Sunspots and 10m - Mon Jan 4th 2016

Solar flux is 102 and the sunspot number is 52 (K=0). 10m propagation is again forecast to be "poor" today.

UPDATE 1338z:  10m WSPR has been dead here with no a single spot all day, so far.  At the moment I am just active on 10m WSPR.

UPDATE 1846z:  No 10m WSPR spots of my signal all day.

JT65 and JT9-1

Tomorrow, all being well, I shall make a start on 2-way QRP QSOs in 2016 using these digital modes with WSJT-X V1.6.  Probably I'll start on 20m.  Up to now we seem to have been busy with grandchildren over the holidays, or away. Apart from doing my tax return online (a job I love not one bit - the hardest thing is finding all the documents), I think we have a fairly free week.

QRP Newsletter

More from Oleg:

Dear Club 72 members and friends,
see the QRP Rendez-Vous weekly report and comments on the Club 72 blog
page here - http://qrp-club72.blogspot.ru/
Visitors of the week:
UA4NU,  ON6KZ,  DF5SF,  UR5EFD, G4VUX, UA1CEG, RV3GM, UA1ADF, OH6NPV, YO2IS,  IK2RMZ,  UR7VT,  EW1CY, HB9DAX, OH5LP, SM7RYR, UR3VZ, IZ3GHP, 9A0QRP, RZ4NWA, UA1CEX, RU3NJC, UA1ASB, UR0ET, OK1DQP, MM0CIN, DJ0PM, OH3GZ, RU3ZL
IK2RMZ  entered  in  the honor QRP rendezvous "frequenters" list. See
full  "frequenters"  and  "visitors"  lists  on  the  Club  72 page -
www.club72.su
Remind QRP "rendez-vous" schedule:
- Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday at 9 UTC on 14060 (alternative 10116 if
Contests) +/- QRM, QRL, VXO. Your comments and results are appreciated
to "mr72" e-mail. please.
Thanks ALL for activity and comments!

72! Oleg RV3GM / KH6OB "Mr. 72"
=== In QRP We Trust! ===

630m WSPR and 10m WSPR

I am again spotting plenty on 630m (472kHz) WSPR although no-one has yet spotted my 5mW ERP on that band today. No luck on 10m WSPR, although I was very very later getting on the band. I only started up just before it was dark here. I left 10m too late.

Sunspots and 10m - Sun Jan 3rd 2016

For the last 24 hours we were away visiting relatives in Yorkshire, so I had no chance to update the blogs. In the gloom and rain we are now home again and I am currently on 10m WSPR and 630m WSPR.

Solar flux today is 100, sunspot number 52 (K=2) and the forecast for 10m remains "poor". I am not expecting much on 10m WSPR today.

Sunspots and 10m - Sat Jan 2nd 2016

Solar flux is 97 and sunspot number 40 (K=3). 10m propagation is expected to remain "poor" today.

Low 472kHz WSPR activity on TX in Europe

Although WSPRnet shows 64 active stations on 472kHz WSPR,  just 8 of us are transmitting on 472kHz WSPR in Europe! This is a very low number. I do wish more were active.

UPDATE 1948z:  EA5DOM (1525km) is now the best DX on 472kHz WSPR RX here this evening. I am still using the "barefoot" FT817 without an external preamp and with the earth-electrode "antenna". At this QTH I am blessed with a very low man-made noise level. On TX the ERP remains close to 5mW (20%).

Sunspots and 10m - Fri Jan 1st 2016

Solar flux is 95 today and sunspot number has fallen to 18 (K=3).  10m propagation is forecast to be "poor" again. With such a low sunspot number and K=3, I was pleased to be copied in South America this morning on 10m at 1132z. I somehow doubt we'll see the USA on 10m WSPR today.

UPDATE 1922z:  FY5KE (7110km) was the only station to spot me all day on 10m WSPR all day.  I have now gone QRT on 10m WSPR and 6m WSPR and am active on 630m (472kHz) WSPR with 3 stations already spotted (best DX on 472kHz RX is DJ0ABR (983km).

UPDATE 1927z:  Best DX on 472kHz WSPR RX is DH5RAE (995km).

10m and 6m WSPR

It is New Year's Day and I am active on 10m and 6m WSPR at present.

UPDATE 1315z:   G8VDQ (93km) has been spotted several times already on 6m (he was also copied earlier on 630m) and FY5KE (7110km) spotted me on 10m WSPR.  A promising start to the new year.

2016 - A Happy New Year!

So, the new year is with us. A time for new beginnings and new hopes. May I wish  every reader of this blog, where ever you live on this small, shared, planet of ours, a very happy and peaceful 2016. I hope we can all enjoy 2016 in peace and goodwill.

My main ambition is to make the most of life: it is a precious gift.

Amateur radio wise, I think I shall try to work 2-way QRP QSOs  on JT65 and JT9-1 on HF and maybe some PSK31. I shall continue with WSPR when not able look for 2-way QSOs.

So I really hope you have a great 2016 whatever your situation. We must grab life with both hands.