Sporadic-E (Es)

 In the late spring and early summer we get sporadic-E in the northern hemisphere. Bands it most impacts are 10m-4m with occasional openings on Band 2 FM and rarely on 2m.

When Es is good there are widespread, strong openings and, QRM allowing, only really low power is needed. Indeed last year I was spotted across Europe on many occasions on 6m FT8 with less than 10mW ERP.

It usually starts in early May and disappears around early August, with the best months being May and June. Occasionally multi-hop or chordal hop Es can cover astounding distances, which is one reason 6m is called "the magic band".  Many years ago I recall working the USA with QRP one summer on 6m CW

Es can occur at any time of year but is best in late spring and early summer.

UK National Health Service - NOT amateur radio

Since 1948, the UK has had a health service free at the point of delivery. 12 years ago I had a stroke and was hospitalised for 3.5 months and the care was very good.

However, I am aware of many inefficiencies. Things (hopefully!) have improved. It appeared that the same information was asked for again and again. I am aware of a neighbour that cancelled a hospital appointment weeks in advance and yet an ambulance came to pick up the patient!  It was as if the right hand did not know what the left was doing. Things were not joined up! 

This very morning my wife tried to phone a local hospital multiple times to cancel an appointment. She gave up.

You are left with the impression that this is a totally inefficient service that must waste millions each year. I am sure the doctors, nurses and support staff are overworked and underpaid and this is part (but not all) of the problem.

In my view the UK National Health Service wants looking at anew and made fit for the nations in the years ahead. 

We like our NHS, but like all organisations, it has to work well. Also the social care service is poor, yet every government seems to "kick the can down the road" rather than fixing it.

6m 5W FT8 (Tuesday)

My IC-705 was turned on at about 0755z. Already spotted by 36 stations this morning.

UPDATE 1237z:  Spotted by 193 stations, mostly I presume by Es.  See map.

UPDATE 1727z:  Spotted by 222 stations today. A very good 6m Es day.

10m QRP WSPR (Tuesday)

 My 500mW beacon was turned on at about 0755z. 6 stations spotting me via Es already.

UPDATE 1100z: 26 stations have spotted me. Furthest is Namibia.

Goodbye 8m

My 8m TX permit expires soon.

As it would cost me £50 annually to continue my research and the RSGB, OFCOM and others seem so against (not even neutral) even a small band, I have taken down my 8m dipole and have no intention of carrying on. Sad. 

As I have said many, many times, the best time for research would have been around the solar peak, which has passed. Instead I am concentrating on 6m and 10m.

Life is too short to battle on. 

I hope in the end we will see a very tiny allocation at 8m, but I can't see this happening soon. If it does come about, I shall return to 8m.

Sunspots - Tuesday May 27th

 Solar flux is 133 and the SSN 113. A=8 and K=2.

Internet archive - NOT amateur radio

In looking for something else I came across the Wayback Machine. This is a vast resource of old internet material. 

Just one example is this broadcast by Lord Haw Haw from Germany to England during WW2.

Can AI be conscious? - NOT amateur radio

Human consciousness is a real puzzle.  We are aware of ourselves but do not know how.  

Some think AI can be conscious. If true, this makes world religions even more of a puzzle. Some religions believe that something that makes us "us" continues after our bodies dies.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0k3700zljjo .

6m QRP FT8 (Monday)

Stations spotting
me this morning

My 5W FT8 was turned on after breakfast.

UPDATE 1027z: 24 stations have spotted me this morning with the furthest Switzerland.

UPDATE 1241z: 46 stations have spotted me today.

UPDATE 1842z: 94 stations have spotted my 5W 6m FT8 today. All were European.

10m 500mW WSPR (Monday)

My QRP beacon has been on since just after breakfast

UPDATE 1739z:  14 stations spotting me.  Furthest is the German research base in Antarctica.