This afternoon, no less than 3 spots (so far today) of my 1W ERP WSPR from CN8LI (2113km) in Morocco and, in the opposite direction, 3 spots from OH6GKW (1839km) in Finland. Es is good on 6m today with an assortment of other countries on Es this morning.
No sign of 4X1RF though, so far at least. It is now 1527z.
Still hopeful of some transatlantic DX later - it IS the Magic Band and you never know.
UPDATE 1640z: CN8LI has now spotted my 1W ERP no less than 5 times, so far, today.
3 Jun 2014
SAQ - CW on 17.2kHz
About twice a year this heritage VLF transmitter puts out CW test transmissions. Usually the will QSL via the amateur QSL bureaus too. This is a video clip of the transmitter and antennas. The TX is a 1920s alternator TX, one of the last, if not THE last, in the world. Antennas are huge. SAQ is usually decent copy in Europe and it is often copied in the USA and Canada. Some copy it on just a software RX and a small wire in the mic socket of a PC. Next tests are on Alexanderson Day (Sunday June 29th) and near Christmas.
See http://alexander.n.se/in-english/saq-transmission/ for details of future transmissions.
See http://alexander.n.se/in-english/saq-transmission/ for details of future transmissions.
Early start on 6m Es today
The first 6m Es WSPR reports were being received very early today from SQ9SIM at 0650z. This was followed by several reports from DL and OH (1757km Finland) . I am spotting SQ9, I and OZ (853km). Looks like a "solid" Es day in prospect on 6m. I hope we see some multi-hop Es propagation on 6m today.
Sunspot count is 56 and 20-30MHz forecast is for "normal" conditions, which at this time of year are not good for real DX apart from N-S. What will happen on 6m and 10m via Es is anyone's guess, which is one reason the Magic Band (6m) is so magical.
So far, no GDX seen here today on 6m.
Sunspot count is 56 and 20-30MHz forecast is for "normal" conditions, which at this time of year are not good for real DX apart from N-S. What will happen on 6m and 10m via Es is anyone's guess, which is one reason the Magic Band (6m) is so magical.
So far, no GDX seen here today on 6m.
2 Jun 2014
QSY to 10m or stick on 6m?
I am tempted to QSY down a band to 28MHz from 50MHz, but fear that 6m will then promptly open to the USA by multi-hop Es. It would just be my luck! Maybe I'll just stay on 6m and see what happens.
6m conditions have been very good today. Early June is getting close to the best times for Es DX on 6m.
I seem to recall regular openings to Japan from western Europe on 6m about this time. There was some speculation about the mode as it is FAR too far for Es and there were thoughts that noctilucent clouds may be significant. Openings were usually morning weak affairs and a decent station was needed. Don't think WSPR has been tried but Doppler might be a killer as the path crosses the auroral oval. Whatever the mode, this is fascinating stuff. 6m yet again throwing up propagation puzzles. I also wonder just how many so called "multi-hop" Es openings are actually some other mode? Some of the very long paths towards the Far East, Africa and the Americas make you wonder.
This sort of DX is still good in years of low solar activity. Just because the sunspot count can be VERY low does not mean low-VHF has no real DX. In many ways the quiet solar years are more interesting.
UPDATE 1900z: No Es DX now since 1446z. Still hopeful the band might open across the Atlantic this evening.
6m conditions have been very good today. Early June is getting close to the best times for Es DX on 6m.
I seem to recall regular openings to Japan from western Europe on 6m about this time. There was some speculation about the mode as it is FAR too far for Es and there were thoughts that noctilucent clouds may be significant. Openings were usually morning weak affairs and a decent station was needed. Don't think WSPR has been tried but Doppler might be a killer as the path crosses the auroral oval. Whatever the mode, this is fascinating stuff. 6m yet again throwing up propagation puzzles. I also wonder just how many so called "multi-hop" Es openings are actually some other mode? Some of the very long paths towards the Far East, Africa and the Americas make you wonder.
This sort of DX is still good in years of low solar activity. Just because the sunspot count can be VERY low does not mean low-VHF has no real DX. In many ways the quiet solar years are more interesting.
UPDATE 1900z: No Es DX now since 1446z. Still hopeful the band might open across the Atlantic this evening.
6m - early June 2014
Not sure if this is "typical" but these are the unique WSPR spots on 6m today (so far) in both directions June 2nd 2014 Here using 1W ERP from a V2000 vertical triband antenna. Arranged in order of distance. Several stations spotted me many times during the day (repeats not shown).
A good selection of Es and GDX on 6m today (so far - time now 1620z). Indeed the Magic Band!
