Sunspots - Sunday August 6th 2017

Solar flux is 74 today and the sunspot number 13.  A=16 and K=3

10m WSPR

Since the storm passed through this afternoon, I have been on 10m WSPR TX (500mW). After a slow start, lots of spots from Germany and Austria by Es.

UPDATE 2125z: 8 unique spots today on 10m WSPR, although I only started this afternoon. Now QRT on all bands.

Swifts gone? - NOT amateur radio

We spent about 40 minutes outside enjoying a cup of tea in the late sunshine this afternoon.

Although looking, I saw not a single swift overhead. A few weeks ago and I'd have seen maybe 20. Most have started to move south. They only stay for a few months then they are gone. Ephemeral.

A few may still be around, but most have left us until next spring.

Back on again after storms

As the storms seem to have cleared through and we are now bathed in sunshine, I am back on 10m WSPR TX (500mW) and 6m FT8 RX after a very brief TX period.

The impression I am getting is there is less Es than a month, or so, ago. There is still Es but not as frequent.

UPDATE 1454z: A couple of stations copied my brief 6m FT8 CQ. Best DX was a spot by G6GEI (91km).

UPDATE 1604z: IZ1AZJ (967km) was recently spotted on 6m FT8.

UPDATE 1612z: Nothing at all on 10m WSPR TX.

Kangaroo - NOT amateur radio

My younger son is with his family visiting the Australian in-laws. Here is a shot of one of our granddaughters feeding a kangaroo. Actually, I think the joey is helping itself!

QRT - storms

Just before 1300z, there was thunder forecast (and it came) so I went QRT on all bands and disconnected everything. Although it is still raining, the forecast for the rest of the day is now better. I may come back, this time on 6m FT8. As there are still plenty of storms around, I may wait a bit.

See https://www.lightningmaps.org/blitzortung/europe/index.php?lang=en .

MLS offers

Yet again, I received a "something for the weekend" email from Martin Lynch. They also have offers on other items.

See https://www.hamradio.co.uk/ .

Sunspots - Saturday August 5th 2017

Solar  flux is 74 and the sunspot number 13. A=23 and K=4.

7 countries on 6m MSK144 so far

Since yesterday, I returned to 50.280MHz MSK144 RX. So far, 7 countries spotted. There seem to be most users of this mode on the old frequency rather than the new.

Return to 6m MSK144 - but on 50.280MHz

After reading some of the recent comments, I have returned to MSK144 on 6m, but on 50.280MHz RX.  Already I have spotted PA5JS (370km).