Statement: The amateur radio bands are closed. You need an amplifier to work voice HF!!
Is the above statement really true? This is far from the truth and this article will prove just the opposite - that the bands are open and that you do not need any amplifier to work voice HF.
On the 22 November 2022 in the early evening I was informed by Corne ZS1COR that the 40 meter band is wide open and that he worked the following stations on voice with only 5 watt RF output power on a frequency of 7155 Mhz:
- Elton ZS1LT - Paarl
- Granville ZS1GVW - Paarl
- Werner ZS6SAR - Meyerton
- Russel V51RJ - Ross Pinah, Namibia
- Allewyn ZS3A - Kimberley
Corne informed me that the contacts was made during a period of loadshedding with a far lower noise floor.
Enough writing from me. The following videos provide more details of the contacts:
With the current sun cycle on the up conditions are improving every day. In the past up cycles I used a "shoe string" antenna to work the world on many bands. The moral of the story is that you need to switch your radio on and call CQ. You never know who is going to answer your call. QRO is OK but QRP is GREAT!!
