14 May 2016
Coast walk - NOT amateur radio
Salcombe, Devon - NOT amateur radio
The photo show the main street. Sadly, Salcombe has many second homes that are empty much of the time. Locals are priced out and many of the local shops are replaced by clothes shops catering for the well heeled. Will Salcombe follow St Ives and stop new second homes?
10m Es today?
Later, I may get a change to do some portable clifftop radio with the FT817ND from a location in Devon. Let's hope for some Es!
Sunspots and 10m - Sat May 14th 2016
Solar flux is 96 today and sunspot number 76 (K=2). The propagation forecast for 10m remains "poor".
13 May 2016
50 years ago to the day
It is exactly 50 years ago to the day (Fri May 13th 1966) that I took my RAE (Radio Amateurs Exam) in Plymouth. Passing this was my start in transmitting in amateur radio. In those days we only had access to 70cms and above (not 2m) with a G8 call, but you were allowed to operate a full licensee's station under supervision. I used to operate G4PJ under Bill's instruction when I had a G8 call. I took my Morse test when at university in December 1967 and got my G3XBM call shortly afterwards.
Sunspots and 10m - Fri May 13th 2016
Solar flux is 95 today (creeping up) and sunspot number 67 (K=2). The 10m propagation forecast remains "poor".
12 May 2016
6m Es and DXTV
There seems to have been a little Es in evidence on 6m WSPR this lunchtime with DL3NGN spotted in the UK. Certainly later in the season we can expect 6m Es most days.
In the old days, DXTV on Band 1 was an almost daily occurrence with RAI (Italy) and TVE (Spain) often seen. These were 625 lines whereas Band 1 TV in the UK was 405 lines. French 819 line TV appeared as 2 visible signals side-by-side on unmodified UK sets. I can remember to this day the Es signal from the South of France broadcasting "midi-Pyrenees". At times it was just like a local!
In the old days, DXTV on Band 1 was an almost daily occurrence with RAI (Italy) and TVE (Spain) often seen. These were 625 lines whereas Band 1 TV in the UK was 405 lines. French 819 line TV appeared as 2 visible signals side-by-side on unmodified UK sets. I can remember to this day the Es signal from the South of France broadcasting "midi-Pyrenees". At times it was just like a local!
10m Es
Yet again, 10m WSPR has shown Es propagation in Europe this morning. I guess 10m Es will be with us most days now until late summer. I certainly livens up the band, which can seem very quiet compared with a few years ago.
Southgate News - NOT amateur radio
Southgate News (always worth a look every few days) reports that a NASA commercial cargo spacecraft touched down in the eastern Pacific with a valuable cargo from the ISS.
See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2016/may/dragon_spacecraft_splashdown.htm .
See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2016/may/dragon_spacecraft_splashdown.htm .
Nuclear Fusion - NOT amateur radio
There is lots of research going on into nuclear fusion.
Unlike nuclear fission which is used today and results in long-term nuclear waste, nuclear fusion could use the almost endless supplies of non-polluting deuterium in seawater. It is probably decades away from being commercially possible as the technical challenges are immense. Research is starting to yield results though.
Nuclear fusion holds the potential for almost endless, low cost, energy. It could hold the keys to the future, but it is not yet possible, although the research must continue. This is one area where worldwide collaboration would benefit us all.
As for electric cars, although a "good idea" I think range is a real killer. Most journeys are short, I know, but ranges of several hundred miles on a charge are really needed and I just can't see this even with the best battery technology likely in the next few decades. Replacement batteries for electric cards are very expensive. No, this is an area where a lot more research is needed both in transport for the masses in an age beyond carbon and in battery technology. We need some "thinking outside the box" in these areas. Cars that do not need diesel or petrol are essential. We have to crack this one and come up with good solutions.
Unlike nuclear fission which is used today and results in long-term nuclear waste, nuclear fusion could use the almost endless supplies of non-polluting deuterium in seawater. It is probably decades away from being commercially possible as the technical challenges are immense. Research is starting to yield results though.
