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IARU HF World Championship

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The IARU HF World Championship contest was both good fun and instructive. The contest is 24 hours long, which for a single operator can be tiring. I put in about six hours. I didn’t have any big goals since it was my first IARU contest. However, I did want to work at least three bands on SSB. This I was able to accomplish with contacts on 15, 20 and 40 meters albeit with only one contact on 40.

A couple of fun things happened during the contest. I contacted NU5DE who wasn’t in the contest but was running one from California: The Skinny Dipping Contest. I told him I was close to some water (I was at the Oak Bay Marina) and might join in. He lamented that they run the Skinny Dipping Contest every year on the same weekend as the IARU contest. They were always getting drowned out.

I was working 20 meters near 14.300 when I was contacted by VE7UBA Alan Guilbault who commented that my signal was very loud at his location in Oak Bay south. I noted that I was at the Oak Bay Marina. “No wonder” he commented. Interestingly enough, Alan had just joined IslandHF and wanted to get together for coffee. It’s on the agenda, Alan.

Lastly, I heard VE7RAC on 40 meters at 7.180 but I just couldn’t contact him. My 50 watts just couldn’t get through the mountains and the static. Too bad.

The IARU contest is great fun. If you didn’t work it this year, try it in 2024.

Propagation Check

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Activity on the Sun has a major impact on ionospheric radio propagation. It affects a variety of forms of HF radio communications, including two-way radio communications, maritime mobile radio communications, radio broadcasting, and amateur radio communications. Knowing the Solar Flux Index and K Index will help you determine current conditions and know what to expect in the near future. There are dozens of sites on the web that provide this data.

For Best Conditions:

  • Solar Flux should remain above 150 for a few days (scale from 0-300)
  • K Index – should be below 2
  • A Index – 5 or more indicates a geomagnetic storm (scale from 0-9)

Citation: Who Stole My Bands? A Look at Ham Radio and the Capricious Sun – Mark Haverstock K8MSH

Another IslandHF score for the RAC Canada Day Contest

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My score was modest. 2,580 points from 24 phone contacts. It was tough at times to hop the Rocky Mountains with 50 watts. But I did so into New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Alberta and BC. I heard a nice signal VO1OP in NL, but was not able to work him. The RAC stations in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Quebec were fun logs.

40 meters was difficult on Friday evening with lots of noise and static crashes. 10 meters was gonzo while there was some good opportunities on 20 and 15.

The RAC Canada Day Contest is one of my favorites. I hope other IslandHF members took the opportunity to get on the air.