So that's an R1 Radio Blackout Event

KB9BVN at US-4183 Atterbury FAWA

Woke up this morning and the birds were chirping and the sun was shining and the day was looking like a beautiful April day....so why not load up the gear and head out for a Parks on the Air outing? 

So normally when I go out for a POTA activation, I usually have my 10 required contacts within 15-20 minutes, sometimes even faster. Today was going to be much different.  I never check atmospheric conditions before I play radio, I don't want to get jinxed.  Well, today is a day I should have looked, but even if I had looked I doubt if it would have stopped me from playing radio in the outdoors today.  

Here is what the conditions report was showing:  SSN:154 SFI:148 A:9 K:1 - what this means is there were 154 sunspots active, and the Solar Flare Index was 148.  With this kind of sunspot activity being this high, this usually means noisy conditions.  Which in and of itself isn't that horrible.  You like to see the A Index 5 or less, mush over 5 and you'll heard a lot more signal fading (up and down).   What I did not know was the earth was in the middle of an R1 Radio Blackout.  

An R1 (Minor) radio blackout is the lowest level of space weather event on the NOAA Space Weather Scale, caused by an M-class solar flare. These flares release X-rays and ultraviolet light, ionizing the lower D-layer of Earth's ionosphere. This ionization causes High Frequency (HF) radio signals to be absorbed or degraded, resulting in weak or brief blackouts, mainly impacting sunlit areas.

This explains why it took me almost 2 hours to make 10 contacts.  None of them outside the United States, and all contacts were made on the 20m band.  

Three of the contacts were not POTA hunters, they were working the Florida QSO Party, but as we say in the POTA world, a contact is a contact.  So they count toward the 10. 

Signals were WAY down, and the fading and noise was ever present.  I'm amazed that my little 10 watts was getting out at all but my reverse beacon logs showed in some places I was booming in and in some places I was not even noticed. 

On the bright side, I enjoyed a few hours in the outdoors, got to watch some blue jays, some squirrels, a big black snake, and some geese.  Plus I had a nice picnic lunch by one of the lakes, it was a peanut butter sandwich and a nice crisp Gala Apple.  Made the trip and the time all worth it! 

Oh and I forgot my metal folding chair.  I had taken it out of the POTA mobile so I had something to sit on during our fish fry a few weeks ago.  So here's my operating position...while I sat on an overturned pickle bucket...not very comfortable! 

Well that's it until next time!  Hoping for better conditions soon! 

de KB9BVN

Brian

Another day in the 70's

 

Cikana State Fish Hatchery  US-12023 

Headed down to Cikana State FIsh Hatchery this afternoon, it was a beautiful day, 77 degrees and heading up to about 82 by the end of the today. Never mind that we have severe weather and a cold front moving in late this evening.  High tomorrow is predicted to be in the 40's.  It's opening day for Major League Baseball, and I am listening to the Cincinnati Reds playing the Red Sox while working on this post.  Being of the age that I am, and a lifelong Reds fan, opening day is a great day, it means summer is just around the corner. It won't be too much longer!  

Today I was operating from the picnic table near the entrance of the location.  The gear today was the Elecraft KX-2 radio at 10 watts, and the Alex Loop magnetic loop antenna and my key was a 3d printed key held together with black plastic electrical tape.  This location is in Morgan County, and right off State Road 44 just east of I-69 and just north of Martinsville. 

Brian KB9BVN having a relaxing POTA activation

One of many ponds where the DNR raise game fish for the state lakes and parks 

My infamous magnetic loop antenna 

I got started at 16:55Z (12:55PM EDT)...and it took a few minutes before I got the first contact from KG1A down in Florida.  The 20 meter band was weird today.  The contacts would come one right after another for about five minutes, then nothing for 15 minutes or so.  The signals were very up and down...going from full strength to almost dead quiet...and then coming back after a minute or two.  We've had a pretty big solar storm this week but I though that was all done by now, I guess not. 

I worked the radio for a solid hour and managed to contact 12 different states and 21 total contacts. Longest contacts were Arizona and Wyoming, and then out to Maine for a couple.  Did not work any stations outside of the US today.  You can see the map below. 

7 Florida Contacts today! 

Tomorrow will be cold again, but the cold front should be gone by early next week. I hope to get out again.  Gasoline around here is over $4.00 a gallon now....so won't be going too far from home.

73 de KB9BVN
Brian

Driftwood State Fishing Area - New Park US-13100

The Driftwood State Fishing Area is home to three different lakes that were created from old gravel pits sometime in the early to mid 1900's.  The Indiana DNR expanded and did some improvement to this site in the late 1990's to increase the availability of public sport fishing waters.  The pits and the property are adjacent to the Driftwood river, which flows southward toward Columbus Indiana.  Sometimes when the river floods, it connects to the pits and allows for some interesting fish populations to move in and out.  Driftwood state fishing lakes contain a wide variety of fish species, including catfish, muskie, crappie, bluegill, sunfish, and gar.  The turtle population is also great here.  You can fish from the bank, from a boat, or canoe and kayak.  There is no entrance fee, but if you are fishing you will need to have an Indiana DNR issues fishing license.  Located on the west side of US 31 in Edinburgh Indiana, the lakes are easy to access. 

