Solar flux is 69 and the sunspot number is again zero. A=7 and K=3.
Luckily, Es is livening up the higher HF bands although I find WSPR activity disappointing.
21 Jul 2017
20 Jul 2017
10m WSPR
As usual, I have been on 10m WSPR TX (500mW) since breakfast. Es has been good with widespread reports from around Europe.
UPDATE 1458z: SM5ISM (1288km) remains my best DX on 10m WSPR TX today.
UPDATE 1640z: DJ9PC/1 (825km) has received me at an astounding +7dB S/N. Es! Assuming a low noise floor, uW power levels would be enough.
UPDATE 2126z: 22 unique stations spotted on 10m WSPR today.
UPDATE 1458z: SM5ISM (1288km) remains my best DX on 10m WSPR TX today.
UPDATE 1640z: DJ9PC/1 (825km) has received me at an astounding +7dB S/N. Es! Assuming a low noise floor, uW power levels would be enough.
UPDATE 2126z: 22 unique stations spotted on 10m WSPR today.
Summer colour - NOT amateur radio
A few weeks ago our lawns were green. Then the sun really shone and patches turned brown. Slowly they are recovering.
By mistake, we bought impatiens for our front garden instead of begonias. Luckily they have been a good splash of colour.
Our sweet peas look healthy, but we have yet to see a single flower. My brother down in Devon has also had a disappointing sweet pea show this year. We both bought these as plugs from a well respected seed supplier.
By mistake, we bought impatiens for our front garden instead of begonias. Luckily they have been a good splash of colour.
Our sweet peas look healthy, but we have yet to see a single flower. My brother down in Devon has also had a disappointing sweet pea show this year. We both bought these as plugs from a well respected seed supplier.
6m JT65
Since breakfast I have been on 6m JT65. At first I was transceive but for the last hour or so I have been RX only. Plenty of 6m Es.
UPDATE 1332z: Most of the 6m spots have been Southern and Eastern Europe, presumably by Es.
UPDATE 1638z: UT8IO (2720km) in Ukraine is the best DX today so far.
UPDATE 2138z: KP4EIT (6830km) in the Caribbean has just been spotted on 6m JT65.
UPDATE 1332z: Most of the 6m spots have been Southern and Eastern Europe, presumably by Es.
UPDATE 1638z: UT8IO (2720km) in Ukraine is the best DX today so far.
UPDATE 2138z: KP4EIT (6830km) in the Caribbean has just been spotted on 6m JT65.
Sunspots - Thursday July 20th 2017
Solar flux is 72 today and the sunspots number is again zero. A=4 and K=2.
19 Jul 2017
QRT and disconnected
As I had received no new reports on 10m WSPR TX for nearly 2 hours and 6m JT65 looks like the best DX on RX was the Azores and Canary Is, I decided to go QRT.
No storms are forecast here but you never know. I should be back on tomorrow at breakfast time.
I noticed that ONs were calling KP4 earlier on 6m JT65, so there was some real DX around.
No storms are forecast here but you never know. I should be back on tomorrow at breakfast time.
I noticed that ONs were calling KP4 earlier on 6m JT65, so there was some real DX around.
BBC salaries - NOT amateur radio
The BBC was made to disclose (by the government) the salaries of their top stars and presenters. Quite a few earn more than £500k a year and some over £2M a year! Sorry, but I think this is insane and immoral: I am sure there are people who could do as good a job on much lower salaries. BBC? Big Bangs Corporation or Big Bonkers Corporation.
Remember we pay for these people with our licence fees. Shame!
Remember we pay for these people with our licence fees. Shame!
Crab Apples - NOT amateur radio
Solar conditions - improving?
On average, solar conditions have improved these last few months. In the longer term, we are definitely on the slide towards the next minimum, but there will always be days when things are far better than average.
Of course, there is no correlation between solar activity and Es (as far as I know). Certainly some great Es has been seen in periods of low sunspot activity. 10m, 6m and even 4m and 2m can suddenly spring into life with some quite remarkable signals. DX out to several thousand kilometres is not unheard of by Es on 10m and 6m.
In my experience just a few watts and simple antennas are all that are needed to work all over Europe on 10m and 6m from the UK in the Es season. As Es can occur (less often) at any time of year it is worth beaconing on 10m and 6m with WSPR or JT65 in the quieter months as people often just give up.
See http://www.solen.info/solar/ .
Of course, there is no correlation between solar activity and Es (as far as I know). Certainly some great Es has been seen in periods of low sunspot activity. 10m, 6m and even 4m and 2m can suddenly spring into life with some quite remarkable signals. DX out to several thousand kilometres is not unheard of by Es on 10m and 6m.
In my experience just a few watts and simple antennas are all that are needed to work all over Europe on 10m and 6m from the UK in the Es season. As Es can occur (less often) at any time of year it is worth beaconing on 10m and 6m with WSPR or JT65 in the quieter months as people often just give up.
See http://www.solen.info/solar/ .
10m WSPR
Today has been very fruitful on 10m WSPR with plenty of spots by Es of my 500mW beacon. OZ9QV (864km) has spotted me many times. All spots have been by Europeans by Es I think.
UPDATE 1522z: In past seasons I seem to recall more Es from Northern Europe later in the season. This may be incorrect, but perhaps the things that trigger Es are more common in Northern Europe later in the summer?
UPDATE 1522z: In past seasons I seem to recall more Es from Northern Europe later in the season. This may be incorrect, but perhaps the things that trigger Es are more common in Northern Europe later in the summer?
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