Thanks for stopping by. This is where I publish a lot of my features and thoughts on HF propagation, antennas and other ham radio topics. I write for a number of radio magazines, including the RSGB's RadCom and ARRL's QST. I am also chairman of the RSGB's Propagation Studies Committee and produce the weekly HF propagation report for GB2RS. When not playing radio I'm a professional journalist specialising in aerospace, science and technology and am also author of four RSGB books.
Tuesday, 12 April 2011
Podcast: HF Propagation Report, April 2011
A look at the last 30 days' solar and geomagnetic conditions and how Solar Cycle 24 is humming . What you can work on each HF band and how to get a free ebook.
Click on the headline to listen to the programme online or if you prefer to listen to it on your iPod search for G0KYA on iTunes.
Wednesday, 6 April 2011
Propagation predictions for International Marconi Day
Right: Peter (M0RYB) hard at work on the key at GB0CMS last year.
International Marconi Day will be held on Saturday 30 April 2011 this year. I help to run GB0CMS at Caister Lifeboat in Norfolk and thought it would be a good idea to have some idea of propagation conditions to the other IMD stations around the world.
I have therefore created some charts that show the reliability of paths to Italy, East Coast of USA, West Coast USA, Iceland, Newfoundland and Uruguay - the locations of the majority of the IMD stations. These should help you get your award.
See http://www.infotechcomms.net/IMD/
For info, they were created using HamCap (a VOACAP-based program) using a smoothed sunspot number of 41 and based on 100W CW to a dipole at 35ft. Scale your results accordingly.
Monday, 4 April 2011
UK Propagation charts for April 2011
This month's predictions are based on a smoothed sunspot number of 41. Expect to see good openings up to 15m, with 12m/10m making a good showing if the flux remains high. April is also good for North/South paths, such as UK<>South Africa/South America.
I would expect to see the Sporadic E season starting around 1st May too.
So good DX.
Anyway, here are the charts.