Global Adventures in Wireless Electronics"http://soldersmoke.com/book.htmOur coffee mugs, T-Shirts, bumper stickers: http://www.cafepress.com/SolderSmokeOur Book Store: http://astore.amazon.com/contracross-20
Labels:
Azores,
DSB,
propagation,
solar cycle
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Comet Hits Sun, SFI up, Report from San Vito
The SOHO spacecraft caught some great images of a comet crashing into the sun. The YouTube clip above is from July. Here is NASA video of one that took place just last week:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/sunearth/news/comet-cme.html
Coincidentally I'm sure, the solar flux has increased significantly and the upper HF bands are working again. My 17 meter rigs still need final amps -- I am ordering parts for Farhan's JBOT circuit. (I plan to build three or four.) But because I had the 2B on 15 meters for the Sputnik event (still no Sputniks heard here) I noticed that DX was coming on that band. Using my HT-37 and a 40 meter dipole I easily worked several Europeans on 15 meter SSB. Especially nice was a long rag chew (using my rusty Italian) with Gianfranco, IZ4NPE, in beautiful Ferrara, Italy (a bicycle city).
Somehow tying this all together, I got an e-mail from Walter in San Vito, Puglia (the heel on Italy's boot). Walter has one of those "dream jobs" for a radio amateur: He tracks sunspots!
Hi Bill,
Walter here from San Vito, Italy. Just wanted to drop a note to say hi and let you know that I'm enjoying your book. Thanks for making it available as a Kindle version. While reading, it brought back similar experiences with me as a youngster. I too was fascinated by airplanes and would ride my bike to the local airport and watch for hours as the planes would take off and land. My mom gave me my first airplane ride as a birthday present when I was 11. I have to admit that I was scared when we made our first airborne turn. I didn't realize that a plane banks in the turns. I was also fascinated with shortwave radios and my best Christmas gift was a Radio Shack Globe Patrol (regenerative... hi hi) receiver kit. The gift from by grandparents was a Weller soldering gun (140 watts) to put it together with. Again, great job on the book.
The Sun has been keeping us busy at the Solar Observatory. I'm monitoring anywhere from 4 to 12 flares a day, 2 regions popped out of nowhere yesterday. The radio bands have been favorable with all the activity. I've got several projects in the works, a Genesis G3020 SDR rig is about 1/3 completed on the workbench now. It's probably me when you see Puglia show up on the website spinning globe. Take care and keep the podcast's coming. Ciao for now.
- Walter
I7/AC4IM Our book: "SolderSmoke -- Global Adventures in Wireless Electronics"http://soldersmoke.com/book.htmOur coffee mugs, T-Shirts, bumper stickers: http://www.cafepress.com/SolderSmokeOur Book Store: http://astore.amazon.com/contracross-20
Labels:
Farhan,
Italy,
Knack Stories,
solar cycle,
video
Friday, June 24, 2011
Aurora in Cuba! The Carrington Event
The strongest geomagnetic storm on record is the Carrington Event of August-September 1859, named after British astronomer Richard Carrington who witnessed the instigating solar flare with his unaided eye while he was projecting an image of the sun on a white screen. Geomagnetic activity triggered by the explosion electrified telegraph lines, shocking technicians and setting their telegraph papers on fire; Northern Lights spread as far south as Cuba and Hawaii; auroras over the Rocky Mountains were so bright, the glow woke campers who began preparing breakfast because they thought it was morning. Best estimates rank the Carrington Event as 50% or more stronger than the superstorm of May 1921.
Here's a good story from Wired:
http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/09/telegraphs-ran-on-electric-air-in-crazy-magnetic-storm-150-years-ago/
I liked the bit about the telegraph operators disconnecting their batteries and continuing to work on "aurora power"!
Here's a good story from Wired:
http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/09/telegraphs-ran-on-electric-air-in-crazy-magnetic-storm-150-years-ago/
I liked the bit about the telegraph operators disconnecting their batteries and continuing to work on "aurora power"!
