Sunspots - Tuesday July 30th

 Solar flux is 223 and the SSN 211.  A=6 and K=4.

Mallow - NOT amateur radio

We have mallow growing in our garden. 

It looks great at the moment.

Scandinavian Es puzzle

In the past I have mentioned a phenomenon that could be pure coincidence or some Es mechanism not understood. 

Later in the Es season I seem to get more northerly Es openings, particularly towards Scandinavia. There are still plenty of stations from other directions, but stations in Norway, Sweden, Scotland and Finland seem far more noticeable than earlier in the Es season. I have noticed this over several summers.

As I have said, this could be nothing, but I don't think so. 

"Theories on a postcard" please as they say!

Optical DXing over the horizon

Some years ago, when I was fitter, I really used to enjoy going out in the car to experiment with non line-of-sight optical beaconing. I would set up my beacon at 481THz on my windowsill indoors and see if I could copy it over the horizon. Sadly my stroke ended these tests.  

The photo shows my beacon, that was connected to 100mm drain pipe and a Poundland lens.  The LED was bought off eBay. Latterly I bought some much brighter Phlatlights, but I never got around to using them before fate intervened.

I was always amazed how well my tiny signal was copied over the horizon. I presume this was clear air scattering as there were no clouds.

Solar cycle 25 peak?

My favourite site for solar data pushed into this year the peak of solar cycle 25. It was November 2023 for some time. I am wondering if this has to be adjusted yet again, based on the high solar activity this month? They take an average so the peak is always some months ahead of the month with the highest numbers.

See https://www.solen.info/solar/ .

European Es - promising?

After very good Es yesterday, things look quite promising today. Even though it is still early, there are quite a few spots even on the VHF bands like 4m.

See https://www.tvcomm.co.uk/g7izu/radio-propagation-maps/europe-sporadic-e/ . 

UPDATE 1305z:  At the moment, Es in Europe looks at least as good as yesterday. See map.

Salcombe: last century - NOT amateur radio

This was where I lived as a young child. This photo was sometime in the last century.

10m 500mW WSPR TX

 Although my 10m QRP WSPR beacon has been on since before breakfast, no reports have been received.

UPDATE 1257z:  No spots of my 500mW 10m WSPR. I am quite surprised.

6m QRP FT8 (Monday)

 

Stations spotting me
on 6m FT8 today

My 6m QRP FT8 is on. So far, 19 stations have spotted me. See map.  This looks like Es.

UPDATE 1026z: Spotted by 29 stations. One QSO was with an Italian.

Stations spotted here
today on 6m FT8

UPDATE 1251z:  130 stations spotted here on 6m FT8 today.

UPDATE 2109z:   44 stations have spotted me.

Monday plans

 At the moment I plan to go on 6m QRP FT8 and QRP 10m WSPR.

I can’t imagine European Es being as good as yesterday.