{"id":38381,"date":"2019-07-05T20:10:42","date_gmt":"2019-07-06T00:10:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=38381"},"modified":"2019-07-06T13:13:03","modified_gmt":"2019-07-06T17:13:03","slug":"free-advice-stop-worrying-about-solar-minimums-and-just-play-radio","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2019\/07\/free-advice-stop-worrying-about-solar-minimums-and-just-play-radio\/","title":{"rendered":"Free Advice: Stop worrying about solar minimums and just play radio!"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Lately we’ve been getting some pretty dismal news about the upcoming solar cycles and the potential for a pretty dismal trend according to some researchers<\/a>.<\/p>\n

We report this news on the SWLing Post<\/em> because the sun and space weather play an important role in radio signal propagation and one’s ability to snag elusive DX.<\/p>\n

After publishing news items like this, though, I always receive a number of emails and comments stating that these trends surely marks the end of all radio fun. After all, if there are no sun spots whatsoever<\/a>, why bother!?!<\/p>\n

Truth is, it’s sort of like saying, “the weather looks lousy, I don’t think I’ll be able to have fun.”<\/p>\n

I lived in the UK for several years. If I let the potential for lousy weather stop me from having fun, I’d have never gotten anything done!<\/p>\n

The same goes for space weather in our radio world.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

A couple weeks ago, I made a Parks On The Air (POTA) activation running 15 watts with the Elecraft KX3<\/a> into a simple 20 meter vertical in SSB mode.\u00a0 Even though propagation was poor, I logged a new contact, on average, once per minute over the course of 30 minutes! It was non-stop!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

The GE 7-2990A (left) and Panasonic RF-B65 (right)<\/p><\/div>\n

I also listened to the Midwinter Broadcast to Antarctica<\/a> with two portable radios. Propagation was poor and I didn’t even use an external antenna…but I caught the broadcast and had a load of fun hanging out on the Blue Ridge Parkway!<\/p>\n

My advice?<\/h1>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

As I said in a post last year<\/a>, use the sunspot low as an excuse to explore frequencies and modes you\u2019ve never used before. Use this as an opportunity to improve your listening skills and the most important part of your listening post or ham station\u2013your antenna system!<\/p>\n

I often receive email from people who\u2019ve found the SWLing Post<\/em> and take the time to write a message to me complaining about the death of shortwave radio: the lack of broadcasters, the prevalence of radio interference and the crummy propagation. They wonder, “is it all worth it?”<\/p>\n

My reply?<\/p>\n

\u201cHey\u2026sounds like radio\u2019s not your thing!\u201d<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

While this same person is moaning and complaining, I\u2019ll be on the radio logging South American, Asian and African broadcast stations.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ll be working DX with QRP power,\u00a0even though everyone tells me that\u2019s not possible right now<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

I\u2019ll be improving my skill set and trying new aspects of our vast radio world.<\/p>\n

You see: I\u2019ve learned that the complainers aren\u2019t actually on the air. They gave up many moons ago because someone told them it wasn\u2019t worth it, or they simply lost interest. That\u2019s okay…seriously\u2026but why waste time complaining? Go find something else that lights your fire!<\/p>\n

While these folks are complaining, I\u2019ll be on the air doing all of the things they tell me I can\u2019t do.<\/strong><\/p>\n

