The most recent transmission from Nick G0OQK (98km) was at 1854z. Unlike earlier transmissions this was received as a single straight line on the WSPR software screen with not even a hint of aircraft reflections. I wonder if this was pure tropo? His signal strength was -20dB S/N.
The alternative explanation is this was just a single plane flying in such a direction that there was no Doppler on the signal. I think this means a plane exactly crossing the path between us. I need to dig out that software G3WKW mentioned to see when planes are optimally placed. A reminder it was http://www.airscout.eu.
24 Jun 2014
6m - CN8LI copied on WSPR
At 1646z I copied CN8LI (2113km) on 6m WSPR for the first time today at a strong -9dB S/N. I think we are seeing the teatime peak in Es. He was also copied again at 1754z at a strong -9dB S/N. No other Es seen today (yet). He copied me again strongly at 1806z.
UPDATE 1844z: CN8LI has (so far) been seen 5 times this evening. He was a remarkably strong +4dB S/N at 1826z. Just like a real local! So far, he has spotted me 6 times already today. The "pipe" to Morocco is in place again today!
UPDATE 1945z: CN8LI has copied me loads of times today so far:
UPDATE 2242z: My last 6m spot of CN8LI seems to have been at 2008z.
UPDATE 1844z: CN8LI has (so far) been seen 5 times this evening. He was a remarkably strong +4dB S/N at 1826z. Just like a real local! So far, he has spotted me 6 times already today. The "pipe" to Morocco is in place again today!
UPDATE 1945z: CN8LI has copied me loads of times today so far:
 |
| CN8LI's 6m WSPR spots of my 1W ERP so far so far today |
Sunspots slowly falling?
Today's sunspot count is 65 with "normal" 20-30MHz conditions. It looks to me as if the solar activity is now on the slide downwards. This does not mean an end to good conditions. This autumn 15, 12 and 10m should still be in very good shape and it will be a few years before we really see the changes.
There are all sorts of predictions about the next few cycles. The consensus is the next few cycles will be ones with low solar activity. It is still too soon to say if we are really entering another Maunder minimum. Don't worry: this is a chance to explore HF in different times. There is unlikely to be any (much) East-West F-layer propagation on 12,10 and 6m but North-South propagation will be possible some of the time and openings on Es can be surprisingly distant in all directions at the optimum times of the year.
And there are always VHF, UHF, microwaves and nanowaves to explore!
Let us see the coming years as a challenge. We may never see really good conditions again in our lifetimes but there will still be interesting propagation and DX to be worked and heard.
There are all sorts of predictions about the next few cycles. The consensus is the next few cycles will be ones with low solar activity. It is still too soon to say if we are really entering another Maunder minimum. Don't worry: this is a chance to explore HF in different times. There is unlikely to be any (much) East-West F-layer propagation on 12,10 and 6m but North-South propagation will be possible some of the time and openings on Es can be surprisingly distant in all directions at the optimum times of the year.
And there are always VHF, UHF, microwaves and nanowaves to explore!
Let us see the coming years as a challenge. We may never see really good conditions again in our lifetimes but there will still be interesting propagation and DX to be worked and heard.
6m WSPR - G0OQK spotted (with Doppler) and CN8LI
For the first time G0OQK (98km) has been on TX so this was my chance to see if reception here was pure tropo or aircraft assisted.
Well, looking at his last traces here I can see 2 or 3 traces in each 2 minute burst suggesting reflection from planes. This is far cleaner than I've seen some stations. I guess it says something about the flight paths. WSPR seems to decode the transmission with little Doppler, but there is little doubt that Nick's 2W to a V2000 is helped by aircraft reflection. Of course, being in the Chilterns I wonder if it is reflections from gliders?
This suggests almost all (or all?) 6m GDX signals copied here are aided by aircraft reflection and few/none are traditional tropo. For more local stations most signals are tropo but even over 25km paths people frequently see Doppler from aircraft on my traces. I guess it depends whether the direct path, or aircraft reflected path, dominates? For locals, the direct (tropo) path usually dominates.
