Sunspots and 10m - Sunday 4th June 2017

Solar flux is 77 today and the sunspot number is 22. A=9 and K=1. Both 10m and 6m are alive with Es.

Re-installed WSJT-X V1.7

My version of this program started to do odd things, so I deleted it and re-installed it.

Currently I am on 6m JT65 (beacon mode transceiver, 1W ERP) and 10m WSPR (500mW, 100% TX using the stand-alone beacon).

UPDATE 1522z: Best DX on 6m JT65 RX is TY2AC (5109km) in Benin, W.Africa and 3J3AGK (7646km) in China.

No storm risk

As the nearest storms are a long way away, I think I'll leave my 10m WSPR TX and 6m JT65 transceive running overnight.

See https://www.lightningmaps.org/?lang=en#y=52.2238;x=-4.5678;z=5;t=3;m=sat;r=0;s=0;o=0;b=0.00;n=0;d=2;dl=2;dc=0;

UPDATE 2135z:  With nothing great happening I have decided to turn things off and save the electricity.  I know, in the morning someone will tell me I missed the best transatlantic 6m conditions in years!

WSPR versus JT65

For the last couple of years I have been comparing WSPR versus JT65 on 10m and 6m. Theoretically, WSPR is a little better, but I seem to get much better results with JT65. Maybe it is because the TX period on JT65 is shorter, so transient openings are seen? Maybe there is more JT65 activity?

With my little 500mW 10m W5OLF WSPR beacon, I can be on 10m WSPR TX whilst using the shack PC and FT817 for 6m JT65. These use different antennas.

I really ought to try PSK31 too. Later!

UPDATE 1758z:  Today on 10m WSPR no spots at all. On 6m JT65 plenty of Es spots given and received. Best DX on 6m JT65 RX was 4X4DK (3582km).

Manchester Terror Attack - NOT amateur radio

Sadly Manchester was the centre of a terrorist attack which killed 22 and injured many more, mainly children and young girls. It was a pointless, evil act, carried out by someone who could not care less about those he injured or killed. My wife's nephew knew one of the victims, so the pointlessness of this evil act hit us on a personal level. Look, evil in the form of terrorism will never, ever win. As for vestal virgins awaiting the perpetrators in Heaven, I think the very opposite awaits!

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-40141450 .

"Real" DX on 6m

At the moment, F2 worldwide 6m DX is rare and we rely on Es to get decent ranges. Es tends to peak in the late spring and summer. "Real" DX, by which I mean ranges well in excess of normal Es ranges, seems to occur when Es is good, although I am not a great believer these are due to multi-hop Es. OK, some might be, but I think some of the distances suggest some kind of chordal hop Es. I am frequently wrong!

UK to Israel even with my poor antenna and lossy coax and QRP every summer for several years? Also, occasional reception at much greater ranges on 6m?

I'd be interested to hear your views, especially from real experts with far more knowledge than I'll ever have. These long distance Es paths have puzzled me for years. They do happen most seasons, if not all Es seasons.

Sunspots and 10m - Saturday June 3rd 2017

Solar flux is 77 today and the sunspot number 19. A=5 and K=1.

6m JT65

One correspondent tells me 6m JT65 stations on the west coast of the USA were able to work Europeans on 6m yesterday. Although there is some Es around today, conditions here are nothing like they were yesterday. I am active on 6m JT65, but so far most spots are Gs with a few EU stations.

UPDATE 1128z: Best DX spot today on 6m JT65 TX, so far, is LA1BFA (1331km).

10m WSPR TX

Once again I have my 500mW WSPR beacon TXing on 10m. As yet, no spots. Yesterday by this time I had been copied all over Europe by Es.

Rallies on Sunday

4 JUNE 2017 : SPALDING & DARS ANNUAL RALLY
The Sir John Gleed Technology School, Halmer Gardens, Spalding, Lincs PE11 2EF. There is free car parking on site. Doors open at 10am. There will be trade stands, an outside car boot area and there is catering on site. Details from John G4NBR 0794 630 2815 or Graham, G8NWC 0775 461 9701 or email rally-secretary@sdars.org.uk www.sdars.org.uk

4 JUNE 2017 : 21st RED ROSE QRP FESTIVAL
The Rose Centre (Lowton Civic Hall), Hesketh Meadow Lane, Lowton, Warrington WA3 2AH There is easy access from all directions M6, M61, M60 and A580. The venue has a large spacious halls at ground level with free car parking. There are disabled facilities. Doors open from 11am to 3pm and admission is £2 with children under 14 free. There will be trade and individual stalls as well as Club stands, including the RSGB and GQRP. There will be a Bring & Buy. Catering is available on site. Some tables are available at £8 but please book early. Contact Les Jackson, G4HZJ by email to g4hzj@ntlworld.com or 01942 870 634.

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