In the words of Admiral David Farragut: “Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!”<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Go out there and play radio!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Lately we’ve been getting some pretty dismal news about the upcoming solar cycles and the potential for a pretty dismal trend according to some researchers. We report this news on the SWLing Post because the sun and space weather play an important role in radio signal propagation and one’s ability to snag elusive DX. After […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3,43,810],"tags":[145,1031,412,18,34],"class_list":["post-38381","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","category-shortwave-radio","category-space-weather","tag-dx","tag-dxing","tag-propagation","tag-radio","tag-shortwave"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-9Z3","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":14404,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2015\/08\/it-might-not-be-your-radio-poor-propagation\/","url_meta":{"origin":38381,"position":0},"title":"It might not be your radio: poor propagation","author":"Thomas","date":"August 17, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Lately, I've had a number of emails from new readers that read\u00a0something like this: \"I just purchased a new portable shortwave receiver, but I can't seem to hear anything on it other than the strongest of stations. Should I return this radio? Am I doing something wrong?\" The SWLing Post\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"PL-680-BBC-Click-Frequency","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/PL-680-BBC-Click-Frequency-1024x466.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/PL-680-BBC-Click-Frequency-1024x466.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/PL-680-BBC-Click-Frequency-1024x466.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":33159,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2018\/07\/radio-propagation-may-improve-soon-with-region-of-solar-flux\/","url_meta":{"origin":38381,"position":1},"title":"Radio propagation may improve soon with region of solar flux","author":"Thomas","date":"July 11, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mike Hansgen, who shares this latest Space Weather report from Tamitha Skov: Space Weather jumps into action this week with two weak solar storms en route to Earth. NASA models predict they will hit starting July 9 and they could easily bring aurora to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ham Radio"","block_context":{"text":"Ham Radio","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/ham-radio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/SunSpots-None-Demi.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/SunSpots-None-Demi.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/SunSpots-None-Demi.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/SunSpots-None-Demi.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":28182,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/09\/hf-radio-blackouts-in-wake-of-solar-flares\/","url_meta":{"origin":38381,"position":2},"title":"HF Radio blackouts in wake of solar flares","author":"Thomas","date":"September 8, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"(Source: ARRL via Mike Terry) NOAA\u2019s Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) has issued a strong (G3) geomagnetic storm watch for September 7 through September 9. The SWPC said the watch for September 7 remains in effect due to the arrival of a coronal mass ejection (CME) and the effects of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ham Radio"","block_context":{"text":"Ham Radio","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/ham-radio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/GeoStormForecast-e1504865980755.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/GeoStormForecast-e1504865980755.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/GeoStormForecast-e1504865980755.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/GeoStormForecast-e1504865980755.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":48287,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2021\/03\/hf-start-web-tool-a-new-web-based-real-time-shortwave-radio-propagation-application\/","url_meta":{"origin":38381,"position":3},"title":"HF-START Web Tool: A new web-based, real-time shortwave radio propagation application","author":"Thomas","date":"March 28, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Tracy Wood, who shares the following journal abstract from EurekaAlert.com: Commencement of shortwave propagation simulator (HF-START) service Demonstrating radio wave propagation paths between any two points based on real-time space weather information NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY (NICT) [Abstract] The National Institute\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Antennas"","block_context":{"text":"Antennas","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/antennas\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/GAIA_3D_side_202103281245.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/GAIA_3D_side_202103281245.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/GAIA_3D_side_202103281245.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":51730,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2022\/02\/february-2-2021-a-low-hazard-cme-could-bring-auroras-to-low-latitudes-and-affect-hf-propagation\/","url_meta":{"origin":38381,"position":4},"title":"February 2, 2022: A low-hazard CME could bring auroras to low latitudes and affect HF propagation","author":"Thomas","date":"February 1, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Ed, who shares the following news from Spaceweather.com: GEOMAGNETIC STORM WATCH: A coronal mass ejection (CME) is heading for Earth. Estimated time of arrival: Feb. 2nd. This movie from SOHO shows the halo CME leaving the sun: It was hurled into space during the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ham Radio"","block_context":{"text":"Ham Radio","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/ham-radio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/CME-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":52367,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2022\/04\/you-and-the-ionosphere-share-your-propagation-stories\/","url_meta":{"origin":38381,"position":5},"title":"You and the ionosphere: Share your propagation stories!","author":"Thomas","date":"April 6, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to\u00a0SWLing Post\u00a0contributor,\u00a0Jock Elliott, who shares the following guest post: You and the ionosphere . . . a reader participation post By Jock Elliott, KB2GOM Here\u2019s a shocker for you: we live at the bottom of the sky. Above us there are multiple layers of the atmosphere, pressing down\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Guest Posts"","block_context":{"text":"Guest Posts","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/guest-posts\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/external-content.duckduckgo.com_.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38381","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=38381"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38381\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=38381"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=38381"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=38381"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}