Just a quiet day on 10m and 6m WSPR

DK0SC (827km) was spotted on 10m WSPR this afternoon by Es, but still only Gs by tropo and aircraft on 6m. So far, this has turned out to be a pretty disappointing day.

If my theories are right, I expect to spot, and be spotted by, more northerly/Scandinavians this evening on 10m. Classical theory says this is Es, but I am less sure. E-layer yes, but Es?

UPDATE 1455z:  So far, a couple of afternoon Es spots by DK0SC on 10m WSPR, but still quiet on 6m WSPR. On 6m, I am 80% RX ,with 20% TX. We are definitely seeing less Es than earlier in the summer. The Es season is far from over though, although I am looking forward to some real F2 DX again on 10m as autumn approaches. As I said before, I expect one more good autumn and winter on 10m before 10m starts to behave more like a VHF band again. Even then there will be some good days.We just have to catch them! Of course, Es livens up 10m from late April to September at any point in the sunspot cycle. Some even think Es is better in the quiet sun years. 10m requires a great deal more patience in those quiet years. That is why a fully dedicated 10m WSPR beacon makes sense allowing you to get on with other things on other bands, whilst still keeping a watch on 10m by looking at WSPRnet.

UPDATE 1848z:  ON7KB (299km) was spotted on 6m WSPR late-afternoon. This was tropo and aircraft and not Es. So, it looks like a day without 6m Es, at least on WSPR.

Overnight on 20m WSPR

Last evening and overnight I went on 20m WSPR for a change. 36 unique spots. Several transatlantic spots including Greenland, but 20m WSPR is just too easy. On 10m and 6m, and even more so on LF and MF, there is more challenge and interest.

Sunspots and 10m - Mon August 17th 2015

Sunspot number has fallen further to 32. K=4, so conditions are just a little less disturbed. 10m propagation is still "poor". We are still in summer conditions, so I have seen no E-W 10m openings to the USA by F2 in months on WSPR. Things were probably better on SSB where activity levels are much higher. My feeling is this has been less good an Es season, but  I am judging my results on WSPR.

UPDATE 0932z:  Local G4IKZ (18km) seems to have deserted 10m WSPR now, so unless there is Es or F2 propagation I tend to draw a blank on 10m WSPR. I still seem to copy G0OQK (98km) regularly on 6m WSPR.

UPDATE 0937z:  WSPRnet shows only 23 active stations on 10m WSPR in the entire world. Of course, this does not include all those trying unsuccessfully, like me (!) who are active but not been recently spotted.

UPDATE 1150z:   As yet, still no Es seen here on 10m or 6m WSPR. All very quiet so far.

UPDATE 1253z:  At last some Es on 10m. HA9AL (1455km) has spotted me 3 times over lunchtime. Still no Es seen on 6m WSPR.

Return to 10m and 6m WSPR

Since about 0650z I have left 20m and returned to 10m and 6m WSPR. Although I am exchanging 6m spots with G0OQK (98km), 10m WSPR is quiet so far. No Es seen on either band as yet.

UPDATE 0916z:   Still no Es on either band.

20m WSPR

For a total change, I am on 20m WSPR at the moment. Best DX copied so far is YC0MLC (11676km). My own signal has been spotted by VE1VDM (4563km). I am on 19% TX and 81% RX. As before, I am using my Par antenna that covers 10m, 20m and 40m. It is hardly high enough on 10m, let alone on 20m and 40m. I am using just over 2W from the rig. It is a lot easier than 136kHz, but no real challenge!

Failed 136kHz QRSS3 test

Well, I optimised my 136kHz QRSS3 beacon match into my earth electrode "antenna" used on 472kHz and tested it in the house and right outside. All looked promising, so I headed for my local car-park about 1.8km  away. I was quite confident that with an E-field probe on the car I'd get a decent result. From the old QTH I got to the far side of Cambridge before I gave up as copy was so good!

Not a dicky bird - nothing at all, indeed I only got copy again when I entered our close at a range of a few hundred metres. As at VLF, the earth electrode "antenna" at this QTH is useless.

Not only that but at the end of the test I realise how poorly I still must be as I was totally exhausted. In my fitter days this test would have been totally trivial, but not any more. I think my trees and short baseline make this "antenna" totally out of the question at this QTH at LF. I need a better antenna for LF and MF use.

So, 136kHz was bad. A poor result and quite a lot worse than I was expecting. I was hoping for an encouraging result, but none was to be had.

Quiet on 10m and 6m WSPR via Es so far today

Apart from IZ8NVV (1683km) spotting me this morning on 6m WSPR, I have seen zero evidence of Es on 10m and 6m all day so far. Of course, things could well change later.

Tact (or lack of it) - NOT amateur radio

Nearly 2 years after my cerebellum brain bleed and I am still coming to terms with some of the subtler after-effects. My XYL tells me I lack tact now whereas before I was far more sensitive to others.  If I have ever offended you in the past (or do so in the future) I certainly do not intend this. Please accept my most humble apologies and blame it on my brain!

Sunspots and 10m - Sun Aug 16th 2015

Sunspot number has fallen again to 33 (K=6) and 10m is expected to remain "poor" today.

Blickling Hall (National Trust) - NOT amateur radio

Today we did a 135 mile round-trip to Aylesham and Blickling in north Norfolk. We ate a light lunch in The Old Tearoom in Aylesham (this is our 3rd time here) before visiting the market square and church where they were celebrating VJ Day later.

Archetypal English scenery - Blickling

Blickling has fine grounds and gardens and was where Prime Minister Baldwin first heard about Edward VIII's affair with American divorcee Mrs Simpson. These days no-one would bat an eyelid but in the 1930s things were different. On the lake was a great crested grebe with 3 chicks. Blickling has fine yew hedges on the approach to the house. If I was fit, there are lots of decent walks around the grounds. Sadly, just a walk around part of the formal gardens had me exhausted.