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locked FT8 success after sunset
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Georgina Joyce
Hello All,
I have noticed I can get contacts quite easily during daylight time, typically 20m and on 40m. I have observed 20m goes flat slowly after sunset. On 40m and 80m where I can hear activity during darkness, I find it nearly impossible to get a contact. Being a blind ham I cannot observe what of the audio levels are changed by the onset of darkness. While I understand that changes of the layers of the ionosphere affect propagation. I do not know what effects this is having on my audio levels. Are they excited or subdued? If so, are both affected? Or is it nothing to do with audio levels? What can I do to improve my chances of successful contacts during darkness? It certainly sounds like there's a lot of activity at night. So I assume they are usually successful but why aren't I? Many thanks, Georgina Call: M0EBP DMR ID: 2346259 Allstar: 52178 Locater: IO83PS
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Tom V. Segalstad
Hi Georgina,
If you are able to use the 30 meter band, my experience there is, that it is possible to make contacts with almost the entire world with FT8 after darkness.
73 and good DX from Tom, LA4LN
Sent from Outlook Mobile
From: main@WSJTX.groups.io <main@WSJTX.groups.io> on behalf of Georgina Joyce <gena@...>
Sent: Wednesday, December 30, 2020 10:34:11 PM To: WSJTX@groups.io <WSJTX@groups.io> Subject: [WSJTX] FT8 success after sunset Hello All,
I have noticed I can get contacts quite easily during daylight time, typically 20m and on 40m. I have observed 20m goes flat slowly after sunset. On 40m and 80m where I can hear activity during darkness, I find it nearly impossible to get a contact. Being a blind ham I cannot observe what of the audio levels are changed by the onset of darkness. While I understand that changes of the layers of the ionosphere affect propagation. I do not know what effects this is having on my audio levels. Are they excited or subdued? If so, are both affected? Or is it nothing to do with audio levels? What can I do to improve my chances of successful contacts during darkness? It certainly sounds like there's a lot of activity at night. So I assume they are usually successful but why aren't I? Many thanks, Georgina Call: M0EBP DMR ID: 2346259 Allstar: 52178 Locater: IO83PS -- Tom (LA4LN)
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John Morphet
It is normal for the higher bands to go quiet and the lower bands to come
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
alive at night. Since 20m works well, but the lower bands do not, I would be suspicious of how your antenna is tuned to the lower bands. Check the SWR of the antenna at the lower bands. It could be something else, but kind of hard to tell without being there. Maybe you can find a local ham to help you. John, WØZI www.w0zi.com
-----Original Message-----
From: main@WSJTX.groups.io <main@WSJTX.groups.io> On Behalf Of Georgina Joyce Sent: Wednesday, December 30, 2020 2:34 PM To: WSJTX@groups.io Subject: [WSJTX] FT8 success after sunset Hello All, I have noticed I can get contacts quite easily during daylight time, typically 20m and on 40m. I have observed 20m goes flat slowly after sunset. On 40m and 80m where I can hear activity during darkness, I find it nearly impossible to get a contact. Being a blind ham I cannot observe what of the audio levels are changed by the onset of darkness. While I understand that changes of the layers of the ionosphere affect propagation. I do not know what effects this is having on my audio levels. Are they excited or subdued? If so, are both affected? Or is it nothing to do with audio levels? What can I do to improve my chances of successful contacts during darkness? It certainly sounds like there's a lot of activity at night. So I assume they are usually successful but why aren't I? Many thanks, Georgina Call: M0EBP DMR ID: 2346259 Allstar: 52178 Locater: IO83PS
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Bob McGraw - K4TAX <rmcgraw@...>
Study the effects of propagation and MUF. It changes from day to
night. 73 Bob, K4TAX
On 12/30/2020 5:27 PM, John Morphet
wrote:
It is normal for the higher bands to go quiet and the lower bands to come alive at night. Since 20m works well, but the lower bands do not, I would be suspicious of how your antenna is tuned to the lower bands. Check the SWR of the antenna at the lower bands. It could be something else, but kind of hard to tell without being there. Maybe you can find a local ham to help you. John, WØZI www.w0zi.com -----Original Message----- From: main@WSJTX.groups.io <main@WSJTX.groups.io> On Behalf Of Georgina Joyce Sent: Wednesday, December 30, 2020 2:34 PM To: WSJTX@groups.io Subject: [WSJTX] FT8 success after sunset Hello All, I have noticed I can get contacts quite easily during daylight time, typically 20m and on 40m. I have observed 20m goes flat slowly after sunset. On 40m and 80m where I can hear activity during darkness, I find it nearly impossible to get a contact. Being a blind ham I cannot observe what of the audio levels are changed by the onset of darkness. While I understand that changes of the layers of the ionosphere affect propagation. I do not know what effects this is having on my audio levels. Are they excited or subdued? If so, are both affected? Or is it nothing to do with audio levels? What can I do to improve my chances of successful contacts during darkness? It certainly sounds like there's a lot of activity at night. So I assume they are usually successful but why aren't I? Many thanks, Georgina Call: M0EBP DMR ID: 2346259 Allstar: 52178 Locater: IO83PS
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I had a problem going to the lower bands myself. What I found was that my radio was automatically set to go to lower sideband on the lower frequencies. Make sure your radio isn't switching to L S B on the lower bands.
