K5PO Bloghttp://www.k5po.net/blog/Blog of ham radio operator Andrew Holmesen-US2010-03-11T04:09:18ZSquarespace Site Server v5.9.2 (http://www.squarespace.com/)This is my kind of sun! Solar Cycle 24 kick in!http://www.k5po.net/blog/2010/2/9/this-is-my-kind-of-sun-solar-cycle-24-kick-in.htmlAndy Holmes2010-02-09T17:21:46ZSolar Cycle 24 Solar Cycle 24 Solar Flux Sunspot 1045 Sunspot Number propagation sunspotsIs is now becoming hard to doubt we are finally seeing the true ramp-up of Solar Cycle 24 activity.

Decimating the prior cycle 24 highs, the current Sunspot Number of 71 and the 10.7cm solar flux is 94. 

There is presently three named sunspot groups on the Earth-facing side of the solar disk, including the robust Sunspot 1045.  1045 has also been responsibly for the most most intense solar flares of cycle 24 (M6).

Image from SOHO

]]>Yaesu FT-2000 with IF-2000 and SDR-IQhttp://www.k5po.net/blog/2010/2/6/yaesu-ft-2000-with-if-2000-and-sdr-iq.htmlAndy Holmes2010-02-06T23:35:46ZFT-2000 FT-2000 IF-2000 RF Space SDR-IQ YaesuI wanted to take a moment to talk about my radio and panoramic adapter setup. 

I have a Yaesu FT-2000.  It is a wonderful radio alone, but like many radios its operation can be enhanced by a external panoramic adapter.  Yaesu offers the DMU-2000 option which provides a panoramic adapter, but RF Space, a third party supplier provides a superior product in my opinion. 

My FT-2000 is fitted with a RF Space IF-2000 which provides an IF output.  The IF output is then fed into the RF Space SDR-IQ.  The SDR-IQ can then be connected to your computer via USB to provide an incredibly high resolution, very fast panoramic adapter when used with the SpectraVue software. 

This is a wonderful tool, allowing you to visually search the bands, easily picking out signals to work.  It can be a tremendous asset in contest environments to hunt and pounce signals very fast. 

It is also very useful for finding signals in the often barren spaces between the ham bands. 

The system allows you to display up to 190khz of RF at one time and easily click to tune on any desired signal.  It even allows you to record up to 190khz of data to play back later and tune around within the recorded segment of that band!

I have found this to be a very useful addition to the FT-2000 and would recommend it for anyone looking for a high-resolution, fast-refresh panoramic adapter.

The IF-2000 is now approved for use on the FT-950.

Here is N4IP giving a demo of the same system I am using.

Here is a screen capture of 40m a few minutes ago from the SpectraVue software I am using.  It looks really great on my 27" 1920x1200 monitor. 

]]>Significant Solar Cycle 24 Activityhttp://www.k5po.net/blog/2010/2/6/significant-solar-cycle-24-activity.htmlAndy Holmes2010-02-06T23:22:33ZSolar Cycle 24 Sunspot solar flare sunspots2010 has been a very active year so far.  We have only had two spotless days as of this writing.  

The solar disk currently has the 1043 and 1044 named sunspot groups, and as of last night a new, unnamed sunspot group of robust size and potential has emerged.  It has reportedly already released an M-class solar flare.  Expect this group to be named shortly and contribute to an ever-improving ramp up to solar cycle 24. 

Image from SOHO

]]>Boom! M-class Flare from Sunspot 1039http://www.k5po.net/blog/2010/1/20/boom-m-class-flare-from-sunspot-1039.htmlAndy Holmes2010-01-20T16:22:31ZSunspot 1039 is hanging tough as it spins toward the Earth facing side again. It is soon to be renamed 1041.

1039 has one last hurrah as it emitted a M2 solar flare on Jan 19th. This is the largest solar flare in nearly two years.

]]>New cycle 24 sunspot group 1029 quite impressivehttp://www.k5po.net/blog/2009/10/26/new-cycle-24-sunspot-group-1029-quite-impressive.htmlAndy Holmes2009-10-26T23:28:14Z1029 Solar Cycle 24 Sunspot propagation solar cycle solar flare sun cycle sunspotsOn October 23rd, group 1029 emerged and has been growing rapidly ever since.  Likely to be the largest in 2009 and possibly in Solar Cycle 24.  

It has emitted B and C class solar flares. 

 

Image from http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/

]]>Butternut HF9V Install - Guying the HF9V / HF10Vhttp://www.k5po.net/blog/2009/10/10/butternut-hf9v-install-guying-the-hf9v-hf10v.htmlAndy Holmes2009-10-10T12:46:07ZAntenna Bencher Butternut Butternut HF9V HF-10V HF-9V HF10 HF10v HF9 Hf9V antenna guying guying vertical antenna guyingGraeme Stewart, GM4BRB, was searching around the web for specifics on guying the HF9V and found none.  Being a resourceful ham he decided to write his own instructions.  Graeme came upon my site and thought it would be a good place to post this information.   I agree!  Below are Graeme's instructions and pictures.  Thanks Graeme!

