As I had received no new reports on 10m WSPR TX for nearly 2 hours and 6m JT65 looks like the best DX on RX was the Azores and Canary Is, I decided to go QRT.
No storms are forecast here but you never know. I should be back on tomorrow at breakfast time.
I noticed that ONs were calling KP4 earlier on 6m JT65, so there was some real DX around.
19 Jul 2017
BBC salaries - NOT amateur radio
The BBC was made to disclose (by the government) the salaries of their top stars and presenters. Quite a few earn more than £500k a year and some over £2M a year! Sorry, but I think this is insane and immoral: I am sure there are people who could do as good a job on much lower salaries. BBC? Big Bangs Corporation or Big Bonkers Corporation.
Remember we pay for these people with our licence fees. Shame!
Remember we pay for these people with our licence fees. Shame!
Crab Apples - NOT amateur radio
Solar conditions - improving?
On average, solar conditions have improved these last few months. In the longer term, we are definitely on the slide towards the next minimum, but there will always be days when things are far better than average.
Of course, there is no correlation between solar activity and Es (as far as I know). Certainly some great Es has been seen in periods of low sunspot activity. 10m, 6m and even 4m and 2m can suddenly spring into life with some quite remarkable signals. DX out to several thousand kilometres is not unheard of by Es on 10m and 6m.
In my experience just a few watts and simple antennas are all that are needed to work all over Europe on 10m and 6m from the UK in the Es season. As Es can occur (less often) at any time of year it is worth beaconing on 10m and 6m with WSPR or JT65 in the quieter months as people often just give up.
See http://www.solen.info/solar/ .
Of course, there is no correlation between solar activity and Es (as far as I know). Certainly some great Es has been seen in periods of low sunspot activity. 10m, 6m and even 4m and 2m can suddenly spring into life with some quite remarkable signals. DX out to several thousand kilometres is not unheard of by Es on 10m and 6m.
In my experience just a few watts and simple antennas are all that are needed to work all over Europe on 10m and 6m from the UK in the Es season. As Es can occur (less often) at any time of year it is worth beaconing on 10m and 6m with WSPR or JT65 in the quieter months as people often just give up.
See http://www.solen.info/solar/ .
10m WSPR
Today has been very fruitful on 10m WSPR with plenty of spots by Es of my 500mW beacon. OZ9QV (864km) has spotted me many times. All spots have been by Europeans by Es I think.
UPDATE 1522z: In past seasons I seem to recall more Es from Northern Europe later in the season. This may be incorrect, but perhaps the things that trigger Es are more common in Northern Europe later in the summer?
UPDATE 1522z: In past seasons I seem to recall more Es from Northern Europe later in the season. This may be incorrect, but perhaps the things that trigger Es are more common in Northern Europe later in the summer?
Pound to Euro exchange rate - NOT amateur radio
Some time ago I predicted that the UK Pound would strengthen against the Euro before then end of the year. At the moment it is weaker. Only time will tell.
My assumption was the Euro still has problems especially with Greece and fewer "rich" contributors once the UK leaves the EU. As I said before, I am no financial expert and may be totally wrong.
Most of the burden will be on France and Germany, both of whom want the EU to succeed. If Greece defaults Germany will be most hurt.
My assumption was the Euro still has problems especially with Greece and fewer "rich" contributors once the UK leaves the EU. As I said before, I am no financial expert and may be totally wrong.
Most of the burden will be on France and Germany, both of whom want the EU to succeed. If Greece defaults Germany will be most hurt.
6m JT65 - now RX only
For a while now, I have been on 6m JT65 but RX only. Earlier, I was also on TX and reached Austria and the UK.
Sunspots - Wednesday July 19th 2017
Solar flux is 78 today (down) and the sunspot number has returned to zero again. A=7 and K=1.
Storms over - for now
We had thunder, lightning and rain overnight, so I do hope my brown patched lawn starts to improve! I turned on 10m WSPR TX (500mW) and 6m JT65 at breakfast time. There seems to be plenty of Es to Eastern Europe on 6m. Plenty of early Es spots of my little beacon on 10m WSPR too (Italy and Germany).
18 Jul 2017
Storms coming
Looking at the weather, it seems likely we'll have thunder and lightning later, so everything will be turned off and disconnected later this evening. I am resisting as conditions on both 10m and 6m are so good currently.
See https://www.lightningmaps.org/blitzortung/europe/index.php?lang=en .
UPDATE 1937z: Most of the storms are still SW of London, so I think I'll leave things connected until dark. Most or all of the 10m WSPR spots stopped an hour ago here.
UPDATE 2015z: The storms are now reaching London. I reckon they will reach here in about 2-3 hours.
UPDATE 2125z: QRT and everything disconnected.
See https://www.lightningmaps.org/blitzortung/europe/index.php?lang=en .
UPDATE 1937z: Most of the storms are still SW of London, so I think I'll leave things connected until dark. Most or all of the 10m WSPR spots stopped an hour ago here.
UPDATE 2015z: The storms are now reaching London. I reckon they will reach here in about 2-3 hours.
UPDATE 2125z: QRT and everything disconnected.
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