The Es (sporadic-E) season is NOT over!

With 17 stations already spotted on 6m FT8 and 2 stations already spotting my 10m WSPR this morning, I can only conclude that the Es season is not over! 

Yes, things may be more sporadic, but for those sticking with it, there is still Es activity around. Often lack of activity is mistaken for "dead" bands when actually there is propagation. Look how often 11m CB is busy when 10m seems quiet.

UPDATE 1208z:  30 stations spotted so far on 6m FT8 RX. 4 stations have spotted me on 10m WSPR TX.

10m WSPR TX at 500mW (Monday)

As usual, I am on 10m WSPR TX again at 100%. Nobody has yet spotted me, although I have not been on long and this is not too surprising.

UPDATE 0853z: 1 spot so far today by DJ9PC (825km).

6m FT8 QRP (Monday)

Stations spotted
by 1033z

After a very brief TX period with 2.5W to the V2000 vertical (3 UK spots), I am RX only on 6m FT8. No spots yet. 

You get the feeling that, apart from a few dedicated stations, many are deserting 6m again now the main Es season is drawing to a close. Maybe there will be some Es spots later?

UPDATE 0857z: With 16 stations so far spotted this morning, there is clearly plenty of Es activity.

UPDATE 1549z:  40 stations spotted on RX today. 

Sunspots - Monday August 9th 2021

 Solar flux is 74 and the SSN 11. A=5 and K=1. 

10m FT8 QRP (Sunday)

Since about 1814z, I have been on 10m FT8 with 2.5W QRP. 

On RX, 21 stations were spotted and I have been spotted by 7 stations on TX. This looks like Es. Judging by activity levels it looks like many have assumed the Es season is over. 

This is where FT8 could be really worth monitoring.  Es openings may be less frequent, but when they occur they can be as good as in the peak Es season.  Having an FT8 (or WSPR) monitor on all the time could allow fleeting openings to be spotted.

Burwell Lode - NOT amateur radio

Burwell Lode runs from the River Cam to the village. They are man-made a bit like canals. The Lode to nearby Reach was built by the Romans about 2000 years ago. Reach was once an important port.  At one time they carried commercial traffic like coal, although these days it is mostly leisure traffic like canoes and narrowboats with hardly any commercial traffic.

10 years ago on 1.095kHz at 6km

Ten years ago I was on 1.095kHz earth-mode.

10m FT8 RX

Yesterday, in the early evening, I was on 10m FT8 RX. 36 stations were spotted including 1 South American. 

Sunspots - Sunday August 8th 2021

 Solar flux is 74 and the SSN 0. A=11 and K=2.

10FT8R PCB

Jason Woodman M0NYW has been working on a PCB for the 10FT8R. I have still to check the layout, but it looks easy to make. If you can find a low cost source of 14.037MHz crystals then the inductor to pull the crystal is probably not needed. As soon as I have checked the layout I shall share it here.