Solar flux is 82 and the SSN 24. A=3 and K=1.
26 Jul 2021
25 Jul 2021
Storm threat stops play
Late this afternoon, I disconnected everything as we had the threat of thunder and lightning. This meant prematurely going QRT on 10m and 6m. All being well, I shall be on again on Monday morning.
As it happened, the storms missed us. We heard distant thunder, but I suspect the actual storms were many miles away.
6m FT8 RX (Sunday)
Well, the days of unbelievable Es seem to be diminishing. There will still be openings, but not so often. They do not call it "the magic band" for nothing! 6m has a habit of producing the totally unexpected, such as the Europe to Australia openings more than once of late. This is where FT8 or WSPR can be so useful as there can be lots of people monitoring on specific slots so even fleeting openings are noticed. This is much harder on CW or SSB.
This morning, I am again monitoring 6m FT8 RX, It is now 0857z and, so far this morning, 6 Gs spotted. I was very briefly on TX with 2.5W and the V2000 omni, but just spots by G stations.
No signs of Es here yet today on 6m.
UPDATE 1043z: 13 stations spotted on 6m FT8 RX with the furthermost F5PSR
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| Stations spotted on 6m FT8 RX to 1417z |
UPDATE 1505z: Now 34 stations spotted on 6m FT8 RX with the furthermost K0GU (7431km). Judging by the other reports, I think he is genuine. No other USA stations spotted on 6m FT8 RX today.
UPDATE 2121z: QRT for many hours due to the storm risks. As Bas says in a comment below, Es can be good at any time, so it pays to be vigilant. I have had QRP SSB QSOs on 6m via Es as late as September. With FT8 or WSPR more openings will be spotted.
Oscar 100 activity
As I have said many times before, if one of the big manufacturers was offering a "black box" solution, I expect activity would be far greater. As it is, getting on the satellite is too hard for most who are cheque-book amateurs rather than true experimenters.
What would a total solution cost? I suspect much less than £2k with everything needed including, rig, dish, feed, LNA, etc.. Remember, no towers, no beams, neighbour friendly, DX at any time, no QSB. In fact once set up, just chat!! I can see this appealing to many "black box" operators.
What seems to happen is the true experimenters like the challenge of getting going: building the kit, aiming the dish(es), sorting out the feed etc. Once this is done, many lose interest.
See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/ .
10m WSPR TX 500mW (Sunday)
As usual when I am monitoring 6m FT8 RX, I am on 10m WSPR TX with 500mW. The TX is 100% but changes frequency every slot to avoid being clobbered by a strong station.
So far (at 0820z) just G2XV (18km) spotting me. No sign of Es here yet.
UPDATE 0900z: DK6UG (633km) has also spotted me. This could have been Es or off aircraft.
UPDATE 1507z: Just 3 different stations spotting me today. Unless things change, today looks disappointing.
Well nobody told me - NOT amateur radio
Watch out birds!
24 Jul 2021
Sweet peas - NOT amateur radio
The photo shows the sweet peas my brother picked just yesterday. So far this year, we have had one flower!! He must be doing something right and us not!!
50th wedding anniversary - NOT amateur radio
We are celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary today. In some ways that day in 1971 seems like yesterday. I have no idea how those years have flown by. Since then we have 2 boys and 4 grandchildren.
Both of us were several stones lighter then and I still had hair! Most of my hair went when I was in my twenties.
Advice? Enjoy every moment, as time goes by very quickly.
6m FT8 (2.5W to the V2000 vertical omni)
Although I have been spotted by 6 G stations, there is no evidence here of Es yet. I have spotted just 3 Gs this morning on 6m FT8 RX.
As time goes by Es openings become rarer.
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