ARRL 10 meter contest (December 12 – 13, 2009)

[WS4T]

Any hope for activity on the 10 m contest this weekend?

I've been inactive for years and finally got back on the air since last summer. I have very fond recollections of 10 meter activity in a previous sunspot cycle.

But 10 meters seems dead as a doornail right now. I've been CQing every this week to try to warm up the ionosphere. NOTHING! But maybe it's because I'm in Eastern Europe (Estonia). Latitude = 59.5 N

[KF7CG]

Increased activity always seems to increase propagation so check out the contest. Propagation might just be better than expected.

Even with lousy propagation a large number of Amateurs on the air tends to increase the contact percentages.

So just do it and have fun.

KF7CG

[KF6A]

The ARRL 10m contest is scheduled around the meteor shower in December so there should be some contacts available whether or not there is sporadic E or F2 propagation.

This is one of my favorite contests along with the CQWW and I will be participating. Hope to work you.

[N5XTR]

I haven't decided whether to go mobile (500+ watts) or to stay in the house (100w).  Either way I'll be working this contest.  Hope to work you. 73

[WS4T]

Thanks, everybody, for the feedback. I will definitely give it a shot and hope to work you this weekend. Listen for ES1WST. Unfortunately, I only have an FT-817 and Windom antenna at this time, but you never know.

One question re 10 m and  meteor activity: Does that mean that QSOs might be possible on 10 m this weekend at night too?

Gary, WS4T (ES1WST)

[K2MK]

The 10 meter conditions in SNJ this weekend have been horrendous. I cannot recall them ever being this poor for the contest.

73,
Mike K2MK

[WS4T]

Very poor conditions here too. I managed 4 QSOs, all with Western Europe, using my FT-817 and 3-band OCF dipole. Heavy QSB -- The few stations I heard were going from S9 to nearly inaudible in only a few seconds. I'm looking forward to some sunspots!

WS4T (ES1WST)

[K2ER]

There were poor condx in NNJ of course, but with a little patience I managed to grab 31 states plus Ontario... 82 QSO's... with my inverted vee up 20' hanging off a branch.  With mostly 100W, but I used 600W later in the contest just to blast a few more electrons up at that depleted ionosphere!

Best "DX" was CO, NE, KS, and OK.

Pretty fun actually. DX takes many forms.

73 de K2ER
Roger

[K4FX]

I agree with Roger, while not a single DX station outside of South and Central America was heard, I did work a ton of those guys, and plenty of States, including a KH6 on CW to help finish up with 10m for my 5BWAS,

In 23 hours worked 438 QSO,s and about 90 multipliers, DX does indeed come in many forms!!! I had a ball!!

73

Bill K4FX

[KF6A]

I had better luck this year than last year. I tripled my score but that could be due to raising my antenna some too. Either way I had fun.

[KD8IZZ]

Although the cluster said there was plenty of activity in the western US, here in Ohio it was only ground wave for the first hours of the contest. I think I talked to everyone there is within 50 miles of me.

I tried again during the last half hour of the contest and I talked to Texas again and again. Almost no other state. Strange.

[WX4O]

The only thing heard in my N.E. Alabama QTH the whole day of the contest was 'ssssssssssssssssss'. Terrible conditions.

[KF6A]

That's too bad to hear. I worked some double hop E to FL and GA but honestly it was only the big guns you could hear and Central and South America came in sporadically as well. Lots of AZ, TX, NM, ID, WA, CO and some strong but short openings to OR. Surprisingly, I worked Montana more than I ever have. Some of the other guys in my club worked VK and E51. I missed the opening to New England and the south pacific is a no go for me anyway.

[N2RRA]

Worked the 10 meter contest with lots of success!

Gary,

If you want to schedule 10 meter contacts daily till we make contact I'd love to attempt to open the band to Europe with you.

73!

[WS4T]

Hi N2RRA,

10 m has been nothing but dead here for me since December. I tend to at least take a minute or two and tune across the band every day (since I work at home and can afford this luxury). But I have been starting to wonder whether my radio (FT-817) was broken, despite plenty of contacts on 15, 20, 40, 80 and 160m.

But then last Thursday (May 13), I heard a German beacon (DL0IGI) in the morning. I tried calling CQ lower down in the CW band and made a couple of contacts in Europe. Then I went up to 6 m and quickly got a pile-up of German stations.

So I guess the sporadic E season has begun. Unfortunately, this event has not repeated itself since then. I've been watching the MUF (http://www.vhfdx.net/spots/map.php?Lan=E&Frec=MUF&ML=M&Map=EU) every day, but there's not much happening.

Anyway, perhaps the time is nearing to try a sked?

Gary, ES1WST (WS4T)