8m experiment (Saturday)

As usual, I am on 40.680 MHz USB dial QRP FT8.  Already spotted very strongly by EA3ERE (1153km) in northern Spain.

My usual pattern is to be on for about one hour. let the rig thoroughly cool and then come on again afterwards. It would seem Es allows modest QRP stations, like mine, to enjoy the fun.

It is now about 0931z.

UPDATE 1230:  Still just EA3ERE spotting me and nobody spotted here. Now QRT as the rig cools.

Sporadic-E (Es)

We are currently at the peak of the Es season in the northern hemisphere. Yesterday 14 stations spotted me on 10m WSPR TX. All these look like they were by Es. My reports on 8m FT8 also look like Es. By the end of the summer the Es season will be over.

The Es season usually lasts from April to August. The peak months are May, June and July. However Es can occur at any time. There is usually a much smaller peak just after Christmas. 

Sunspots - Saturday June 18th 2022

 Solar flux is 149 and the SSN 152. A=13 and K=3. 

Normality - NOT amateur radio

Every June a local village holds a Gilbert and Sullivan performance in a barn. With Covid-19, this was not possible, so this was the first production since 2019. It was great to return to normal. They did "The Mikado".

Young birds - NOT amateur radio

This is the season for nests and young birds. Yet again, we have some house sparrows nesting in our roof (they were there last year too) and we have dunnocks, robins, blackbirds, pigeons, collared doves and goldfinches nesting in our hedges or very nearby. There are probably others as well. This young thrush (I think) was being fed on our back lawn.

8m experiment (Friday)

 Later this morning, I expect to be on 8m QRP FT8 TX on 40.680 MHz USB dial (first).

UPDATE 1016z : No spots given or received. 

10m WSPR QRP TX (Friday)

Yesterday I was spotted by 22 stations on 10m WSPR despite only going on after 1600z.

Today I expect to be on again with 500mW from the W5OLF beacon.

UPDATE 1013z :  4 unique stations spotting me today so far.

Rallies

The following rallies are due to take place this weekend. As always, please check with the organisers before travelling any distance.

Saturday June 18th - Bangor and District ARS. Contact Andrew 07980846272. 

Sunday June 19th - East Suffolk Wireless Revival. Kevin 0771 0046846. 

Sunspots - Friday June 17th 2022

Solar flux is 147 and the SSN 159. A=12 and K=3. 

FY5KE 10m WSPR reports

 Some time ago I queried if my WSPR reports by FY5KE in South America were just by a European pirate. Yesterday I had an email and these reports look like they were genuine. I get these reports quite often.