Sunspots and 10m - Tues Oct 27th 2015

Sunspot number today is 72 (K=1) but forecasts for 10m remain "poor". Despite this, 10m seems in good shape to me (see earlier post). It never fails to amaze me how I seem to get good 10m results when the forecasts are "poor". Moral is to never give up on this band which is full of surprises!

Australia already on 10m WSPR!

As well as spots from RA3, LZ and EA8 I see that VK2KRR (16789km) was spotting my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon at 0942z this morning. This looks promising for another good day on 10m. Recent reports from LZ have been very strong.

On 6m WSPR, all quiet so far today.

UPDATE 1136z:  Apart from Australia, the best 10m DX report today so far is from FR1GZ (9724km) at 1058z.

UPDATE 1415z:  The first 10m WSPR spot from the USA today was W4DEX (6390km) at 1250z. There have been plenty more USA spots since.

QRT on 10m WSPR

My 10m 500mW WSPR beacon was closed down about 15 minutes ago. It is some hours since I was spotted by any DX stations. It will be back on again around breakfast time in the morning. As has been the case for several days now, USA spots are a common occurrence, and likely to be regular now unless conditions are very bad.

OFCOM ......again

See the latest from OFCOM. Oh dear me, they really do try so hard to justify their existence! Bureaucrats and all that matters is £££!

"This document sets out Ofcom’s decisions on outstanding issues connected with the award of the 2.3 and 3.4 GHz spectrum bands. In particular, it sets out our decision to proceed with an auction of all the newly available spectrum without imposing spectrum caps, and our decision on the reserve prices that will apply to spectrum awarded in the auction."

http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/consultations/2.3-3.4-ghz-auction-design/statement/?utm_source=updates&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2.3-3.4-ghz-auction-design-statement

Last words on Sputnik Days?

From ON6WJ and Oleg....

"to Sputnik

dear Oleg (and radiofriends)
thank you very much for the magnificent “Sputnik” Certificate:
Here proud to be the owner of such exclusive “Award”
will print this on “brilliant photopaper” to decorate the shackwall.
Here no contester at all , neither a chaser for Diploma’s,Awards or Certificates,
but this “Souvenir” will be cherished ,always remembering me the ufb  QRPp QSO’s we had !

Spasibo Oleg

Jos
ON6WJ
(ps Sputnik Certificate already to see at my QRZ.com page hi)

> Dear Space Friends,
> Thanks for all operators taken part in the Sputnik QRPp Days!
> I send memorable certificates for all "Cosmonauts" and "Astronauts".
> The  list  of  all  participants  over  all  years  (2015 and before)
> published on the "Sputnik" page of Club 72 site - www.club72.su
> Cosmonauts: AA1TJ, DL3PB, OM6TC, ON6WJ, UA1CEX, UA3UAD, US5EVD
> Astronauts:  AA1TJ,  DL3PB,  OK1DPX,  ON6WJ,  RV3GM,  UA1ASB, UA1CEG,
> UA3UAD, UI7K.
> Also,  you can see results and pictures on the "Archive" page of Club
> 72 site.
> If  I  miss or forget somebody or something, put my nose to the facts
> :-)
>
> 72! beep-beep-beep...
> Deep Space Communications Center
> operator on duty -
> Oleg ("Mr. 72") RV3GM / KH6OB"

10m in good form (again)

FG5LA (6689km) was the first South American to spot me at 1224z on 10m WSPR. Again, I was using 50mW to my indifferent antenna.  The first USA spot was W4DEX (6390km) just 2 minutes later. Since then, other USA stations have spotted my little beacon as well as being spotted by EA8/LA3JJ (2870km).  Already the little 500mW 10m WSPR beacon has been spotted in 5 continents today.

As I needed the PC for something else, I went QRT on 6m WSPR some hours ago.

World Climate - NOT amateur radio

Opinions vary widely on the effect Man may be having on the climate. Some say it is mostly down to Man whereas others say the world has always gone through heating and cooling cycles.

I was interested in this NASA site as it is from the USA. Until very recently both the USA and China have denied that our climate is changing. Of late, both seem more disposed to look at the evidence.

There is little doubt in my mind that it is up to Man to help keep the rise in global temperatures within safe limits. Whether or not Man is to blame we can argue later. The world needs a co-ordinated effort. It can be done.

Active again on 10m and 6m WSPR

Bothe the 10m and 6m WSPR stations were turned on again before breakfast Plenty of Russian spots on 10m WSPR by F2. I think today will be another decent day on 10m WSPR. 6m? We'll see.

Sunspots and 10m - Mon Oct 26th 2015

Sunspot number has fallen to 63 today but K=1 so conditions are not very disturbed. 10m propagation is again forecast to be "poor", although yesterday there were lots of USA stations on 10m WSPR and conditions in the CQWW SSB contest seemed fine on 10m. As I've said many times,when the 10m forecast is supposed to be "poor" I have got some of my best DX on the 10m band!

QRT on 10m and 6m WSPR

So I closed down my WSPR stations on 10m and 6m at about 2045z. The chance of hearing any more F2 DX on 10m is nearly zero and on 6m WSPR I have copied, and been copied, by not a single station all day. Both 10m and 6m WSPR should be active again after breakfast tomorrow.