UPDATE 1510z: No 6m Es here so far today and just a couple of spots received of G0OQK (98km). I noticed more traces of Nick than proper decodes, either Doppler wrong or MS pings too short.
UPDATE 1516z: My WSPR software decided to close on its own this afternoon (Win 8.1 issue with updates) so I have resync'd the internet clock and restarted the WSPR software. It is now working OK as G4IKZ is spotting me at 1506z. Seeing 50Hz sidebands on the very strong reports from this Nick. Not sure if it is his issue or mine. Not really worried as it only appears, sometimes, on strong signals.
UPDATE 1532z: I spoke too soon as CN8LI (2113km) spotted me at 1516z just after I spotted G4FFC (45km). There is Es about today.
Well, looking at his last traces here I can see 2 or 3 traces in each 2 minute burst suggesting reflection from planes. This is far cleaner than I've seen some stations. I guess it says something about the flight paths. WSPR seems to decode the transmission with little Doppler, but there is little doubt that Nick's 2W to a V2000 is helped by aircraft reflection. Of course, being in the Chilterns I wonder if it is reflections from gliders?
This suggests almost all (or all?) 6m GDX signals copied here are aided by aircraft reflection and few/none are traditional tropo. For more local stations most signals are tropo but even over 25km paths people frequently see Doppler from aircraft on my traces. I guess it depends whether the direct path, or aircraft reflected path, dominates? For locals, the direct (tropo) path usually dominates.
UPDATE 1510z: No 6m Es here so far today and just a couple of spots received of G0OQK (98km). I noticed more traces of Nick than proper decodes, either Doppler wrong or MS pings too short.
UPDATE 1516z: My WSPR software decided to close on its own this afternoon (Win 8.1 issue with updates) so I have resync'd the internet clock and restarted the WSPR software. It is now working OK as G4IKZ is spotting me at 1506z. Seeing 50Hz sidebands on the very strong reports from this Nick. Not sure if it is his issue or mine. Not really worried as it only appears, sometimes, on strong signals.
UPDATE 1532z: I spoke too soon as CN8LI (2113km) spotted me at 1516z just after I spotted G4FFC (45km). There is Es about today.
6m WSPR return
After the nearby storms had passed, I reconnected rig, PC and antenna at 0900z this morning. G4IKZ (18km) is back looking - I wonder if he closed down for the storms too? - and he is spotting me well. G0OQK (98km) is also looking and giving me similar (low Doppler) reports as on earlier days. As yet, no Es seen here today.
23 Jun 2014
Alpine storms and Es
I cannot remember the supposed link between Es and thunderstorms (something to do with sprites going upwards from thunder clouds?) but with plenty of thunderstorms in the Alps, I wonder how Es will be tomorrow? Maybe conditions to southern Europe will be good on 6m Es?
Although I probably could safely reconnect antennas this evening now the storms have passed, I think it will be better to wait until the morning.
Knowing my luck, the 6m band will open transatlantic tonight and I shall miss it all! That would not be the end of the world.
Although I probably could safely reconnect antennas this evening now the storms have passed, I think it will be better to wait until the morning.
Knowing my luck, the 6m band will open transatlantic tonight and I shall miss it all! That would not be the end of the world.
Confusing American call areas?
At one time you knew where in the USA a station was located by its call area. No longer. A W6 can be in New York and a W1 in California. In my view this is a very backward move. Although it has been the case for a few years, it is now beginning to become a major problem.
Is this an FCC issue? They do seem to be so behind. 472-479kHz is still not allocated in the USA whereas we've had access to the band for 1.5 yrs now here in Europe. I don't think they yet have the 136kHz band even!
As an occasional user of the USA customs service, I wonder if the FCC uses similar people? The USA customs officers seem to be a "rum lot" with absolutely zero sense of humour. Where do they find these people?