Good luck Dennis N6NG
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Georgina Joyce
Hello All,
Thanks for your suggestions. I just had a goal to get a number of contacts before the end of the year. As I write I have a few hours left of this year. But have given up and will look to see what my total is after writing this message. I do not have an antenna that has an SWR problem. I have a TW1 and the TS-590SG that speaks the SWR and I am quite capable of using them. From the responses it appears that it is just competition within crowded bands. Thanks, On 30 Dec 2020, at 23:27, John Morphet <jmorphet@...> wrote:Georgina Call: M0EBP DMR ID: 2346259 Allstar: 52178 Locater: IO83PS
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Dave
Yes,
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
Keep in mind that the band is very busy and a QRP signal is often lost. Just today I was on 20 watching South Africa pop up but not able to work it. Dave KC3AM
On 12/31/2020 17:10, Georgina Joyce
wrote:
Hello All, Thanks for your suggestions. I just had a goal to get a number of contacts before the end of the year. As I write I have a few hours left of this year. But have given up and will look to see what my total is after writing this message. I do not have an antenna that has an SWR problem. I have a TW1 and the TS-590SG that speaks the SWR and I am quite capable of using them. >From the responses it appears that it is just competition within crowded bands. Thanks,On 30 Dec 2020, at 23:27, John Morphet <jmorphet@...> wrote: It is normal for the higher bands to go quiet and the lower bands to come alive at night. Since 20m works well, but the lower bands do not, I would be suspicious of how your antenna is tuned to the lower bands. Check the SWR of the antenna at the lower bands. It could be something else, but kind of hard to tell without being there. Maybe you can find a local ham to help you. John, WØZI www.w0zi.com -----Original Message----- From: main@WSJTX.groups.io <main@WSJTX.groups.io> On Behalf Of Georgina Joyce Sent: Wednesday, December 30, 2020 2:34 PM To: WSJTX@groups.io Subject: [WSJTX] FT8 success after sunset Hello All, I have noticed I can get contacts quite easily during daylight time, typically 20m and on 40m. I have observed 20m goes flat slowly after sunset. On 40m and 80m where I can hear activity during darkness, I find it nearly impossible to get a contact. Being a blind ham I cannot observe what of the audio levels are changed by the onset of darkness. While I understand that changes of the layers of the ionosphere affect propagation. I do not know what effects this is having on my audio levels. Are they excited or subdued? If so, are both affected? Or is it nothing to do with audio levels? What can I do to improve my chances of successful contacts during darkness? It certainly sounds like there's a lot of activity at night. So I assume they are usually successful but why aren't I? Many thanks, Georgina Call: M0EBP DMR ID: 2346259 Allstar: 52178 Locater: IO83PSGeorgina Call: M0EBP DMR ID: 2346259 Allstar: 52178 Locater: IO83PS --
Hams should be seen as well as heard, 73, Dave KC3AM
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Phil Davidson
Hi Bob. Did you read the email contents please as I found your response a bit unhelpful! The operator states she is aware of propagation issues. But asks will these effect ‘audio levels’ or is there something else going on? As a ‘visually impaired’ operator this might not be easy to correct/ Regards – Phil (G0DOR)
Sent from Mail for Windows 10
From: Bob McGraw - K4TAX
Sent: 30 December 2020 23:33 To: main@WSJTX.groups.io Subject: Re: [WSJTX] FT8 success after sunset
Study the effects of propagation and MUF. It changes from day to night. 73 Bob, K4TAX
On 12/30/2020 5:27 PM, John Morphet wrote: It is normal for the higher bands to go quiet and the lower bands to comealive at night. Since 20m works well, but the lower bands do not, I would besuspicious of how your antenna is tuned to the lower bands. Check the SWR ofthe antenna at the lower bands. It could be something else, but kind of hardto tell without being there. Maybe you can find a local ham to help you.John, WØZIwww.w0zi.com-----Original Message-----From: main@WSJTX.groups.io <main@WSJTX.groups.io> On Behalf Of GeorginaJoyceSent: Wednesday, December 30, 2020 2:34 PMTo: WSJTX@groups.ioSubject: [WSJTX] FT8 success after sunsetHello All,I have noticed I can get contacts quite easily during daylight time,typically 20m and on 40m. I have observed 20m goes flat slowly after sunset.On 40m and 80m where I can hear activity during darkness, I find it nearlyimpossible to get a contact. Being a blind ham I cannot observe what of theaudio levels are changed by the onset of darkness. While I understand thatchanges of the layers of the ionosphere affect propagation. I do not knowwhat effects this is having on my audio levels. Are they excited or subdued?If so, are both affected? Or is it nothing to do with audio levels? What canI do to improve my chances of successful contacts during darkness? Itcertainly sounds like there's a lot of activity at night. So I assume theyare usually successful but why aren't I?Many thanks,GeorginaCall: M0EBPDMR ID: 2346259Allstar: 52178Locater: IO83PS
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