Labels:
solar cycle
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Solstice Solargraphs
That's a tough one for someone with a sibilant SSSSS problem! But we usually try to run a sssolstice ssstory, and I've been meaning to mention this for some time.
Very cool. You make a pinhole camera out of a beer can (or an Italian Lemonade Can). You strap it to your tower and leave it out there for six months. Then you develop the film and you get... A SOLARGRAPH.
http://inatarius.wordpress.com/2009/07/01/solargraph-building-guide/
Very cool. You make a pinhole camera out of a beer can (or an Italian Lemonade Can). You strap it to your tower and leave it out there for six months. Then you develop the film and you get... A SOLARGRAPH.
http://inatarius.wordpress.com/2009/07/01/solargraph-building-guide/
Labels:
photography,
solar cycle
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Shuttle and Space Station (and Sunspot)
Check it out! The ISS and the Shuttle Discovery captured by an amateur astro-photographer as they passed in front of the sun, with major sunspots nearby! Catalin Fus of Krakow, Poland, had his solar-filtered telescope trained on sunspot 1166 on March 7 and recorded this amazing conjunction. Thanks Catlin and thanks to spaceweather.com.
I had the whole family out in the front yard after dinner last night. ISS and the Shuttle made spectacular pass over the Washington DC area. We saw both rise up from the Northwest and then blink out after passing overhead. The shuttle (I think) was about one minute behind ISS.
I had the whole family out in the front yard after dinner last night. ISS and the Shuttle made spectacular pass over the Washington DC area. We saw both rise up from the Northwest and then blink out after passing overhead. The shuttle (I think) was about one minute behind ISS.
Labels:
satellites,
solar cycle
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
First X-Class Flare of Cycle 24 Carries Shark To Spain!
Yesterday I predicted that solar activity would affect my little DaVinci code QRSS beacon. Sure enough, Pablo, EA4FUK, reports seeing my shark fin this morning on EA1FAQ's grabber. He sent this image:
A big X-Class flare took place at 0200Z, which was probably just a few hours before Pablo was looking at the FAQ grabber. This pond crossing probably also coincided with gray line time at his location.
Paul, NA5N, puts it all in context (in a message to QRP-L):
Gang,
There was an X2 flare about 0200Z 15 FEB (about 2100 EST). This has caused HF radio blackouts on the sunlit side of the sun (not us!). As this
subsides, the E/F layers will be highly ionized for good reflection. This
event has already elevated the solar flux to about 113 (average lately about
80-85). While this doesn't do much for us right now in North America, it
could create some very interesting morning gray line propagation if you're
one of those morning people.
The X2 event didn't have much density to it, only creating a shock wave of
about 550 km/sec. However, the M6 two days ago had a shock wave of about 1200 km/sec. - enough to cause a geomagnetic storm when it is expected to arrive Tuesday morning.
What is important is to keep an eye on the sun for further activity at:
http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/today.html or other sites.
These active regions are near the center of the sun, meaning any further
flares will send shock waves directly at us. The active regions are highly
magnetized, meaning they are capable of generating further M or X class
flares. If another flare or two happens tomorrow (Tuesday) during daylight hours, it will raise the solar flux and the higher bands will be open for the duration of daylight.
Therefore, the upper bands may be open, but may be interfered with for a few hours if a geomagnetic storm is triggered. It's a matter of dodging the bad stuff (geomagnetic storms) to get to the good stuff (enhanced E/F
propagation).
The only question left ... is this a hiccup on the sun, or is it finally
waking up from hibernation?
72, Paul NA5N
A big X-Class flare took place at 0200Z, which was probably just a few hours before Pablo was looking at the FAQ grabber. This pond crossing probably also coincided with gray line time at his location.
