10m WSPR

Yet again, I am on 10m WSPR TX (500mW) as well as 6m JT65 transceive (1W ERP).

Sunspots and 10m - Friday June 16th 2017

Solar flux is 77 today. Sunspot number is 28 today. A=4 and K=2. 10m? Well there is plenty of Es on 10m and 6m, but no F layer propagation noted here.

Rallies this weekend

17 JUNE 2017 : SOUTH LANCS ARC SUMMER RALLY
Bickershaw Village Community Club, Bickershaw Lane, Bickershaw, Wigan WN2 5TE There is car parking on site at this venue. Doors open 9am for the public and 7.30am for traders. Entry is £2.50. There are a limited number of pitches available. There will be a Bring & Buy, special interest groups and trade stands. Catering is available on site. To book call Jason, G0IZR on 01942 735 828.

18 JUNE 2017 : 30th NEWBURY RADIO RALLY
Newbury Showground, next to Jcn 13 of M4, Berkshire. There is free parking on site and entry is £2.50 or £12.30 for those in the car boot area. There will be a display area of an amateur radio station, exhibits, special interest groups, clubs and societies. There is on site catering and disabled facilities. Open to sellers at 8am for set up and to the public from 9am. Advance bookings (with discount) can be made via www.nadars.org.uk/rally.asp

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

13 Japanese stations spotted today on 6m JT65

This is the best day so far this season on 6m JT65 with 13 (thirteen) different Japanese stations spotted around breakfast time today. Interesting that none at all was from Tokyo or its suburbs. Sadly, no spots of me from Japan.

I am amazed how easily I am spotting these with my poor setup here.

At the moment, I am still on 6m JT65 in beacon mode sending "B G3XBM JO02" near the top of the JT65 sub-section.

UPDATE 0932z: as well as all the Japanese spots on 6m JT65 I notice 7A7YYZ (13582km) was spotted early on 6m JT65. If genuine, this is long way on a VHF band. I have spotted different Indonesians several times, and find it hard to think they are all pirates. There were so many Japanese that I am sure Far East 6m propagation is genuine.

Gilbert and Sullivan - NOT amateur radio

Every year, about this time, we attend a performance of Gilbert and Sullivan (Victorian comic opera) in a barn in a local village. This is an amateur cast but the performance is always first class. This year they did "Princess Ida", a work with which I was not familiar.

Sibling reunion - NOT amateur radio

For the last few days we have hosted our annual "sibling reunion" in which my wife's brothers and their wives join us. Each year, we take it in turns to act as hosts. The photo shows us in our garden earlier.

Top Band Loft Antenna

Some years ago, at the old QTH, I was looking for an easy 160m antenna, mainly for local use and WSPR. This antenna was the result. It exceeded all expectations.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/antennas/160m_loft_ant

4el 70cm yagi

Some years ago I hastily made this small yagi to use portable on 70cms. The pole is just cheap PVC pipe and the yagi made from old coat hangers. It worked well and I still have it, although it has not been used for some time.yagi,70cm

10m WSPR TX and 6m JT65 transceive

As usual, I am on 10m WSPR TX only (500mW) and 6m JT65 (1W ERP) transceive. Already there is good European Es on both bands.

UPDATE 1305z: Yet again 4X1RF (3518km) has spotted me on 6m JT65. He has done so for many seasons now.

UPDATE 1518z: I spotted a station in Kuwait earlier on 6m JT65 - 9K2GS (4641km) and supposedly S65GBD (10734km) in Singapore. I have grave doubts about this last one.

UPDATE 1630z: First Caribbean station spotted on 6m JT65 this season. WP4JCF (6830km) in Puerto Rico copied.

Sunspots and 10m - Thursday June 15th 2017

Solar flux is 75 and the sunspot number 11. A=5 and K=1. 10m? Lots of Es around already.