Is this an FCC issue? They do seem to be so behind. 472-479kHz is still not allocated in the USA whereas we've had access to the band for 1.5 yrs now here in Europe. I don't think they yet have the 136kHz band even!
As an occasional user of the USA customs service, I wonder if the FCC uses similar people? The USA customs officers seem to be a "rum lot" with absolutely zero sense of humour. Where do they find these people?
Lightning maps
If you missed G0LRD's comment in an earlier post you may want this link that shows lightning activity:
http://www.lightningmaps.org/realtime?lang=en
There are storms in Eastern England and very many over the Alps. Interestingly the CN8 to OZ path has been open on 6m Es today. Some believe there is a correlation between Es and thunderstorms.
UPDATE 1720z: At the moment, the storms have ended but the lightning map shows a further storm is due to come through. At present it is over the Peterborough area and moving SE. I think it is best to NOT reconnect the antennas today.
UPDATE 1751z: The storm over Peterborough seems to be moving in an easterly direction and may miss our village with luck, although I can now hear distant thunder to the north.
UPDATE 1812z: The storm is definitely tracking east over the Bedford Levels in the Fens, towards Littleport, so should miss us. Even so, I'll stay off air tonight.
UPDATE 2016z: According to the lightning map, all thunder storms have now died out in the UK. I'll reconnect antennas in the morning.
http://www.lightningmaps.org/realtime?lang=en
There are storms in Eastern England and very many over the Alps. Interestingly the CN8 to OZ path has been open on 6m Es today. Some believe there is a correlation between Es and thunderstorms.
UPDATE 1720z: At the moment, the storms have ended but the lightning map shows a further storm is due to come through. At present it is over the Peterborough area and moving SE. I think it is best to NOT reconnect the antennas today.
UPDATE 1751z: The storm over Peterborough seems to be moving in an easterly direction and may miss our village with luck, although I can now hear distant thunder to the north.
UPDATE 1812z: The storm is definitely tracking east over the Bedford Levels in the Fens, towards Littleport, so should miss us. Even so, I'll stay off air tonight.
UPDATE 2016z: According to the lightning map, all thunder storms have now died out in the UK. I'll reconnect antennas in the morning.
6m - local storms stop play
Currently we have thunderstorms around so I have disconnected ALL antennas, turned off the rigs and turned off the WSPR software and the PC.
This morning there was no Es seen here on 6m, just GDX. G0OKQ was a consistent reporter 98km away in the Chiltern Hills. Local G4IKZ (18km) was not on.
If the storm passes over, and goes, I'll reconnect 6m WSPR At the moment (1352z) the storm is about 3km away judging by the time difference between lightning and thunder claps. I hate this sort of weather.
Sunspot count is 95 and the forecast for 20-30MHz is "good" so F-layer propagation on 10m should be promising. Conditions are "disturbed".
This morning there was no Es seen here on 6m, just GDX. G0OKQ was a consistent reporter 98km away in the Chiltern Hills. Local G4IKZ (18km) was not on.
If the storm passes over, and goes, I'll reconnect 6m WSPR At the moment (1352z) the storm is about 3km away judging by the time difference between lightning and thunder claps. I hate this sort of weather.
Sunspot count is 95 and the forecast for 20-30MHz is "good" so F-layer propagation on 10m should be promising. Conditions are "disturbed".
22 Jun 2014
6m - G0OQK consistent signal reports
Nick G0OQK is 98km away in the Chilterns (IO91pp) and he has spotted my 1W ERP 6m signal countless times today. Doppler is very low so I am wondering if this is tropo (generally) NOT involving aircraft? In the next few days Nick will be on TX so I can check here for a lack of multiple traces on the WSPR screen. If there are lots of traces on his signal it will suggest aircraft reflections. If (usually) just a weakish single trace it will suggest tropo.
UPDATE 2250z: No more Es reports from CN8LI since 1918z. Unless things suddenly change, I think the Es here has ended for the day.
UPDATE 2250z: No more Es reports from CN8LI since 1918z. Unless things suddenly change, I think the Es here has ended for the day.
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