Paul, NA5N, puts it all in context (in a message to QRP-L):
Gang,
There was an X2 flare about 0200Z 15 FEB (about 2100 EST). This has caused HF radio blackouts on the sunlit side of the sun (not us!). As this
subsides, the E/F layers will be highly ionized for good reflection. This
event has already elevated the solar flux to about 113 (average lately about
80-85). While this doesn't do much for us right now in North America, it
could create some very interesting morning gray line propagation if you're
one of those morning people.
The X2 event didn't have much density to it, only creating a shock wave of
about 550 km/sec. However, the M6 two days ago had a shock wave of about 1200 km/sec. - enough to cause a geomagnetic storm when it is expected to arrive Tuesday morning.
What is important is to keep an eye on the sun for further activity at:
http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/today.html or other sites.
These active regions are near the center of the sun, meaning any further
flares will send shock waves directly at us. The active regions are highly
magnetized, meaning they are capable of generating further M or X class
flares. If another flare or two happens tomorrow (Tuesday) during daylight hours, it will raise the solar flux and the higher bands will be open for the duration of daylight.
Therefore, the upper bands may be open, but may be interfered with for a few hours if a geomagnetic storm is triggered. It's a matter of dodging the bad stuff (geomagnetic storms) to get to the good stuff (enhanced E/F
propagation).
The only question left ... is this a hiccup on the sun, or is it finally
waking up from hibernation?
72, Paul NA5N
Labels:
propagation,
QRSS,
solar cycle,
Spain
Monday, February 14, 2011
Big Solar Flare Likely to Disrupt DaVinci QRSS beacon!
The fellows over at spaceweather.com report a big solar flare yesterday at 1738 UTC (pictured above). This may, of course, have some impact on my 20 mW QRSS signal. I put the little Da Vinci code beacon back on the air yesterday. You can try to spot my Italian shark fins swimming past Pensacola, Florida: I put a miniature version of Bill, W4HBK's QRSS grabber in the right hand column of this blog. Just look to the right and scroll down a bit. Johan's Belgian Grabber is also there.
Labels:
propagation,
QRSS,
solar cycle
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Sunspot 1057 Doing Good Work for US!
I got up early this morning, and so did 30 meters. Take a look at the WSPR signal reports that greeted me (below). My 20 mW DSB signal was making the trip to Norway and the UK through most of the night. And at 0256 W1BW picked it up. A visit to the excellent spaceweather.com website reveals that this is probably the work of sunspot 1057. Rogerio Marcon took this picture of that sunspot on March 24 from his backyard observatory in Brazil. (This and a recent thread started by Chris Trask on QRP-L make me think that I NEED a solar telescope.)
My e-mail inbox also had evidence of good HF conditions. Take a look at this from AA1TJ:
Thursday, March 25, 2010 9:52 PM
My e-mail inbox also had evidence of good HF conditions. Take a look at this from AA1TJ:
IZ0PEC de AA1TJ/QRPp
Dear Fabio,
Thank you for your patience in copying my signal on 20m CW this evening. I had been calling DX stations for several hours but you were the only one to answer. My homebrew rig has an output power of only 10mW (0.010 watts). The distance between us is 8793km; nearly one million km per Watt!. The antenna here is simply an end-fed wire.
I am amazed that you heard my 10mW signal in Rome. It's fantastic!
Again, thank you for patiently listening for my weak signal, OM. It would not have been possible without your very kind efforts.
Ciao,
Mike, AA1TJ
Thank you for your patience in copying my signal on 20m CW this evening. I had been calling DX stations for several hours but you were the only one to answer. My homebrew rig has an output power of only 10mW (0.010 watts). The distance between us is 8793km; nearly one million km per Watt!. The antenna here is simply an end-fed wire.
I am amazed that you heard my 10mW signal in Rome. It's fantastic!
Again, thank you for patiently listening for my weak signal, OM. It would not have been possible without your very kind efforts.
