Sunspots and 10m - Sun Aug 16th 2015

Sunspot number has fallen again to 33 (K=6) and 10m is expected to remain "poor" today.

Blickling Hall (National Trust) - NOT amateur radio

Today we did a 135 mile round-trip to Aylesham and Blickling in north Norfolk. We ate a light lunch in The Old Tearoom in Aylesham (this is our 3rd time here) before visiting the market square and church where they were celebrating VJ Day later.

Archetypal English scenery - Blickling

Blickling has fine grounds and gardens and was where Prime Minister Baldwin first heard about Edward VIII's affair with American divorcee Mrs Simpson. These days no-one would bat an eyelid but in the 1930s things were different. On the lake was a great crested grebe with 3 chicks. Blickling has fine yew hedges on the approach to the house. If I was fit, there are lots of decent walks around the grounds. Sadly, just a walk around part of the formal gardens had me exhausted.

Es on 10m and 6m WSPR today

There as been Es on both 10m and 6m WSPR today.  More on 10m (unsurprisingly) with just OH5RM (1860km) at 1000z this morning spotting my 1W ERP on 6m WSPR by Es. Apart from G0OQK I have not spotted anyone on 6m WSPR so far today.

UPDATE 1848z:  I see that OZ7IT (853km) has spotted me at 1830z on 6m WSPR.  There is still Es around. There have been more 10m WSPR spots this eveing on 10m too.

Early morning on 10m and 6m WSPR

The first 10m Es on WSPR was a spot by HB9CQK (819km) at 0846z this morning. So far on 6m, just spots exchanged with G0OQK (98km) and no Es seen as yet on 6m WSPR. On 6m WSPR I remain (as always) 20% TX and 80% RX.

Sunspots and 10m - Sat Aug 15th 2015

Sunspot number as fallen again to 46 (K=2) and 10m propagation is yet again expected to be "poor". Es remains the main hope on 10m and 6m.

2m big wheel arrives

My 2m big wheel antenna has arrived. I now need to find a kind local to help erect it. It needs 2 brackets fixing and the coax attaching.

In the past this would have been trivial for me, but sadly not in my present state of health. Anything above head height and I feel giddy. Work on ladders is impossible. I hate being like this.

Back on the air

In the last 30 minutes I have reconnected the rigs, antennas and PC and am back on 10m and 6m WSPR. So far only G4KPX (14km) spotting me on 10m and 3 spots on 6m WSPR of G0OQK (98km). No signs yet of Es on either band. Of course, this is on WSPR where activity tends to be low on 10m and 6m. You may have better luck on SSB or CW.  On 6m I am on RX 80% of the time.

At the moment the storms are well to the east but I'll continue to monitor the situation and go QRT if necessary again.

UPDATE 1245z:   A couple of Es spots on 10m WSPR from LA3JJ (1020km) this lunchtime, but otherwise quiet.  On 6m just G0OQK (98km) spotted so far. He has yet to spot me and I suspect he is RX only at present.

UPDATE 1630z:  EA6GF (1428km) spotting my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon this teatime. The definitely is some evidence that Es peaks around lunch and teatime. Sadly, no Es to report here (yet) on 6m WSPR.

UPDATE 1738z: ON7KO (295km) has spotted me on 10m WSPR. I think this was tropo rather than Es as the distance is too near. If this was Es I'd expect Es on 2m or even higher.

Sunspots and 10m - Fri Aug 14th 2015

Sunspot number has dropped back to 51 (K=1) and 10m is expected to remain "poor" again. Once again, I suspect Es will be our best hope on 10m and 6m. Before long though we might start to get F2 openings again to the USA. I suspect we'll have one more decent autumn and winter on 10m before we lose the good conditions for very many years.

Mobile phone coverage checker - NOT amateur radio

OFCOM have just released a mobile phone coverage checker tool that helps you see what sort of coverage you can expect.

See http://ofcom.cmail1.com/t/i-l-jdurlyd-ptjmldl-k/ .

On 10m and 6m - for a few hours this evening

As the thunderstorm risk seems low enough for now, I am returning to WSPR on 10m and 6m for a few hours. In all likelihood I shall disconnect rigs, antennas and the PC later this evening so I shall not be on in the overnight period.

UPDATE 1806z:  So far no reports on 10m WSPR, but spots exchanged both ways (TX and RX) with G0OQK (98km) again on 6m WSPR. This is usually tropo and aircraft reflection.

UPDATE 1830z:   EA6ZL (1485km) spotted me on 10m WSPR at 1808z by Es.

UPDATE 1857z:  As the storms are getting ever closer I shall soon have to go QRT and disconnect things!

UPDATE 1900z:  All rigs, antennas and the PC now disconnected, unplugged and off. No thunder audible yet, but the storms are getting closer.  The operating session was shorter than I had intended.

For thunderstorm tracking see http://www.blitzortung.org/Webpages/index.php?lang=en&page_0=12  . At the moment, the storms are to the south of us but moving north.