Sunspots- Tuesday September 3rd

 Solar flux is 238 and the SSN 200. A=8 and K=1.

European Es

Outside the peak season, Es is less frequent. Take today for example: it looks like there is some Es mainly eastern Europe, but it is mainly on bands like 10m.

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

New QRP book

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the G-QRP Club, they have brought out a new book available from the RSGB bookshop entitled “50 Years of G-QRP”. As the title suggests, it is a collection of the best articles in the club quarterly magazine. SPRAT.

I am biased, but I still think SPRAT is the best amateur magazine. It comes out quarterly and is filled with simple projects. It’s a full colour A5 magazine. I think it is entirely run by volunteers and nobody is paid.

As I have said many times before, it would be the very last magazine to go if I was pushed.

See https://www.gqrp.com/.

Solar Peak

My favourite site of solar data has just updated. as it usually does early in the month. 

It looks like the peak of the solar cycle has been pushed well into 2024. It depends how the smoothing is done exactly when the peak is marked. Clearly we will not know the smoothed date until some time later.

Sunspots - Monday September 2nd

 Solar flux is 226 and the SSN 156. A=16 and K=2.

10m 500mW WSPR (Sunday)

Although my QRP 10m WSPR beacon has been on for hours, no spots.

UPDATE 1720z:  No spots all day. QRT soon.

6m QRP FT8 (Sunday)

My 2.5W FT8 to the V2000 omni antenna has been spotted by 21 stations. See map. 

As mentioned before, DX is till to be had. I assume the stations in southern Europe are by Es, but I suppose they could be via F2 back scatter. I suppose some could even be tropo.

UPDATE 1515z: Spotted by 26 stations.

UPDATE 1719z: Spotted by 27 stations. QRT soon.

Michael Rainey AA1TJ

It is some time since I heard news of Michael. That’s the trouble with the internet and social media: people just disappear and you are not sure why. Some people move to different social media, some have become ill or died, have dementia or something else. The trouble is you just realise they are not there, often months later.

Sunspots - Sunday September 1st

 Solar flux is 232 and the SSN 180. A=26 and K=3.

900 MHz band in the USA

Apparently, the main user of this band over there is proposing a major change of use that could negatively impact secondary users like amateur radio. 

ARRL is trying to oppose the changes. 

Not being in the USA I have no idea how active the band is.