Southgate News reports on 4m in Australia

Yesterday Southgate News reported that the WIA (Australia's national society) had expressed an interest in 4m. There is a possibility this could happen too as this part of the spectrum is being used less in Australia as it is in the UK.

It looks increasingly possible that 4m could become a major band across the world. 4m seems better than 6m in many ways and of course the IC7300 covers 4m in Europe.

6m JT65 and a switch to 10m JT65 soon?

Today's 6m JT65 results

6m JT65 (1W ERP vertical) continues to give me good results, mainly by Es. Later this week I may leave 6m JT65 and try my luck with this mode on 10m instead.

Es on 10m WSPR and 6m JT65

Both 10m and 6m have already shown plenty of Es with spots from Hungary and Austria of my 500mW WSPR beacon on 10m and  several spots of my 1W ERP JT65 on 6m. So, it looks like there is still plenty of Es around.

The peak Es season (northern hemisphere) is May, June, July although there are spots to be had at any time of year, in reduced numbers as long as there is activity. I have had QRP 6m SSB contacts well into September.  There tends to be a smaller peak (don't ask me why) around December and January.

Weak signal modes like JT and WSPR allow people to be on these bands at quiet times. Hopefully use of weak signal modes will allow some of these brief openings to be caught. It would be much harder with SSB or CW.

Sunspots and 10m - Sunday August 7th 2016

Solar flux is 83 today and the sunspot number 33. K=2. The forecast for 10m F2 propagation remains "poor".

Africa (at last) on 6m JT65

CN8YZ (2233km) in Morocco was just spotted on 6m JT65. Remarkably, this is the first station in Africa that I have copied all summer. In past seasons, I regularly worked stations in North Africa with QRP SSB.

UPDATE 1204z:  At last a spot from 4X1RF (3518km) on 6m JT65 from Israel. This the second time I've been received in Israel this summer on 6m JT65 but the first time by 4X1RF.

Chordal hop Es?

I am still seeing plenty of 6m Es but very little long distance Es. I am of the view that these (or some) long Es paths are some sort of chordal hop propagation and not the "conventional wisdom" of multi-hop Es. Today there has been good Es on 6m to southern Europe,but nothing further. In the past I have received much further and been seen in Israel earlier in the Es season on 6m JT65.

Siamese banana? - NOT amateur radio

Never, ever, in all my life had I seen this before: two bananas fused together. Seen plenty of double yolk eggs but never this, until this week. Perhaps they usually get rejected by the UK supermarket buyers? Anyway, this looked amazing.

Museum of Liverpool - NOT amateur radio

As I mentioned yesterday, we had 4 nights with our old friend Pete on the Wirral near Liverpool. As always he was a great host and we visited several old haunts.

Liverpool has been through a regeneration since we were there and we were impressed. The people were always warm and friendly but the changes make it an even better place. Anyone off to a UK university could do a lot worse than choosing Liverpool.

My wife (and my mum in the 1930s) went to St Kaths College. This has now become Hope University. It has changed a bit since my wife was there in the 1960s, but it is lovely with great grounds and just a bus ride from the middle of this vibrant city.

In the regenerated docks area is the Museum of Liverpool which is free and one of the best museums I have ever been to. In the docks area is a Tate Gallery and don't forget the Three Graces!

OFCOM

A few days ago I got a note from OFCOM about their Communications Market Report 2016. See http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/market-data-research/market-data/communications-market-reports/cmr16/?utm_source=updates&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=CMR16&utm_term=CMR%2C%202016%2C%20communications%2C%20market%2C%20report

Rallies

Sunday 7 AUGUST : 27th KING'S LYNN ARC GREAT EASTERN RADIO RALLY

Gaywood Community Centre, Gayton Road, King's Lynn, Norfolk PE30 4DZ. Talk in will be available on 145.550MHz and doors open at 9am with admission £2. Car parking is free. There will be trade stands and a Bring & Buy. There are amateur radio pitches outside as well as table inside. Onsite catering will be available. Details from Ted, G4OZG on 01553 768 701. www.klarc.org.uk


Sunday 7 AUGUST : LORN RADIO RALLY

Crianlarich Village Hall, Main Street, Crianlarich, Perthshire FK20 8QN Doors open at 10.30am and entry will be £2. Raffle tickets cost £1 and the draw will take place at 1.30pm. There will be a Bring & Buy, trade stands and local groups. Tea, coffee and light refreshments will be available. Details, by email to, lornradioclub@gmail.com

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

As always, check the dates and status with the rally organisers to avoid disappointment if you have far to travel.