Nuclear fusion holds the potential for almost endless, low cost, energy. It could hold the keys to the future, but it is not yet possible, although the research must continue. This is one area where worldwide collaboration would benefit us all.
As for electric cars, although a "good idea" I think range is a real killer. Most journeys are short, I know, but ranges of several hundred miles on a charge are really needed and I just can't see this even with the best battery technology likely in the next few decades. Replacement batteries for electric cards are very expensive. No, this is an area where a lot more research is needed both in transport for the masses in an age beyond carbon and in battery technology. We need some "thinking outside the box" in these areas. Cars that do not need diesel or petrol are essential. We have to crack this one and come up with good solutions.
Sunspots and 10m - Thurs May 12th 2016
Solar flux is 91 today. Sunspot number is 72 (K=2) and the forecast for 10m propagation remains "poor". Some 10m N-S F2 is possible as is short-skip Es.
11 May 2016
BBC programmes under threat? - NOT amateur radio
Who doesn’t love CBeebies? Kids love it, and so do
parents. BBC children’s programmes, like CBeebies, allow us those
precious few minutes in a day to make a cup of tea. And we can trust that our
kids are watching quality TV.
But children's TV as we know it is under threat. It's being reported that the government plans to take money away from the BBC’s children’s programmes. They want to give money-making channels a chance to compete for children’s shows.
The government is expected to announce the cut to the BBC children's budget this Thursday. So a big petition, standing up for advert-free BBC children's television, will show that there's huge public opposition to the government's plans. Please can you sign the petition to save BBC children's television? See http://38d.gs/21NJSjN
Personally I have a problem with children being bombarded with adverts for things they do not need. The BBC is good as it is. There is a danger our government will ruin it. Save it!
But children's TV as we know it is under threat. It's being reported that the government plans to take money away from the BBC’s children’s programmes. They want to give money-making channels a chance to compete for children’s shows.
The government is expected to announce the cut to the BBC children's budget this Thursday. So a big petition, standing up for advert-free BBC children's television, will show that there's huge public opposition to the government's plans. Please can you sign the petition to save BBC children's television? See http://38d.gs/21NJSjN
Personally I have a problem with children being bombarded with adverts for things they do not need. The BBC is good as it is. There is a danger our government will ruin it. Save it!
Garden - NOT amateur radio
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| Another view of the back garden |
As you can tell, I do not like big, ugly antennas! The garden would fit a 66 foot long wire - maybe next winter?
6m and 10m WSPR
At 1236z I moved to the 10m WSPR beacon (500mW 100% TX) and 6m WSPR (1W ERP 20%, 80% RX, V2000 vertical antenna) simultaneously. It will be interesting to see if there is Es in evidence on 6m too. With 6dB less power on 10m, I expect to get spotted less often.
UPDATE 1325z: EA1FAQ (1249km) has spotted my 500mW 10m WSPR 2 times so far. Still quite decent reports too.
UPDATE 1445z: EA1FAQ is now spotting my 500mW 10m WSPR at -12dB S/N, implying that a few milliwatts would have been quite enough. My reports from him are getting better. No spots yet on 6m WSPR.
UPDATE 1325z: EA1FAQ (1249km) has spotted my 500mW 10m WSPR 2 times so far. Still quite decent reports too.
UPDATE 1445z: EA1FAQ is now spotting my 500mW 10m WSPR at -12dB S/N, implying that a few milliwatts would have been quite enough. My reports from him are getting better. No spots yet on 6m WSPR.
10m Es
Within minutes of going on 10m WSPR I am spotting Hungarian stations well by Es. A promising start to what I think will be a good day on 10m.
UPDATE 0934z: HA9AL is coming in here at a very strong -2dB S/N now. 10m is very good currently to central Europe. This is quite early in the day for Es. 6m is probably good too.
UPDATE 1134z: Plenty of 10m WSPR Es with lots from central Europe.
