With Scotland and many countries around the World currently in a state of Lockdown, day to day life has changed dramatically. For some people all they see is the negative effects of restricted movement, closure of workplaces, schools, parks, churches etc and separation from friends and loved ones. For others there are some positive effects.
It may sound a bit odd but as huge numbers of people around the World are having to stay at home many of them who are licensed amateur radio operators have dusted off their HF communications equipment and are keeping themselves, other hams, radio enthusiasts and short-wave listeners, occupied during these difficult times.
Although we are at the bottom of the 11 year solar cycle and radio propagation conditions are rather poor many amateur radio stations, myself included, have been enjoying a significant increase in activity on the amateur bands since the COVID-19 virus lockdown has brought many of the dormant stations back on air.
Over the past couple of years I have lost count of how many hams I have heard stating 'the bands are dead'. Some have given up trying, packed away their HF radios or even sold off their gear!
Of course many embraced the challenge, focussed on the lower frequency HF bands, continued to 'chase the propagation' and make good use of the often brief band openings to work distant stations.
My own amateur radio operators license (UK Foundation License) limits my power output to 10W ERP and I do not have fancy radio equipment or large antennas placed high above the ground for optimum efficiency.
I have been making the best of what I have in the space that is available to me. Using home-brewed wire antennas made from scrap copper wire (an vast improvement on the two 10M plastic coated steel washing lines I made my first HF contacts with!) My antennas are strung between home-brewed towers build from recycled timber with the tallest standing at 29ft 6in tall. None of my HF antennas are at their optimum operating height above ground. This is especially noticeable on the lower frequency bands where wavelegths are longer and antennas low to the ground incur losses making them somewhat inefficient. So my meager transmitted signals need to be put the best possible use.
This means utilising enhanced propagation effects whenever possible.
Simple thangs can make a big difference. While working one band on HF, using a seperate receiver to monitor other bands for openings.(I use a 40year old Yaesu FRG-7) If You do not have a dedicated HF or general coverage receiver a cheap SDR receiver or online Web SDRs can be used to keep an ear on other bands for activity.
Following the Grey-Line to maximise the chance of making contacts with distant stations has worked very well for me with over 8000 successful QSOs in my shack log and over 4000 logged on QRZ. Maximum distance so far being just over 10,500miles to Norfolk island off the East coast of Australia! Not too shabby for a bunch of home brewed wire antennas pushing 8W.
At this point in the solar cycle the main ingredients required for working DX stations are time, patience and persistence.
If You have HF gear sitting gathering dust, now would be a good time to blow the cobwebs off it, throw a wire up in the air and have some fun while there are lots of stations with plenty of time spare on the air.
73 de 'Hairy' Paul MM7WAB
