27 Jun 2023

Es skip

Usually, Es skip is about 1000km. Recently, there has been some very short skip and some incredible reports. Today, for example, I have had some very strong 10m WSPR spots in the Netherlands and Germany. Yesterday I was spotted in Eire on FT8. I do not think this was aircraft. 

365project - NOT amateur radio

As mentioned before, for about 10 years I have taken part in 365project. The idea is to post a picture every day. Unless you are an ace member it is totally free. 

This photo was posted today by a friend in the Shetland Isles, which is the most northerly part of the British Isles. 

See https://365project.org/lifeat60degrees/365/2023-06-26 .

Yet more Google crappery - NOT amateur radio

 I am sure they mean well, but I have just received this:

"We are contacting to inform you of a change to our Google Publisher Policies. To continue to ensure the integrity of the ads ecosystem, we have amended our language to allow IP addresses to be used for the purpose of fraud detection."

As I said, yet more "crappery".  What the heck is an "ads ecosystem"?

Plain English please.

10m 500mW WSPR (Tuesday)

My 500mW beacon has been on for about an hour. Already spotted by 10 unique stations at 0947z.

UPDATE 1302z:  50 unique stations have spotted my QRP. Really good.  Most look like Es.

UPDATE 2136z:  58 unique stations have spotted me today on 10m QRP WSPR. I think this is a record number.

8m QRP FT8 (Tuesday)

After about an hour, 2 spots of my 2.5W 8m FT8 from Poland already. Es seems quite good today.

UPDATE 1637z:  Spotted by 8 stations today so far on QRP 8m FT8. A good day.

10m QRP WSPR TX (Monday)

Since just after lunch my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon has been on. It has been widely copied across Europe and in the Canary Islands. 

8m update

Yesterday my 2.5W 8m FT8 was spotted by 6 stations across Europe.

I gather ZF is getting an 8m band permanently. They also have 4m for a year. 

Come on OFCOM (and RSGB) and the FCC get into the 21st century. Slowly, more and more countries are getting 8m allocations rather than just saying "no".  Their attitude seems stupid. 

Sunspots - Tuesday June 27th 2023

Solar flux is 158 and the SSN 158. A=11 and K=2. 

26 Jun 2023

8m QRP FT8 (Monday)

Much of the afternoon, I have been on 8m FT8. Quite a good session with spots of me from Eire and Poland. 

Plans for today (Monday)

After lunch, I expect to be on 10m QRP WSPR TX and 8m QRP FT8. At the moment, European Es does not look great.