6m FT8

All yesterday and most of today I have been QRT. I turned the rigs and PC on at about 1625z today. Even though it is September, there have already been lots of Es spots.

UPDATE 1942z: Yet another great day on 6m with stations spotted from all over Europe again. It is now September and we still have great Es on 6m FT8.

Sunspots - Friday September 1st 2017

Solar flux is 92 today and the sunspot number 59. A=31 and K=4.

Rainbow's End - NOT amateur radio

After a great day with the grandchildren including a picnic, this evening we had thunder and lightning. Once the storm had passed we were treated to a double rainbow. One end was on our museum and the other on a bungalow called "Rainbow's End". Pure coincidence.

Hackers? - NOT amateur radio

Blog numbers were way above normal yesterday, indicating possible "probing" for vulnerabilities. It will be interesting to see if numbers remain high today. Certainly visits from the usual suspect country are up.

Normally, if I think there is any danger, I change my password. So far, I have not been hacked.

QRT - storm risk

Today there was a risk of thunderstorms, so I decided not to turn the rigs on and leave everything disconnected.

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

UPDATE 1640z: The storms are currently 5 miles NW of here and it has started to rain.

Hamfest and GQRP Convention this weekend

2-3 SEPTEMBER 2017 : TELFORD HAMFEST & G-QRP CONVENTION
Enginuity Technology Centre, Coalbrookdale, Telford, Shrops. Combined social, Buildathon, guest speakers and Radio Rally. www.telfordhamfest.co.uk
A list of rallies can be found at http://rsgb.org/main/news/rallies/

Sunspots - Thursday August 31st 217

Solar flux is 87 today. Sunspot number is 42. A=5 and K=2.

Es propagation late in the season

It is very easy to generalise, but my experience is that 10m openings to more northerly stations become more common later in the season. If this is statistically significant (and I could be wrong) I have absolutely no idea why this should be so. As an example, there have been lots of 10m WSPR spots from the Faeroe Islands, Denmark and Germany today, but few from southern Europe.

Am I wrong? Have others seen this?

October QRP days for your diaries

From Oleg:

"Dear QRPers,
keep in your diaries the period of October 4 to 17.
This is a Sputnik QRPp Activity Days.
Categories:
- Sputnik
recommend  to  use  old  type  valves (preferably 1950-60-th), output
recommend  1  watt  or  less.  Series of "beep-beep-beep..." required
before or after transmission session;
- Vanguard
recommend  to  use  simplest  TX  with  Ge old type p-n-p transistors
(1950-60-th),  output  recommend 100 mW or less. Series of "V V V..."
required for identification;
- SWL
they must to log any TX sessions of Sputnik/Vanguard. High profile to
use  old type receivers (50-60-th produced) or home made RXs with old
type components;
Beacon  TXs accepted as Sputnik/Vanguard, identifications "beep-beep"
or "V V V" required.
Every  day  log  send to the "Center of Deep Space Communications" to
duty operator "mr72" :-) The each days totals will be published on the
Club 72 page daily.
Memorable  certificates of "Cosmonaut" or "Astronaut" will be sent to
each participants.
See  full  rules  on  the  Club  72  page, please. Last years results
with comments/pictures available on the page.
We have enough time before Sputnik Days. Turn-on your solder irons and
melt the solder. Enjoy and good luck!

Wish you all the best, 72!
Oleg "Mr. 72" RV3GM / KH6OB"

Iceland - NOT amateur radio

Some years ago now we visited Iceland and were surprised just how beautiful it was. The photo shows where the first Icelandic parliament was held. I think this was 960AD.  This is on a fault line. There were lupins everywhere.