Sunspots - Thursday July 25th 2019

Solar flux is 67 and the SSN 0. A=4 and K =1.

Storm risk

We had thunder and lightning here last night but the storm risks have, for the moment, decreased as they have moved further east.

Sunspots - Wednesday July 24th 2019

Solar flux is 67 and the SSN 0 . A=6 and K=2

Thunder risks

Over the next few days it is expected to get very hot in the UK. So hot that records could well be broken. With this can be a risk of thunderstorms, so I am QRT at the moment "just in case". The risks may be low, but I tend to disconnect antennas and power plugs.

See https://www.lightningmaps.org/?lang=en#m=oss;t=2;s=0;o=0;b=;ts=0;y=43.5804;x=3.999;z=5;d=2;dl=2;dc=0;

Yet more houses - NOT amateur radio

It seems that every spare space in our village is used to build new homes. There are very few homes that "ordinary" folks can afford. This is a common story in many parts of the UK. Most being built are "executive" homes i.e. those that give the highest profits for the developers.

"Our" windmill - NOT amateur radio

This video was taken from our lounge window earlier.

6m FT8 Es DX

At the moment (simply as it is convenient) I continue to monitor 6m FT8 RX. Already at 0800z there is plenty of Es DX coming through from southern Europe. So far, in the last 6 hours, 15 stations spotted.

UPDATE 0840z: A single 15 second CQ brought 8 spots with the best being CT1ILT (1436km).

UPDATE 1043z: Now 45 stations spotted on 6m FT8 RX in the last 6 hours, many by Es. All Europeans.

UPDATE 1525z: Supposedly TU2EZ (5209km) spotted. This could be genuine, but most of his spots were in the UK, so I am suspicious.

6m FT8 RX 

spots here today

UPDATE 1852z: A recent CQ resulted in spots from all over southern Europe. My best spot was by CU2GI (2575km) in the Azores. So far today, 193 stations spotted, mostly Europeans by Es. Now QRT as we may have lightning later.

Es (sporadic E) propagation

Although in the northern hemisphere this tends to be best around May-August, it can occur at any time of the year bringing huge ranges on the VHF bands.  There tends to be a smaller peak around December-January.

Southgate News has a link to a piece on Es. In my view, despite having experience of Es since (at least) the 1930s, the world still has much to learn about it.

See https://www.electronics-notes.com/articles/antennas-propagation/ionospheric/sporadic-e-es.php

Sunspots - Tuesday July 23rd 2019

Solar flux is 67 and the SSN 11. A=8 and K=1.

Swifts - NOT amateur radio

Swifts are gathering in great numbers. This evening there must have been 50 or more on the wing eating insects on the wing over our heads. Many must be this year's youngsters. In about a month most will be gone. The screaming will stop one day and we will realise the great migration has happened. It amazes me that these birds fly so far every year. Then we will have to wait until next April to see them again.