Active on 10m JT65

This morning, around breakfast time, I went on 10m JT65. I have been active (2W) with this band and mode ever since. Conditions on 10m seem fine with spots all over Europe and Israel. If things don't change, it looks a lot more promising than yesterday on 10m.

Sunspots and 10m - Saturday October 15th 2016

Solar flux is 91 today and the sunspot number 38.  K=2.  The forecast for 10m F2 propagation is, you guessed, "poor".

As the song goes, "what a difference a day makes"

Yesterday by this time, I had been spotted all over Europe and widely in South America on 10m JT65. Although I am spotting a little DX, today is nothing like yesterday. I know there is still time for things to  improve, but I have the feeling this is going to be a "bad hair day".  If we get any real DX, it had better happen soon! At least having 2W 10m JT65 running I am spotting, and being spotted, by some.  Even with 100W SSB I doubt these openings would have been noticed.

Loop on the ground antenna

See The Loop on Ground Antenna - the "LoG".

I was sent this link by a blog reader who has used it very successfully. It is primarily designed as a receive antenna.

Sunspots and 10m - Friday October 14th 2016

Solar flux is 96 today. Sunspot number is 41 and K=4. The forecast for 10m F2 propagation remains "poor".

Rally

Sunday 16 OCTOBER : HOLSWORTHY RADIO RALLY
 
Holsworthy Community College, Victoria Hill, Holsworthy, Devon EX22 6JD. Doors open at 10am. There will be traders, a Bring & Buy and catering. The venue has disabled access. Details from Howard, M0MYB by email to M0OMC@yahoo.co.uk.

10m JT65 right from the start

Before breakfast I resynced the PC clock and went straight on to 10m JT65. As yet, no spots given or received on that band.

Yesterday was a very good 10m day considering where we are in the cycle with stations in North America, South America, Africa, Asia and Europe spotted despite my poor (and low) 10m antenna. My own QRP signal was spotted by several stations a long way away. Yes, a good 10m day.

I know others with better antennas will have done better. 10m is still in good shape, although you have to look!

UPDATE 1130z: DG0OPK (730km) spotted my 2W 10m JT65 QRP 2 hours ago. Probably Es, although backscatter and aircraft reflection are possible.

UPDATE 1145z: G4CUI (172km) has spotted me on 10m JT65. Tropo?

24 hours on 10m JT65 QRP

USA on 10m JT65 at last

K4RUM (7134km) in Florida was spotted earlier. At last a USA station this autumn on 10m JT65. It seems the opening on 10m are getting further north.

LU9XT (13473km) spotted right at the far end of Argentina on 10m JT65.

Best 10m day this autumn by far

10m JT65 today https://pskreporter.info/pskmap.html

With stations from all over Europe, South America, South Africa, Indonesia, Thailand and spots of my own 10m JT65 signal by 6 stations already in South America, this is by far the best day on 10m JT65 this autumn.

At this rate, the USA should be audible within 2 weeks.

Autumn HF conditions?

Although we are now well in to autumn, apart from South Americans by what I assume is TEP, I have not (yet) seen a great improvement in HF conditions.

We are fighting a downwards solar cycle trend and, as yet, I have still to get any USA spots on 10m JT65. Conditions may still improve. The next few months are likely to be the best we are going to see for a very long time on 10m and conditions this autumn are well down on the last few years.

Last chances? It is now unlikely I'll see great 10m conditions ever again in my lifetime. That is a sobering thought. There are many in my agegroup who remember great HF conditions in past solar peaks.