QRT on 10m and 6m WSPR - thunderstorm risk

As there are storms moving this way, I decided to go QRT on both 10m and 6m WSPR and disconnect antennas and power plugs. The shack PC is also off and disconnected. Once the risk passes, I may reconnect. This could be some hours.

See www.lightningmaps.org to see where the storms are.

West Coast Canada to Africa on 6m

See http://www.amateurradio.com/ for a  report by Steve VE7SL of his 6m exploits. This sounds like Es but on these very long paths I question the conventional theories of multi-hop Es. I wonder if this is some kind of chordal-hop Es? As I reported yesterday, my QRP 6m WSPR was spotted for the 3rd year running in Israel. It could be multi-hop but I have my doubts.

There is also the possibility of mesospheric noctilucent clouds being involved in some very long paths on 6m such as Europe to Japan. This 8000km + path seems to be there most summers. We have much still to learn.

Hornets in Kent - NOT amateur radio

One of our sons who lives near Canterbury, Kent, UK reports lots of hornet sightings this year. Maybe it is as they are quite near to France? Normally they are quite uncommon but he has seen lots this month alone. Of course it could be global warming and we are beginning to see less common insects more often? I have seen a few beetles and flies in the garden that I do not recognise. Perhaps they have always been around. I have asked my son to take some photos.

SAQ transmission

"Grimeton Radio Station was listed as a world heritage site because, its original equipment is an exceptionally well-preserved example of the development of communication technology. In fact, it is still in working order.
Grimeton (call sign SAQ) still transmits a message to the world twice a year: at the Alexanderson Day (Sunday at the end of June/beginning of July) and at Christmas Eve. The frequency is 17.2 kHz CW."

Next transmission is July 3rd 2016. I am lucky to have a QSL card for their VLF transmission some years ago.

See  http://alexander.n.se/?lang=en .

Sunspots and 10m - Tues June 14th 2016

Solar flux is 89 today. Sunspot number is 27 (K=2) but 10m F2 propagation remains "poor".

Early start on 6m WSPR and 10m WSPR

OZ7IT (853km) was spotting my 1W ERP 6m WSPR at 0658z this morning. I assume this is Es, but early.

UPDATE 0900z:  Steve VE7SL has suggested I monitor JT65 on 6m instead of WSPR as activity levels are higher. I am seriously considering this.

UPDATE 1002z:  Lots of 10m WSPR spots from stations in Scandinavia this morning. Nothing more on 6m WSPR.

10m still open (Es)

It is 2106z and my 500mW 10m WSPR is still being copied around Europe. 10m WSPR has been good for Es all day. My "gut" feel is reports on 6m Es are generally much stronger than 10m, but there are too few WSPR stations on 6m.

UPDATE 2120z:   IU1DZZ (973km) is still spotting me on 10m WSPR.

UPDATE 2138z:  Now DK6UG (633km) is spotting me on 10m WSPR.

East Suffolk Wireless Revival

John G4BAO on RHS. Not sure who is on LHS

This was yesterday. I saw a post on Twitter showing Sam Jewell (G4DDK) and John Worsnop (G4BAO) engaged in conversation, no doubt about microwaves! The photo does not show Sam. John does the microwaves column in RadCom.

Storms

See www.lightningmaps.org .

I am very sorry folks. About 30 minutes ago I cut my front lawn and now it is really raining very hard.  According to the maps (see link) the thunder and lightning are heading this way. I shall stay on 10m and 6m WSPR for a little while, but I may well have to disconnect things soon.

UPDATE 1715z:  Well, although it rained hard, the storms decided to miss us, so I am still active on 10m and 6m WSPR.

Israel (again) on 6m WSPR

For the third year running my 1W ERP has been spotted in Israel on 6m WSPR by 4X1RF (3519km). This is a long way on VHF. It has now happened at this QTH for the last 3 summers! It seems too strong and regular for multi-hop Es. To me, it seems more like some sort of chordal-hop Es.