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HF propagation is highly dependent on solar activity, which in turn is influenced by the 11-year sunspot cycle. High sunspot numbers allow you to enjoy worldwide DX contacts on high HF bands even with QRP and simple antennas.
In fact, I worked as many as 119-DXCC entities using 500 milliwatts and a simple wire dipole antenna on 15m band during the sunspot cycle maximum in 1999-2002, thanks to the blessing of the Sun (Please see DXCC - QRPp 500mW/Dipole).
But what about without the blessing of the Sun ?
Is it possible to achieve DXCC on high HF bands during the bottom of the sunspot cycle using 500 milliwatts and dipole antennas ?
.....................................................................................
As my challenge during the BOTTOM of the sunspot cycle, I tried for DXCC on 17m and higher bands on CW with an output power of 500 milliwatts and dipole antennas from Nov. 25, 2006.
The figure above shows the progression of sunspot numbers from Cycle 23 to Cycle 24.
The time periods for My Challenge (Nov. 25, 2006 - Nov. 24, 2011) and My Additional Challenge (Sep. 13, 2007 - Nov. 24, 2011) are shown with the arrows in this figure.
It is clear from this figure that I did My Challenge and My Additional Challenge during the BOTTOM of the sunspot cycle.
The figure is from https://www.sidc.be/html/wolfjmms.html.
RESULTS:
As listed below, I worked 118 DXCC entities within 3 years of the sunspot cycle minimum (from Nov. 25, 2006 to Nov. 24 2009), and as of now I have confirmed 111 DXCC-entities. In this case, "confirmed" means confirmed by a QSL card, LoTW, eQSL or log search.
I received QRP DXCC AWARD from ARRL for My Challenge. Thus, My Challenge was successfully achieved.
This map shows the locations of the stations whom I worked in My Challenge using an output power of 500 milliwatts and dipoles.I am grateful to the following good-ears stations. The following list contains no scheduled contacts.
.....................................................................................
Callsign, Band(m), Month/Year
(*: cfm by a QSL card or LoTW,
@: an eQSL TNX,
#: hit in log search)
AFRICA (cfm/wkd: 2/2)
3B7C(Agalega & St. Brandon Is.), 17m, Sep '07 *
VQ9LA(Chagos Is.), 17m, Feb '09 *
(IH9P(Pantelleria Is., African Italy), 15m, Nov '06 AF-018, Zone33 *)
SOUTH AMERICA (cfm/wkd: 4/4)
LW9EOC(Argentina), 15m, Nov '06 *
HC8N(Galapagos Is.), 15m, Nov '06 *
ZW5B(Brazil), 15m, Nov '06 *
ZP6CW(Paraguay), 17m, Nov, '08 *
NORTH AMERICA (cfm/wkd: 3/3)
KG9N(IL, USA), 17m, Jan '07 *
WL7WH(Alaska), 17m, Dec '06 *
VE5UA(Canada), 17m, Nov '08 *
ANTARCTICA (cfm/wkd: 1/1)
8J1RL(Showa Base), 17m, Sep '07 *
ASIA (cfm/wkd: 26/26)
9M4SDX(Spratly Is.), 17&12m, Mar '07 *
3W3W(Viet Nam), 15m, Nov '07 #
4L8A(Georgia), 15m, Apr '07 *
4X0X(Israel), 15m, Apr '07 *
5B4AIZ(Cyprus), 15m, Nov '08 *
9M2CNC(West Malaysia), 15m, Nov '06 *
9V1PC(Singapore), 17m, Mar '07 *
BU2AI(Taiwan), 15m, Nov '06 *
DL2JRM/BA1RB(China), 17m, Dec '06 *
BS7H(Scarborough Reef), 17m, May '07 *
EX2X(Kyrgyzstan), 17m, Jan '07 *
EY8DQ(Tajikistan), 15m, Nov '07 *
HL2SU(Republic of Korea), 15m, May '07 *
HS0AC(Thailand), 15m, Nov '06 *
8J8WSC(Japan), 17m, Dec '06 *
JD1BMH(Ogasawara), 15m, Apr '07 *
