I have been on 10m JT65 all day. So far 6 South Americans spotted together with a couple of spots of my own 2W QRP 10m JT65 signal from Europeans.
UPDATE 1550z: Now 7 South Americans spotted. Best 10m JT65 RX spot is LW7EMM (11483km).
UPDATE 1702z: Now spotted 10 South Americans on 10m JT65 RX.
19 Oct 2016
10m JT65 since before breakfast
Although on 10m JT65 since before breakfast, I see IZ0AIS (1506km) spotted me a few minutes ago. I assume this is Es. I don't think there were earlier spots.
Sunspots - Wednesday October 19th 2016
Solar flux is 77 today. The sunspot number is 24 . K=2 . As mentioned yesterday, assume 10m F2 propagation is forecast to be "poor" unless I say otherwise. In future, I shall NOT be mentioning 10m F2 propagation.
18 Oct 2016
Disappointment
Well it is now 1730z and I have been on 10m JT65 most of the afternoon. Not a single spot given or received on 10m JT65. Yesterday was quite different.
I shall stay on the band for a while longer, but think the DX chances have gone for the day.
UPDATE 1818z: When not looking for QSOs, I usually monitor PSKreporter maps in the lounge on a different PC. I see that PU4ENY (Brazil) was spotted at 1358z calling CQ, although he did not upload to PSK reporter. So, there was just one South American logged on 10m JT65 today after all. G0VUH was also spotted. I am still active, but 10m JT65 is very quiet here.
I shall stay on the band for a while longer, but think the DX chances have gone for the day.
UPDATE 1818z: When not looking for QSOs, I usually monitor PSKreporter maps in the lounge on a different PC. I see that PU4ENY (Brazil) was spotted at 1358z calling CQ, although he did not upload to PSK reporter. So, there was just one South American logged on 10m JT65 today after all. G0VUH was also spotted. I am still active, but 10m JT65 is very quiet here.
Exchange rates - NOT amateur radio
See https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/currencies/investing.html for how the UK pound is fairing against other currencies. Although I voted to remain in the EU, I can see the Euro weakening in the next 18 months. The UK (a big contributor to the EU pot) is leaving, the Greeks have little prospect of ever repaying their debts and there is a general sentiment that the EU is dated and holding back its members.There is no doubt that the UK will have a difficult few years, but the EU is in for a rough time too.
New Greenland 6m Beacon
Southgate News mentions a new 6m beacon OX6M in Greenland on 50.047MHz. This is worth listening for, especially in the Es season. I have worked Greenland with 2.5W handheld on 15m SSB in the past from the back garden with just a base loaded whip on the rig.
See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2016/october/new-ox6m-beacon.htm
See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2016/october/new-ox6m-beacon.htm
1.3GHz UKAC this evening
This is a band I do not go on. Tonight is the 1.3GHz leg of the UK activity contests organised by the RSGB.
If this is like the 2m and 70cm contests, it is a good opportunity to come on the band and work a few new stations and squares.
In the distant past I borrowed a converter and listened on the band with a homemade, indoor 4 el yagi made of 2.5mm silver plated wire. I recall hearing a local well.
Really it is a band I should try, like 10GHz. I have always been put off by a lack of test gear. My site is quite good, but I am not good on ladders these days and decent antennas are a must.
If this is like the 2m and 70cm contests, it is a good opportunity to come on the band and work a few new stations and squares.
In the distant past I borrowed a converter and listened on the band with a homemade, indoor 4 el yagi made of 2.5mm silver plated wire. I recall hearing a local well.
Really it is a band I should try, like 10GHz. I have always been put off by a lack of test gear. My site is quite good, but I am not good on ladders these days and decent antennas are a must.
45 countries on 10m JT65 in the last week
Despite the declining solar conditions and my poor antenna, 45 countries were copied here on 10m JT65 in the last week alone. Who says 10m is dead?
See http://www.solen.info/solar/ .
See http://www.solen.info/solar/ .
QSYed to 10m JT65
At 1332z I QSYed to 10m JT65 only. No further 6m JT65 or 10m WSPR spots received. It will be interesting to see how 10m JT65 performs today. I run 2W QRP on 10m JT65.
UPDATE 1435z: A very quiet day so far on 10m JT65. No spots given or received here at all so far. Things may change - I hope so!
UPDATE 1442z: It may be coincidence, but I seem to get better results into South America when there is good European propagation, which I presume is Es. I wonder if the Es (?) gets signals into the TEP region? I am pretty sure the South Americans are TEP, but TEP tends to be better further south than the UK. I am so grateful we have 10m JT65 and WSPR as these weak signal modes tend to be monitored when SSB users think 10m is a dead loss.
UPDATE 1525z: Still no 10m JT65 spots here today. Bad hair day? I'll give it a few more hours, but time is running out.
UPDATE 1435z: A very quiet day so far on 10m JT65. No spots given or received here at all so far. Things may change - I hope so!
UPDATE 1442z: It may be coincidence, but I seem to get better results into South America when there is good European propagation, which I presume is Es. I wonder if the Es (?) gets signals into the TEP region? I am pretty sure the South Americans are TEP, but TEP tends to be better further south than the UK. I am so grateful we have 10m JT65 and WSPR as these weak signal modes tend to be monitored when SSB users think 10m is a dead loss.
UPDATE 1525z: Still no 10m JT65 spots here today. Bad hair day? I'll give it a few more hours, but time is running out.
10m WSPR and 6m JT65
I have been active since just after breakfast on 10m WSPR and 6m JT65. I shall be switching to just 10m JT65 later.
On 10m WSPR EA8/LA3JJ (2870km) was spotting me earlier. I assume this is F2 propagation.
On 6m JT65 just spots by G0LRD (25km) so far.
On 10m WSPR EA8/LA3JJ (2870km) was spotting me earlier. I assume this is F2 propagation.
On 6m JT65 just spots by G0LRD (25km) so far.
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