Hi although by its nature Sporadic E propagation comes and goes, if you are around at the right time QSO's can be made. Last evening around 18.45 local, I noticed the CS5BLA beacon on 50.076 MHz at S5 with QSB from S1-S7 Although I could hear no other stations from Portugal, I did find 2 Spanish ops to work on the key. Usually I am reading about 6 metre openings a month later in one of the magazines, so to actually stumble on one during a brief shack visit is a bit of a coup. The twists and turns in signal paths that E causes means that QSO's, like the ones I had, are possible with a vertical aerial. Even when the op at the other end is using a horizontal beam. Good luck on the "magic band" 73 de Steve.

Beacon heard again today at the same time. The keyed carrier id sequence goes: VVV DE CS5BLA Beacon IM57PX followed by a steady carrier for about 10 secs before repeating again. Just a pity today that the beacon was the only signal heard.

10 meters was open from the club on Tuesday 8th