JV800DA(Mongolia), 15m, Nov '06 *
S21ZDX(Bangladesh), 15m, Nov '07 *
UA0SR(Asiatic Russia), 15m, Nov '06 *
UK9AA(Uzbekistan), 17m, Feb '08 *
UN5J(Kazakhstan), 15m, Nov '06 *
VR2PX(Hong Kong), 15m, Nov '06 *
XU7MWA(Cambodia), 15m, Nov '06 *
XW1A(Laos), 15m, Nov '07 @
XX9TCC(Macao), 17m, May '08 *
ZC4LI(UK Sov. Base Areas on Cyprus), 17m&15m, Apr '07 *
EUROPE (cfm/wkd: 36/39)
9A1P(Croatia), 15m, Nov '06 *
DK7LX(Fed. Rep. of Germany), 17m, Feb '07 *
EA5FX(Spain), 17m, Oct '08 #
EA6NB(Balearic Is.), 17m, Nov '08 *
ER4DX(Moldova), 15m, Nov '06 *
ES90J(Estonia), 17m, Feb '08 *
EW8AO(Belarus), 17m, Dec '06 *
F6GCP(France), 17m, Feb '07 *
G6PZ(England), 17m, June '07 *
MD0CCE(Isle of Man), 17m, Oct '07 *
HA7TM(Hungary), 17m, Oct '07 *
HB9QQ(Switzerland), 17m, Jan '07 (Long path) *
IK2RMZ(Italy), 17m, Dec '06 *
IS0GQX(Sardinia), 17m, Oct '08 *
LA6YEA(Norway), 17m, Mar '07 *
LX1KC(Luxembourg), 17m, Mar '07 *
LY3W(Lithuania), 17m, Jan '07 *
LZ9W(Bulgaria), 15m, Nov '06 *
OE8SKQ(Austria), 15m, Oct '08 *
OH8US(Finland), 17m, Mar '07 *
OJ0B(Market Reef), 17m, Sep '07 *
OK2SK(Czech Republic), 17m, Oct '07 *
OM3EY(Slovak Republic), 17m, Jan '07 *
OQ5M(Belgium), 15m, Feb '07 *
PA5TT(Netherlands), 17m, Oct '07 *
R1FJT(Franz Josef Land), 17m, Feb '07 *
S59AA(Slovenia), 17m, Mar '07
SM1ALH(Sweden), 17m, Dec '06 *
SO8ZH(Poland), 17m, Feb '07 *
SV2BOH(Greece), 17m, Nov '06 *
SV9/DJ7RJ(Crete), 17m, Mar '09 *
T96Q(Bosnia-Herzegovina), 17m, Oct '07 *
UA3KW(European Russia), 17m, Dec '06 *
R2MWO(Kaliningrad), 15m, Mar '07
UR5HAC(Ukraine), 15m, Nov '06 *
YL90GN(Latvia), 17m, Nov '08
YO9HP(Romania), 17m, Dec '06 *
4O2A(Serbia), 15m, Nov '06 Serbia *
Z38N(Macedonia), 15m, Nov '06 *
OCEANIA (cfm/wkd: 39/43)
3D2BV(Fiji), 17m, Jan '08 *
3D2AG/P(Rotuma I.), 17m, Jan '08 #
3D20CR(Conway Reef), 17m, Oct '09 *
4W6AAV(Timor - Leste), 15m, May '07 *
5W0NU(Samoa), 12m, Apr '07
9M6YBG(East Malaysia), 15m, Oct '07 *
A35RK(Tonga), 15m, Nov '07 *
C21DL(Nauru), 17&15m, Feb '08
DU3NXE(Philippines), 15m, Nov '06 *
E51A(S. Cook Is.), 15m, Nov '07 *
FK/JA1NLX(New Caledonia), 17m, Nov '07 *
TX3A(Chesterfield Is.), 15m, Nov '09 *
FO8RZ(French Polynesia), 15m, Nov '09 *
FO/JA8BMK(Austral I.), 12m, Feb '08
FW5RE(Wallis & Futuna Is.), 17m, Feb '09 *
H40MY(Temotu Province), 17m, Oct '07 *
JD1BMM(Minami Torishima), 17m, Oct. '08 *
KH0PR(Mariana Is.), 17m, Dec '06 *
KH2/WX8C(Guam), 15m, May '07 *
K4M(Midway I.), 17m, Oct '09 *
NH6P(Hawaii), 15m, Nov '06 *
KH8Q(American Samoa), 17m, Dec '06 *
N8S(Swains I.), 17&15m, Apr '07 *
P29KN(Papua New Guinea), 17m, Mar '07 *
T20HC/QRP(Tuvalu), 17m, Feb '07
T30IW(W. Kiribati), 12m, Nov '09 *
T32MO(E. Kiribati ), 17m, Jan '07 *
T88MR(Palau), 15m, Nov '06 *
V63TR(Micronesia), 17m, Feb '08 *
V73NS(Marshall Is.), 17m, Jan '07 *
V8FDM(Brunei Darussalam), 17m, Nov '07 *
VK6BN(Australia), 17m, Dec '06 *
VK9AA(Cocos Keeling Is.), 15m, Nov '06 *
N1YC/VK9X(Christmas I.), 17m, Apr '08 *
VK9DNX(Norfolk I.), 17&15&12m, Feb '07 *
VK9WWI(Willis I.), 15m, Sep '07 *
VP6DX(Ducie I.), 17&15&12m, Feb '08 *
YB3MM/2(Indonesia), 15m, Nov '07 *
YJ0AQY(Vanuatu), 17m, Nov '08 *
ZK2NX(Niue), 17m, Sep '09 *
ZL6QH(New Zealand), 15m, Nov '06 *
ZL7T(Chatham Is.), 17m, Mar '09 *
ZL1GO/8(Kermadec Is.), 17m, Mar '07 *
................................................
