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Author Topic: What’s going on on 15m?  (Read 26004 times)

9H1FQ

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What’s going on on 15m?
« on: March 05, 2018, 02:12:55 PM »
In my part of the world, it used to be fun, working on 15 m in most afternoons.
Nowadays, not a single soul!
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An unknown gem of the Mediterranean sea is the Island of Malta. blessed with warm sun , all year round.
In just one day, you can see places which will make you travel in history from the Prehistoric temples throu the middle ages, the Knights of Malta, all the way to world war two. All the major civ

N6YFM

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RE: What’s going on on 15m?
« Reply #1 on: March 05, 2018, 09:34:59 PM »
Multiple Choice:

A.   Zero Sunspots.
B.   MUF too low.
C.   CB Radio Zombie Apocalypse QRM.
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9H1FQ

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RE: What’s going on on 15m?
« Reply #2 on: March 05, 2018, 10:58:57 PM »
No QRM at all, just a dead , cemetery band.
No activity at all, not even on contests!
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An unknown gem of the Mediterranean sea is the Island of Malta. blessed with warm sun , all year round.
In just one day, you can see places which will make you travel in history from the Prehistoric temples throu the middle ages, the Knights of Malta, all the way to world war two. All the major civ

OZ8AGB

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RE: What’s going on on 15m?
« Reply #3 on: March 06, 2018, 04:09:54 AM »
Welcome to the bottom of the sunspot cycle. Time to put up antennas for 40m, 80m and 160m.
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K0UA

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RE: What’s going on on 15m?
« Reply #4 on: March 06, 2018, 07:03:45 AM »
Hm... 15 meters is open every day on FT8.  Every single day.  Your on the wrong mode.  Band is not "dead", band is not utilized for SSB voice because signals are low due to sunspot cycle.  Just switch modes and keep on working stations.  The band carried SSB signals during the ARRL contest last weekend, because contests will always generate enough traffic even when signals are low.   Sure the bands "suck", what would you expect? But there are always ways to make a contact, and today that way is FT8. When and IF propagation ever returns to good levels, we can all "rediscover" SSB voice communications. Until then, switch to digital.
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73  James K0UA

9H1FQ

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RE: What’s going on on 15m?
« Reply #5 on: March 06, 2018, 05:41:22 PM »
I use cw mostly!
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An unknown gem of the Mediterranean sea is the Island of Malta. blessed with warm sun , all year round.
In just one day, you can see places which will make you travel in history from the Prehistoric temples throu the middle ages, the Knights of Malta, all the way to world war two. All the major civ

K0UA

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RE: What’s going on on 15m?
« Reply #6 on: March 06, 2018, 06:25:48 PM »
Quote from: 9H1FQ on March 06, 2018, 05:41:22 PM
I use cw mostly!

I look forward to working you.  If you were on FT8, you could gain another 10 dB.  Think about that 10 dB deeper into the noise for free!.  What would an amplifier cost to give you another 10 dB?  I will look for you on CW or maybe FT8 soon. 
73
James K0UA
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73  James K0UA

AE5GT

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RE: What’s going on on 15m?
« Reply #7 on: March 06, 2018, 07:48:42 PM »
Looking back , all propagation on 15 has been Trans Equatorial (South America) . East west only within a few hours of sunrise / sunset. Unfortunately for Malta that means Africa...not that many stations. Late  afternoon you might make South America.
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9H1FQ

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RE: What’s going on on 15m?
« Reply #8 on: March 06, 2018, 11:16:25 PM »
Malta is 60 miles off Scicily,  the southern tip of Europe!
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An unknown gem of the Mediterranean sea is the Island of Malta. blessed with warm sun , all year round.
In just one day, you can see places which will make you travel in history from the Prehistoric temples throu the middle ages, the Knights of Malta, all the way to world war two. All the major civ

OZ8AGB

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RE: What’s going on on 15m?
« Reply #9 on: March 07, 2018, 02:33:50 AM »
Use VOACAP to find the best times for 15m propagation.
http://www.voacap.com/p2p/index.html
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NK7Z

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RE: What’s going on on 15m?
« Reply #10 on: March 07, 2018, 06:13:05 PM »
Quote from: N6YFM on March 05, 2018, 09:34:59 PM
Multiple Choice:

A.   Zero Sunspots.
B.   MUF too low.
C.   CB Radio Zombie Apocalypse QRM.
I like C!
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Thanks,
Dave
Amateur Radio: RFI help, Reviews, Setup information, and more...
https://www.nk7z.net

K0UA

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RE: What’s going on on 15m?
« Reply #11 on: March 08, 2018, 06:30:37 PM »
Worked XR0YD today on 15 meters.

K0UA   XR0YD   2018-03-08 23:53:15   15M   FT8   21.07637
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73  James K0UA

KS2G

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RE: What’s going on on 15m?
« Reply #12 on: March 09, 2018, 06:13:11 PM »
Quote from: 9H1FQ on March 05, 2018, 10:58:57 PM
No QRM at all, just a dead , cemetery band.
No activity at all, not even on contests!

Perhaps not in Malta, but I worked 39 DXCC in the ARRL-DX-CW contest, and 31 DXCC in the ARRL-DX-SSB contest on 15-meters running just 100 watts into a 3-element Yaggi up only 10-meters (35-feet).  ;)


 
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K0UA

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RE: What’s going on on 15m?
« Reply #13 on: March 13, 2018, 09:59:34 AM »
165600 -16  0.4  983 ~  K0UA 9H1BW -08
165615  Tx      1067 ~  9H1BW K0UA R-16       
165645  Tx      1067 ~  9H1BW K0UA R-16       
165700 -11  0.4  983 ~  K0UA 9H1BW RRR
165715  Tx      1067 ~  9H1BW K0UA 73         
165730 -14  0.4  984 ~  K0UA 9H1BW 73

This is on 21.074  On FT8 today.  Maybe a friend of yours?

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73  James K0UA

RENTON481

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RE: What’s going on on 15m?
« Reply #14 on: April 16, 2018, 09:57:01 PM »
Sunspots. Well -- lack of them.

And location would also make a difference.

I'm just and SWL/monitor, but last time there was a contest (within the past month or so, can't remember the name of it) I heard one weak QSO on 15 meters.

And within the last several months I think I've heard maybe one or two guys calling CQ, probably from Japan.

In 2011-2012 or so there would have been numerous QSO's during a contest, and at least some other activity the rest of the time.
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