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.

Es again on 10m

OZ7IT (853km) has spotted my 10m WSPR this lunchtime. I presume this is Es. G4KPX (14km) is also spotting me on 10m.

No signs here of Es on 6m with G0LRD (25km) and G6GEI (73km) spotting me recently on 6m JT65.

Waters and Stanton Newark Rally Offers

W&S are offering the Yaesu FT450D at a special Newark rally price of £469. This is quite a bargain. I wonder if this rig is not selling as well as it should? At this price it should certainly sell. They have other offers too, but this one caught my eye.

Alibris (again) - NOT amateur radio

This crowd is yet again offering special discounts. Like buses, wait a while and along come 3.