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| 10m WSPR so far |
UPDATE 1134z: Plenty of 10m WSPR Es with lots from central Europe.
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| The morning on 10m WSPR - clearly Es season! |
472kHz (630m) WSPR overnight
Last night I stayed on 472kHz WSPR overnight. I was going to try WSPR on a different band but decided after all to go back on MF. There are now far fewer active stations than back in the better months. Activity will pick up again come the autumn. No DX spots given or received on 630m WSPR. I think it is now really is the time to pull the plug on 630m WSPR until the autumn.
Sunspots and 10m - Wed May 11th 2016
Solar flux is 90 today. Sunspot number is 70 (K=2) and the forecast for 10m remains "poor" yet again. We might see a little N-S 10m F2 propagation. We live in hope.
At 0910z I switched from 630m WSPR to 10m WSPR.
At 0910z I switched from 630m WSPR to 10m WSPR.
10 May 2016
70cm UKAC tonight
I very briefly listened on 70cm in the 70cm leg of the RSGB's activity contest - the UKAC that runs for 2.5 hours on Tuesday nights. Very few stations were heard, so I've given this one a miss. Really I have no suitable antennas for 70cm at the moment. On the last 70cm UKAC I just used my 2m halo.
Corsican wind? - NOT amateur radio
Years ago we spent a couple of great holidays on Corsica.
My wife is trying to do a quiz in the newspaper and is stuck on a wind in north east Corsica with the second letter "i" and the last letter "t". She is adamant these letters are right. I tried Googling to no avail. I thought I knew this, but obviously I don't.
Any thoughts?
The quiz was in yesterday's Daily Telegraph which we got free with our shopping. I try to vary the paper and sometimes get The Guardian or The Times. I only get them as they cost us nothing - well some will (rightly) argue we pay through Waitrose's high prices. Aldi is certainly less expensive, but our local store is some way away.
My wife is trying to do a quiz in the newspaper and is stuck on a wind in north east Corsica with the second letter "i" and the last letter "t". She is adamant these letters are right. I tried Googling to no avail. I thought I knew this, but obviously I don't.
Any thoughts?
The quiz was in yesterday's Daily Telegraph which we got free with our shopping. I try to vary the paper and sometimes get The Guardian or The Times. I only get them as they cost us nothing - well some will (rightly) argue we pay through Waitrose's high prices. Aldi is certainly less expensive, but our local store is some way away.
American hotels and breakfast - NOT amateur radio
One of my first surprises on trips to the USA was that few (no?) hotels
offer breakfast. They expect you to get this down the road. Most have
places to eat very nearby, but if you are not used to this it comes as a
surprise. I have an old work colleague who is in Indiana for a
conference and he was caught out. The hotel and conference centre was a place to meet and sleep, but little else.
Once, in eastern Canada, we stopped for breakfast at a roadside cafe. There were 6 fried eggs and lots more on the plate. It was huge. We did not go hungry!
Once, in eastern Canada, we stopped for breakfast at a roadside cafe. There were 6 fried eggs and lots more on the plate. It was huge. We did not go hungry!
Arecibo EME in 1964?
Way back in my youth, I recall that USA amateurs got access to the huge 1000 foot dish at Arecibo in Puerto Rico for early EME (moonbounce) tests. This was extensively reported in QST and the RSGB Bulletin at the time. I think this was 1964 or 1965. As the dish was huge, it gave smaller stations a chance with EME. EME started soon after WW2 I believe but for many this was their first chance.
In more recent times there have been other activations. EME takes real dedication but recent advances in digital techniques have made EME more accessible to smaller stations. It still needs a lot more power and antenna gain than I have! Some of these activations are on YouTube. See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1agnioRKJw .
In more recent times there have been other activations. EME takes real dedication but recent advances in digital techniques have made EME more accessible to smaller stations. It still needs a lot more power and antenna gain than I have! Some of these activations are on YouTube. See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1agnioRKJw .
