European Es - promising?

After very good Es yesterday, things look quite promising today. Even though it is still early, there are quite a few spots even on the VHF bands like 4m.

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

UPDATE 1305z:  At the moment, Es in Europe looks at least as good as yesterday. See map.

Salcombe: last century - NOT amateur radio

This was where I lived as a young child. This photo was sometime in the last century.

10m 500mW WSPR TX

 Although my 10m QRP WSPR beacon has been on since before breakfast, no reports have been received.

UPDATE 1257z:  No spots of my 500mW 10m WSPR. I am quite surprised.

6m QRP FT8 (Monday)

 

Stations spotting me
on 6m FT8 today

My 6m QRP FT8 is on. So far, 19 stations have spotted me. See map.  This looks like Es.

UPDATE 1026z: Spotted by 29 stations. One QSO was with an Italian.

Stations spotted here
today on 6m FT8

UPDATE 1251z:  130 stations spotted here on 6m FT8 today.

UPDATE 2109z:   44 stations have spotted me.

Monday plans

 At the moment I plan to go on 6m QRP FT8 and QRP 10m WSPR.

I can’t imagine European Es being as good as yesterday.

Sunspots - July 29th

 Solar flux is 214 and the SSN 189. A=7 and K=2.

8m permanent allocations?

A few administrations have made an allocation to radio amateurs (the progressive ones?).  At the last count I think this was 6 administrations. Many more have allowed operation at around 8m outside the amateur radio service.

I hope many more come to their senses soon. As I have said many, many times, just 5kHz, narrow digital only, and QRP power amateur radio allocation would be a start and allow research. 

Why do radio amateurs in some countries have to pay to do research?

Am I alone in thinking the negative attitude of some PTTs is encouraging law breaking?  At least with licenced radio amateurs traceability is easy.  With my current T&I call I don't have to use a callsign or give my location, so traceability is non-existent. Talk about stupidity!!

A limited time (2 years around the sunspot peak?) amateur radio allocation at 8m with a strictly non-interference clause, with the limitations shown above, would surely cause no harm.

QMX/QMX+ firmware update

Steve G1KQH has informed me that there is a firmware update. As the changes do not really impact me, I shall not update my firmware this time. The upgrade does not add SSB.  Had it done so, I definitely would have upgraded!

European Es (Sunday)

 Es activity in Europe is holding up, at least on FT8. 

Opinions vary over the length of the Es "season" in Europe, but certainly May, June and July can be good. Others think the season goes on to September. 

In my experience it peaks in the late spring and early summer. Indeed, Es will be there at all times of year, but the intensity and frequency go down. 

I suspect FT8 and FT4 will show that 10m, 6m and 4m are open on Es paths far more often than we think. It is for this reason that I hope people will stick with FT8/4  on these bands. We have so much to learn.

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

8m QRP FT8 TX (Sunday)

My QRP 8m FT8  TX is currently on 40.680 MHz USB dial. Hoping for reports and QSOs. 

UPDATE 1124z:  No spots on 8m FT8 so far today.

UPDATE 1508z:  As I was out most of the afternoon, I was on 8m FT8 RX only. Only spotted 1 station CT1END (1676km).

UPDATE 1513z:  On 8m QRP FT8 TX again.