6m DX

Way back in 2007, I worked a station in the USA on 6m CW with just 1W to my vertical V2000 colinear. I see Lofty had a big antenna which must have helped!

As yet, I have not seen any Far East stations on 6m FT8 RX. This regularly happens about now and is thought linked to the formation of noctilucent clouds.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/vhfuhfmicrowaves/super-dx .

Lightning risk

So far this year, we have escaped thunderstorms and torrential rain. As thunderstorms could strike us overnight, it is probably wise to disconnect everything. Of course, if I do this we'll get no rain and no  thunderstorms! It is worth checking the lightning maps to assess the risks.

See https://www.lightningmaps.org/

Is WSPR declining in popularity?

When I go on 10m WSPR it is not uncommon to get few spots these days. On the other hand my 6m 5W FT8 gets loads of spots. The difference in power means that they are about equal in S/N ratio at the receiver as FT8 is roughly 10dB less effective than WSPR. Perhaps WSPR gets buried in local noise more often?

The major reason for using 10m WSPR is the PC is not needed and the 10m antenna is available when I go on 6m FT8.

I am seriously wondering if it is really worth carrying on with 10m WSPR.

Visiting a new place - NOT amateur radio

When we go somewhere new we like to go around on a "hop on, hop off"  bus to get the "feel" of a place and then stopping off later where we know what to see. 

This week we went to Stratford upon Avon and this is one of the bus stops. We bought a ticket that lasted a day.

10m 500mW WSPR

 Well, if you turn the PSU on the wall it helps. Yesterday, I got no 10m spots at all .I can see why now!

Today my 500mW beacon has been on since early morning with the PSU on!

UPDATE 1103z:  So far, just EA1FAQ (1249km).

How embarrassing!

The latest GQRP magazine SPRAT has arrived and I see there are 3 articles of mine! I was hoping they would spread them out. They must be desperate for articles. 

Usually SPRAT is excellent as a quarterly A5 colour magazine full of ideas. 

It is entirely done by volunteers without payment. As I have said many times before, if every magazine had to stop this would be the last to go. Perhaps not this one though!  

See http://gqrp.com/sprat.htm .

6m 5W FT8 (Friday)

My gear was turned on at about 0846z.  So far, spotted by 12 Europeans, presumably Es. 

Incidentally,yesterday I forgot to turn on the PSU so I assume yesterday it was 50% of 5W, so about 2.5W FT8.  Not that I noticed!

UPDATE 1628z:  92 spots of me. Most are Es. 52 stations spotted on RX.

Sunspots - Friday June 13th

 Solar flux is 141 and the SSN 133.  A=18 and K=3.

10m 500mW WSPR (Thursday)

 Although my stand-alone beacon has been on since mid-afternoon, no spots of me.

6m QRP FT8 (Thursday)

 

52 stations have spotted my 5W since arriving home mid-afternoon. Most were Es. See map.