8m QRP FT8 (Saturday)

My 2.5W and the dipole have been on since shortly after breakfast. So far today, 2 Gs have spotted here. One is a local and the other I think was aircraft scatter.

UPDATE 1236z:  No further spots.

UPDATE 1825z:  A small Es opening (?) to Portugal.

UPDATE 2050z:  QRT. A better day on 8m than I was expecting.

Utter frustration - NOT amateur radio

Twice when out this week I have not been able to make people understand what I say because of my poor voice since my 2013 stroke. My wife is used to me and even she struggles. 

It is for this reason I do not join in casual conversations. Some can understand me, but clearly what comes out of my mouth is not what I want. Frustration!

Sunspots - Saturday September 9th 2023

Solar flux is 161 and SSN 123.  A=6 and K=1. 

EI7GL blog

This blog has not been updated since June 10th sadly.  I do not know why, but I for one miss it.

Late, late, show? - NOT amateur radio

This morning, I could not believe my ears and then eyes. 

At first I heard what sounded like swifts screaming, but saw nothing. Later, at the bus stop, I again heard screaming overhead again. Then I saw them. Quite unmistakable with their scythe like wings. 

It was probably a very late brood that had just left the nest. I saw 2, but there were probably more.  My wife also saw 2. 

Swifts normally migrate by mid August. These are the latest I have ever seen in the UK. They may be the latest ever seen in the whole county this year.

10m 500mW WSPR TX

There would appear to be no Es on 10m today. All these look like F2 propagation. My beacon has been on since breakfast.

Having a chat? - NOT amateur radio

It looks like these two are having a good old chat about something. Seen in St James' Park, London on Wednesday.

8m QRP FT8 (Friday)

Just local G4WSZ (12km) spotting my 2.5W FT8, which has been on since before breakfast.  At this time of year, my only real hope of DX spots is by aircraft reflection I guess

Sunspots - Friday September 8th 2023

 Solar flux is 161 and the SSN 135. A=6 and K=3. 

European Es

As mentioned before, the Es "season" in Europe is now over.  There will be occasional openings, but these will be far less common than some months ago. For example, I have been on all day on 10m WSPR TX with my 500mW TX beacon with just 1 spot that might have been Es. For a 2 minute TX period it is very unlikely to be MS. It could be F2 backscatter I suppose.

See https://www.tvcomm.co.uk/g7izu/radio-propagation-maps/europe-sporadic-e/ . A glance at this site shows the general absence of big, widespread, Es openings now. I guess FT8 would be better at catching brief openings as the TX period is far shorter.