The Ham Shack

13/05/2026

I received this today from Guohetec the PMR171 factory.

12/05/2026

https://youtu.be/MrKmOZ_B2Bw?si=9yn-L5YuLWPvk69m

We started The Ham Shack 12 months ago and here we are with some quality agencies and products, we are very active in the community and on the air every week...

12/05/2026

The Ham Shack is 1 year old and we have different specials each week. This week we have Spiderbeam Specials.

While Stocks last.....................

10/05/2026

08/05/2026

My 40m Spike Antenna for very quick 40m activations.

I have a number of antennas and masts for my POTA addiction, various masts, dipoles, EFHW, Random wire antennas and my spike antenna.The spike works well for...

08/05/2026

https://youtu.be/bnsCE3MhB-Q?si=X2SNN1e9C4bVMrSF

It had been a few weeks since I managed to get out and do an activation. Since it was a week day I used my quick deploy spiked vertical and managed 9 contact...

07/05/2026

HF Band Conditions Forecast - Weekend (May 9-10, 2026)
Current Solar Activity Status
• Solar Flux Index (SFI): 120 (Good conditions)
• Sunspot Number (SSN): 105 (Active solar cycle)
• Kp Index: 0.0-2.67 (Quiet to unsettled)
• Overall Conditions: GOOD

Geomagnetic Forecast (NOAA SWPC)
May 7 (Today)
• Radio Blackout Risk: 15% (R1-R2 Minor)
• Solar Radiation Storm: 1% (S1 or greater)
• Current Status: R1 (Minor) Radio Blackout impacts observed
◦ HF Radio: Weak or minor degradation on sunlit side
◦ Occasional loss of radio contact possible
◦ Navigation: Low-frequency signals degraded for brief intervals

May 8 (Friday)
• Radio Blackout Risk: 30% (R1-R2 Minor)
• Solar Radiation Storm: 10% (R3-R5 possible)
• Expected Conditions: Slightly elevated activity

May 9-10 (Weekend)
• Radio Blackout Risk: 30% (R1-R2 Minor)
• Solar Radiation Storm: 10% (R3-R5 possible)
• Expected Conditions: Continued minor activity

HF Band Propagation Forecast (Weekend)
Best Performing Bands
80m (3.5-4.0 MHz)
• Daytime: Good
• Nighttime: Good
• Best times: 13:00-16:00 UTC

40m (7.0-7.3 MHz)
• Daytime: Good
• Nighttime: Good
• Best times: 08:00-14:00 UTC

30m (10.1-10.15 MHz)
• Daytime: Good
• Nighttime: Good
• Best times: 09:00-11:00 UTC

20m (14.0-14.35 MHz)
• Daytime: Good
• Nighttime: Good
• Best times: 11:00-13:00 UTC

Marginal Bands
17m (18.068-18.168 MHz)
• Conditions: Fair to Poor
• Expected success rate: 15-20%

15m (21.0-21.45 MHz)
• Conditions: Poor
• Expected success rate: 11-17%

12m (24.89-24.99 MHz)
• Conditions: Poor
• Expected success rate: 18-20%

10m (28.0-29.7 MHz)
• Conditions: Poor
• Expected success rate: 10-19%

Recommendations for Weekend Operations
1 Focus on Lower Bands: 80m, 40m, 30m, and 20m should provide the most reliable propagation throughout the weekend.
2 Timing Strategy:
◦ Morning hours (08:00-14:00 UTC) are optimal for most bands
◦ Evening propagation remains good on 80m and 40m
3 Solar Activity Monitoring: Keep an eye on geomagnetic indices as minor radio blackout events (R1-R2) are possible, which could cause weak degradation on the sunlit side of the earth.
4 Gray-Line Operations: The gray-line (terminator) will provide excellent propagation opportunities during dawn and dusk transitions.
5 DX Potential: With SFI at 120 and good overall conditions, weekend DX opportunities should be favorable, particularly on 20m during peak hours.

Additional Resources
• Real-time Propagation: https://www.dxpredictor.com/forecast
• NOAA Space Weather: https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/3-day-forecast
• HF Band Status: https://solar.w5mmw.net/
• Live Activity Map: https://hf.dxview.org/

Forecast Disclaimer: This forecast is based on current solar and geomagnetic data as of May 7, 2026, 11:10 UTC. Actual conditions may vary. Always check real-time propagation tools before operating.

An interactive map that shows real time, worldwide radio activity and propagation specific to the user's location on all amateur radio HF bands.

05/05/2026

I got out early so if anyone is around I am on 7.090 ZL1GUD

05/05/2026

60M BAND UPDATE - Week 1 May 2026

EXPLORING THE 60-METER BAND THIS WEEK

What's Happening on 60m Right Now:

The 60-meter band is experiencing solid propagation conditions this week, sitting perfectly between the characteristics of 40m and 80m. This makes it ideal for both regional contacts and surprising DX opportunities. With Solar Cycle 25 still providing decent F10.7 values (95-110), 60m is delivering consistent performance, particularly during evening and early morning hours.

This Week's Conditions:
Best Times: Early morning (0600-0900 UTC) and evening (1600-2100 UTC)
Propagation: Good to Very Good
Recommended Modes: SSB, CW, FT8
Solar Activity: Moderate - Excellent for 60m propagation

Challenge This Week:
Try making at least one contact on 60m! Whether it's a local ragchew or a surprising DX contact, you'll understand why many operators consider 60m to be the "best kept secret" in amateur radio.

*My radio is on 5.363Mhz USB most of the time. Give me a call.
Greg
The Ham Shack
ZL1GUD | ZL3THS
Inspiring Amateur Radio Operators Across New Zealand & Australia

03/05/2026

I am getting weekly reports on the bands from various sources and will post them here as they come in.

Greg
ZL1GUD
ZL3THS

10m Band Report — Week of 3 May 2026

Conditions on The Magic Band this week are interesting — challenging for reliable F2 DX, but with some genuine opportunity for those who know where to look.

Solar conditions: Solar Flux at ~149, K-index sitting at a very quiet 1 — geomagnetically this is about as clean as it gets. The good news ends there for F2 though, as Solar Cycle 25 continues its decline from its October 2024 peak, and 10m is feeling it. Don’t expect the wall-to-wall European signals we were enjoying 18 months ago.

Where the action is: Sporadic-E is your friend right now. May is actually one of the best months of the year for Es on 10m, and with a quiet K-index, any openings that develop should be clean and strong. Keep an eye on the DX cluster — Es can fire up with very little warning and be gone inside an hour.

From ZL: Trans-equatorial propagation (TEP) paths toward Asia and the Pacific remain worth checking around local noon. FT8 on 28.074 MHz is your best starting point — if the band is open anywhere, you’ll see it there first.

Pro tip: Even on a quiet week, 10m rewards the patient operator. Check the band for 15 minutes around local noon every day this week — you might be surprised.

73 de The Ham Shack 📡