Sunspots and 10m - Sun May 29th 2016

Solar flux is just 87 today and the sunspot number 31 (K=2). The forecast for 10m F2 propagation remains "poor" today.

472kHz WSPR

Despite it being nearly the longest day, I still go on 472kHz WSPR most nights. Although there are fewer active stations on the band at this time of the year, the activity is surprising. Quite a few stations spot me and most nights at least 3 unique stations are spotted. For most, this is a noisy time of the year with QRN peaking in the summer months. For me at least, this band is more productive than 6m WSPR. It is easy to switch bands after dark, so I shall probably keep plodding along on 6m WSPR in the daytime and MF after dark. I also tend to be 100% TX on 10m WSPR most days. The Par end fed is used on 10m and the V2000 vertical on 6m WSPR. WSPR gets used far more than JT modes as I do not have to be in the shack and can monitor on a PC in the lounge or iPod Touch in the garden. The shack gets visited as soon as I spot a problem (it takes seconds) or to resync the PC and 10m WSPR beacon to internet time. This happens automatically every 10 minutes, but I do a manual resync most days a couple of times just in case.

Late 10m Es

OZ7IT (853km) was spotting my 10m 500mW WSPR as late as 2010z this evening. I turned off the 10m WSPR beacon but did a resync and turned it back on!

Norwich - NOT amateur radio

We have grandchildren staying with us for a few days. Today we went to Norwich and the little ones had a great time. Clearly amateur radio take a back seat when they are here.

Sunspots and 10m - Sat May 28th 2016

Solar flux is 90 today. Sunspot number is 19 (K=2) and the 10m F2 propagation is, yet again, "poor".

QSYed to MF WSPR (no longer on 6m WSPR)

Well I've gone QRT on 6m (no spots all day) and am active again on 630m WSPR. I have resynced time on 10m too and am still active on 10m, although I'd be surprised to hear any Es now.

UPDATE 2000z:  G8LCO (58km) has spotted me several times on 472kHz WSPR. I have spotted PA3ABK/2 (306km) on 472kHz WSPR.

Down the pan - NOT amateur radio

My daughter-in-law managed to drop her iPhone in the loo! I have no idea how this happened or if it was insured. I hope it was covered.  She now has a replacement and has sold the damaged phone on eBay. She tried to dry it out and salvage the SIM.

Why? AMATEUR radio?

So Flex Radio has introduced a 2kW linear. My only question is why? To me, this is not amateur radio at all. OK, if you burn holes in the F2 layer you may be able to make (perhaps) a few more QSOs, but where is the fun?  I know with a big beam, and a big linear I could make contacts, but I can do this for nothing and with video on the Internet. No, to me, there is no skill in this and it makes a mockery of our hobby.

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2016/may/2kw_amplifier_from_flexradio_systems_skysat.htm

QRP is much more of a challenge. To me, even 100W is high power.

Quiet on 10m and 6m WSPR?

It looks very different, so far at least, on 10m WSPR with not a single spot in the log apart from G4KPX earlier in the day. Things may change, but I am not holding my breath.

So far today, not a single spot on 6m WSPR either given or received. I had the same problem on 6m in previous years with more activity on SSB/CW and not that much on 6m WSPR. It is a pity there are not a few more 6m WSPR users as it is a great way to "smoke out" DX if it is there, albeit briefly.

No FT817 replacement announced at Dayton

So, there was no FT817 replacement announced at Dayton. In my view this means one is unlikely to appear ever now. I am amazed by the stupidity of Yaesu.  Yes, I know many are very happy with their FT817 units but it would have been so easy to upgrade it with a LiIon battery pack, an internal auto ATU and a speech processor. Darn it, they could even have reused the case and sprayed it a different colour.

No, they have well and truly missed the boat and they have only themselves to blame!