Rain - NOT amateur radio
Well, perhaps we have had the good weather for the year! Our nice dry and warm spell came to an end after dark last night with rain. The big high we had has slipped away and we are now (once again) in a stream of wet and windy weather dominated by low pressure systems. It is not that cold but several degrees lower than the highs we saw in the last few days. The sun has gone.
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| Part of the rear garden yesterday |
Returned to 10m WSPR
About 20 minutes ago I returned to 10m WSPR (2W TX 20%, 80% RX) hopeful of some Es or even F2 propagation on the 10m band. As yet, no 10m spots given or received.
Just G8LCO (58km) was spotting me on 630m WSPR. I have now gone QRT on MF (630m). It is doubtful I shall bother with this band again now until the autumn in better conditions with a lot more active stations.
UPDATE 1056z: Still no spots on 10m WSPR, although it remains early in the day.
UPDATE 1115z: Still no spots on 10m WSPR. If there is to be any Es on 10m today, then I would expect it soon.
UPDATE 1348z: OH5XO (1943km) spotted a few times around lunch on 10m WSPR, so some Es today again. No F2 seen here today. No Es since lunchtime.
UPDATE 1922z: EA1FAQ (1249km) spotted me very strongly on 10m WSPR at teatime. Es definitely. Against my better judgement I have returned to 630m WSPR (QRT on 10m now) and am being spotted on 630m WSPR by M1GEO (65km) and G8LCO (58km). I think M1GEO is a new reporter.
Just G8LCO (58km) was spotting me on 630m WSPR. I have now gone QRT on MF (630m). It is doubtful I shall bother with this band again now until the autumn in better conditions with a lot more active stations.
UPDATE 1056z: Still no spots on 10m WSPR, although it remains early in the day.
UPDATE 1115z: Still no spots on 10m WSPR. If there is to be any Es on 10m today, then I would expect it soon.
UPDATE 1348z: OH5XO (1943km) spotted a few times around lunch on 10m WSPR, so some Es today again. No F2 seen here today. No Es since lunchtime.
UPDATE 1922z: EA1FAQ (1249km) spotted me very strongly on 10m WSPR at teatime. Es definitely. Against my better judgement I have returned to 630m WSPR (QRT on 10m now) and am being spotted on 630m WSPR by M1GEO (65km) and G8LCO (58km). I think M1GEO is a new reporter.
472kHz overnight
Last night I went on 472kHz WSPR again overnight. Unlike earlier in the year when I spotted lots of stations and lots spotted me, I only spotted one station last night (a German) and just one station spotted me. At this time of year and through the summer I think I am wasting my time. Maybe I should chose a different band for WSPR overnight now?
Sunspots and 10m - Tues May 10th 2016
Solar flux is 88 today and the sunspot number 68 (K=4). The forecast for 10m propagation remains "poor", although there was F2 propagation on 10m WSPR yesterday.
9 May 2016
Life on Mars? - NOT amateur radio
See http://www.theworldweekly.com/reader/view/magazine/2014-12-18/there-may-be-life-on-mars-after-all/2909 .
It is just possible there is life on Mars.
It is just possible there is life on Mars.
My website and blogs
Every now and again I like to remind people of my main website and blogs. My main website (not updated too often) has details of my projects. The blogs get updated most days and are where I put news or things that are of interest to me.
www.g3xbm.co.uk - Main website
g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.co.uk/ - Amateur radio (mainly) blog - updated most days
qss2.blogspot.co.uk/ - Miscellaneous Musings blog - updated most weeks
eachurches.blogspot.co.uk/ - East Anglian churches blog - updated when we visit a church in the area
www.g3xbm.co.uk - Main website
g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.co.uk/ - Amateur radio (mainly) blog - updated most days
qss2.blogspot.co.uk/ - Miscellaneous Musings blog - updated most weeks
eachurches.blogspot.co.uk/ - East Anglian churches blog - updated when we visit a church in the area
Back on 10m WSPR
At about 0936z I resumed my 10m WSPR activity. It will take a few minutes before I am ready to give and receive spots.
