Sunspots - Monday August 21st 2017

Solar flux is 85 today (decent) and the sunspot number 44. A=22 and K=2. There is even a chance of some long distance F2 10m openings today, maybe South America on 10m?

Strength of Es signals

One thing that surprises many is just how strong some Es signals can be. For example, my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon was being spotted at +2dB S/N implying that even at microwatt level I could have been spotted. Also, my 10m antenna is a compromise and could be far better.

This is not always the case. Sometimes Es signals can be marginal. With WSPR everyone has a chance. It also works with much weaker signals than SSB or CW.

UK VLF earth-mode test

Jim G7NKS is testing on 8.9kHz with 300W earth-mode:

Hi All
I’m running a VLF test beacon on 8.9kc .  Ground loop electrode system.   35m long
Any spots welcome (if unlikely!) 
with best regards
Jim
Dr. Jim Cowburn G7NKS     IO92ub
Biggleswade  UK
Details on QRZ.com

Stone-curlews - NOT amateur radio

Thanks to a very kind man who pointed them out (otherwise I'd never have seen them!) I saw my first ever stone-curlews at Cavenham Heath on our walk this afternoon. The heather there was just amazing.

See https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/bird-and-wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/s/stonecurlew/ .

5MHz in Canada

According to Southgate News, Canada may end up with the 5MHz WRC15 allocation and the existing 5 domestic channels. At the moment they are consulting.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2017/august/canada-to-add-5-mhz-and-keep-five-existing-domestic-channels.htm#.WZmFEbpFzIU

Trump - NOT amateur radio

BBC TV had a professor of American Studies on this morning. He thought Trump was running the Presidency like a business and was using "The Apprentice" TV show as a model. "You're fired", seems to be the catch phrase for those around him with whom he falls out. This professor thought Trump would be out by June next year.

A lot in the USA did vote him in. Personally, this is more worrying. Did so many really think he would "make America great again"? As a clear outsider, I fail to see how the good ordinary citizen of the USA could be well represented by this man. Clinton was also far from perfect in many eyes.

As I said yesterday, we reap what we sow. Elections and referenda have serious consequences and it pays to think of the future, whether with US presidencies or EU "leave"/"remain" votes.

Sadly it appears many in the UK and USA believe the clocks can just be turned back to "the good old days". They cannot: we live in a very connected, multi-cultural world and we have to adjust, not be ostriches pretending otherwise. The USA is a trading nation and depends on the rest of the world. Isolationism is history - wake up!

10m WSPR TX

For several days now my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon is being spotted by Es. This morning it has been spotted in Germany already. Not as good as yesterday, but I am getting out and it is still very early for Es.

UPDATE 1247z: Up to now, 12 unique spots received of my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon with spots from as far apart as Italy and the Faroes. Another good Es day on 10m WSPR.

6m FT8

In the end, I remained on 6m FT8 RX overnight. This morning there is some Es about (Greece and Montenegro), but it is not as good as yesterday. Every time I look at 50.313MHz FT8, I seem to spot stations. Some are Gs by tropo or aircraft, but it rarely fails.

UPDATE 1718z: A truly amazing day on 6m FT8 RX again. In the end, there have already been more Es spots than yesterday! It is hard to believe this is a VHF band.

UPDATE 2140z: After yet another amazing day on 6m FT8 RX, I am now going QRT. V2000 vertical omni seems to work very well.

Stations spotted on 6m FT8 today

Oleg's report (QRP and QRP Club)

As usual, a report from Oleg:

Dear Club 72 members and friends,

Weekly Rendezvous and Parade (WRP) Report (August, 20, 2017)
Pay attention, please!
For  all  active  QRP  operators, for all Rendez-Vous and Micro Radio
Parade  Frequenters and Visitors, for all simplest radio constructors
and milliwatt operators - new "72" e-mail reflector and on-line group
created. To enter the "72" group send empty e-mail to address -
72+subscribe@groups.io
See the group on-line -
https://groups.io/g/72
Also visit page "QRP 14.060" in the Facebook

RV  Visitors of the week: UR7VT ON6KZ, RA1M, IZ4VSZ, IK2UZQ, F6ACV/p,
RV3UF,  UA1CEG,  UA0SBQ,  RV3GM,  Z35M, DJ0MEW, PA0WDW, EA6BB, G3XJS,
RW3DF,  SA2RFQ,  PA0PJE,  LY3G, HB9AGO, HA2NP, IK5SRE, SP5AGU, SP9MA,
RX3DOR,  EA2BD,  DK1HW,  UY1IF,  OM6TC, DL1HSI, F6EAZ, UR8QV, OH6NPV,
ON6WJ,  R2AJA,  G3JFS, OE5PGL, UA9MLY, US5QV, F5MAI, RU3NJC, R2FAE/p,
UA1CEX, US3EN, F3MB, UW5EKR, R1CAN
MRP  Visitors:  ON6KZ (0W3), IZ4VSZ (0W2), RV3GM (0W3), PA0PJE (0W1),
UY1IF (1W), US5QW (QRPp)
Welcome new Visitors -
IZ4VSZ, SA2RFQ, HB9AGO, HA2NP, IK5SRE, SP9MA, EA2BD, US5QW, F5MAI
Congrats!
LY3G, F6EAZ became Honor Frequenters (regular visitors)
See full Visitors and Frequenters lists on the Club 72 web page, please.
Comments...
see full version of the WRP Report including comments and pictures on
the blog - https://qrp-club72.blogspot.ru/
Thanks all for activity and comments!
See you on the next week RV and MRP

72! Oleg RV3GM / KH6OB "Mr. 72"


This is a periodic Newsletter of the Club 72. Don't reply to Newsletter address! Send any requests or news to mr72@club72.su please.

Sunspots - Sunday August 20th 2017

Solar flux is 88 today (not bad) and the sunspot number a respectable (for this part of the cycle) 33. A=-31 ad K=5 (high).