Ciao,
Mike, AA1TJ
Labels:
AA1TJ,
astronomy,
Brazil,
Italy,
propagation,
solar cycle,
WSPR
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Big Filament -- On the Sun
The WSPR system has become something of a personal solar activity detector for me. I know, there are lots of ways to detect solar activity: there's the internet, of course. WWV is also there. You could even set up a small telescope and (with the appropriate eye-saving screen or projection systems) watch for spots yourself. But I like using my 20 mW DSB WSPR signal. If I get up in the morning and see that my little signal has been received during the night in Norway by LA3JJ (1950 km) I know that something different is going on with Old Sol.
LA3JJ was detecting my signals all night long last night. And other stations in Europe were picking up U.S. and Israeli stations throughout the night. So, what was happening on the sun? It may have had something to do with the filament pictured above. For more info on this kind of solar event, take a look here:
http://www.ips.gov.au/Educational/2/4/1
LA3JJ was detecting my signals all night long last night. And other stations in Europe were picking up U.S. and Israeli stations throughout the night. So, what was happening on the sun? It may have had something to do with the filament pictured above. For more info on this kind of solar event, take a look here:
http://www.ips.gov.au/Educational/2/4/1
Labels:
propagation,
solar cycle,
WSPR
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Solar Rocket Destroys a Sun-dog
Continuing with our solar theme, here is a neat little video taken on Feb 18 by a thirteen year-old kid. It shows the Atlas rocket carrying NASA's new Solar Dynamic Observatory crashing through a "sun-dog" and obliterating it with the rocket's shock wave. Obviously an auspicious beginning for this mission.
Labels:
solar cycle,
space program,
video
Friday, February 19, 2010
Sunspot 1046 Explains Mysterious Rome-Norway Propagation
I've been trying to understand the propagation conditions that caused my little 20 mW DSB signal to be received ALL-NIGHT-LONG at a distance of 1900 km by station LA3JJ on the night of 12/13 Feb 2010 (click here for more details).
A visit to spaceweather.com provided the answer. At around 1126 UTC on 12 Feb we had the brightest solar flare in more than two years: Sunspot 1046 produced an M8.3 Flare. Helge Mortensen in Norway reported that on 15 Feb in Norway there was "a fantastic blast of aurora." He took a beautiful picture of it (above). Could it be that we see in this picture particles from the same flare, or a coronal mass ejection associated with it?
One of the really cool things about the spaceweather.com site is that it includes lots of input from amateur astronomers and photographers like Helge. Emiel Veldhuis in the Netherlands happened to be observing 1046 when the M flare occurred and he took this series of shots:
Terje Isberg in Switzerland was listening to a DRM station on sortwave. He observed and recorded the radio blackout (SID) caused by the flare:
Rogiero Marconi in Brazil took this shot of the sunspot:
Amazing stuff. This is a good example of how WSPR really puts you in touch with solar conditions and space weather.
A visit to spaceweather.com provided the answer. At around 1126 UTC on 12 Feb we had the brightest solar flare in more than two years: Sunspot 1046 produced an M8.3 Flare. Helge Mortensen in Norway reported that on 15 Feb in Norway there was "a fantastic blast of aurora." He took a beautiful picture of it (above). Could it be that we see in this picture particles from the same flare, or a coronal mass ejection associated with it?
One of the really cool things about the spaceweather.com site is that it includes lots of input from amateur astronomers and photographers like Helge. Emiel Veldhuis in the Netherlands happened to be observing 1046 when the M flare occurred and he took this series of shots:
Terje Isberg in Switzerland was listening to a DRM station on sortwave. He observed and recorded the radio blackout (SID) caused by the flare:
Rogiero Marconi in Brazil took this shot of the sunspot:
Amazing stuff. This is a good example of how WSPR really puts you in touch with solar conditions and space weather.
