ROAR Nets Report from for Sunday 20 May and Tuesday 2 May 2018
With Many Thanks to John G3OKT for his input.
 
0600z - 0630z Anzo Net on 7,110 
From Phil VK2MCB
Sunspot zero is again affecting us significantly.
Noel VK2IWT was 59 and gave me 59
Peter VK3KCD was 21 and could not read me.
The southern hemisphere winter skip from Melbourne flies over Canberra so Noel reads Peter well; not so me.
Bill VK4ZD was helping his son-in-law put a roof on a shed and could not make the net. A very fine excuse.
 
0630z- 0730z Europe - Anzo Net on 14,295.2 Long Path
From John G3OKT
The QSL website at 0605z gave SFI 70 A 3 K 1 and sunspots zero for the 6th day!
20m was quiet; Woodpecker centred on 14.28 could be heard faintly across the band.
The “Italian network” was 5.7 here on 14.297, splattering on to our IFROAR frequency.
EA7GSU was 5.7 most of the time but with QSB. Pertti gave me 5.6 to 5.2 with “quick drop out”
PA3AHC was 5.8/9 with Pertti but there was no sign of Malcolm here.
HB9CQS reached 5.9+ with Pertti, but Klaus was only 4-5.1 here.
VK2MCB was called by Klaus at 0648 but nothing of Phil was heard.
GR4HCK, Nick (a call-sign commemorating the Royal Wedding?) was just a whisper in the noise here at 0655z, apart from one word which suddenly wafted up clearly at 0705!
Pertti heard Nick at 5.8
I closed at 0718z to prepare for our RIBI 80m net.
 
0800z - 0900z UK 80-metre Net on 3,694
John G3OKT was Net Control.
80m was lively with Eu stations, but UK signals were down 10dB on their usual level.
G3LUW Brian was 5.9+10dB.
G7OAI/P was in the hills above Rochdale. John was 5.9+10dB and gave me 5.9+40dB, Brian +30dB and G3JJR +10dB of QSB.
G2FUU Tommy
G3SZF Bob
G3JJR John was 5.9+10dB
I confirmed the website at www.oldplace.org.uk where pictures of the 2018 ROAR/RIBI AGM can be found. There was discussion and general satisfaction with the way the AGM at Llangollen had gone.
Bob G3SZF will be Net Controller next week
 
1700z – 1730z RIBI evening 80-metre Net on 3,694 MHz
 
2100z-2200z Transcontinental net on 7.185
No Report Received
 
0800z – 0830z Tuesday NZ 80-m net on 3,693
 
0630z - 0700z Tuesday 22nd May 2018 EUR 20m net on 14,295.2
From John G3OKT
The QSL website at 0605z gave SFI 70 A 3 K 1 and sunspots 12 (after 6 days at zero).
HB9CQS was 5.7 for most of the time, but Klaus QSB’d down to 5.1 at 0654z.
G4HCK and I exchanged only 2.1 b/w. Nick got 5.8 with QSB from Klaus
G0EGW was also 2-4.1 here; said by Klaus to usually be “booming in” but not good today!
Klaus called both VK4ZD and VK2MCB but heard no response.
Both Nick and Vernon were only 2.1 here at 0656; Klaus said I came up to 5.8 but with QSB to S3 as we went QRT at 0702z. No other signals were heard on the band except some QRN and one Russian station at 5.5 on 14.2845. Poor conditions!
 
From Phil VK2MCB
Bill VK4ZD was 33-53 with QSB and gave me 44
Klaus HB9CQS could be heard 31 in QSB but did not hear me.
 
0900z-0930z Tuesday 22 May on Dstar
From Phil VK2MCB
John ZL2JPM and I had a 30 minute QSO on the local Canberra Dstar Repeater VK1RWN C.
I am finding this an enjoyable alternative to HF, with good DX opportunities. It also has as many, if not more, technical complexities as HF. A lot of amateurs seem to be using it at the current low part of the sunspot cycle. It’s worth a try.
 
73
Phil VK2MCB
 
Philip Byrne
Rotary Club of Canberra
Australia
E: philipbyrne@bigpond.com