Alibris amusement - NOT amateur radio

Each and every week I get an email from Alibris with so much off for a very limited time. Do they think I really am stupid? These offers are so often and so regular that I doubt anyone buys from them at the un-discounted prices. I hate these ploys. It is years since I have used them. Their sad marketing tricks do not impress me one bit.

10m WSPR and 630m WSPR overnight

As yet, no spots on 10m WSPR, although it is still early in the day. With solar activity up a bit I am hopeful of some 10m WSPR DX later, although 10m can be fickle and the forecast is "poor".

630m WSPR, last night was disappointing with no new stations copied or copying my 5mW ERP.  It will soon be time to switch to 6m for the Es season.

It is possible some short skip will liven up 10m and 6m. The main Es season in the northern hemisphere is May, June and July but Es can occur at any time. WSPR helps find these brief openings!

QRP

Oleg sent out a reminder about the Tuesday 0900z net on 14.060MHz but I have only just got on the PC, so I was unable to send out a reminder.

Generally there is QRP on, and close to, the internationally agreed QRP frequencies on each band. If you are after QRP QSOs then these are always the best places to look first. If you call a QRO station, the chances are they will not realise you are using 5W or less. The difference is only a few "S" points, so save the Earth's resources and only use the power you need. Besides, QRP operating is real fun.

Sunspots and 10m - Tues April 12th 2016

Solar flux is 113 today. Sunspot number is rising and is 42 today (K=3). The forecast for 10m propagation remains "poor".  I have been on 10m WSPR for about 30 minutes now, having QSYed from MF, which I was on last night.

VHF conditions up?

We normally hold an East Cambridgeshire net at 1900z Mondays on 144.575MHz FM. If the channel is busy we move down 25kHz or further.  This evening it was busy so we moved down to 144.550MHz FM. G4CPE (Luton) was a "smooth noise" signal with me working G3KKD.  Next week we will be back on 144.575MHz FM all being well.

630m WSPR this evening

So far this evening my best RX report was to spot DL6TY (629km) and the best DX on TX (5mW ERP) was a spot by PA7EY (306km). Nothing further yet.

QRP Club

More from Oleg:

Dear Club 72 members and friends,
QRP Marathon "Look In the Horizon" is active now. Everyone can take a part in any April day before May 1'st.
See full QRP "Rendez-Vous" weekly report here - http://qrp-club72.blogspot.ru/
Visitors  of last week: IT9QAU, ON6KZ, UA1ADF, DK3WX, DL4AH, G0SVX, OM6TC, UI8CM,  RU3NJC,  RV3GM,  R1OA, UR0ET, OH6NPV, UR7VT, UA1CEG/p, F6HFX, UA0SBQ, Z35M, DD4EA, UA1ASB, RA1CK, HB9DAX, RC6R, ON5EG, EA7JUK,DK2QX, DK9LO/m
See full Visitors and Frequenters lists - www.club72.su
See  all  QRP  operators  on  "rendezvous",  see  schedule  on Club 72
web-page.
72! Oleg RV3GM / KH6OB "Mr. 72"

QSYed from 630m to 10m WSPR

After a rather disappointing night on 630m (with no great DX on TX), I QSYed to 10m WSPR at around 0900z.

10m WSPR disappointment

Just spots from local G0VQH (15km) today. Jenny is south of me and was mayor of Cambridge at one time.  No DX seen at all on 10m WSPR here. In all, disappointing.

Wimpole Hall - NOT amateur radio

"It will be quiet today", said my wife. Famous last words!  Wimpole Hall (National Trust) was heaving today! It was "Lambing Day" and most schools were still on holiday. We walked to Home Farm and then had a sandwich at the cafe near the entrance.