Acoustic DXing?

This morning I awoke early and could hear a distant church bell tolling at 6am. It could not be heard at 7am. Acoustic conditions must have been perfect - quiet, maybe a mist? The nearest church other than our local church is 2 miles away. It could have been from much further away. The sound was heard in bed and came from the west I think.

In WW1 the guns on the front in France could sometimes be heard in England over 100 miles away.

Back on 10m WSPR and 6m WSPR

The risk of thunderstorms has passed for now, so I have reconnected rigs and antennas and I am back on 10m WSPR and 6m WSPR. Things went back on at around 0850z. Let hope Es brings some results on both bands today.

UPDATE 1010z:  Plenty of 10m Es on WSPR from central Europe but all quiet on 6m WSPR here.

UPDATE 1136z:  Now there are 10m Es spots from GM too. Some of the reports from Germany are incredibly strong. This is often the case with Es. So far, all very quiet on 6m WSPR.

UPDATE 1450z:  Still plenty of 10m Es, but 6m WSPR is still dead here. I notice G3WKW has managed some Es on 6m WSPR. His ERP is higher than mine, but I am surprised to have copied nothing on 6m WSPR so far.

Sunspots and 10m - Wed June 8th 2016

Solar flux is still low at 79. Sunspot number is now 12, but it has been zero for a few days. K=2 and the forecast for 10m F2 propagation remains "poor".  We have to hope that Es livens up 10m and 6m.

2m UKAC

2m QRP QSOs this evening

This evening was the June 2m UKAC organised by the RSGB. Best DX was 221km to the west country. I had to stop after 9 QSOs after about 50 minutes as my voice was done in and there was lightning getting nearer. Several locals were absent. These were stations I'd normally work very easily.

OFCOM

OFCOM (as you know, I love them) has just released an update for June.

See http://ofcom.cmail19.com/t/ViewEmail/i/3DBC5797D772786F/59D1BD3EA2F08127C67FD2F38AC4859C

Es propagation

I have been on 10m WSPR all day and 6m WSPR since learly afternoon. Nothing (at all) again on 6m - why do I bother? - but several central European spots on 10m WSPR where I run 500mW to an indifferent antenna.

I was on 630m (472kHz) WSPR all morning and copied PA3ABK/2 (306km) again several times.

EU referendum - NOT amateur radio

As we are away on the day when voting takes place, we have voted by postal vote. I posted my vote off today. I am sure the outcome will be close.

Horses in Newmarket - NOT amateur radio

We do most of our food shopping in nearby Newmarket, which is the world home of horse racing. Here everything stops for the horses! We don't mind. This was a string returning from Newmarket  Heath earlier today. It is unusual not to see race horses in Newkmarket.

Much of the land around Newmarket is studs. Many are owned by rich Arabs. The fences alone must run into thousands of pounds, if not millions. To the south of the town are the rolling hills of Suffolk and the countryside is delightful. Newmarket is a right mix of people: jockeys (who tend to be short!) and owners who are very wealthy. Then there are people like me!

A summertime pattern on 472kHz WSPR

A pattern is emerging on 472kHz WSPR during the summer months: I can copy the stronger stations but my weak signal is harder to find.  Last night I copied 4 unique stations but no-one copied me. As I write I am still active on 472kHz WSPR.

Unique stations spotted on 472kHz WSPR overnight

Sunspots and 10m - Tues June 7th 2016

Solar flux is 78 today and we have another day when the sunspot number is zero (K=1). The forecast for 10m F2 propagation remains "poor" again today. Yet again, we need Es to liven up 10m.