Labels:
propagation,
solar cycle,
WSPR
Thursday, February 18, 2010
HOMEBREW HERO: Arnie Coro, CO2KK
I was getting ready to write a quick blog entry on Arnie Coro's latest contribution to ham radio (his idea to revive the old 40 meter novice band) when it occurred to me that Arnie's long track record of providing good ideas, technical advice, and inspiration definitely puts him in the HOMEBREW HERO category. Thanks Arnie!
Below you can find the transcript of Arnie's latest edition of Radio Habana Cuba's "DXers Unlimited." There is a good discussion of current solar conditions (improving!) and of Arnie's 40 meter CW initiative.
Arnie's work at RHC is archived and available on the net. It is a real Caribbean treasure trove for us: http://www.dxers-unlimited.dxer.info/
Here is Arnie's blog: http://dxersunlimited.blogspot.com/
From "DXers Unlimited" 16-17 Feb 2010:
Hi amigos radioaficionados around the world now enjoying the ongoing
upsurge in solar activity that has brought to us DX signals as
strong as we had not heard them since 2005 !!! Yes my friends,
finally, after waiting, and waiting, and waiting, we are seeing a
nice comeback of the sunspots... As a matter of fact, only two days
of 2010 had gone by with a totally blank Sun. The all important R
number from the very much respected Catania, Sicily reference solar
observatory was 39 yesterday... and two other sunspot groups are
just about to turn into view...
As a result of the sustained increase in sunspot count, we are
seeing the 15 meters or 21 megaHertz amateur band opening up every
day... I will tell you more about amateur radio Dxing later , here
at th emid week edition of Dxers Unlimited... The daily solar flux
is very near 90, and forecasters were looking at a lower flux during
the next three days, but this may change dramatically and in just a
few hours, if the new solar sunspots regions that are rotating into
Earth's view show high activity.
Item two: The amateur radio hobby is alive and in good health... ham
radio operators are enjoying the hobby and finding new ways of
improving their communications skills... Here is a recent example,
by carefully studying the behavior of activity on the 40 meters
band, I was able to find out that the band
segment from 7105 to 7125 kiloHertz was seeing very little use here
in ITU Region II, that is the Americas. So I launched the idea to
start using that segment by low power stations, on several of the
popular ham radio Internet mailing lists. In just a couple days , CW
activity , mostly by low power or qRP stations on that segment
roughly 20 kiloHertz segment has increased dramatically... For many
operators, finding such a nice and clear , interference free
segment, has meant having the opportunity of making many more two
way contacts.... and not only exchanging reports, but also , thanks
to less interference, we have carried out some really nice ragchews,
and just notice that I have just said WE, because I am , of course,
one of the happy radio amateurs operating on CW between 7105 and
7125 kiloHertz.
There are no digital stations using that segment... as they are now
present between 7030 and 7040 kiloHertz, the two frequencies were
QRP , or low power operators, are used to gather, and where for the
past year or so, it has become extremely difficult at times to make
even a single two way CW contact.
I am not saying that QRP operators should abandon the two favorite
watering holes, 7030 and 7040, what I have told the QRP , GLOWBUGS
and Regenerative receivers Internet list members, is that the
segment between 7105 and 7125 is in a much better shape regarding
QRM... yes there is a let less interference from other
communications modes...so chances to make nice contacts increase in
a very significant way.
Si amigos , Yes my friends , Oui mes amis...amateur radio operators
around the world are now enjoying the upsurge in solar activity, and
with it, we all must look around the bands and find ways to make
better use of them... After all, many other users of the radio
spectrum are always monitoring the ham bands, just to have data
available to substantiate their requests for more spectrum space....
In other words, if we, amateur radio operators are able to be more
time on the air, and the bands sound like a beehive of activity,
chances that those spectrum hungry users will just go elsewhere !!!
