Back on 6m WSPR at 1604z

Now gone back to 6m WSPR. So far, just being seen strongly by local G4IKZ (18km). No GDX or Es seen yet.

There is a storm coming this way from the Gloucester area but it will be a few hours yet and might miss us? See http://www.lightningmaps.org/realtime?lang=en . Currently it is over the Milton Keynes area. and seems to be tracking E/SE-wards.

UPDATE 1710z: The storm is moving NE. It may get us after all. Currently it is in Northamptonshire. We'll see soon where it goes next.

UPDATE  1727z: Still just G4IKZ (18km) spotting me.  No Es, no GDX seen here on 6m WSPR (yet). Will abort proceedings if the storm gets dangerously close.

UPDATE 1807z:  The storm appears to be fading away before it gets here. Good. This means I can stay on 6m WSPR for longer. So far, there is distinct lack of Es DX being seen by any reporters.

The ONLY 6m WSPR spots here in the last 2 hours - local G4IKZ

UPDATE 1820z:  Still no DX on 6m. Storm HAS died out.

UPDATE 1922z:   Still no 6m DX. The storm over the North Sea is now moving south and there is lightning at Cromer. Watching this carefully in case it comes our way tonight.

6m/10m WSPR - or not?

I was about to switch back to 6m WSPR but the lightning map shows deteriorating weather with possible storms approaching from Lincolnshire and the North Sea.  Maybe I'll stay on 10m a while longer and then decide what to do. If the storms get close I shall go QRT.

UPDATE 1318z:  Well, the Lincolnshire storm is moving north. That means it is getting further away from here.  I'll QSY up to 6m WSPR later this afternoon, unless another storm rears its ugly head.

UPDATE 1410z:  GM4FVM (428km - very short 10m Es skip) copied strongly at -10dB S/N on 10m WSPR at 1340z. Suggests decent Es on higher bands.

UPDATE 1442z: First GDX today G8VDQ (93km) spotted on 10m WSPR at 1424z but quite weakly.

Missed 6m transatlantic openings

I missed at least 2 transatlantic 6m openings.

KB2MEN spotted G4JVF on July 29th in the middle of the night (in the UK) and KU4QI spotted ON7KO on the evening of June 21st.  I was probably on 10m, or I simply missed these openings. The season has not yet ended for real long distance 6m DX. I may go back on to 6m later.

10m WSPR - resumed at 0914z today

So far, all quiet on 10m WSPR with no recent GDX, Es or F2 DX seen here today so far.

Sunspot count  is 165 with blackouts and 20-30MHz propagation "normal". We should see F2 DX today. It was there yesterday on 10m.

The nearest storms are over the North Sea, but I shall continue to keep a watchful eye and disconnect everything if things start to look at all dodgy.

UPDATE 1047z:   FR1GZ (9724km) was spotted (F2) just a few minutes ago, LB9YE (1533km) is now coming through by Es. The 10m band is waking up. FR1GZ is also spotting me I see.

UPDATE 1247z:  TF3HZ (1837km) now being spotted via Es.

10m WSPR - F2 this afternoon

FR1GZ (9724km) running 5W was spotted on 10m WSPR today at 1352z at -21dB S/N.   No other DX  - Es, F2 or GDX - has been seen since (yet).  The band did, at least, open deep into the Indian Ocean (Reunion Is). Maybe we'll see South America later?

UPDATE 1812z: G8JNJ/A (184km) was spotted after a very quiet afternoon at 1708z, but nothing since then.

UPDATE 1923z:  CX2ABP (11127km) copied at -22dB S/N at 1844z (and earlier) from Montevideo. Yet moretdecent F2 propagation. LB9YE was spotted at  1858z. No Es seen since then.

UPDATE 2145z: With a (distant) threat of storms, WSPR has been closed down, antennas disconnected and rigs and PC unplugged from the mains. Think the risk is greater tomorrow, but better safe than sorry. Will resume on either 6m or 10m tomorrow if weather safe.   According to http://www.lightningmaps.org/realtime?lang=en there are storms moving up from France. By tomorrow morning they could be here?

10m - results this morning

These are the unique WSPR spots so far today on 10m. All these are via Es.  Repeat spots are not shown.

10m WSPR - immediate Es success

As well as early spots by OK2RO (1282km) both ways, I am now being spotted by EA1KV (1304km). 10m Es is hotting up again.

UPDATE 1025z: I have also been spotted by LB9YE (1533km) in the last 40 minutes and am spotting him.

6m overnight - disappointing

Leaving 6m WSPR on overnight was a waste: apart from local G4IKZ (18km) only 1 spot of me by G8JNJ/A (184km) and no Es seen here on 6m WSPR at all.

At 0856z I QSYed back to 10m where I was immediately spotted by OK2RO (1282km) several times at good strength. I have also spotted him. 10m is definitely a more productive band for Es.

Sunspot count today is 139 and 20-30MHz is forecast to be "good", so some 10m F2 propagation should be expected later.

QSYed to 6m WSPR at 1642z

As 10m Es is so good, I have now QSYed up to 6m in the hope of catching some Es on this higher band. As yet, just G4IKZ (18km) spotting me on 6m, but I'll stay on 6m for some hours to give the higher band a fair chance.

On 10m, DK0SC was spotting me just before I changed bands up to 6m.

UPDATE 1802z:  OZ7IT (853km) in Denmark was spotted on 6m WSPR by Es at -12dB S/N (strong) at 1730z.

UPDATE 1844z:  DL4MFC (916km) spotted on 6m WSPR a few minutes ago at -8dB S/N. Es is good on 6m.

UPDATE 1852z:  HB9TJM (764km) now being spotted. 6m is good this evening.

6m unique spots to 1844z-1915z today

DB0ZDF spotted me on 6m Es (for 1W ERP) at a respectable -15dB S/N.

UPDATE 1954z:  F6HTL (831km) was spotted on 6m at 1944z.

UPDATE 2130z:  No more Es and GDX since 1944z. It may yet return, so I am leaving the WSPR kit running through the night in the hope and have reset the PC clock to internet time.

PS  Get Israel to make peace, not war.

10m WSPR - Es all over Europe

Currently there is Es coming through on 10m WSPR from all over Europe. Conditions on 10m Es seem wide open.

Sunspot count today is 146 (good) and 20-30MHz conditions are described as "good".  We should expect F2 propagation on 10m today. Yesterday we saw South Africa on the band. Today should be at least as good, or better, for F2 DX.

UPDATE 1535z:  GM4SFW (662km) and I are exchanging WSPR spots and still plenty of Es from across Europe on 10m.

UPDATE 1740z:  PD0OHW (459km) just spotted on 10m WSPR. Probably Es, but short skip. May QSY to 6m?


PS  Get Israel to make peace, not war.