Es season

The Es season is well with us again. The usual sport is working loads of short skip on VHF. 

Later in the season people get excited by far more distant E layer propagation such as across the Atlantic.

Often DX may be worked with really low power . Signals can be fleeting but strong and often quite localised.

When I first came to Cambridge I recall hearing 2m AM signals from Italy as strong as locals.

UPDATE 0914z: It looks like 2m Es in Eastern Europe. Today, I may try 2m 3W FT8 rather than 6m FT8.

Es in full swing

This morning, I am on 10m 3W FT8. It is clear, with lots of spots on TX and RX, that the Es season is well underway.

UPDATE 1640z:  184 stations spotted here on RX and I have been spotted by 112 stations.

Es (sporadic E) - not yet?

In the northern hemisphere Es usually brings good short skip on 10m, 6m and 4m. Occasionally it even reaches 2m, but this is rare.

At the moment it doesn't seem to have properly arrived. I guess it might appear sporadically, but the main months are May, June and July. 

If we are lucky far further is possible by chordal or multi-hop E layer propagation or Es linking with F2 further south.

Es yet?

Today there were a couple of southern European stations spotted on 10m FT8. 

It is about now that Es (sporadic E) starts to happen in the northern hemisphere. I guess they could have been all sorts of modes.

In the next few months we can expect lots of stations via Es short skip in the northern hemisphere. At times far further is possible via E layer, either by multi-hop or chordal hop.

What propagation mode?

When we see short-skip on 6m into Europe we often associate this with Es.  But we are near the top if the solar cycle and we often see short-skip into Europe on lower frequencies like 20m, even in the quiet years. 

Now, I am no expert on propagation and wonder what mode of propagation many of these spots are? I presume Es, but maybe I am wrong? 50MHz seems too high for F2.

6m QRP FT8 yesterday

With 103 stations spotting me yesterday I think we can safely say that the Es season is still with us. 6m was filled with European stations . 

The season will end …but not yet!!

End of Es season?

Today was very quiet here on 10m WSPR and 6m FT8 with very few Europeans spotting me. 

The impression is we are coming to the end of the Es "season". There may still be good days but these will become less often and less widespread. Es is always fun whilst it lasts.

Es in August

 Although I cannot be sure, recent spots on 10m QRP WSPR and 6m QRP FT8 look like Es. 

In many ways, this has been as good as at any time this season. The usual pattern is Es diminishes about now with a small peak for some reason in December/January.

I just wonder if Es is somehow related to global warming? 

Certainly the very long 6m paths to the Far East from Europe linked to  mesospheric clouds are more common. 

The Es season

In the northern hemisphere the Es season is drawing to an end. The main season usually runs until about now. 

Although Es may occur at any time, it is most common in early summer. My recommendation is to "stick with it" on 6m and 10m Es to expect the unexpected.

UPDATE 0808z: Still plenty of Es I think.

The Es season

In the Northern Hemisphere this usually peaks in May, June and July. It often goes on longer, but less often. Bands most affected are 10m and 6m, although less often it can extend to 4m, Band II FM and even 2m.

The sad thing is outside the Es season, these bands may be deserted for hours on end. With modes like FT4 and FT8 it is much more likely that short openings will be caught. Peaks in propagation may be very short.

It is worth reminding people that Es can occur at any time.

10m 500mW WSPR (Wednesday)

 

My beacon has been on all morning. 9 stations have spotted me, presumably Es.

UPDATE 1713z:   23 stations have spotted me with the furthest ZD7GB (7611km).

Sporadic-E (Es)

 A reminder that this is the best time of year in the northern hemisphere for this kind of propagation. It frequently affects 10m and 6m, sometimes 4m and Band II FM and occasionally 2m and even higher on VHF. Signals can be very strong. 

It is not unheard of for Es to link with other modes meaning far greater distances are possible. I am also a believer in chordal hop E layer propagation, which I believe is responsible for some, not all. very long paths.

See https://www.tvcomm.co.uk/g7izu/radio-propagation-maps/europe-sporadic-e/ .

Es reminder

In the northern hemisphere, we are now in the peak Es season. If you want a quick look at how well Es is doing in Europe look at the Es map. 

Sporadic-E (Es)

 In the late spring and early summer we get sporadic-E in the northern hemisphere. Bands it most impacts are 10m-4m with occasional openings on Band 2 FM and rarely on 2m.

When Es is good there are widespread, strong openings and, QRM allowing, only really low power is needed. Indeed last year I was spotted across Europe on many occasions on 6m FT8 with less than 10mW ERP.

It usually starts in early May and disappears around early August, with the best months being May and June. Occasionally multi-hop or chordal hop Es can cover astounding distances, which is one reason 6m is called "the magic band".  Many years ago I recall working the USA with QRP one summer on 6m CW

Es can occur at any time of year but is best in late spring and early summer.

Mid winter Es

Don’t ask me why as I don’t know the answer, but there’s a small Es peak in the northern hemisphere around now so it is worth keeping an eye on 6m . I suppose this could link up with F2 propagation further south to result in some spectacular DX on 6m.

Openings to Eastern Europe?

It looks like there are openings to Eastern Europe on 10m and 6m from Western Europe. I am hoping there is some activity on 8m and that it spreads further west.

See https://www.tvcomm.co.uk/g7izu/radio-propagation-maps/europe-sporadic-e/ .

Es or F2 or F2 backscatter?

Today, my QRP 6m FT8 has been widely copied in SE and central Europe. At the last count, 89 stations had spotted me. Now Es can occur at any time of year, but I wonder if these spots are related to F2 propagation?

I am definitely not a propagation expert, so would appreciate your thoughts.

The latest Es map suggests it is Es. See https://www.tvcomm.co.uk/g7izu/radio-propagation-maps/europe-sporadic-e/ .

European Es

Outside the peak season, Es is less frequent. Take today for example: it looks like there is some Es mainly eastern Europe, but it is mainly on bands like 10m.

See https://www.tvcomm.co.uk/g7izu/radio-propagation-maps/europe-sporadic-e/ ,

European Es

As the year progresses, we will move out of the Es season and, hopefully, see some F2 openings. Last autumn I was spotted in the Caribbean on most days on 8m despite using 2.5W FT8 to a low dipole. 

If things progress as we can expect, there will be fewer Es openings.  Es does not "drop off a cliff", but openings will become smaller and less frequent. There will still be good days, but these will be less often.

See https://www.tvcomm.co.uk/g7izu/radio-propagation-maps/europe-sporadic-e/ .

European Es (or is it F2?) - Tuesday

It looks like 6m is open to Eastern Europe. Many (or all) of these reports are probably Es, although some could be F2.

See https://www.tvcomm.co.uk/g7izu/radio-propagation-maps/europe-sporadic-e/ .