10m JT65 - quiet so far today

Since about 1000z I have been on 10m JT65 (2W).

UPDATE 1200z: So far today, just G4CJC (73km) spotted on 10m JT65 with no sign here of F layer or winter Es, well not yet. My antenna is not brilliant and others may have done better.

UPDATE 1505z: Still no DX on 10m today here.

The Road Not Taken - NOT amateur radio

As I get older, I must think about things more. Often I wonder what life would have been like had I taken a different fork in the road: gone to a different university, done that PhD, taken a different job, not had children, married someone else, taken the job offer in California and so on. I expect everyone wonders this sort of thing. In a multiverse, maybe we do follow all possibilities but we are not aware of them. I often wonder.

See http://www.bartleby.com/119/1.html .

Sunspots and 10m - Tuesday January 10th 2016

Solar flux remains at 72 and yet again the sun is spotless. A=12 and K=2. We are now definitely entering "quiet sun" times and these could last for many years. Es may liven 10m a bit.

Even in very quiet years there can be some N-S F layer DX on 10m. JT65 or WSPR should be ideal modes as long as people stick with the band. All too often, people go on SSB, see no activity, then go down to a band where there is more activity. Meanwhile, 10m is open and the DX gets missed.

Overnight on 472kHz WSPR

Last evening and overnight I was again active on 472kHz WSPR. I only went QRT at about 1000z this morning.  Fewer spots than ever!

I am really beginning to think that my QRPP 5mW ERP is buried in man-made noise now, whereas a few years ago it was not. So, either I need to raise the ERP so my signal rises above the crud, or abandon the band. A few years ago a lot more were able to copy me.

Winter - NOT amateur radio

There is an outside chance we may see some snow by the weekend. Eastern Europe has been exceptionally cold. Everywhere locally looks wintery. In a few weeks' time the daffodils will be pushing out and there will be clear signs of spring on the way.

Earth-electrode antennas at 472kHz

Some 4 years ago I posted this based on my results at 472kHz:

These were my conclusions in Jan 2013:

1. The earth-electrode antenna at 472kHz (2 earth rods in the soil 15-20m apart fed from the TX output) behaves like an H-field loop transmitting antenna. At the present QTH the spacing is less.
2. It has directivity, with strongest signals in the line of the loop and weakest signals at right angles to it.
3. It works as an effective RX antenna too.
4. In my environment the loop looks like about 50-60 ohms resistive, so a good match to my transverter directly without matching. At this QTH it looks a higher impedance, presumably because the soil and rock are different.
5. The structure works because much of the return current flows deep within the soil and rock beneath the earth-electrode antenna. In my case Rik OR7T calculated that the loop area in the ground is effectively 290m sq with a radiation resistance of 0.017 ohm and a loss resistance of 66 ohms.This is a BIG loop! I think the loop is smaller at this QTH.
6. Performance compared with my 9m high top loaded Marconi antenna averages only around 8dB down, not a bad figure at all, even with the connecting wire on the ground and not elevated at all.
7. Where no other antenna option is available, the earth-electrode antenna is well worth trying both on 472kHz and on 136kHz both for RX and TX. Although it works well here, your geology may be different and results not the same.

Return to 10m JT65

After an evening and overnight on 630m WSPR (best DX with 5mW ERP was F1AFJ/1 at 607km), I returned to 10m JT65 just before breakfast. No spots yet on 10m JT65.

UPDATE 1248z: G4CJC (73km) spotted by tropo or aircraft on 10m JT65. DL0ZB (601km) copied by 10m Es I assume.

Sunspots and 10m Monday January 9th 2016

Solar flux is 72 today and sunspot count is zero yet again. A=16 and K=2.

QRP and QRP Club

More from Oleg:

Dear Club 72 members and friends,

Weekly QRP Rendez-Vous report (January 8, 2017)
Visitors  of the week: UA1ADF, UA1CEG, R2FAE, UR4MME, UR5EFD, DL8BDF,
G4MLW,  US3EN,  IK2RMZ,  UT5EDU,  OK2PDT/p, UR5IFM, UA1CEX, RV3DSA/0,
UR0ET,  OM6TC,  OH6NPV,  RU3NJC, UA0SBQ, EA6BB, R1CAF, UR7VT, US5ERQ,
SM2BYW, SM2FIJ, G3XJS, UA9MLY, DM4EE, RV3GM, DK1HW
See  full  Visitors  and  Frequenters lists on the Club 72 web page
Comments...
See full report on the blog page - http://qrp-club72.blogspot.ru/
See you all QRPers on next QRP Rendez-Vous round tables!

72! Oleg RV3GM / KH6OB "Mr. 72"


This is a periodic Newsletter of the Club 72. Don't reply to Newsletter address! Send any requests or news to mr72@club72.su please.

Alibris UK still game playing - NOT amateur radio

This organisation is still offering discounts every week. I doubt anyone pays the full price.