Es (sporadic E)

July usually marks the end of the main Es season in the northern hemisphere, although Es can occur at any time. Usually the peak months are May, June and July. Some remarkable distances have been spanned on 6m, although I still believe many of these long paths are some sort of chordal E propagation, not involving multiple hops. These very long openings are too frequent for multiple hop Es to be probable. Yes, this may occur on occasions, but I am convinced there is some other mechanism. 

One thing I have learnt is experts are frequently wrong! Often they parrot myths that are just not true that they heard years ago. 

Garden rose - NOT amateur radio

 

This rose was seen recently. 

ISM band access licence free?

The ISM bands were agreed internationally so that things like microwave ovens could use spectrum without the need for a licence. 

In different administrations the rules vary, but they may allow access at very low power for serious experimenters and without the need for a licence. It is possible that WSPR or FT8 could legally be sent in the ISM bands without a licence. Callsigns are arbitrary. 

Please check what the rules are in your country. It may be a way of many gaining legal access to bands like 8m for serious experimenters. 

Chuckle time - NOT amateur radio

This cartoon appeared on Facebook a few days ago. It made me chuckle. 

Sunspots - Friday July 22nd 2022

 Solar flux is 122 and the SSN 124. A=22 and K=3.

Rally

The following rally should be on this Sunday. Always check before travelling far.

Sunday July 24th  - Finningley ARS Rally near Doncaster. www.g0ghk.com .

10m QRP WSPR TX (Thursday)

There seems to be plenty of 10m Es this morning with my 500mW beacon being widely copied in Europe.

UPDATE 1004z:  24 unique stations have already spotted my QRP 10m WSPR.

8m experiment (Thursday)

As the storm risk seems to have passed for now, I am again on 40.680 MHz USB dial QRP FT8 TX. So far, spotted by HC02 (1808km) in Portugal. Es seems to be good today.

On the 8m IO group, there has been some discussion about legally transmitting in the ISM band without a special permit. This may be legal at low power in some places. If this is the case, many more people could legally use FT8 and WSPR on the 8m band. You may have to create a special callsign for things like PSKreporter or WSPRnet.  It is definitely worth checking if you can operate a "telemetry" beacon legally on 8m.

UPDATE 1223z:  3 stations have spotted me today so far on 8m FT8 TX. 

Sunspots - Thursday July 21st 2022

Solar flux is 133 and the SSN 129. A=7 and K=2.

My free PDF book - nearly ready

Today I added a few photos, the page numbers and page footers. It is 94 pages long. When I have indexed all the pages and proof read it for silly mistakes, it should be ready. This should be in the next few days.

It is as much about my legacy as anything else, so I cannot, and do not, want to charge anything. When I was fitter, experimenting and building gave me a lot of fun. All I want is you to have as much fun. My legacy would be if this collection gave you some inspiration.

As I find mistakes or add things I expect to keep the same link address, but it will always go to the latest version.

8m experiment (Wednesday)

Because of the thunderstorm risk, I have decided against any transmissions or reception on 8m FT8 today. Everything is still disconnected. 

The storms are still over northern France at the moment, but I am taking no chances, especially as I am likely to be out after lunch.

My usual pattern during the Es season has been to go on 8m FT8 and 10m WSPR TX.

OFCOM and broadcasts intended to be short range or temporary

OFCOM is proposing to change the frequencies for broadcasts intended to be short range or temporary use such as radios at shows or in hospital. The hope is more frequencies can be made available.

See the OFCOM website for details. 

Oscar 100 - what a waste!!

Every few weeks I give an update about activity on the geosynchronous satellite Oscar 100. OK, my last peek was in a weekday mid-morning in Europe. There was nobody on!  Nobody!! OK I may have been unlucky, but this follows a pattern.

Oscar 100 is seriously underused. Judging by this experience I cannot seeing people rushing to launch another!

See  https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/ .

Thunderstorms - NOT amateur radio

Last night we had a brief thunderstorm. More could happen later today. All my appliances and antennas remain disconnected. 

See https://www.lightningmaps.org/ .

Sunspots - Wednesday July 20th 2022

Solar flux is 144 and the SSN 114.  A=26 and K=2.

10m QRP FT8

 

Since before breakfast I have been on 10m FT8. Lots of spots already on TX and RX. 

Sunspots - Tuesday July 19th 2022

Solar flux is 152 and the SSN 125. A=8 and K=3.

Russia and Google - NOT amateur radio

The BBC reports that Russia has fined Google for spreading "fake news" about the "special operation" in Ukraine. Outside Russia it is called war, although by tight control of the media, most Russians are unaware.

I am puzzled why Russia is carrying out such aggression against people who (were) so close. It is clear that most in Ukraine hate Russia now and Mr Putin has even more countries now wanting to join NATO. Such aggression has no place in the 21st century.

Why?

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-62214564 .

10m FT8 QRP - like a different band?

For the last few minutes. I have been on 10m FT8 QRP with the FT817. It is like a different band. Already, I have been spotted by 19 stations. On RX several South Americans spotted.

UPDATE 1945z: Spotted by 24 stations so far on 10m FT8 QRP.  All these were in Europe apart from 1 in Israel. No spots from South America.  Although there is a "hard core" of 10m WSPR monitors, one gets the feeling most are now using FT8.

Early morning walk - NOT amateur radio

Today is expected to be very hot today with UK weather records being broken, so we did an early walk.  It is currently late morning and it is already 31C. Our lawns are dry and brown.