QSY to MF WSPR RX

At about 2025z I switched to 630m WSPR RX from 10m FT8 RX. The rig and PC will be monitoring through the night once again. If previous nights are typical, I can expect to spot the same stations again! Every morning, I hope to see some new ones, but I am always disappointed.

UPDATE 2105:  No spots yet received on MF. I suspected my rig and PC settings, but all looks fine. By now, I was expecting several Europeans to be coming through. Another check is in order. Or are more giving up on MF WSPR?

UPDATE 2128z: Well, I do not understand it. Turning off the PC's charger resulted in spots, yet I have been getting plenty of spots with this on on previous nights. The noise floor drops about 4 S points with the charger off and the noise floor did seem a bit higher than previous nights. It is almost as if there is a threshold above which decodes do not occur. Puzzling. Anyway, I am monitoring with the PC on its internal battery. This should be OK until breakfast or just before. I have seen one new one this season PA0MLC (394km).

UK pound against major currencies - NOT amateur radio

Today, the UK pound has lost value against all the major world currencies. This may be because of the Prime Minister's speech yesterday and the feeling that we are a bit rudderless. It looks like we are due for a leadership contest in the governing Conservative Party or even another General Election.

10m dead?

So far today, these are what I have spotted here on 10m FT8 with my indifferent antenna. Hardly a dead band! I think much is TEP.

UPDATE 2018z: LU2XP (13308km) was the best DX spotted here today on 10m FT8 along with several other South Americans.

Toadflax - NOT amateur radio

This was growing wild just a few metres from our bungalow. It must have flowered very recently as I'd not seen it before today.

See https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/10295/Linaria-vulgaris/Details

630m WSPR overnight

9 unique spots on 630m WSPR, but yet again, the same stations spotted with best DX Italy at 1190km.

Sunspots - Thursday October 5th 2017

Solar flux is 85 today and the sunspot number 27. A=5 and K=1.

10m FT8 RX

For a change, I am on 10m FT8 RX this morning and not on 10m WSPR TX and 6m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 0950z: G4CJC (73km) in N. London spotted. I must be looking on the right frequency then!

UPDATE 1200z: Lots of stations from all over Europe plus a couple in Israel and ZS6C (9123km). All 10m FT8.

UPDATE 1218z: Now 2 South Africans in the Johannesburg area spotted on 10m FT8. Now 13 countries in 3 continents spotted on 10m FT8 today!

UPDATE 1615z: Now Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil being spotted on 10m FT8.

630m WSPR RX

Yet again I am monitoring 630m WSPR RX. Best DX is LA8AV (1035km). Yet again, I am spotting the same stations.

Unless things change, I am going to try other bands and modes. Tomorrow I may give 10m FT8 a try during the day. On MF I am not sure what to try.

6m FT8 RX and 10m WSPR TX

Following my usual daytime pattern, I am active on these bands. As yet, no spots, although it is only 0850z.

UPDATE 2018z: On 10m WSPR I was spotted very frequently by EA8BFK (2880km) and in Germany and Denmark. On 6m FT8 I spotted a couple of Gs as well as S51AT (1250km).

630m WSPR overnight

A disappointing night on MF with just 5 unique spots. What is more disappointing is I am spotting the same stations. Again, the best DX was IW4DXW (1190km).