Rainy day - NOT amateur radio

The photo shows an umbrella in a shop window seen recently. Ideal for the UK weather at present - rainy and changeable.

Sunspots - Thursday June 11th 2020

Solar flux is 71 and the SSN 11. A=7 and K=1.

2m FT8

Stations spotting my 
10W 2m FT8 to 1840z

A few moments ago I went QRT on 6m FT8 and have QSYed to 2m FT8. This was at 1800z. 16 spots in 5 countries so far. Best DX spot is by GI6ATZ (479km) in Northern Ireland.

UPDATE 1945z:  One 2m FT8 QSO so far - G0BNR (37km).

UPDATE 2035z:  22 spots of my 2m FT8 10W this evening.

UPDATE 2100z:  QRT.

VHF/UHF super-DX

Every year about now, 6m opens from Japan to western Europe. For a long time I have been of the view that this is E layer propagation, but not sporadic-E (Es). This is a very long way and it seems to be linked with noctilucent cloud formation. Southgate News reports on a Space weather piece about extremely cold temperatures in the mesosphere. Noctilucent clouds are forming at lower latitudes.

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2020/june/record-cold-in-the-mesosphere.htm#.XuD6RIjYrrcot

I have also got views on some of the other long paths worked on 6m such as the UK to the USA and the UK to South America. I am again convinced this is some sort of E layer propagation, but think it is very unlikely to be Es. OK, some openings could be Es, but the chance of this being multiple hop Es seems very unlikely. Maybe in 20 years' time we will know. In the meantime we have fun!

I also wonder if the Japanese path would also work on microwaves. Maybe one year some suitably equipped 23cm or even 3cm stations could have a try. Quite some firsts! Imagine if some EME equipped stations had a go.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/vuhf/noctilucent

Springtime - NOT amateur radio

Spring is a lovely time of year with fresh green leaves, spring flowers, young birds and new life. It is ephemeral and soon goes.

Our local churchyard is at its best. A little while ago the daffodils were out. Now the horse chestnut trees are looking splendid (see photo). These were planted in memory of the battle of Trafalgar many years ago.

Oscar 100 - is there a problem?

Activity at 1100z on Oscar 100

Usually, I check narrowband activity on the geosynchronous satellite by looking at the web SDR at Goonhilly in Cornwall, UK. The last time I checked (0935z) there was no activity at all!! Since then just one station has appeared. At the moment, there are a few more, but not many.

So, activity seems very low. With lockdowns, I was expecting more activity. It looks like the novelty has worn off. Once the gear is in place, many users are saying, "fine, done that" and going QRT.  Like Echolink and repeaters, what is the challenge? After all, it is really just another repeater, if a lot simpler and smaller than a big beam, kWs and a big tower. Once you have worked one station the rest are "same as".

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/

6m FT8

My 6m FT8 gear is on again. 14 stations have spotted my 10W to the V2000 vertical omni, but I have only spotted 2 stations so far. No QSOs yet.

UPDATE 1000z: 17 spots of me so far, but no QSOs. My usual technique is to call CQ and reply to the first station calling me. I rarely call others calling CQ. I know this gives me fewer contacts, but I like to see where I am getting.

UPDATE 1254z:  37 stations, all EU, have spotted me so far on 6m FT8 TX. On RX just 8 stations spotted so far. I am sure that better equipped stations will be able to do much better, but I am happy to see results with my little station (FT991A at 10W, V2000 vertical omni, cheap CB coax).

UPDATE 1520z: 72 stations spotted today here, so far, on 6m FT8 RX. On TX 59 stations have spotted me and I have had 1 QSO with an EA4.

10m WSPR TX (500mW to the indoor loop)

A few minutes ago (it is now 0916z) I turned on my 10m WSPR beacon. So far just G4KPX (14km) spotting me.

UPDATE 1250z:  Still just G4KPX spotting me.

UPDATE 1505z: Also being spotted by several stations today by Es.

UPDATE 2100z:  QRT.

Sunspots - Wednesday June 10th 2020

Solar flux is 72 and the SSN 14.  A=5 and K=1.

70cm UKAC

This evening I spent 40 minutes in the 70cm activity contest (UKAC) organised by the RSGB with 10W using the 2m big-wheel omni antenna. In all 4 QSOs with the best being a contact with G4CLA (105km).