101 entities worked on 17m(18MHz): 1S, 3B6, 3D2/F, 3D2/C, 3D2/R, 3W, 4W, 4X, 9A, 9M2, 9V, BS7, BV, BY, C2, DL, DU, E5/S, E7, EA, EA6, ES, EU, EX, EY, F, FK, FW, G, GD, H40, HA, HB, HL, HS, I, IS0, JA, JD/M, JD/O, JT, Antarctica, KH0, KH2, KH4, KH6, KH8, KH8/S, KL7, LA, LX, LY, LZ, OE, OH, OJ0, OK, OM, ON, P2, PA, R1F, RA, S5, SM, SP, SV, SV9, T2, T30, T32, UA2, UA9, UJ, UN, UR, V6, V7, V8, VE, VK, VK9/N, VK9/W, VK9/X, VP6/D, VQ9, VR2, W, XU, XX9, YB, YJ, YL, YO, YU, ZC4, ZK2, ZL, ZL7, ZL8, ZP
67 entities worked on 15m(21MHz): 3W, 4L, 4W, 4X, 5B, 5W, 9A, 9M2, 9M6, A3, BV, BY, C2, DL, DU, E5/S, E7, ER, EY, F, FK/C, FO/P, HC8, HL, HS, I, JD/O, JT, KH0, KH2, KH6, KH8/S, LU, LZ, OE, OK, OM, ON, PY, RA, S2, SM, T8, UA2, UA9, UN, UR, V6, V7, V8, VE, VK, VK/C, VK9/N, VK9/W, VK9/X, VP6/D, VR2, W, XU, XW, YB, YO, YU, Z3, ZC4, ZL
10 entities worked on 12m(24MHz): 1S, 5W, DU, FO/A, T30, VK, VK9/N, VK9/W, VP6/D, ZL
** 1 entity confirmed on 40m(7MHz): E74A
................................................
Status history:
2006:
Nov. 25: started (= CQ WW TEST)
Nov. 30: 31 entities worked (9A, 9M2, BV, BY, DU, ER, HC8, HS, I, JT, K, KH0, KH2, KH6, LU, LZ, PY, SV, T8, UA(AS), UA(EU), UN, UR, VK9/C, VR2, XU, YB, YO, YU, Z3, ZL)
Dec. 31: 37 worked (+6: EU, JA, KH8/A, KL7, SM, VK)
2007:
Jan. 31: 43 worked (+6: EX, HB9, LY, OM, T32, V7)
Feb. 28: 54 worked (+11: DL, ES, F, HA, OH, ON, R1FJ, SP, T2, VE, VK9/N)
Mar. 31: 64 worked (+10: 9M0, 9V, G, LA, LX, P2, S5, UA2, V8, ZL8)
Apr. 30: 72 worked (+8: 3D2, 4L, 4X, 5W, JD/O, KH8/S, V6, ZC)
May 31: 76 worked (+4: 4W, 9M6, BS7, HL)
June 30: 76 worked (+0)
July 31: 76 worked (+0)
Aug. 31: 76 worked (+0)
Sep. 30: 80 worked (+4: 3B6, OJ0, VK9/W, 8J1RL)
Oct. 31: 86 worked (+6: GD, H40, OK, PA, T30, T9)
Nov. 30: 93 worked (+7: 3W, A3, E5/S, EY, FK, S2, XW)
Dec. 31: 93 worked (+0)
2008:
Jan. 31: 94 worked (+1: 3D2/R)
Feb. 29: 98 worked (+4: C2, FO/A, UK, VP6/D)
Mar. 31: 98 worked (+0)
Apr. 30: 99 worked (+1: VK9/X)
May 31: 100 worked (+1: XX9)
June 30: 100 worked (+0)
July 31: 100 worked (+0)
Aug. 31: 100 worked (+0)
Sep. 30: 100 worked (+0)
Oct. 31: 104 worked (+4: EA, IS0, JD1/M, OE)
Nov. 30: 109 worked (+5: 5B, EA6, YL, YJ, ZP)
Dec. 31: 109 worked (+0)
2009:
Jan. 31: 109 worked (+0)
Feb. 28: 111 worked (+2: FW, VQ9)
Mar. 31: 113 worked (+2: SV9, ZL7)
Apr. 30: 113 worked (+0)
May 31: 113 worked (+0)
June 30: 113 worked (+0)
July 31: 113 worked (+0)
Aug. 31: 113 worked (+0)
Sep. 30: 114 worked (+1: ZK2)
Oct. 31: 116 worked (+2: 3D2/C, KH4)
Nov.30: 118 worked (+2: FK/C, FO)
- - - - -GAME OVER - - - - -SUNSPOTS HAVE COME BACK- - - - -
Please see also My Additional Challenge.
[Keywords: QRP, QRPp, DX, DXCC, dipole, balcony, apartment, 500mW, Radix, RDL-2000, sunspot cycle, minimum, bottom, higher HF band, アパマン、バルコニー、ベランダ、ダイポール、ラディックス、太陽黒点、極小、底、ボトム、ハイバンド]
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