Notice:  NO restrooms, NO pit toilets, NO tables 

I arrived at about 11:15AM today, and originally planned on using the KX-2 and my magnetic loop antenna.  I was all setup and ready to get on the air at 11:35AM.  Try as I might I could not get the magnetic loop antenna to tune on 20m.  I think it may have a short in the coax feedline. So I deployed the 33 foot hitch mounted vertical and radials, and I will check the magnetic loop out when I get back home. 

At the end of the excursion I moved to 30m and 40m working ONE on each band

Band conditions didn't look too bad (SSN:38 SFI:106 A:3 K:3) but when I tried listening around on 20 meters, I was not hearing much.  I started out on 14048 Khz and called CQ POTA a few times and at 11:50AM I was finally answered by NE1D Dimitris in Massachusetts.  Now I just needed nine more to qualify this activation.  

I never found myself with a pile up, it was slow going for the most part and finally at 12:14PM I had my tenth contact in the logbook.  AB4BA in Colorado was number ten today. 

I kept at it for another 20 minutes or so and the contacts just stopped coming back to me.  The fading and the atmospheric noise was winning out.  

Also speaking of noise, this location is right next to Camp Atterbury...and today they must have been doing artillery practice.  You can hear the booms as they fire the big guns and sometimes you can even feel it in the ground a little bit.  

My final two contacts today ended up being one on 30 meters, and one on 40 meters.  I wrapped it up after that.  Total time at the location was about ninety minutes including setup, re-setup, and tear down.  Not too bad.  I ended up with 20 contacts. 

Map of contacts for today 3/20/26 - HAPPY SPRING!! 

Welcome to Plover Pit  

Very deep and easily fished from the bank

This location straddles two counties.  Johnson and Bartholomew.  I was operating from Bartholomew County. 

Best 73 and DX!

de KB9BVN

Brian

Morgan Monroe State Forest - POTA US-4215

 

Entrance to Morgan Monroe State Forest 

On Monday March 9th the sun was out the temperatures were above 70F so I loaded up the gear and headed to the state forest for a Parks on the Air activation and to do a little hiking.  The Morgan–Monroe State Forest is a state forest in Morgan County and Monroe County of Indiana, and is the second largest state forest in Indiana. The 24,000 acres comprising this deciduous forest was abandoned farmland, as the previous residents realized that the land's rocky soil was very poor for agricultural purposes. In 1929 the state of Indiana purchased the land to prevent further erosion and to create the state forest.

I setup my radio station in the parking lot of the Bryant Creek Shelter.  The Bryant Creek Shelter is a nice big shelter with stone fireplaces on either end.  I was pretty much on my own here, only saw one other car and a couple hiking the #9 Bike/Hike trail. 

Bryant Creek Shelter

Fireplace like this on either end of the shelter plus plenty of grills. 

Large grill next to the shelter

Something of note, the Morgan–Monroe State Forest, along with nearby Yellowwood State Forest, are among the very few places in Indiana where one can pan for gold, although a free permit is required first before doing any prospecting.  I may have to try that sometime!  There's GOLD in them hills! 

So I got all set up, once again using the Elecraft KX-2 at 8 watts, and the Alex Loop magnetic loop antenna.  I started on 15 meters, 21.065 Mhz, and almost immediately worked a station in Texas, and then the second station I worked was IW4DV - Andrea Caprara, he lives in Loiano Italy!  Not bad for low power! He was booming in and gave me a decent signal report.  The next one I worked on 15 meters was another operator in Texas.  Of the 17 contacts made today I worked POTA ops in four different parks, two in New York, one in Georgia, and one in Oklahoma.  These are called P2P or Park to Park contacts. 

Starting out on 15 meters

I moved down to 20 meters, 14.044 Mhz, and ended up with a total of 17 contacts for this session, I was on the air for about an hour total.  If you come to this location, bring the family.  Trail #9 is at the edge of the parking lot, it is a paved, 5.2 mile trail rated as Easy.  It is built for hikers, bicycles riders, and is handicap accessible.  It's not a loop though, but it takes you through the woods, on a ridge top that goes past the Walls Shelter, and then to the forestry office and the firetower.  If you just hike to the Walls shelter, that's just a little over 2.5 miles.

After I was finished with my radio work, I enjoyed a nice picnic lunch and the view of the forest and the lake. I then packed up and decided to hike down the hill to check out the Bryant Creek Lake.  It's a lot easier going DOWN to the lake than it was hiking back up the hill to the parking lot.  We've had several inches of rain the last 7-10 days so the lake was up considerably. 

