Back on again

Just before breakfast I resumed operations. I am on 10m WSPR TX (500wW) and 6m FT8 RX again.

Sunspots - Tuesday August 8th 2017

Solar flux is 73 today and the sunspot number 11. A=5 and K=1

Now QRT

After a brief period looking at 20m FT8 (very busy at 1930z), I have now gone QRT on all bands.

All being well, I hope to return to 10m WSPR TX (500mW) and 6m FT8 RX at breakfast time tomorrow.

20 minutes on 20m FT8 RX this evening

Es season ending?

Today, there were just 2 unique spots here on 10m WSPR of my 500mW beacon, although I did much better on 6m FT8 RX. My feeling is the Es season is drawing to a close in the northern hemisphere, although there will still be DX there for those looking. Es occurs at any time of the year although in the UK and USA the best months are May, June and July.

I have worked Es 6m DX on QRP SSB in September and with newer digital modes quite brief openings can now be spotted. Never give up!

As we enter the "quiet sun" years E layer propagation becomes more important and may be the best hope of DX on 10m and higher bands.

For reasons I do not understand, there is a smaller Es peak around the end of December and early January. So, for those alert, there are plenty of opportunities for DX by E layer at any time of the year. OK, outside the peak months there may be long quiet periods, but stick with it and search out those brief openings!

Storms Tuesday?

The weather forecast for the next few days is bad. Rain (heavy at times) is forecast before things might improve on Thursday. There is a chance of thunder too. If so, I may be off air for a few days.

See https://www.lightningmaps.org/blitzortung/europe/index.php?lang=en .

UPDATE 1558z: At the moment, it looks like we may miss the storms tomorrow. I''ll check in the morning.

Plenty of Colour - NOT amateur radio

Last week we visited Felbrigg Hall in Norfolk, where there was still plenty of colour in the walled garden. This place is owned by the National Trust.

10m WSPR

Although on since breakfast time, no spots received at all so far.

UPDATE 1015z: Still no spots received today so far on 10m WSPR.

UPDATE 1354z: Still no spots on 10m WSPR today.

UPDATE 1548z: Since 1358z EA1FAQ (1249km) has been spotting me intermittently by Es. At the moment, he is my only reporter today on 10m WSPR His last spot was at 1446z.

UPDATE 1825z: 2 unique spots of my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon

Return to 6m FT8 RX

Yesterday was very good for Es, so I am again on 6m FT8 RX.  I am amazed how this mode has taken off. It is  not officially released yet. There were loads of stations on this mode yesterday.

UPDATE 0835z: Only G0GGG (210km) spotted on 6m FT8 so far. No Es today as yet.

UPDATE 0858z: OZ1DJJ (763km) spotted, I assume by Es. Also G8TTI (185km).

UPDATE 1016z: Now 5 countries spotted with best DX today so far being SM0NKZ (1404km).

UPDATE 1253z: 12 stations in 8 countries spotted so far on 6m FT8 today.

UPDATE 1806z: Plenty of Es today on 6m FT8. The photo shows the stations spotted in the last day.

Maudlin? - NOT amateur radio

As we get older (this year I enter my 70th year) I guess we become grateful for small things. Even waking up in the morning is a blessing! Seeing migrant birds return always fills me with wonder at nature.

Years ago, I had quite a strong faith. These days I am unsure.  There are so many faiths and I am sure all are an attempt to come to terms with our humanity. Yet it seems hard to think we just become nothing when we die. I am sure all world religions hint at the truth, but all are wrong. You only have to think of all the evil in the last few thousand years done in the name of religion.

Indeed, it is possible that what each of us experiences is unique to us, but this is straying into philosophy. The simple answer is that not one of us knows with any certainty.

In the meantime, we must live each day as if our last: be kind to others and kind to ourselves. Milk every day for the best.

Sunspots - Monday August 7th 2017

Solar flux is 74 today and the sunspot number 13. A=13 and K=1.