A few days ago I saw my first house martins this year in the UK. This is much later than usual, so I wonder if numbers are down? These were in a nearby village. I've seen none in our village this year.
There seem to be plenty of swifts - there were about 20 feeding overhead last evening - but house martins and swallows seem to be fewer this year. This may be a localised thing, but I notice numbers seem down.
Anyone know the facts?
18 Jun 2017
Hot and sunny - NOT amateur radio
Something unusual has appeared in the UK skies. I think it is called "the sun". 😊
Actually it has been hot now for several days. Today we even had breakfast in the garden. For us in the UK this is a rare treat. Summer time, the temperature is often pleasantly warm at 18-22 deg C, but it has been HOT in recent days. Even sitting in the shade at breakfast felt warm and comfortable.
This robin (see photo) preferred the fat balls to the mealworms (eventually).
This robin (see photo) preferred the fat balls to the mealworms (eventually).
Sunspots and 10m - Sunday June 18th 2017
Solar flux is 74 today and the sunspot number 28. A=15 and K=2. There is Es about on both 10m and 6m, but I have see no evidence here of F layer propagation on 10m for several days.
6m JT65
My 1W ERP 6m JT65 has been widely spotted today throughout Europe. At the moment, I am RX only on 6m. Some stations are working the Far East. I am unsure of the propagation, but this looks different from the breakfast paths to Japan.
UPDATE 1315z: Best DX today on 6mJT65 RX is VR2XMT (9537km) in Hong Kong. He is being widely spotted around the globe, so I think this is genuine.
UPDATE 2015z: Absolutely loads of 6m JT65 spots given and received today. Best DX on TX was Iceland and the Canaries. Think I'll stay on longer, hoping for some real DX reports!
UPDATE 1315z: Best DX today on 6mJT65 RX is VR2XMT (9537km) in Hong Kong. He is being widely spotted around the globe, so I think this is genuine.
UPDATE 2015z: Absolutely loads of 6m JT65 spots given and received today. Best DX on TX was Iceland and the Canaries. Think I'll stay on longer, hoping for some real DX reports!
17 Jun 2017
10m WSPR
Today 10m WSPR is nothing like yesterday. Although I have been spotted in Germany and by a local, 10m is nowhere near as good as Friday here. There is Es, but not like yesterday.
Another Indonesian on 6m JT65?
Today, out of the blue, I (supposedly) spotted 7A4TOI (13582km) in Indonesia at 1145z on 6m JT65. Although this could be genuine, I am pretty sure this station is a pirate somewhere in Europe. It would be great if this was a true 6m spot.
UPDATE 1933z: The Caribbean and South America now being spotted on 6m JT65. I think these are genuine!
UPDATE 1933z: The Caribbean and South America now being spotted on 6m JT65. I think these are genuine!
Sunspots and 10m - Saturday June 17th 2017
Solar flux is 74 today and the sunspot number 28. A=24 and K=4. 10m? Maybe Es but F layer doubtful, especially with K=4.
UPDATE 0915z: No sign of Es on 10m or 6m here yet.
UPDATE 0915z: No sign of Es on 10m or 6m here yet.
What a difference a day makes
Yesterday I had spotted lots of Japanese stations by now on 6m JT65. Today my only spots so far on 6m JT65 have been G stations. No Es yet on the band here.
UPDATE 1330z: Some Es now on 6m JT65.
UPDATE 1330z: Some Es now on 6m JT65.
16 Jun 2017
Long long 6m JT65 paths - what mode?
The very long paths on 6m JT65 are intriguing me. The common wisdom is these are "multi-hop sporadic E". Sorry, but I just don't believe it.
Some paths may be multi-hop Es sometimes (e.g. to Israel) but I think we are seeing some other sort of E layer propagation, maybe some sort of chordal hop? The Far East spots may be due to mesospheric cloud ionisation?
Some of the very long 6m paths may be pirates, but the Japanese spots are genuine and have occurred several times already in the last few weeks.
I am no propagation expert, but would love to hear from experts who might really know what is going on.
We are in 2017 and there are still unsolved mysteries.
What amazes me is there appears to be no-one trying to span Europe to Japan on higher VHF bands or even microwaves. This path opens every year at this time on 6m and should be possible at higher frequencies especially with big antennas and high power such as stations equipped for 23cm EME. Suitably equipped stations know where to beam, know when, know the best times. So? If you are suitably equipped set up some skeds!
See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/vuhf/noctilucent .
Some paths may be multi-hop Es sometimes (e.g. to Israel) but I think we are seeing some other sort of E layer propagation, maybe some sort of chordal hop? The Far East spots may be due to mesospheric cloud ionisation?
Some of the very long 6m paths may be pirates, but the Japanese spots are genuine and have occurred several times already in the last few weeks.
I am no propagation expert, but would love to hear from experts who might really know what is going on.
We are in 2017 and there are still unsolved mysteries.
What amazes me is there appears to be no-one trying to span Europe to Japan on higher VHF bands or even microwaves. This path opens every year at this time on 6m and should be possible at higher frequencies especially with big antennas and high power such as stations equipped for 23cm EME. Suitably equipped stations know where to beam, know when, know the best times. So? If you are suitably equipped set up some skeds!
See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/vuhf/noctilucent .
International QRP Day - June 17th
From Oleg:
Dear Club 72 members and friends,
just remind in June 17 is International QRP Day. Keep activity on QRP
freq's and don't forget about QRP Rendez-Vous on 9.00 UTC at 14060
kHz.
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.
Dear Club 72 members and friends,
just remind in June 17 is International QRP Day. Keep activity on QRP
freq's and don't forget about QRP Rendez-Vous on 9.00 UTC at 14060
kHz.
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.
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