Sunspots and 10m propagation - Mon April 13th 2015

Sunspot number today is a respectable 64 (K=2) and 10m propagation is expected to be "fair". So far this morning on 10m WSPR, my 500mW beacon has been spotted by local G4IKZ (18km) only, although it is still early. 

If the 10m band is in "fair" condition, I'd expect a few real DX spots, as long as there are active stations! At the moment (0934z) there are only 29 stations active on 10m WSPR in the whole world according to WSPRnet.  I really do hope people stick with 10m when the going gets tough. On 6m lack of WSPR activity has been a real killer. I am sure WSPR will be an excellent tool for finding short 10m openings.

As I have said before, even at the depths of the solar minimum I have worked South Americans (greater than 11000km away) with real QRP SSB. If there are to be 10m openings then WSPR will find them.

UPDATE 1114z:  Still only local G4IKZ (18km) spotting me on 10m WSPR this morning. I think we are seeing the effects of fewer active stations on 10m now and the end of springtime conditions. I have serious doubts we'll see any USA spots today on 10m WSPR. However this is 10m and anything is possible!

Cambridge Concert Reminder - NOT amateur radio

A reminder that there is a very fine concert on in Cambridge, UK, on the night of April 25th 2015, 7.30pm, at the West Road Concert Hall. This is a great venue with excellent acoustics. If you can come you will not be disappointed. Details are on the attached poster (click to enlarge). You can get tickets before the day (see website www.cambschoral.org.uk for details) or on the door.

10m Es already?

This lunchtime my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon was being spotted by stations in Austria and Italy.  As this is classic Es time (around lunch and teatime) I am wondering if this is Es (sporadic-E) propagation?

UPDATE 1448z:  I see that my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon has,also been copied by F5OWL (1110km) a couple of times. This make me thing we did have some 10m Es around lunchtime. Still no reports received today from outside Europe.

UPDATE 1734z:  Still no sign at all of any spots of me by USA stations. It is getting late now so the possibility is reducing. I was expecting to be copied in the USA today, but this is 10m and anything is possible!

6m WSPR this morning

Only local spots so far today, but some excellent reports from G4KPX (14km). Still hoping for some DX outside G soon. None yet seen.

6m WSPR (1W ERP) this morning

Another quiet start on 10m WSPR

All morning it has been pretty quiet on 10m WSPR with just a single spot from 4X4TAU (3564km) at 0958z. The remainder of spots have been from a local G. Certainly quieter than I expected today.

Sunspots and 10m - Sunday April 12th 2015

Sunspot number has climbed again to 74 (K=1) and 10m propagation is expected to be "fair" today. Early 10m spots were from local G's - G4IKZ (18km) and G4KPX (14km). I have the feeling 10m will open to the USA this afternoon.

US Masters (Augusta) - NOT amateur radio

As a teenager I played golf regularly (16 handicap at best) although it is many years since I played. My brother still plays regularly. Both my parents were keen golfers. Now, with my cerebellum brain bleed, these golfing days are probably gone forever.

This does not stop me enjoying the US Masters from Augusta on the BBC each April. The course is always perfect and the flowers around the course are a real joy. As I write this Justin Rose, England,  if he holds his nerve, is in 2nd place and still in with a real chance.

The final round is tomorrow - I shall be staying up to watch it.   The US Masters is one of the TV highlights of the year. I know my younger son, currently on holiday in Australia with his in-laws, will be watching it too, but over breakfast!

See http://www.masters.com/index.html .

6m "surprise" and 10m "no-show surprise"

First nice surprise was to be spotted on 6m WSPR by G3ZJO (79km) for what is the first time I think. He gave new -24dB S/N a few minutes ago.

Eddie has copied me on 472kHz and 500kHz. I think Eddie must have been working on his TX and RX set-up on several bands as he seems better with me on 472kHz and he is able to copy me on 472kHz despite my very low ERP. I am not sure what he is using on 6m but very pleased to be spotted by him on a new band.

UPDATE 1724z:   G3ZJO has spotted me 4 times so far on 6m but, at the moment, not a single spot received on 10m. The total absence of spots on 10m is the first time in years I have known the band so quiet.  Sadly, I suspect that outside of the Es season this could become the norm, especially if people leave the band for "richer waters" lower down the spectrum.  Today there are only about a third of 10m WSPR users compared with a few months ago.

UPDATE 1805z:  The latest spot from G3ZJO was -21dB S/N suggesting my signal is getting stronger with Eddie.

UPDATE 1924z:  Still no spots at all on 10m WSPR, so I suspect there will be none today at all.  On 6m, no further spots given or received since the 4 spots of my 1W ERP (vertical) by G3ZJO much earlier. Either Eddie has gone QRT on the 6m band or propagation has changed. I suspect the former.

6m spots by G3ZJO today

USA 10m WSPR spots??

Yet again, my 500mW 10m beacon is being copied by absolutely no-one in North America, or for that matter anywhere else at all!  Unless thinks improve I think this will be one of my worst days in months on 10m.  Of course, things could rapidly change on 10m and 6m, so definitely worthwhile sticking around longer on both bands awaiting some surprises.

Especially on 10m, I've found that whatever I forecast turns out to be rubbish!

Sunspots and 10m - April 11th 2015

Sunspot number is 34 today (K=4) and 10m propagation is expected to be "poor".

So far, on both 6m and 10m I have drawn a total blank with no-one copying me and me copying no-one too.