Let us hope today is better than yesterday, which was dire here. At least the sun is shining, although this has nothing to do with Es!
There has been some work correlating some thunder activity with sprites and Es, but I don't know the details. Es is fascinating and there is still a lot to learn. May, June, July and August are the best Es months in the northern hemisphere with a much smaller peak December and January. Es can occur at any time though, to a lesser extent which is another good reason to use WSPR.
Years ago I remember getting into trouble with my mum and dad when I used the one domestic TV we had to hunt for Band 1 DXTV by Es. In those days (1960s) you could see all over Europe on Band 1 TV in the summer months. On tropo I could always see the Band 3 819 line transmission (weakly) from Brittany. The antenna was totally in the wrong direction. On a 405 line TV (unmodified) there were 2 pictures side by side.
UPDATE 1142z: Some Es on 10m WSPR. No F2 seen here.
UPDATE 1642z: Much to my surprise, I exchanged spots with FR1GZ (9724km) this afternoon and spotted PU3WSF (10416km) this afternoon by F2. I was not expecting F2 today.
Let us hope today is better than yesterday, which was dire here. At least the sun is shining, although this has nothing to do with Es!
There has been some work correlating some thunder activity with sprites and Es, but I don't know the details. Es is fascinating and there is still a lot to learn. May, June, July and August are the best Es months in the northern hemisphere with a much smaller peak December and January. Es can occur at any time though, to a lesser extent which is another good reason to use WSPR.
Years ago I remember getting into trouble with my mum and dad when I used the one domestic TV we had to hunt for Band 1 DXTV by Es. In those days (1960s) you could see all over Europe on Band 1 TV in the summer months. On tropo I could always see the Band 3 819 line transmission (weakly) from Brittany. The antenna was totally in the wrong direction. On a 405 line TV (unmodified) there were 2 pictures side by side.
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| 10m WSPR so far today |
UPDATE 1642z: Much to my surprise, I exchanged spots with FR1GZ (9724km) this afternoon and spotted PU3WSF (10416km) this afternoon by F2. I was not expecting F2 today.
Sunspots and 10m - Mon May 9th 2016
Solar flux is 83 today. Sunspot number is 42 (K=4) and the forecast for 10m propagation remains "poor".
I have yet to turn on my 10m WSPR. I shall probably use 2W TX on 10m and listen for others 80% of the time. Although F2 is very doubtful, Es is more likely on 10m today.
I have yet to turn on my 10m WSPR. I shall probably use 2W TX on 10m and listen for others 80% of the time. Although F2 is very doubtful, Es is more likely on 10m today.
Declining swallow numbers - NOT amateur radio
See http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdguide/name/s/swallow/population.aspx
Certainly over here in East Anglia there are fewer swallows about than previously. They have appeared on sightings in Devon, but I have seen very few so far. Swifts seem to be plentiful. I think I have seen as many house martins as swallows and that is just a handful. The RSPB says swallow numbers have been declining since the 1970s. As a harbinger of summer, I hope this is just a blip. Certainly we had a mild, wet winter but spring was late.
Certainly over here in East Anglia there are fewer swallows about than previously. They have appeared on sightings in Devon, but I have seen very few so far. Swifts seem to be plentiful. I think I have seen as many house martins as swallows and that is just a handful. The RSPB says swallow numbers have been declining since the 1970s. As a harbinger of summer, I hope this is just a blip. Certainly we had a mild, wet winter but spring was late.
8 May 2016
Gs only on 10m and 6m WSPR
On 6m WSPR I have been spotted by G4MLA (53km) and on 10m WSPR just G0LRD (25km) spotting me. No F2 DX and no Es here all day on 10m and 6m.
New rigs?
At the moment I am happy with the rigs I have, so I can wait to replace rigs.