Andy

----------------------------

This is an evaluated Guying system for the HF9/10V series Vertical. There is precious little mention on the Internet or from the manufacturer(s) on how to guy these beauties, except no higher than 1/3rd the way up and loosely. The only other bit of advice available is that guy ropes should also not be at an angle smaller than 45° to the vertical, or wind vibrational energy is excessively directed down the antenna structure rather than dissipated in the guy rope arrangements. 

So, using 4mm polyester guy-rope, (low-stretch), 30mm (1¼") D-Clamps, 1¼" by 18-inch long Aluminium angle guy-stakes, a ¼" thick 4"×4" Perspex guy plate, Terry-Clip to secure it, the obligatory 5mm (do 4mm exist(?)) cable/wire grips, thimbles and some carefullythought out plans.
The images show what you can get. I taper-cut to a sharp point, one end of the ali-angle stakes to facilitate hitting them into the ground more easy.

All metal parts other than the ali angle should be galvanised or stainless-steel. Only use stainless steel to secure something to the antenna proper. 
Otherwise, you can't do a lot of damage, but don't over-tighten the guys.

Bencher/Butternut recommend 'Loose' guys. I found that vague description not a good setting and went for a bit tighter with which the antenna does not sway hardly at all, with only the top 2/3rds whipping slightly in the strongest winds. Very stable system. Been evaluating it all summer. 

I've included a couple photos illustrating parts required but no assembly instructions. 
What do you think I am, your slave? Hi.

You can figure it all out from the pictures if you're smart enough to have managed to assemble the Butternut antenna all by yourself. Read the reviews on the assembly manual.
A professional Civil Engineer put mine together. No kidding ...
 
Graeme Stewart, GM4BRB

 

Parts:

 

 Rigging:

Ground Guy Point:

Final Product:

]]>Solar Cycle 24 Steps it Uphttp://www.k5po.net/blog/2009/9/24/solar-cycle-24-steps-it-up.htmlAndy Holmes2009-09-24T11:48:36ZSolar Cycle 24 Sunspot propagation sun sunspot 1026 sunspot 1027 sunspotsWith a current sunspot  number of 31 and a solar flux of 76, this is the most active we have seen Solar Cycle 24.

Currently two names sunspot groups 1026 and 1027 are present on the solar disk.  The 1027 group looks like it may be splitting into two distinct groups.   

This is a welcome sign of life from sluggish Cycle 24.

]]>Then there were two? Multiple sunspot appearancehttp://www.k5po.net/blog/2009/9/22/then-there-were-two-multiple-sunspot-appearance.htmlAndy Holmes2009-09-22T23:03:00ZSolar Cycle 24 Solar conditions Sunspot Sunspots propagation sun sun cycle sunspot 1026 sunspot 1027 sunspotsThe new sunspot sitting low on the the Earth facing side has been officially provided the number 1026, but just as soon as it was official another sunspot began to emerge on the sun.   

While this second spot has yet to be named or classified, it is a welcome sight to see two significant areas of activity on our solar disk. 

The positioning of the latest spot has me worried it may be an old Cycle 23 spot, but I'll leave that to the experts to determine. 

Image from SOHO

]]>She'll be coming round the mountain.. New solar cycle 24 sunspot approcheshttp://www.k5po.net/blog/2009/9/22/shell-be-coming-round-the-mountain-new-solar-cycle-24-sunspo.htmlAndy Holmes2009-09-22T01:26:36ZSolar Cycle 24 Sunspot Sunspots propagation sun sun cycle sunspots

Images from SOHO

 

A new cycle 24 sunspot has showed Earth it's face today.   The sunspot does not have an official number at this point. 

To hams around the world, we wait with eager anticipation for the sunspots that may trigger a healthy entry into Solar Cycle 24.  Spots come and go and spotless days fill the calendar.

Hams still wait and hope.  

I am really looking forward to my first foray into operating at a solar peak, but for now more waiting.

]]>Sunspot on the Horizonhttp://www.k5po.net/blog/2009/9/20/sunspot-on-the-horizon.htmlAndy Holmes2009-09-20T18:02:23ZNASA Solar Cycle 24 Sunspot nasa stereo propagation sun sun cycle sunspotsSpaceweather.com reports that NASA's STEREO identified on Sept. 19th a possible sunspot group over the sun's eastern limb.  

It is not yet Earth-facing, but could be as early as Sept. 21st.   The possible group is located at latitude 30-deg south, making it a probable member of Solar Cycle 24

Image from Spaceweather.com

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