Perseids Meteor Shower

This peaks early next week and it can lead to enhanced VHF conditions with signals reflected off ionised meteor trails. The peak is August 12/13th.

See https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/perseid-meteor-shower-guide-uk-when-where-to-see .

Oscar 100 Satellite

Every few weeks I try to assess the activity on the narrowband transponder of this satellite. The last time I looked was about 1845z on Friday, which is mid evening in Europe. 

Activity is still disappointing.

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/ 

Village cottage - NOT amateur radio

This cottage in our village has had its rendering removed to reveal its clunch (a kind of chalk) walls. Clunch was widely used locally.

European Es

As the year progresses, we will move out of the Es season and, hopefully, see some F2 openings. Last autumn I was spotted in the Caribbean on most days on 8m despite using 2.5W FT8 to a low dipole. 

If things progress as we can expect, there will be fewer Es openings.  Es does not "drop off a cliff", but openings will become smaller and less frequent. There will still be good days, but these will be less often.

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

Sunspots - Saturday August 10th

Solar flux is 306 and the SSN 382.  A=7 and K=2.

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Friday)

My 500mW 10m WSPR beacon was turned on at about 0740z. So far, 6 spots of my QRP beacon. These look like Es and F2. 

The furthermost is EA8BFK (2880km), which I think is F2.

UPDATE 0902z:  Spotted by 12 stations (see table).

UPDATE 1055z:  Spotted by 14 stations.

6m QRP FT8 (Friday)

My 6m QRP FT8 was turned on at about 0740z. So far, 5 spots of me including a couple that look like Es.

UPDATE 0907z:  Spotted by 16 stations 

UPDATE 1242z:  42 stations have spotted me  today.

UPDATE 1845z:  53 stations have spotted me (see map).

UPDATE  2016z:  56 stations have spotted my 6m QRP FT8 in the last day. Now QRT.

Earth-mode tests in 2011

One of my Facebook memories was an experiment in 2011 at a distance of 6km on 1095Hz using 5W.  Later I achieved even better results.

See https://sites.google.com/site/sub9khz/vlf-using-earth-mode .

Pre-dinner drinks - NOT amateur radio

Last evening our son came around for a meal. He cooked a duck in his oven that we shared. The photo shows us having a glass of wine 🍷 beforehand.

Sunspots - Friday August 9th

  Solar flux is 336 and the SSN 337. A=7 and K=1.