Sunspots and 10m - Saturday June 3rd 2017

Solar flux is 77 today and the sunspot number 19. A=5 and K=1.

6m JT65

One correspondent tells me 6m JT65 stations on the west coast of the USA were able to work Europeans on 6m yesterday. Although there is some Es around today, conditions here are nothing like they were yesterday. I am active on 6m JT65, but so far most spots are Gs with a few EU stations.

UPDATE 1128z: Best DX spot today on 6m JT65 TX, so far, is LA1BFA (1331km).

10m WSPR TX

Once again I have my 500mW WSPR beacon TXing on 10m. As yet, no spots. Yesterday by this time I had been copied all over Europe by Es.

Rallies on Sunday

4 JUNE 2017 : SPALDING & DARS ANNUAL RALLY
The Sir John Gleed Technology School, Halmer Gardens, Spalding, Lincs PE11 2EF. There is free car parking on site. Doors open at 10am. There will be trade stands, an outside car boot area and there is catering on site. Details from John G4NBR 0794 630 2815 or Graham, G8NWC 0775 461 9701 or email rally-secretary@sdars.org.uk www.sdars.org.uk

4 JUNE 2017 : 21st RED ROSE QRP FESTIVAL
The Rose Centre (Lowton Civic Hall), Hesketh Meadow Lane, Lowton, Warrington WA3 2AH There is easy access from all directions M6, M61, M60 and A580. The venue has a large spacious halls at ground level with free car parking. There are disabled facilities. Doors open from 11am to 3pm and admission is £2 with children under 14 free. There will be trade and individual stalls as well as Club stands, including the RSGB and GQRP. There will be a Bring & Buy. Catering is available on site. Some tables are available at £8 but please book early. Contact Les Jackson, G4HZJ by email to g4hzj@ntlworld.com or 01942 870 634.

A list of rallies can be found at http://rsgb.org/main/news/rallies/

Storms and 6m

Today has been the best day this Es season here on 6m, so I am keen to stay on this evening. Storms are currently to the east, so I'll remain on until bedtime, but ready to disconnect plugs at any time.

See https://www.lightningmaps.org/?lang=en#y=52.2238;x=-3.0297;z=6;t=3;m=sat;r=0;s=0;o=0;b=0.00;n=0;d=2;dl=2;dc=0;

UPDATE 2100z: Still active on 10m WSPR TX and 6m JT65 transceive, but no transatlantic spots.

Close run? - NOT amateur radio

The UK General Election could be much closer than was expected. Of course, pollsters may be very wrong, but Labour seem to be doing much better than was expected. On the day what matters is who decides to vote.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2017-39856354 .

Sunspots and 10m - Friday June 2nd 2017

Solar flux is 81 today and the sunspot number 18. A=7 and K=1.

Conditions on 10m are good by Es and 6m conditions (Es?) seem exceptional (see earlier post).

10m WSPR TX

All morning, I have been on 10m WSPR TX (500mW, 100%). My signal is being widely received across Europe.

UPDATE 1455z: 34 unique spots of my 10m WSPR. All were in Europe.

6m JT65 - amazing conditions

Just spotted 7A4TOI (13582km) in Indonesia on 6m VHF!! This is the greatest distance I have ever received on a VHF band. Extraordinary long path - Es?  My own 1W ERP 6m JT65 signal was copied in Israel earlier by 4Z5ML (3571km).  Conditions on 6m seem extraordinary today.

UPDATE 1100z: At one time receiving Qatar and Asiatic Russia (5210km) would have seemed exceptional on 6m - both copied this morning on my poor antenna. Now I expect anything!

UPDATE 1600z: Today, 6m JT65 has been more like 20m with lots and lots of spots of my 1W ERP signal. I hope we see transatlantic DX this evening. It may not happen, but after today it is anyone's guess.

General Election in the UK - NOT amateur radio

We have a General Election in the UK next week. At the beginning of the campaign, the pundits were talking of a landslide victory for the ruling Conservative Party. Now, in the last week, things are much closer. Last time the experts were wrong. It will be interesting to see who is right.

Personally, I think we have a real lack of good leaders in all main parties. What we need is a "centre ground" party with strong, charismatic leadership. There is little to chose between the three main parties: the right of the Labour Party is very similar to the left of the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats are somewhere there too. Not one of these parties has what I'd call a good leader.