Sunspots and 10m - Sat Aug 8th 2015

Things are looking slightly more promising on 10m. Sunspot number has risen to 95 (K=3) and 10m propagation is expected to be "fair" rather than "poor" as it has been for weeks. Whether we see any real DX on 10m WSPR remains to be seen.

4X1RF (3519km) again spotting me on 6m WSPR

Since lunchtime, 4X1RF (3519km) has again been spotting my 1W ERP WSPR signal on 6m. I am pretty convinced this is E layer, but remain skeptical this is multi-hop Es which is the conventional wisdom. 3519km is a long way for Es multi-hop. This path seems pretty regular so I wonder if some other E layer mechanism is going on? Possibly some E layer chordal hop?  Signal levels suggest even lower power would have been successful such as 250mW or even less. So far today he has spotted me 6 times already. He has spotted me on several days this season as well as last summer. There are a reasonable number of stations active on the 6m WSPR band.

UPDATE 1607z:  Yesterday was one of the worse days I can recall in recent months on 6m and 10m WSPR. Today has been one of the best with plenty of Es on both bands.  Both are "magic" bands and you can never be quite sure what the day will bring.

UA3ARC spotting me very early on 10m WSPR

Already before breakfast my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon has been spotted several times on Moscow by UA3ARC (2446km) . This could be F2? Most probably Es, I guess.

UPDATE 0834z:  Widespread Es on 10m WSPR early with spots from right across Europe already. On 6m WSPR no Es spotted yet.

Sunspots and 10m - Fri Aug 7th 2015

Sunspot number is 80 today (K=2) and 10m remains "poor".

UK prices for Japanese radios

My comments on UK prices for Japanese radios was also reported on www.amateurradio.com yet not one dealer or Japanese manufacturer has said, "not so".

OK, they may not read the blogs mentioned (mine and http://www.amateurradio.com/) but I think I must have hit the nail on the head and that we are indeed paying too much for Japanese gear here in the UK. My own blog is read by thousands most days, so the silence tells me a lot.

Get those prices down please.

I want dealers and manufacturers to make fair profits and to remain in business but, please, don't rip us off.

Sunspots and 10m - Thurs August 6th 2015

Sunspot number is 87 today (K=2) and 10m is expected to remain "poor". Es today has been pathetic and I have seen no evidence of any F2 propagation on 10m.  Roll on autumn and winter conditions now!

Poor Es

Although here I am talking here of 10m and 6m WSPR, things may be better on other modes with higher levels of activity. So far today I have received just 1 spot on 10m WSPR by Es and none at all so far on 6m.  It feels like the Es season is largely over, although this may just be a blip.

UPDATE 2145z:   There was quite a bit of Es on 10m WSPR this evening, but nothing seen by Es on 6m WSPR. I am going QRT now on all bands until breakfast time tomorrow.

2m/70cm beam down

After about a year of service, I have taken down my beam for 2m and 70cm which was not working as it did. In the near future I want to erect big-wheels instead. According to Wimo literature they have an omni pattern and a single big-wheel has a gain (horizontal) of 3dBD. Spacing between a 70cm big-wheel and a 2m big wheel needs to be 1.5m. This gain is a little down on the beam but needs no rotating. At the moment I think I'll install a single big-wheel for 2m and one for 70cm both fed with low loss coax on a single mast as high as I can. These should suit my operating fine. I monitor beacons and take part in some 2m and 70cm contests from home in a non-intensive way. A couple of big beams would be nice but these would need a rotator.

10m - dead here

This must go down (so far at least) as my worst day on 10m WSPR in years. All day I have been spotted by not a single station.  I have exchanged spots with G0OQK several times on 6m. I was wondering if my 10m WSPR beacon was working but I did several hard resets and resync'd to internet time and checked modulation and time sync with the FT817.  It is modulated and changes frequency on even minutes just as it should do.   No, I just think today has been a bad day here.

UPDATE 2037z:  G4IKZ (18km) has been spotting me from 1908z.  He has either just switched on or turned his beam my way. No Es all day though on 10m WSPR.

A big THANK YOU

There are some really kind people in the world.  I have received so many kind and caring emails in the last 18 months all wishing me a speedy recovery from my stroke. Thank you.

Today, in the post, was a small package containing a professional PCB with a built preamp for 136/472kHz. There wasn't even a postmark on the stamp and no note inside. Some kind and generous person just posted me this anonymously.  I honestly can't thank you enough. This is so kind. It will definitely get used.

When you see all the hate and cruelty in our world it is easy to think that most people are unkind. They are not. My stroke has taught me that there are very very many kind and caring people in this world. This very kind person did not even want to reveal his identity. Thank you. I really really appreciate your kindness.