Early Es

Both on 10m WSPR and 6m JT65 I am being widely spotted as a result of Es. It surprises me just how good 6m JT65 is proving. See https://pskreporter.info/pskmap.html .

Sunspots and 10m - Thurs June 30th 2016

Solar flux is 74 and yet again the sunspot number is zero (K=1).  The forecast for 10m propagation (F2) remains "poor", but there is Es on both 10m and 6m.

JT65 on 6m

Best DX spotted on 6m JT65 was CN8YZ (2233km) in IM63 square in North Africa. My own 1W ERP 6m JT65 signal has been spotted all over Europe once again with around 30 reports so far today. Every day I seem to spot, and be spotted, by loads of 6m stations. I am still awaiting some transatlantic 6m DX on JT65.  I also want to be spotted by 4X1RF on 6m JT65.

I continue to TX at the same time on 10m WSPR, but I am seriously thinking of stopping these transmissions until the end of the Es season. It is possible I may try 10m JT65 in the autumn.

UPDATE 1752z:  Spotted TA1BM (2499km) in Turkey on 6m JT65.

6m JT65 today

UPDATE 2200z:  Well it is time for bed, but 6m JT65 has looked more like 20m! The map below shows the spots in the last 12 hours when using 1W ERP.

Where I have been spotted in the last 12hrs on 6m JT65 (1W ERP)

Southgate News

Most days I take a look at Southgate News as they usually have things of interest. Sometimes the content takes news items from other sources, but usually I find something of interest.

More QRP and QRP Club

More from Oleg:

Dear Club 72 members and friends,

I'm happy to inform about new Club 72 member -
UD0LBA Mrs. Yana Karachevskaya (XYL of Sergey RV3DSA)

Also remind about QRP Rendez-Vous in Thursday 9 UTC on 14060

72! Oleg RV3GM / KH6OB "Mr. 72"

Sunspots and 10m - Wed June 29th 2016

Solar flux is 74 today. Sunspot number is again zero (K=1) and the 10m F2 propagation forecast is yet again "poor".

10m WSPR and 6m JT65

About 10 minutes ago I switched on my 10m WSPR beacon (500mW), which had been off overnight. I left the 6m JT65 (1W ERP) running through the night and this is still on.

UPDATE 0906z:  4 G spots so far on 6m JT65. Nothing yet on 10m WSPR.

Our son - NOT amateur radio

Our elder son came up from London to see us this afternoon. He is a professional jazz pianist so works odd hours. When he comes up he helps us in the garden. It is always good to see our boys.

6m JT65 success again

6m JT65 (1W ERP) so far today

It is hard not to be impressed with 6m JT65. Yet again, my 1W QRP from my omni vertical is being spotted all over Europe. I am also spotting others at similar ranges. If this was 6m WSPR I may not have had a single spot all day. For 6m, even though theoretically not as good as WSPR, I am having great success with JT65.

It would be good to spot, or be spotted, across the Atlantic on 6m JT65. I am sure I have a much higher chance than with WSPR.

See https://pskreporter.info/pskmap.html .

UPDATE 2125z:  6m JT65 has been excellent all day. With around 30 spots of my 6m QRP signals from all over Europe I am convinced that JT65 is the mode on 6m for me.

6m JT65 spots of my QRP today so far

Hedgehog - NOT amateur radio

This morning, we found a hedgehog in the back garden. For those unfamiliar with these, they are about 15cms long, prickly, and cover about a mile on their, mainly nocturnal, walks. We used to see them often at our old house but this is the first seen here.  See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hedgehog.

Muntjac deer seem to have taken a fancy to our sunflowers as the tops have been eaten! See http://www.bds.org.uk/index.php/advice-education/species/muntjac-deer