QRT - thunder

My wife said she heard thunder, so I have disconnected everything again. At the moment it is rain, rain, rain. Tomorrow looks better. I suspect I'll be QRT until tomorrow.

UPDATE 1444z: At the moment the storms look to be confined to Kent, so I have gone back on the air again. Outside it is still very wet! The photo shows a group (with umbrellas) arriving at our museum and windmill. The photo was taken out of the lounge window.

UPDATE 1627z: 8 countries spotted on 6m FT8 in the last hour.

10m WSPR TX

Several spots of my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon, mainly from Germany. Early Es.

UPDATE 1115z: 9 unique spots of my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon so far today. The map shows the spots so far today.

UPDATE 1912z: 13 unique spots today on 10m WSPR TX (500mW).

No storms yet, so back on air

At the moment all the nasty storms are far away, so I have returned to 6m FT8 RX and 10m WSPR TX.

Storm gone through, so on air again

The thunderstorm has passed and is currently well east of us and moving away, for now. So, I am again on 10m WSPR TX (500mW) and 6m FT8 RX. Assuming the storms stay well away, I expect to be on for many hours.

UPDATE 1532z: Just a couple of G spots since returning to 6m FT8 RX. Nothing, as yet, on 10m WSPR TX.

10m WSPR TX (500mW)

With 5 unique spots of my little WSPR beacon already very early by Es, today is already better than yesterday on 10m WSPR. The Es season may be drawing to a close, but there is still Es about on 10m and 6m.

10m WSPR spots of my 500mW as of 0945z today

Back on again

Just before breakfast I resumed operations. I am on 10m WSPR TX (500wW) and 6m FT8 RX again.

Now QRT

After a brief period looking at 20m FT8 (very busy at 1930z), I have now gone QRT on all bands.

All being well, I hope to return to 10m WSPR TX (500mW) and 6m FT8 RX at breakfast time tomorrow.

20 minutes on 20m FT8 RX this evening

Es season ending?

Today, there were just 2 unique spots here on 10m WSPR of my 500mW beacon, although I did much better on 6m FT8 RX. My feeling is the Es season is drawing to a close in the northern hemisphere, although there will still be DX there for those looking. Es occurs at any time of the year although in the UK and USA the best months are May, June and July.

I have worked Es 6m DX on QRP SSB in September and with newer digital modes quite brief openings can now be spotted. Never give up!

As we enter the "quiet sun" years E layer propagation becomes more important and may be the best hope of DX on 10m and higher bands.

For reasons I do not understand, there is a smaller Es peak around the end of December and early January. So, for those alert, there are plenty of opportunities for DX by E layer at any time of the year. OK, outside the peak months there may be long quiet periods, but stick with it and search out those brief openings!

10m WSPR

Although on since breakfast time, no spots received at all so far.

UPDATE 1015z: Still no spots received today so far on 10m WSPR.

UPDATE 1354z: Still no spots on 10m WSPR today.

UPDATE 1548z: Since 1358z EA1FAQ (1249km) has been spotting me intermittently by Es. At the moment, he is my only reporter today on 10m WSPR His last spot was at 1446z.

UPDATE 1825z: 2 unique spots of my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon

Back on again

At breakfast time I resumed 10m WSPR TX and 6m FT8 RX. Although dull, I think there are no storms likely locally today.

10m WSPR TX (500mW) again

As the 10m WSPR TX beacon (500mW) is "stand alone" and does not need the PC and uses a different antenna from that used on 6m, I am on 10m WSPR this morning.

UPDATE 0823z: No 10m WSPR spots yet today.

UPDATE 1230z: Several spots on 10m WSPR this lunchtime. Germany, Poland and Denmark spotted my 500mW. Es I assume.

UPDATE 1733z: Best spot today of my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon was by EW2ABC (1812km).

UPDATE 1902z: 10 unique 10m WSPR spots today. Not bad.

10m WSPR

Since the storm passed through this afternoon, I have been on 10m WSPR TX (500mW). After a slow start, lots of spots from Germany and Austria by Es.

UPDATE 2125z: 8 unique spots today on 10m WSPR, although I only started this afternoon. Now QRT on all bands.

