The Sound of Silence

My last amateur radio contact was on 3 September, over a week ago. Even then, I have not been really active since 28 August, two weeks ago.

I am not one of those who relentlessly calls CQ on a flat band. I do not weigh my contacts as a measure of success, I view each one as worthy in itself. If I isn't worthy of a QSO then I just remain silent. If people call me then I reply, otherwise I often listen. Lately there has not been much to hear.

50MHz seen on DX Maps at GM4FVM on 11 September 2025

Perhaps at times I have been busy with other things, I have not been paying attention or just lazy. But for a lot of the time the VHF DX landscape has been looking like the map above. Nothing of note. At the time all five bands I monitor looked totally blank - 6m, 4m, 2m, 70cm and 23cm. No Es, no TEP, no tropo, no aurora, no ... signals.

Life cannot be a constant VHF opening. Sure I ramble on here about great contacts made, but I only see the ups because I have sat through the downs. If propagation was constant there would be very little to interest me about amateur radio.

So I do not complain. I just note that nothing much is happening. I hope for things to improve.

Last year was much the same in September, but then things improved dramatically. Do I expect that same thing to happen this year? No. Another joy of VHF/UHF propagation is that it almost never repeats itself. Something will be different. Sure if you plot a graph over a year, or a decade, you can see patterns. But does this allow me to predict today or tomorrow? Not a chance.

Frankly I would not want it any other way. Good times come and good times go. You don't miss what you have got till it is gone. Hopefully it will be back soon. 

73 Jim

GM4FVM