At the moment the IC7300 looks a favourite over the FT991, but a decent FT817 replacement at the right price might fit the bill. All decisions on future investments are predicated on the price being right. I want dealers to make a fair margin, but I do not like being ripped off. On the IC7300, dealers are making a mint out of early adopters who want the rig at any price. Later, the IC7300 price will drop.
I am awaiting Dayton to see if Yaesu really does replace the workhorse FT817. I have my doubts. As you know, 5-10W is quite enough for me.
At the moment the IC7300 looks a favourite over the FT991, but a decent FT817 replacement at the right price might fit the bill. All decisions on future investments are predicated on the price being right. I want dealers to make a fair margin, but I do not like being ripped off. On the IC7300, dealers are making a mint out of early adopters who want the rig at any price. Later, the IC7300 price will drop.
I am awaiting Dayton to see if Yaesu really does replace the workhorse FT817. I have my doubts. As you know, 5-10W is quite enough for me.
Sunspots and 10m - Sun May 8th 2016
Solar flux is 87 today. Sunspot number is 51 but K=7. The forecast for 10m propagation remains "poor". With very disturbed conditions it is unlikely 10m will be any good today, although Es may liven things up. I have been on 10m WSPR and 6m WSPR since before breakfast.
UPDATE 0858z: Unsurprisingly, no spots so far today! Maybe I'll spot, or get spotted by, some locals?
UPDATE 1454z: Still no spots at all on 10m WSPR and 6m WSPR. Dire.I may go on 472kHz WSPR tonight.
UPDATE 0858z: Unsurprisingly, no spots so far today! Maybe I'll spot, or get spotted by, some locals?
UPDATE 1454z: Still no spots at all on 10m WSPR and 6m WSPR. Dire.I may go on 472kHz WSPR tonight.
ICOM IC7300 first reviews
Steve G1KQH has brought to my attention the first reviews on eHam of the IC7300.
Because of the wide front end filters, some have reported front-end overload issues. Software/firmware updates will not fix this as it is an inherent issue with wide front-end filters: nearby BC or amateur stations can swamp the front end and the rig sensitivity nosedives. As long as the overload does not occur it is a fine rig. I can see no good reason why this rig should be any worse than others that use sub-octave filters rather than narrow bandpass filters for each amateur band. Such designs are common nowadays in front ends.
I think sensitivity starts to collapse if the rig sees more than 70mV in the front end. If you have a nearby 1kW station operating in the same band, you could have problems. You might also have problems with multiple very strong BC band stations.
Although without 2m and 70cms, the European version does have 4m, which is good. I still just prefer the IC7300 to the Yaesu FT991. The price needs to drop though!
73
Steve
http://www.g1kqh.talktalk.net/
Because of the wide front end filters, some have reported front-end overload issues. Software/firmware updates will not fix this as it is an inherent issue with wide front-end filters: nearby BC or amateur stations can swamp the front end and the rig sensitivity nosedives. As long as the overload does not occur it is a fine rig. I can see no good reason why this rig should be any worse than others that use sub-octave filters rather than narrow bandpass filters for each amateur band. Such designs are common nowadays in front ends.
I think sensitivity starts to collapse if the rig sees more than 70mV in the front end. If you have a nearby 1kW station operating in the same band, you could have problems. You might also have problems with multiple very strong BC band stations.
Although without 2m and 70cms, the European version does have 4m, which is good. I still just prefer the IC7300 to the Yaesu FT991. The price needs to drop though!
Eham
reviews point to an overload in the front end:
http://www.g1kqh.talktalk.net/
7 May 2016
10m F2 DX
PU3WSF (10416km) has been spotted on WSPR 2 times in recent minutes. I shall stay on 10m WSPR a bit longer in the hope that my own signal will reach S.America before the band dies out. Good to see some F2 DX on the band. At this time of year it is possible some of these openings are a combination of Es and F2 further to the south. There has been Es right across Europe all day on 10m.
UPDATE 2135z: Nothing on 10m WSPR for over an hour now. I am staying on the band overnight, but think we have now seen the end of F2 and Es for the day.
