At the moment it looks like 10m is now quiet with just locals and the odd European. There seems to be a total lack of North Americans now on the band. I'll be monitoring for a few hours more and things may yet change. 10m has a habit of throwing surprises.
UPDATE 2045z: Yep, surprises! Just been spotted on 10m WSPR by three north eastern USA stations. As I half expected, just when the band seems "closed" it opens again to the USA. 10m is indeed a band of surprises!
28 Sept 2014
Long sunny days no more? Until next year.
As the nights get longer and the days get shorter in the Northern Hemisphere, it is useful to know when the sun rises and sets. A useful UK reference is http://astro.ukho.gov.uk/nao/miscellanea/UK_SRSS/.
It amazes me that we are half way already to the shortest day! I don't want to wish my life away, but I always welcome the time when the days start to lengthen again. Even more, I welcome the return of migrant birds from Africa in April such as Swallows, House Martins and Swifts.
It amazes me that we are half way already to the shortest day! I don't want to wish my life away, but I always welcome the time when the days start to lengthen again. Even more, I welcome the return of migrant birds from Africa in April such as Swallows, House Martins and Swifts.
10m WSPR active stations
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| Active 10m WSPR stations |
Note the total absence of stations from South America! This make it look like the band is closed in that direction, which I am sure is not the case.
10m WSPR - plenty of DX about
10m has (again) been good today with plenty of USA station spotted and spotting me. Also, as of 1633z FR1GZ has now spotted me 7 times so far.
UPDATE 1840z: WG2Z (5600km) was still being spotted here at 1826z, but at present there is a shortage of South Americans on 10m WSPR. This, I think, is a lack of active 10m WSPR stations rather than poor conditions. No doubt other modes like PSK31 and JT65 may be "humming" with South Americans! Europeans seem plentiful with several 10m WSPR stations logged presumably Es or F2 backscatter.
UPDATE 1840z: WG2Z (5600km) was still being spotted here at 1826z, but at present there is a shortage of South Americans on 10m WSPR. This, I think, is a lack of active 10m WSPR stations rather than poor conditions. No doubt other modes like PSK31 and JT65 may be "humming" with South Americans! Europeans seem plentiful with several 10m WSPR stations logged presumably Es or F2 backscatter.
USA (again) on 10m WSPR
Right on time, the USA is coming through yet again on 10m WSPR. K3GEN (5883km) was copied at 1514z and again at 1524z. So far (at 1534z) he has spotted me once. FR1GZ has been copied 4 times so far this afternoon. KZ8C was copied at 1528z.
The band is opening by F2 to the USA.
UPDATE 1833z: WG2Z (5600km) is still being spotted here at 1826z at a fairly weak -26dB S/N. The surprise (here at least) is the total absence of any stations from South America so far. I would have expected to spot a few by now.
The band is opening by F2 to the USA.
UPDATE 1833z: WG2Z (5600km) is still being spotted here at 1826z at a fairly weak -26dB S/N. The surprise (here at least) is the total absence of any stations from South America so far. I would have expected to spot a few by now.
Sunspots and a return to 10m
Sunspot count today is a respectable 159 (but with blackouts) and 20-30MHz conditions are described as "normal". Having been excluded from my shack for the last 2days (nearly - granddaughter's cot), I have just returned to 10m WSPR to see how conditions are.
Already EA5WO (1428km) and FR1GZ (9724km) have been spotted here and local G0LRD (25km) has spotted me. Conditions on 10m look normal for late September not long after a weak solar peak. Next year is likely to be harder going.
On current form, South and North America will appear soon on 10m.
Already EA5WO (1428km) and FR1GZ (9724km) have been spotted here and local G0LRD (25km) has spotted me. Conditions on 10m look normal for late September not long after a weak solar peak. Next year is likely to be harder going.
On current form, South and North America will appear soon on 10m.
27 Sept 2014
Early QRT this evening
As I have a very young granddaughter in a cot in the shack, I have now gone QRT and no doubt missed some choice DX on 10m WSPR! It is always the case that best conditions occur just after I close down, irrespective of the band.
This afternoon, PT2WWV (8873km) was spotted here 20 times. He spotted my 2W WSPR 6 times before I went QRT. Another new station and country was TA2AEG (Turkey) who was a huge signal but he was using 50W. I don't think he knows that WSPR only needs a few watts. He'll soon realise he can save on his fuel bills!
This afternoon, PT2WWV (8873km) was spotted here 20 times. He spotted my 2W WSPR 6 times before I went QRT. Another new station and country was TA2AEG (Turkey) who was a huge signal but he was using 50W. I don't think he knows that WSPR only needs a few watts. He'll soon realise he can save on his fuel bills!
Sunspots and 10m
Sunspot count today is 203 (high, but with blackouts), yet 20-30MHz conditions are only forecast to be "fair". It remains to be seen how 10m performs today, but already we have seen a wide geographical spread of Europeans on 10m WSPR, presumably Es, but just possibly F2 backscatter.
Last night the last USA station spotted here was WG2Z (5600km) at 2222z, very late indeed. SI9AM (1503km) was being spotted early this morning at 0512z here (before breakfast). I only noticed this station as I'd been running WSPR overnight, during which time only locals and GDX copied.
I have the feeling today will be a good 10m day.
UPDATE 1020z: FR1GZ (9724km) copied for the first time today at 1008z.
UPDATE 1342z: Already PT2WWV (8873km) has been spotted 7 times this lunchtime on 10m WSPR. He has also spotted my 2W a few times too.
Last night the last USA station spotted here was WG2Z (5600km) at 2222z, very late indeed. SI9AM (1503km) was being spotted early this morning at 0512z here (before breakfast). I only noticed this station as I'd been running WSPR overnight, during which time only locals and GDX copied.
I have the feeling today will be a good 10m day.
UPDATE 1020z: FR1GZ (9724km) copied for the first time today at 1008z.
UPDATE 1342z: Already PT2WWV (8873km) has been spotted 7 times this lunchtime on 10m WSPR. He has also spotted my 2W a few times too.
26 Sept 2014
10m WSPR - overnight
As 10m is still wide open I shall leave 10m WSPR running overnight to find out when the opening to the USA/Canada ends. If it follows the pattern of previous evenings it will draw to a close soon but this is 10m, a band full of surprises.
It will be interesting to see if any Europeans are copied during the night.
I shall check the PC clock sync before I go to bed.
UPDATE 2144z: KC1AWS is still spotting my 2W on 10m WSPR.
It will be interesting to see if any Europeans are copied during the night.
I shall check the PC clock sync before I go to bed.
UPDATE 2144z: KC1AWS is still spotting my 2W on 10m WSPR.
Evening on 10m WSPR
The last USA station spotted here on 10m this evening was at 1902z and that was KZ8C. There may be others later, but at the moment that looks like it for the day.
EA7KZ is still coming in (Es?) at 2000z and I suspect will be coming through for a while yet.
UPDATE 2040z: Well I was wrong as K9AN was spotted at -24dB S/N at 2038z. A few minutes later quite a few North Americans were spotting me. The opening to the USA and Canada is far from over. The band may have been late coming to life, but it is good now. 10m - another magic band.
EA7KZ is still coming in (Es?) at 2000z and I suspect will be coming through for a while yet.
UPDATE 2040z: Well I was wrong as K9AN was spotted at -24dB S/N at 2038z. A few minutes later quite a few North Americans were spotting me. The opening to the USA and Canada is far from over. The band may have been late coming to life, but it is good now. 10m - another magic band.
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