Lots of picnic tables and grills in this area. Good place to fish and picnic

From the looks of that tree, beavers live here, and I saw another five or six trees in this same condition, not sure of the DNR is doing anything about that or not.  On the tromp down to the water I noticed a lot of young sprouting greenery starting to pop in the forest floor.  It'll be time for mushrooms soon! 

And last but certainly not least, this shelter area has what looks like almost brand new restroom facilities, no running water, modern pit latrines, but they were very clean.  

Modern Latrines available all year - no running water

Weather man says the temps will be in the 20's by Monday the 16th.  I keep telling myself Spring is just a few more days away. My lawn is growing, will soon need mowing, and it'll be time to plant the garden soon.  Lots to keep me busy this Spring.  Overall this state forest is a great place to operate from, will definitely be back.  From my home to the forest here, is about 45-50 minutes via I-69. 

This is my contact map for the day. 

Contact Map for March 9, 2026 at Morgan Monroe State Forest Grid EM96si 

Here's to good DX! 

de KB9BVN

Brian

70 Degrees!! What a day!

Oh man it was great today.  I got my very first social security retirement pay today, I finally feel like I am officially retired, and now a bargain hunter extraordinaire.  This being Ash Wednesday I headed to Mooresville to attend Mass with my son and a few of the grandkids this morning.  Mass was at 9:30AM, and my  eleven year old grandson Erik had an 11AM appointment to sit for his FCC Exam for the Technician Class Amateur Radio License.

So as soon as church let out we made a bee line for home so we could get the laptop setup in time for his exam.  He was tested by the N1UVO Online ARRL VE Team, and they did a great job with making him comfortable and ready to test.  He aced it.  

He didn't just squeak by, he scored 32/35 and it was because he and I have been using the Hamstudy organization online for test preparation.  He started studying about 5 weeks ago and passed with flying colors today.  We will begin working on the General Class license next week.  

So after that exciting event, I headed out to play radio outdoors at the Atterbury Fish and Wildlife Area in deep southern Johnson County.  This is US-4183 for the log books.  It was kind of a rush deal, I was only there about an hour, and on the air maybe 30 minutes.  I made 13 contacts using my Elecraft KX-2 and the portable magnetic loop antenna called Alex Loop. 

KB9BVN with his portable POTA station

It was weird seeing Pisgah Lake frozen over when it was 70 degrees and bright sun, but it has been near zero and below for almost two solid weeks.  I imagine that ice was a foot thick at one point. 

Pisgah Lake - Still frozen, all 62 acres

Did not work any DX today but I did make contacts from California to Florida today and my signal was being heard in Central and South America as well as Northwest Canada.  8 watts again for the win! 

Today's Log from US-4183 on 20 Meters

Beautiful sky today, made a nice backdrop for this shot of my loop antenna setup. 

Alex Loop Portable Magnetic Loop Antenna...about 8 feet high

Well that's it for today! Tomorrow the WX says thunderstorms, possible tornado activity, and dropping temperatures.  It's great being retired and able to take quick advantage of days like today.  

73 de KB9BVN

Brian

Snow finally Melted! Time to POTA!

I don't know about you, but this winter has been a difficult one. For one we've had more snow this winter than we've had for the last five or six years, then to make it even more miserable it's been below zero more than several times.  Cabin fever is a terrible thing.  As you may remember I retired the 2nd of January, in the middle of winter....what else did I expect?  We had about a foot of snow land here almost three weeks ago and the the temperatures dove down below zero for better than a week.  

Today, the snow is finally almost all melted, and the temperature hit a balmy 58 degrees.  Not exactly swimming weather, and most of the lakes around here still have 4 or 5 inches of ice, but the sun came out for a bit and I left the cabin and took a drive down to Morgan County to see a couple of my brothers in law and to make a jaunt over to the Cikana State Fishery in Martinsville IN (EM69tk).  It was glorious just being outdoors in the sun. In just 33 days it will be spring. 

So today I setup the Elecraft KX-2 and the Alex Loop.  I have REALLY enjoyed this little portable magnetic loop antenna. It does such a great job on  15 meters and 20 meters, which is what I used it for today.  I was running about 8 watts today when I started on 15 meters (21047 Khz).  My first contact was Bill VE7KIN way up in British Columbia, then I worked Scott KJ7DCF in Idaho, and finally Eric VA2IDX in Quebec...after that I moved down to 20 meters (14043 Khz).  I spent about 50 minutes on the air and logged a total of 20 contacts with this little setup.  Check out the map. 

Contact Map for 02/16/26 from Cikana State Fishery - Martinsville IN

After I finished I was planning on hiking one of the trails there but the mud was about 4 inches deep, so maybe the next time.  Here is what my signal strength was showing on the Reverse Beacon Network. 

And last but not least is a decent picture I took of the Alex Loop portable magnetic loop antenna system. I have it mounted on the  bottom half of a old music stand that Ivin N9IVI gave me a few years ago. 

Until next time! 

73 de KB9BVN

Brian