UPDATE 2135z: Nothing on 10m WSPR for over an hour now. I am staying on the band overnight, but think we have now seen the end of F2 and Es for the day.
FT817 replacement announcement?
If the rumours are to be believed, this month we may get an announcement at Dayton on a replacement to the FT817. Of course, it is entirely possible we will not!
In my view, Yaesu have "missed the boat" and should have launched such a product on the approach to the sunspot maximum rather than on the downward slope.Yaesu certainly need some "must have" features if they are to be as successful as with the FT817.
In my view, Yaesu have "missed the boat" and should have launched such a product on the approach to the sunspot maximum rather than on the downward slope.Yaesu certainly need some "must have" features if they are to be as successful as with the FT817.
Plentiful Es on 10m
It will soon be time to get back on 6m as the Es season is really with us now. There is daily Es on 10m and I expect there will be Es openings on 6m too. I have not seen any F2 DX on 10m WSPR for a little while. It will be interesting to see if 10m opens to the USA this autumn. I think it will on a few occasions and certainly far less often than last year. Any USA 10m spots this autumn will be a bonus.
Stroke update - NOT amateur radio
2.5 years after my cerebellum bleed, I am still suffering. The worst are the poor speech, the profound exhaustion I suffer after most mental or physical exertion and feeling drunk all of my waking hours. To others I look fine. This is part of my frustration: everyone thinks I am fully back to normal, whereas I know different. It is very very hard to accept.
UPDATE 1528z: This afternoon I creosoted (actually a substitute these days) our garden shed. In the past this would have been a quick and easy job, but now it really exhausts me. There is still one side to do tomorrow as well as putting up a different bird box for next season.
Sunspots and 10m - Sat May 7th 2016
I have been on 10m WSPR since about 0715z (2W TX 20%, RX 80%).
Solar flux 89 today and sunspot number 56 (K=2). The 10m propagation forecast remains "poor". although withe the Es season we can expect some short-skip in 10m most days.
UPDATE 0908z: Plenty of Es short-skip on 10m WSPR already, plus locals. Today could be quite productive on 10m WSPR by Es. It would be good to see some N-S F2 propagation on the band too.
Solar flux 89 today and sunspot number 56 (K=2). The 10m propagation forecast remains "poor". although withe the Es season we can expect some short-skip in 10m most days.
UPDATE 0908z: Plenty of Es short-skip on 10m WSPR already, plus locals. Today could be quite productive on 10m WSPR by Es. It would be good to see some N-S F2 propagation on the band too.
Rally in Northern Ireland (Ulster)
Sunday 8 MAY : 35th LOUGH ERNE AMATEUR RADIO RALLY
SHARE Centre, Lisnaskea, Co Fermanagh, Northern Ireland BT92 0EQ Doors open from 11.15am to 4pm with disabled visitors gaining access 15 minutes earlier. There will be trade stands, a Bring & Buy, car boot area, flea market, special interest groups and an RSGB bookstall. A licensed bar and catering will be available on site. Lectures will form part of the day's activities and there will be a prize draw during the day. Camping is available. More information from Michael Clarke, M5MTC on 0286 862 1436 or by email to mi5mtc@learc.eu. www.learc.eu.
A list of rallies can be found at http://rsgb.org/main/news/
SHARE Centre, Lisnaskea, Co Fermanagh, Northern Ireland BT92 0EQ Doors open from 11.15am to 4pm with disabled visitors gaining access 15 minutes earlier. There will be trade stands, a Bring & Buy, car boot area, flea market, special interest groups and an RSGB bookstall. A licensed bar and catering will be available on site. Lectures will form part of the day's activities and there will be a prize draw during the day. Camping is available. More information from Michael Clarke, M5MTC on 0286 862 1436 or by email to mi5mtc@learc.eu. www.learc.eu.
A list of rallies can be found at http://rsgb.org/main/news/
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