6m super-DX

About now each year, we hear of DX openings between Europe and Japan on 6m VHF. I believe there have already been 6m openings from Western Europe to Australia. One has always to watch for pirates who are actually much closer! I very much hope these QSOs are confirmed as genuine.

The regular 6m Japanese openings (and to the Far East more generally) seem to be linked to mesospheric noctilucent clouds that form about now. I am sure this is E-layer, but not Es. I also wonder about some of the very long transatlantic 6m openings. Some may be multi-hop Es, but I suspect many are not. E layer - yes. Es - no.

They do not call 6m "the magic band" for nothing. Well equipped stations can work some amazing DX. Even very modest stations can have plenty of fun with QRP and simple antennas.

This why a future 8m allocation could be so informative to radio science: midway between 6m and 10m could be so interesting. We could all learn so much.  

I am convinced there is a great deal for us to find out about E layer propagation and this is one area in which radio amateurs can really contribute to radio science.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/vhfuhfmicrowaves/super-dx .

UK Health Secretary - NOT amateur radio

The UK Health Secretary has resigned. 

Somehow, the UK press got hold of CCTV tapes of him having steamy embraces with someone in his department. He is seen breaking the very rules we have all tried to follow since the Covid-19 crisis hit us. I do not like the way the press got hold of the "scoop", but it shows him in an untenable role breaking his own rules!

Surely a cabinet minister would know there is CCTV around. This is designed to safeguard them. I feel for the families broken over this. Once pillars of society they are thrown into the limelight in the most ignominious fashion. Lives are ruined. What about the children?

I am sure there are many in high office in many nations with dark secrets.

The UK Prime Minister came out in support of him.

In my view, there is gross ineptness at the highest levels. I am sure this has gone on for centuries. We all have dark secrets, but we can do without those telling us "we are all in this together" breaking the very rules they set us! Gross stupidity! 

In my view, those in government in the UK have lost a great deal of credibility.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-politics-57627610 .

10m FT8 RX

At just before 0830z, I turned on my 10m FT8 RX setup with the tiny indoor loop antenna. No spots yet at 0833z.

UPDATE 0922z:   4 spots on RX so far.

UPDATE 1624z:  13 stations so far spotted on 10m FT8 RX with the tiny 50cm diameter loop antenna this morning. Disappointing so far. At the moment, the Es here today is the worst this season. I shall stay on until late this evening "just in case". With the loop, I am probably not seeing some of the stations others are able to copy.

Man born in 1746 photographed? - NOT amateur radio

This photo appeared as a Facebook memory today. It is supposed to be of a man born in 1746.

Sunspots - Sunday June 27th 2021

 Solar flux is 82 and the SSN 16. A=4 and K=0.

Sad day (SPAM messages) - NOT amateur radio

 It seems quite a few emails and texts are malicious these days. It has reached such a level that many genuine messages are discarded unread just in case they have malware or viruses. 

Oscar 100 activity

Every few weeks I try to give an update on activity levels on Oscar 100. It is still very quiet. The last peek was early morning on a weekend in Europe when I would have expected it to be busiest. The photo shows the narrowband transponder. 

10m FT8 RX

It is now 0615z. In a short time I hope to go on 10m FT8 RX with the tiny indoor loop antenna. 

UPDATE  0933z:  39 stations spotted on RX so far today. The gear was turned on about 45 minutes ago.

Poppy - NOT amateur radio

We saw several poppies on our walk yesterday including this one. 

Sunspots - Saturday June 26th 2021

 Solar flux is 83 and the SSN 25. A=7 and K=1.