UPDATE 1950z: Out of the blue IK1NET (981km) with 5W is being spotted here at -20dB S/N - late Es. Magic band!
 |
| 6m WSPR here today. Shows unique spots and arranged by distance |
UPDATE 1950z: Out of the blue IK1NET (981km) with 5W is being spotted here at -20dB S/N - late Es. Magic band!
6m - 4X1RF spots me yet again with 1W ERP (3519km)
At 1308z 4X1RF spotted my 1W ERP WSPR on 6m for the 9th time this season. I assume it is Es and not single hop F-layer. I am amazed that 4X1RF can copy me so often. There was no sign of intermediate distance stations. On 10m Chris regularly copies me when I am using low milliwatts. He has very good ears and must have a quiet QTH. 3519km is a great distance on 6m and I am even more pleased as my antenna is just a V2000 triband vertical fed with lossy CB coax. My FT817 is on the mid-power setting only.
I am still hopeful of transatlantic multi-hop Es propagation with WSPR. Patience! I must stick with 6m and keep everything crossed. If, as I have, worked K1TOL on CW in the past on 6m (summer 2007), then WSPR should certainly be possible as long as there are stations active on WSPR in the USA. K1TOL has a BIG antenna farm but with WSPR more modest antennas in the USA should be fine.
I am still hopeful of transatlantic multi-hop Es propagation with WSPR. Patience! I must stick with 6m and keep everything crossed. If, as I have, worked K1TOL on CW in the past on 6m (summer 2007), then WSPR should certainly be possible as long as there are stations active on WSPR in the USA. K1TOL has a BIG antenna farm but with WSPR more modest antennas in the USA should be fine.
Julian - G4ILO?
Just wondering if anyone has news on Julian?
It is nearly 1 month since his " One foot in the grave" blog was last updated and his health seemed to be failing back then. I have emailed Julian, but had no response from Julian or XYL Olga yet. Julian has been fighting a brain cancer for a couple of years. I hope he is still fighting it.
UPDATE 1431z: See https://twitter.com/g4ilo/status/466514524707643392/photo/1 . I hope Julian enjoys using the new radio. Good news.
It is nearly 1 month since his " One foot in the grave" blog was last updated and his health seemed to be failing back then. I have emailed Julian, but had no response from Julian or XYL Olga yet. Julian has been fighting a brain cancer for a couple of years. I hope he is still fighting it.
UPDATE 1431z: See https://twitter.com/g4ilo/status/466514524707643392/photo/1 . I hope Julian enjoys using the new radio. Good news.
6m Es - a good today
It has been a very good morning for 6m Es today with spots (both given and received) from across Europe and Morocco. SQ9SIM was spotted as early as 0742z and other reports continued throughout the morning.
It has also been good for GDX as well. G3WKW is the best so far at 134km with low Doppler (-1Hz).
In all, a good day so far.
It has also been good for GDX as well. G3WKW is the best so far at 134km with low Doppler (-1Hz).
In all, a good day so far.
Health update (stroke)
You may (or may not!) remember that last September I was very ill and needed an operation on my brain for a bleed. I was discharged from hospital Jan 3rd 2014 and have been recovering at home, albeit slowly.
Today I had to attend a neuro clinic at Addenbrookes Hospital as an out-patient. They seem very pleased with my recovery, which is good news. I may be driving again in the next few months.
They are doing a further MRI scan June 30th to see if my remaining giddiness when walking/turning can be helped. In all, it was a good outcome - nothing dramatic to report. Giddiness should continue to improve given time - just be patient - as the brain learns to cope and rewires itself.
Today I had to attend a neuro clinic at Addenbrookes Hospital as an out-patient. They seem very pleased with my recovery, which is good news. I may be driving again in the next few months.
They are doing a further MRI scan June 30th to see if my remaining giddiness when walking/turning can be helped. In all, it was a good outcome - nothing dramatic to report. Giddiness should continue to improve given time - just be patient - as the brain learns to cope and rewires itself.
1 Jun 2014
Transatlantic 6m?
According to Steve's blog http://ve7sl.blogspot.ca/ there was transatlantic propagation on 6m today but here at least I copied nothing of this on WSPR.
I may have been unlucky but it was probably just that there were no active WSPR stations where the propagation was reaching or my antenna is not good enough to catch weak, fleeting openings. I am leaving the kit running overnight just in case!
I may have been unlucky but it was probably just that there were no active WSPR stations where the propagation was reaching or my antenna is not good enough to catch weak, fleeting openings. I am leaving the kit running overnight just in case!
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