Weather in the UK - NOT amateur radio

We are now in July and certainly here in East Anglia we have had one of the worst summers I can remember so far.  We have had just a few continuous days of sun. Most of the time it has been a mixture of rain, cloud and some sun. In the west of the UK it has been better, but we have had a real absence of high pressure over us with long settled, warm, sunny, weather.

10m and 6m

Yet again, both bands have Es propagation to liven things up. I continue to WSPR on 10m (500mW 100% TX) and JT65 on 6m (1W ERP). Since moving to JT65 on 6m, I have been amazed by the number of reports.

Sunspots and 10m - Fri July 1st 2015

Solar flux is 73 today. Sunspot number is zero again (K=3). Yet again the 10m F2 propagation forecast is "poor".

BREXIT - NOT amateur radio

It is now a week since the UK voted to leave the EU. Although the pound has fallen the stock markets seem to have taken things OK. The UK seems to be on a self destruct route at the moment with the Labour party in civil war and the Conservatives thrown into confusion by Boris not standing for PM. It will be some time before the fog clears and we chart a new path.

Better and better on 6m

It just gets better and better on 6m JT65. Already today on 6m I have had more spots than yesterday by Es and tropo despite my low ERP and omni antenna (1W ERP). Spots are coming in thick and fast from all over Europe. Maybe next year I should replace my lossy RG58 coax with low loss coax?

Rally (N.Ireland)

Saturday 2 JULY : BANGOR & DISTRICT AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY RALLY
Donaghadee Community Centre, Manor Street, Donaghadee, Co. Down BT21 0HB.

The venue is just 100 metres from the harbour with car parking available. Doors open at 11.30am and admission is £3. There is a talk by Ian White, GM3SEK on Practical Outdoor Weatherproofing as well as trade stands, a Bring & Buy and an RSGB bookstall. Special interest groups will be in attendance. A raffle will be held on the day. Details from Harry on 0289 142 2762 or by email to norman.newell@yahoo.com.

A list of rallies can be found at http://rsgb.org/main/news/rallies/

OFCOM

See http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/consultations/mobile-data-strategy/update-strategy-mobile-spectrum/.  OFCOM has published a paper on its mobile data strategy.

VLF SAQ 17.2kHz CW - a reminder

A reminder that SAQ will broadcast on July 3rd 2016.

See http://alexander.n.se/the-radio-station-saq-grimeton/saq-transmissions/?lang=en .

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.