Sunspots - Tuesday August 29th 2017

Solar flux is 82 today and the sunspot number 17. A=4 and K=2.

6m FT8

Since before breakfast I have been on 6m FT8 RX, apart from a very brief spell calling CQ before breakfast. The only spots on RX so far have been G and northern France and all could have been by aircraft reflection.

UPDATE 1118z: Es from Bavaria, southern Germany, spotted on 6m FT8 DL7AV (923km).

UPDATE 1802z: 6 countries spotted on 6m FT8 in the last 12 hours, most Es.

10m WSPR TX

Since just before breakfast I have been on 10m WSPR TX with my little W5OLF 500mW beacon. So far the only spot was from I3WXX (1090km).

UPDATE 1122z: 6 unique spots on 10m WSPR so far. All look like Es.

UPDATE 1804z: 10 unique spots on 10m WSPR so far. Another decent Es day on 10m WSPR. Spots as far apart as Italy and Denmark.

UPDATE 1922z: With 97 spots in total today on 10m WSPR, it is now time to go QRT.

10m Simple Sideband

Yes, you read correctly - simple sideband, not single sideband.

For some time, I have had in my mind a very simple 10m rig. Sadly, my stroke got in the way, so this has not progressed. Such a rig would be ideal for Es and, certainly here in the UK, most of Europe should be workable with a simple antenna. At some point, I'd like to complete this. Maybe someone else already has.

A few years ago, the whole world would have been workable. Sadly with declining conditions, this is far less likely now on 10m. May, June and July are the best months for Es (sporadic-E) in the northern hemisphere. Of course, there is nothing stopping you work local SSB stations at any time.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/10msimple_sb .

Ultra-low cost 70cm handheld

When I looked yesterday they were just £10 each with free shipping to the UK from Hong Kong. It has just gone up a few pounds. It is by Banggood and called the BF-T1.

The Moon - NOT amateur radio

This was the view of the Moon when we had tea in the garden yesterday. It seems incredible that man walked on the Moon in 1969, a year before I started work! Now, I have been retired for 9 years!

6m FT8 RX

Yet again, I am on 6m FT8 RX. Yesterday was fantastic on 6m with lots of Es propagation around Europe. I thought the Es season was winding down. If so, it is going out with a bang.

UPDATE 0952z: A promising start with several spots of stations in southern and eastern Europe. Could today be as good as yesterday?

UPDATE 1945z: Lots of Es in the last 12 hours on 6m FT8. Now gone QRT.

Sunspots - Monday August 28th 2017

Solar flux is 77 today and the sunspot number 22. A=10 and K=1.

10m WSPR TX

As usual, I am on 10m with my 500mW WSPR beacon. There is no way I can match yesterday with 37 unique spots, mostly Es from right across Europe. Even though it is now very late in the Es season, yesterday was probably one of the best days for Es this year.

UPDATE 0952z:  Well, there were Es spots of me way into the night (0022z) and today has already seen lots of spots of my 500mW WSPR beacon. Promising.

UPDATE 1450z: So far today, 14 unique spots of my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon.

Region 1 IARU Conference near Munich

Southgate News reports on the IARU Region 1 Conference in Germany next month. I hope they discuss a 4m allocation in Region 1 . At one time there was talk of CEPT countries recommending a 4m allocation, although I cannot remember what became of this.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2017/august/24th-iaru-region-1-general-conference.htm#.WaMOk7pFzmI