Sunspots and 10m - Tues Feb 2nd 2016

Solar flux is 99 today with sunspot number 42 (K=2). 10m propagation is expected to remain "poor" although Australia has been possible on the last 2 days here on 10m despite a "poor" forecast!

QSYed to 60m WSPR

At around 2045z I QSYed again to 60m WSPR. Most spots have been by Europeans although a few minutes ago I was spotted by KK1D (5409km) at 2210z. Up to now, no stations have been spotted here this evening. I am staying on 60m overnight and hope for some more DX. KK1D is in the south of New England,  USA.

UPDATE 2244z:    I have been spotted by KK1D again on 60m WSPR.

Australia again on 10m WSPR

VK2KRR (16789km) was spotted here this morning along with many Europeans by short-skip. Yet again, 10m DX is coming through. Never give up on 10m.

Sunspots and 10m - Mon Feb 1st 2016

Solar flux is 100 and sunspot number 39 (K=3) today. 10m forecast for propagation remains "poor".  So far, just one OH spotted on 10m WSPR today.

WSPRnet - owner trying to fix it

The database query form has been taken down so the owner (W1BW) can try to fix it.  I hope he succeeds.  Like many, I'd happily pay something if this would help reliability. WSPRnet is so useful when it works, allowing almost instant feedback of propagation. In my current state of health it has been wonderful.

UPDATE 2152z:   At the moment, the database seems to be working.  I am QRT on all bands until after breakfasttime.

Looking forward a few years

I just spotted this image from the last solar minimum. See http://www.solan.info/solar for the latest info. By comparison, things are still good. Note months without sunspots and the low solar flux. 2020?

http://www.solan.info/solar

Now on 10m WSPR

For just under an hour now I have been on 10m WSPR. WSPRnet is still unreliable so I am unsure who has copied me. I have copied G4KPX (14km) but I need to check WSPRnet!

UPDATE 1340z:  WSPRnet is back again (for now) and I see I was spotted on 10m WSPR by VK2KRR (16789km) at 1140z. Who said 10m was "poor"? Don't believe all you read!

UPDATE 1552z: W1VR (6965km located in Florida) has been spotted several times this afternoon, as well as CX5BBF (11123km). Today has been another good 10m day. There is still plenty of life left in the band. It is just a pity some just don't bother.

60m WSPR overnight

I stuck with 60m WSPR overnight, although all attempts to access WSPRnet before breakfast were unsuccessful. This service definitely needs help, both financial and practical.  If WSPRnet cannot be relied on, WSPR is dead. The unreliability of WSPRnet is one reason I want to do more with JT9-1 and JT65 this year.   PSK Reporter seems very reliable.

On 60m I was being copied in the USA by KK1D (5409km) well before midnight despite 2W and a very poor antenna.  A few stations were spotted here too, despite the high local noise floor. At the moment I am still on 60m with plenty of Europeans spotting me.

60m looks useful.

Sunspots and 10m - Sun Jan 31st 2016

Both solar flux and sunspot number are lower today.  Solar flux is 104 and sunspot  number is 30 (K=3). The forecast for 10m propagation remains "poor".  I think 10m will not be great today.

UPDATE 1625z:  I have been wrong about 10m so many times! Today turned out to be another cracking day on 10m WSPR.

60m WSPR

I have QSYed to 60m WSPR, RX only at the moment. I may go on TX later.  Although I went on 60m some time ago, it is a long time since I last used the band.  As we approach poorer solar conditions, I expect I'll use this band far more. It is a pity that the international allocation coming is so small. I hope CEPT countries decide to allocate a larger contiguous secondary amateur allocation. I always have to check the sub-bands I can legally use. It would end a lot of confusion if we had a contiguous allocation.

UPDATE 2036z:   I am now on TX (2W 20%) on 60m.  Although I have not (yet) spotted others, my 2W has been spotted by stations in Switzerland and Germany on 60m WSPR.  The antenna is only my tri-band Par resonated with my ATU.  For 60m it is very low.

UPDATE 2255z:  My best DX, so far, with 2W on 60m WSPR is a spot by SV8RV (2269km). I shall leave the kit running through the night. As yet, I have still not copied others on this band tonight. I must have a bad noise problem on this  band? It is bad on 80m.