6m F2 this autumn?

Speculating about the chances of any F2 openings on 6m this autumn. I guess the chances are slim as the solar activity is now on a downwards path, although those lucky enough to be nearer to equator could catch some TEP.  I think it will be very unlikely that we in the UK will catch any. CN8 to FR, VK to JA etc maybe.

Sunspot count today is 180 (high) with 20-30MHz propagation forecast to be "normal".

See http://www.dxmaps.com/spots/map.php?Lan=E&Frec=50&ML=M&Map=EU&DXC=N&HF=N&GL=N .

6m - WSPR spots from 4X1RF (3519km) yet again

My 6m 1W ERP WSPR signals are yet again being spotted in Israel.

I think this is now 5 days this season he has spotted me at this incredible distance. In all I must have had around 20 spots if not more from him?  The considered wisdom is this is Es, but I do sometimes wonder what the propagation mechanism is. The lack of stations at intermediate distances may be because few are active on WSPR, but it "feels" like a single long hop, not unlike F2. My station and antenna are basic.

People who know better than me tell me it is not F2. Whatever, I am very pleased to have my QRP station being spotted so often in Israel.

 Today, starting at 0704z,  he has spotted me 6 times already by 0846z.

6m spots by 4X1RF (1W ERP here) to 0830z today

Most Es spots seem to be from Scandinavia currently, just 1 from Italy.

UPDATE 0942z:   Just Scandinavian Es for the last hour here.

UPDATE 1530z:  Another spot from Israel of my QRP 6m signal at 1314z. That makes it 7 just today!

6m - CN8LI still spotting me on WSPR

CN8LI (2113km) regularly spots my 1W ERP on 6m WSPR and is still copying me at 2028z.  I have the feeling this will not be the last spot today. Yet again my report from him was excellent at -13dB S/N. I continue to be surprised how regular these spots are and how strong. Usual strengths suggest much lower power would still be copyable.

In totally the other direction OH7AI (2000km) is also spotting my 1W ERP signal at a much weaker -23dB S/N.

UPDATE 2055z:   CN8LI is still spotting me at 2052z.  G0OQK (98km) is also spotting me at -24dB S/N at the same time.

6m - afternoon Es

All afternoon, OH7AI and OH5MD have been consistent signals on 6m WSPR. I have the sense that, if 6m is to open for "super-DX" at all on WSPR, we are going to see it in the next few days. The band has already opened across the Atlantic on SSB/CW several times but, as far as I know, the only WSPR transatlantic was a report by CN8LI of KC1AWS (5607km) on May 30th at 1700z. PE4BAS worked Puerto Rico the other evening with 5W and a V2000 on 6m with JT65 mode proving that high power is not a prerequisite. WSPR should be better than JT65.

FT817 drift on 6m

G0LRD compared spots of his signal from G4IKZ and from me and noticed greater drift on my reports than from Nick G4IKZ. I think Nick uses a K3 with GPS disciplined reference.

Although I have a loaned 0.5ppm TCXO fitted (thanks to Bob G3WKW). the issue may be drift as the rig cools going from TX to RX. There is definitely Doppler shift (and multiple traces) on most of the GDX  signals I copy, much of the apparent drift may, in reality, be in my rig. 0.5ppm is still 25Hz at 50MHz .

10m rigs

http://images.nevadaradio.co.uk/large/banners/Liberty-bannerV3.jpg

For WSPR, 5W or less is quite enough on 10m, even with my "compromise" 3 band PAR antenna. In the quiet years ahead, a bit more power would be helpful on SSB, AM, CW and FM.

I am now getting very tempted to buy a Lincoln President II (version 3) which can run up to 31W pep on SSB. Probably it would run far less most of the time. Nevada have reduced their price by £10 to £249.95, I hope that includes free delivery for cash.

This is a dedicated 10m radio, although it can also cover CB bands with a simple (but illegal) internal wire cut.  If I bought one, I would only use it on 10m only: I have no interest in CB.  I think the latest mods turn this into a good rig. On my original Lincoln President - sold years ago - some impressive DX was worked in quieter years even from the car on SSB. 

Yes, it is a glorified CB rig, but with some very useful features for amateur use and about half the price of the lowest cost amateur radio transceivers. There are other contenders too but these seem to have fewer useful features.

As my main interest (outside the 6m Es season) is 10m, this may be a wise buy.

6m - an excellent WSPR start today

PA0O (440km) is coming in well today, I suspect by Es rather than tropo, although skip would have to be very short, suggesting good 2m Es?

4X1RF (3519km) had already spotted my 1W ERP signal twice by 0828z, incredibly early. His spots remain my best DX reports this Es season. This is the 4th day he has copied me. I am assuming it is multi-hop Es, but it is a long way to Israel!

On HF 20-30MHz propagation is "good" and sunspot count 154 (high).

IK1WVQ is very strong on 6m this morning  at +10dB S/N.

UPDATE 1048z:  GM4FVM  (428km) has been spotted (and is spotting me) several times this morning. Also spotted was HB9TJM (764km).

UPDATE 1100z:  EA4UC (1349km) also spotting me. GM4FVM is quite strong currently (-13 to -15dB S/N).

UPDATE 1155z:  SQ9SIM (1325km) being spotted via 6m Es now. A good day on 6m.Fingers crossed for some "super DX" later?

UPDATE 1300z:  Just increased the TX cycle from 5% to 17% ,so I am on TX more than earlier.  The Es seems to have gone rather quiet at present.

6m - Es this evening

No super-DX seen, with the best DX this evening being a spot from OH7AI  at exactly 2000km at 2000z. I am still hopeful of transatlantic multi-hop Es but had no luck as yet. Still using 1W ERP from a vertical V2000 antenna. This is being written at nearly 2200z.

2m UK Activity Contest - July 1st

This evening, with a VERY strained voice, I took part in the 2m July 1st UKAC contest from home, working 10 stations in a little over an hour before I had to stop. I was running 5W from the FT817ND to a hand rotated 3 el beam. Best DX was 240km up to the North York Moors. I heard IO95 (Northumberland) and Wales and other squares, but my voice was too poor to carry on past 2036z. Had I been fitter, I'd probably have turned the beam south and worked more squares and stations. Contests are hard for me at present. My voice is so poor.

2m stations worked tonight - 5W 3el

6m -WSPR - GDX this morning, Es this afternoon

Apart from local G4IKZ (18km), G8JNJ/A (184km), G4NRG (58km), all copied me overnight or this morning. I spotted M0EMM (192km, IO82sq   four times since 2232z last night. There was drift/Doppler of up to -4Hz suggesting planes were involved in this long across-G path.

Sunspot count today is 124 with 20-30MHz propagation described as "good".

UPDATE 1116z:   No 6m Es here yet today.

UPDATE 1257z:   Es to/from CN8LI (2113km) all of 7 times so far since 1200z.

UPDATE 1700z:  Es to YO3IRZ (2078km), I and GM this afternoon on 6m. Still no sign here of any "super DX" from across the Atlantic.

UPDATE 1950z:   OZ and SQ9 spotted on 6m WSPR Es since tea. Otherwise GDX only.