The complete script of the program , devoted to the promotion and
development of our radio hobby in general and amateur radio in
particular, can be read at:
http://dxersunlimited.blogspot.com
later this Tuesday, after the program goes on the air
Comments , suggestions and ideas on how to help promote
amateur radio are welcome at my e-mail address
inforhc at enet dot cu
72 and DX
Arnie Coro
CO2KK
Below you can find the transcript of Arnie's latest edition of Radio Habana Cuba's "DXers Unlimited." There is a good discussion of current solar conditions (improving!) and of Arnie's 40 meter CW initiative.
Arnie's work at RHC is archived and available on the net. It is a real Caribbean treasure trove for us: http://www.dxers-unlimited.dxer.info/
Here is Arnie's blog: http://dxersunlimited.blogspot.com/
From "DXers Unlimited" 16-17 Feb 2010:
Hi amigos radioaficionados around the world now enjoying the ongoing
upsurge in solar activity that has brought to us DX signals as
strong as we had not heard them since 2005 !!! Yes my friends,
finally, after waiting, and waiting, and waiting, we are seeing a
nice comeback of the sunspots... As a matter of fact, only two days
of 2010 had gone by with a totally blank Sun. The all important R
number from the very much respected Catania, Sicily reference solar
observatory was 39 yesterday... and two other sunspot groups are
just about to turn into view...
As a result of the sustained increase in sunspot count, we are
seeing the 15 meters or 21 megaHertz amateur band opening up every
day... I will tell you more about amateur radio Dxing later , here
at th emid week edition of Dxers Unlimited... The daily solar flux
is very near 90, and forecasters were looking at a lower flux during
the next three days, but this may change dramatically and in just a
few hours, if the new solar sunspots regions that are rotating into
Earth's view show high activity.
Item two: The amateur radio hobby is alive and in good health... ham
radio operators are enjoying the hobby and finding new ways of
improving their communications skills... Here is a recent example,
by carefully studying the behavior of activity on the 40 meters
band, I was able to find out that the band
segment from 7105 to 7125 kiloHertz was seeing very little use here
in ITU Region II, that is the Americas. So I launched the idea to
start using that segment by low power stations, on several of the
popular ham radio Internet mailing lists. In just a couple days , CW
activity , mostly by low power or qRP stations on that segment
roughly 20 kiloHertz segment has increased dramatically... For many
operators, finding such a nice and clear , interference free
segment, has meant having the opportunity of making many more two
way contacts.... and not only exchanging reports, but also , thanks
to less interference, we have carried out some really nice ragchews,
and just notice that I have just said WE, because I am , of course,
one of the happy radio amateurs operating on CW between 7105 and
7125 kiloHertz.
There are no digital stations using that segment... as they are now
present between 7030 and 7040 kiloHertz, the two frequencies were
QRP , or low power operators, are used to gather, and where for the
past year or so, it has become extremely difficult at times to make
even a single two way CW contact.
I am not saying that QRP operators should abandon the two favorite
watering holes, 7030 and 7040, what I have told the QRP , GLOWBUGS
and Regenerative receivers Internet list members, is that the
segment between 7105 and 7125 is in a much better shape regarding
QRM... yes there is a let less interference from other
communications modes...so chances to make nice contacts increase in
a very significant way.
Si amigos , Yes my friends , Oui mes amis...amateur radio operators
around the world are now enjoying the upsurge in solar activity, and
with it, we all must look around the bands and find ways to make
better use of them... After all, many other users of the radio
spectrum are always monitoring the ham bands, just to have data
available to substantiate their requests for more spectrum space....
In other words, if we, amateur radio operators are able to be more
time on the air, and the bands sound like a beehive of activity,
chances that those spectrum hungry users will just go elsewhere !!!
The complete script of the program , devoted to the promotion and
development of our radio hobby in general and amateur radio in
particular, can be read at:
http://dxersunlimited.blogspot.com
later this Tuesday, after the program goes on the air
Comments , suggestions and ideas on how to help promote
amateur radio are welcome at my e-mail address
inforhc at enet dot cu
72 and DX
Arnie Coro
CO2KK
Labels:
Cuba,
propagation,
solar cycle
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)