At this time of year Japan is regularly worked from Europe on 6m. This year was no exception. Even with my V2000 vertical, JA7QVI (9273km) was spotted here. I suspect my V2000 and 2.5W is not enough! So far, all my six 6m spots are of G stations working JAs.
These openings are linked to the formation of noctilucent clouds in the mesosphere.
See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/vhfuhfmicrowaves/super-dx .
UPDATE 0951z: 8 spots of me so far, all Gs.
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| Stations spotted today on 6m FT8 RX |
This is a very good transceiver, scoring very highly on the Sherwood tests. However, I missed 2m and 70cm and found 4m a disappointment. In the end, I went back to the ICOM IC-705 that better matched my needs.
It is my view that Yaesu has lost its way in the amateur radio market. They are capable of making some excellent products, but need to get a grip before it is too late. In my professional life, I saw signs. Yaesu has them all. Let's hope I am very very wrong. I like Yaesu.
See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/commercial-rigs/yaesu-ft-710 .
As I write, it is 1508z. So far today, European Es has been almost non-existent. I caught a very brief 10m Es opening to the south of France just after lunch, but nothing else. Perhaps things will magically improve?
See https://www.tvcomm.co.uk/g7izu/radio-propagation-maps/europe-sporadic-e/ .
UPDATE 2120z: QRT and no more Es.
Some days ago I posted that my cousin had died of jaw cancer after his only child died in the last year. She died childless, so the widow is all alone.
My faith was weak before, but this has had a profound effect on me. What faith I had has been shattered. I guess I am hoping for some sort of "eureka" moment, but right now it is hard to see anything good in this situation.
One could be forgiven for thinking life can be cruel and random. I would like to see some good in this, but I cannot.
Sunday July 23rd - Finningley ARC Car Boot Style rally. Sandtoft, Doncaster DN8 5SX. See http://www.g0ghk.com
My gear (2.5W to the V2000 vertical omni antenna) was turned on at about 1324z. So far just spotted by 7 G stations with no Es.
Stations spotting my 6m QRP FT8 today
UPDATE 1923z: What a pathetic day! In the end I was just spotted by 8 G stations with no Es.
My 500mW 10m WSPR beacon was turned on about 1324z. So far, no spots.
UPDATE 1925z: Just 3 spots by F1JSC (1010km) alone. Today has been very poor for Es in Europe.
One of the benefits of being old is you get a free bus pass. It is now quicker to get into Cambridge by bus than driving and taking the "park and ride" bus.
Also, one of the John Lewis rewards this month is 2 free hot drinks.
So later were are off to Cambridge by bus (free) and 2 cups of coffee (free) . And the weather looks good.
I keep forgetting that I can use my 10m W5OLF 500mW TX WSPR beacon if the 10m antenna is not in use. At the moment just G4KPX (14km) spotting me. At least I know I am getting out!
As my 8m system is currently out of action, I am again on 6m FT8. So far today 14 stations have spotted using my 2.5W to the V2000 vertical omni antenna with the furthermost US2YW (1864km) in Ukraine. On 6m FT8 RX 4 stations spotted. There would appear to be far more people monitoring 6m than actually TXing.
Mine was built ugly style, but worked well. It would make a great club project for a winter evening on a PCB. It would surprise me if it cost you more than a few cups of coffee out.
See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/10ft8r-rx.
We had a companion for lunch: a robin that came to our table and, at times, was just a few inches away. I am sure it would have eaten out of my hand given more time. As it was, it had some of my wife's cheese scone when she was not looking!
My gear (2.5W to the V2000 vertical omni) was turned on at 0741z. So far (at 0757z) just spots by 5 Gs and no Es. On 6m FT8 RX 3 Gs near Birmingham spotted.
UPDATE 0816z: Spotted a station in Ukraine on RX. He has also spotted me on QRP TX. Must be some Es about ,even though it did not look too great. See https://www.tvcomm.co.uk/g7izu/radio-propagation-maps/europe-sporadic-e/.
UPDATE 1126z: 24 spots of my 6m QRP FT8 and 21 stations have been spotted here on RX. Plenty of Es.
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| Stations spotting me at 1306z |
As in many countries, the high rate of inflation, higher fuel costs and higher interest rates are fuelling a round of strikes by people who are finding the cost of living too high. I am not sure of the answer, but remember the painful days of high inflation in the last century.
