USA call areas

USA callsign numbers mean little these days.

At one time you could be sure where a station was located in the USA by his number. W4 for example was Florida or nearby and W6 California or nearby.  KF1BUZ is monitoring 10m JT65 but he is located in Nevada! A W6 could be in New England now!

I blame it on the FCC. Whoever thought up the present scheme needs his/her head relocating to a different call area. As someone located in Europe, the present system is poor.

Caribbean on 10m JT65

FM/DD5ZZ (6798km) in FK94 square (Martinique) has already spotted my 2W on 10m JT65. This is very promising. This is the most northerly station to have spotted me in the Americas this autumn.

USA next? We live in hope, HI.

UPDATE 1438z: DL2IAU (648km) in the Rhineland-Palatinate has been spotted on 10m JT65. Es again I assume.

UPDATE 1458z: GM4OAS (653km) in the west of Scotland has recently spotted me on 10m JT65. I assume this is Es.

South America on 10m WSPR

As well as Northern Europe on 10m WSPR I see that FY5KE (7117km) spotted my 500mW WSPR earlier. 10m is very far from being a "dead band".  Just be patient!

QRT and QSY

My 6m JT65 has been closed down as has my 10m WSPR. As of about 15 minutes ago, I am just on 10m JT65 looking for Es and possibly F layer DX.

There is some Es about on 10m. With South America in the log on 10m yesterday, there is a decent chance of DX today: conditions are a little less disturbed and the solar flux and sunspot number are similar to Thursday's values.

New walkie-talkie

This link came from Steve G1KQH:
http://www.409shop.com/409shop_product.php?id=124064
The band is not clear from the advert, but the price is low and the size small.

The same online shop does other transceivers at ridiculous prices:
http://www.409shop.com/409shop_shopcat.php?&usercat=1426&parentid=1426

Unless clearly stated, I have no idea of the CE status of these radios. You may have to pay import duty and VAT in your country. Without the necessary approvals these may not be legal in your country. Caveat emptor.

10m WSPR and 6m JT65 this morning

This morning I am again active on 10m WSPR (500mW) and 6m JT65 (2W). On 10m G4KPX (14km) is spotting me and on 6m G0LRD (25km) and G6GEI (73km) are spotting me. No Es or F2 evident here yet.

UPDATE 1207z: OZ7IT (853km) spotted me on 10m WSPR,4 times so far at good strength. Es I assume. 

Sunspots and 10m - Saturday October 1st 2016

It is hard to believe it is October already! Solar flux is 79 and sunspot number 12. K=4. The 10m F2 propagation forecast is again "poor" although I have reached deep into South America this last week with QRP JT65 on 10m and there has been some Es on the band.

South America (again) on 10m JT65

LU8HGI (11257km) in Corduba, Argentina was the best RX DX on 10m JT65 today. There was Es on 10m today with an Italian spotted earlier. At lunchtime my 500mW WSPR was received in Denmark. OK, you have to go looking, but the DX is still around on 10m.

Rally

Sunday 2 OCTOBER : BLACKWOOD ARS RALLY
 
Rougemount School, Llantarnham Hall, Malpas Road, Newport NP20 8QB. The venue has free car parking. A talk-in station will be on 145.550MHz. Doors open at 10am to 4pm with disabled access 15 minutes earlier. There will be trade stands a car boot sale, a Bring & Buy, special interest groups and a lecture programme. There is catering available on site. Details available from Mike Rackham, GW4JKV on to 01495 226 149 or by email to rackhamone@aol.com. Or Wynn Wright, GW8UAM on 02920 889 156 or email wynnwright7@aol.com .

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

QSY to 10m JT65

Both on 10m WSPR and 6m JT65 I have now gone QRT.  Since about 1531z I have been active (RX and TX) just on 10m JT65. In recent days despite "poor" 10m forecasts, low sunspot numbers and disturbed conditions, I have been quite successful to South America even with QRP on 10m JT65.