John K1JSM, Pete W1LAB, Willy W1LY, Paul K1YBE, and Jim KA1ZOU had a successful activation of Penikese Island (FN41mk) today, which officially became US Island MA060S at 11:06 AM local time. The weather was dreadful, and most of their work was on 20 meters due to some issues on 40 meters, but a temporary antenna got them on the air on that band for their final 40 minutes. They began operation at 10:25 AM and were off the air at 2:40 PM local time.
The crew sheltered under two tents on Penikese Island
Willy W1LY at the mike, with Paul K1YBE (left) and Jim KA1ZOU (right)
Another view of the operation with John K1JSM walking to his boat in the upper left. (That is the NE part of Penikese visible across the cove in the upper left of the photo)
They got hammered with at least two inches of rain in a few hours (parts of the Cape received 4″).
Just a reminder that we will be having our regular meeting on Monday July 10, at KVH, at 7 PM.
In addition to a brief business meeting that will review our Field Day results (record setting), there will be a presentation of a Nova movie called “Secrets of the Sun” afterward. This movie lasts 52 minutes and is a great way to learn about helioscience (science of the sun), how Solar Flairs and Coronal Mass Ejections work, and the processes that drive them. This is a great background for understand radio propagation as well. By the end of the movie you will understand that the news media almost always reports on Solar Flairs, but the real hard hitting punch is carried by the Coronal Mass Ejection days later.
There is a post on our website ( https://w1sye.org/?p=3326 ) intended to stimulate some thought — will there even be a solar cycle 25?
Finally, don’t forget, our intrepid gang of Island Activators will be in the Elizabethan Island chain, and will be activating new islands starting Friday July 7. Keep up to date with what is going on by checking our website! (See https://w1sye.org/?p=3337 )
Be safe, enjoy the holiday, and hope to see you at our next meeting.
As of 11:25 AM, the crew has been forced to QRT. Their radio would not transmit on 20 meters at all this morning, and just died on 40 meters as well. However Naushon Island was officially activated so is MA006S. Thanks to everyone who took the time to contact them today! They will be back to the Elizabeth Island chain later this summer.
As of 11:10 AM Local Time (15:10 UTC), the activation was official, and Naushon Island is now officially MA006S. The heavy rain from two days ago resulted in some rig issues that they are still suffering through. They will not be on 20 meters today, and may have to QRT shortly.
Crew is on Naushon Island (MA006) FN41ol due to wind. They are on 7.233 MHz. A minor solar storm is causing them to be a tad weaker than normal. Should improve later today.
Jim KA1ZOU at mic, John K1JSM logging, Willy W1LY and Paul K1YBE looking over cove
Crew is on Naushon Island in Tarpaulin Cove (NE most red mark) to shelter from WSW winds
Bad Propagation across all bands
*** Saturday July 8 Update – NOW QRT ***
The crew is unable to activate the island on 40 meters and is now QRT for the day. Many thanks to all of those they worked on 20 meters.
As of 12:40 Local time, W1SYE is on a lunch break. They may try 40 meters, 7.233 MHz, when they get back on. But they have been having issues with their TS570D losing RX audio.
Things are still hot and heavy on 14.262.5 MHz. Really appreciate everyone’s help.
As of 11:21 Local (15:21 UTC), the activation became official. Nashawena Island is now officially US Islands MA017S.
As of 10:50 Local, they are on the air. IARU Contest making 20 a full band. They are on 14.262.5 MHz.
According to Captain Pete W1LAB, the crew received permission to land at Nashawena Island (Quicks Hole side) MA017, FN41nk. This is another new island (never officially activated), and they are on the way there. Expect them on-air around 10:30 AM beginning with 20 meters around 14.260 MHz
Pete W1LAB hears that happy news that Nashawena can be activated
Activation location should be on the East shore
*** Friday July 7 Update – Now QRT ***
The crew pulled the plug at 2:40 PM local time. They are heading back to their temporary home to get ready for tomorrow’s activation of Naushon Island, about 10 nm to the NE from Cuttyhunk. Expect them to begin operating around 10:30 AM on 20 meters near 14.260 and transition to 40 meters after lunch. The weather is expected to be much better tomorrow, but there is always a chance of a pop-up thunderstorm. Check back for updates tomorrow. Thanks to all the many stations that worked W1SYE on Penikese Island today!
As of 2:10 PM Local, W1SYE is on 40 meters, 7.233 MHz. They had some antenna issues and are using a temporary antenna. They will be on for another hour if the band holds up.
As of 11:55 Local (15:55Z) they are on 14.256 MHz in heavy rain.
As of 11:06 Local (15:06Z) the activation became official with the required number of contacts (25 total and 2 DX). Thanks to Don, W9DC, for being #25 MA060S
As of 10:25 Local time, they are on 14.260 — they will be on 40 meters a bit later in the morning. There is quite a bit of bad weather to the west and south of them, but so far its dry. Penikese Island is pointed out in the image below.
The crew spent the night in Cuttyhunk and despite what is supposed to be very foul weather between 10 AM and 3 PM, are planning on setting up their station this morning around 9 AM. They should be on Penikese Island and on the air around 10 AM. The plan has changed to start on 40 meters, change to 20 around noon, and change back around 2 PM. Try 7.233 and 14.265 +/- QRM.
The NCRC Activation Crew will be going on a multi-day sea adventure starting next week, planning on activating several Elizabeth Islands that have not been on the air before, using the club call W1SYE.
In general they will be on the air starting around 10:30 AM (perhaps a bit earlier), on 14.260, and shifting to 7.235 after lunch for a couple of hours, then switching back to 20 meters to finish up between 3 and 4 PM.
Solar Cycle 24 is diminishing rapidly, and we’ve already had several days with zero sunspot activity. We should hit the minimum then see the uptick sometime around 2020. But what will Solar Cycle 25 look like? You might want to take a guess after looking at the last three solar cycles in the image below.
According to Dr. Sten Odenwall, we will start seeing the new sunspots from Cycle 25 sometime around late-2019. The sunspot maximum is likely to occur in 2024, with most forecasts predicting about half as many sunspots as in Cycle 24. Weak indeed!
The bad news is that some studies show sunspot magnetic field strengths have been declining since 2000 and are already close to the minimum needed to produce sunspots on the solar surface. This is also supported by independent work in 2015 published in the journal Nature. Therefore, by Cycle 25, magnetic fields may be too weak to form recognizable sunspots at all, spelling the end of the sunspot cycle phenomenon.