Back on again after storms

As the storms seem to have cleared through and we are now bathed in sunshine, I am back on 10m WSPR TX (500mW) and 6m FT8 RX after a very brief TX period.

The impression I am getting is there is less Es than a month, or so, ago. There is still Es but not as frequent.

UPDATE 1454z: A couple of stations copied my brief 6m FT8 CQ. Best DX was a spot by G6GEI (91km).

UPDATE 1604z: IZ1AZJ (967km) was recently spotted on 6m FT8.

UPDATE 1612z: Nothing at all on 10m WSPR TX.

10m FT8

As of about 15 minutes ago, I am now on 10m FT8. After a brief period on TX, I am now on RX only. Sadly, no spots given or received so far.

UPDATE 1848z: Just M1CVJ (327km) spotted so far. This is too near for Es and too far for tropo, so could be aircraft reflection? This station is in North Devon in IO71 square.

10m WSPR

So far, 2 unique spots this morning early. It is now only 0825z, so this is probably good this early. Both look like Es (GMs).

UPDATE 1935z:  6 unique spots of my little 500mW 10m WSPR beacon today. Not as good as yesterday.

10m WSPR

Again, my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon is on. This was designed and made by W5OLF and is totally stand-alone. It does not need a PC. It has already been spotted in Italy and Germany. I use this "in the background" as it does not tie up the FT817 or PC, which I use on other bands and modes.

UPDATE 1156z: With 13 unique spots so far today on 10m WSPR TX, this is far better than yesterday. The spots are from all over Europe.

UPDATE 1505z:  Now 21 unique spots of my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon today.

UPDATE 1914z: 23 unique spots on 10m WSPR today. Quite a good day really.

10m WSPR TX (again)

Yet again, I am on 10m WSPR TX (500mW) with my little W5OLF WSPR beacon hoping for more Es. Yesterday there were 16 unique spots. The day before there were 40 uniques. So far today nothing! Is the main Es season drawing to a close?

UPDATE 1454z:  6 unique spots today, so far, of my little 500mW 10m WSPR beacon from all over Europe. There does seem to be less Es though.

UPDATE 1740z: Still just 6 unique spots on 10m WSPR. Several spots from OZ9QV (864km) - thank you.

10m WSPR

Yet again, I have been surprised by the Es spots of my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon from all over Europe. Best DX is EW2ABC (1812km). This is very early for Es as it is just 0830z.

UPDATE 1556z: Unless things suddenly change for the better, today will go down as a disappointing day. No Es has been noted here since early this morning on 10m WSPR. Others may well have done better, but only 10 unique stations spotted my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon today whereas yesterday it was more than 40.

UPDATE 1852z: There seems to have been a late teatime Es opening with EW2ABC (1812km) again spotting my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon.

Tony's 10m Band Report - a question

Every week Southgate News has Tony's 10m Band Report. Reading this you could be forgiven for thinking 10m is still wonderful. In my experience, things are much harder than a few years ago. Yes there are lots of Europeans by Es, but far less "real" DX outside Europe.

OK, I am confused: I think this is a list of stations reported and not DX heard or worked from the UK.

Well equipped stations will be able to do far better than me, but I need someone to tell me this is a list of reports and not stations heard or worked from the UK. If I am wrong, then some people are doing far better than me!

See http://southgatearc.org/bands/10metres/2017/july/july-27.htm#.WXjyBbpFzIU

10m WSPR

Since breakfast, my 10m WSPR TX beacon (500mW) has been on and received 119 spots, mainly in Germany and Denmark. So, plenty of Es on 10m.

UPDATE 1105z:  437 10m WSPR spots so far today. 36 unique spots, which is the best day yet this season and it is only just after noon local time!

UPDATE 1402z: 537 10m WSPR spots so far today. Es has been good on 10m so far. (

UPDATE 1832z: With 40 unique 10m WSPR spots, this is definitely my best day on 10m this season. Best DX is a spot by OE1SJS (1230km).

UPDATE 1935z: Although I am still seeing Eastern Europe on 6m JT65, all has been quiet on 10m WSPR here for an hour.