Sunspots - Tuesday March 19th 2019

Solar flux is 70 and the sunspot number 13. A=3 and K=1. Are we seeing the first tentative indications of cycle 25? The spots reappeared quite quickly after disappearing.

472kHz WSPR (10mW ERP)

Since about 2030z, I have been on 472kHz WSPR (10mW ERP 20%, 80% RX). At the moment I cannot access the WSPRnet database, so I have no idea how things are going.

UPDATE 2230z: So far this evening, 3 stations have spotted my 10mW ERP with the best being PA0EHG (296km). My best DX on RX is (again) LA2XPA (1310km). So far this evening, 7 stations spotted here.

Solar flux

On average, solar flux has been improving since last July. OK, we are still very much in the doldrums and the sunspot count is still poor, but does this point to the start of the next solar cycle? I am far from an expert. As I have said before, we may have to wait until the end of the year to discern any trends.

See http://www.solen.info/solar/

Palagruza - NOT amateur radio

Photo credit: Kyknos own work

Small, remote, islands have always fascinated me. I was puzzled why Croatia seemed to go way out in the Adriatic, so I investigated further.

It turns out there is a very remote archipelago right out in the sea. There is a lighthouse, but otherwise it is uninhabited. Until today, I had no idea of its existence.

Now, here is a question. Where is the Alboran Sea? Until a few minutes ago I had no idea! It is not off Croatia.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palagruža
See also https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alboran_Island

10m FT8

After a brief CQ call (2.5W), I am now on 10m FT8 RX.  Local G4WSZ (12km) spotted my CQ and the only station spotted on 10m FT8 RX, so far, is PD1DL (328km).

UPDATE 1508z: Now G6XX (180km) spotted on 10m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1655z: No further 10m FT8 spots here today. Dire.

Bill G4PJ

An old editor of Practical Wireless contacted me yesterday about Bill G4PJ.  Bill, a SK for many years, lived in Salcombe, Devon and was my "elmer". He taught me a lot back in the 1960s. I even heard him 4 miles away on 160m AM on a crystal set!

He had a shack overlooking the water and his earth rod went straight into the sea! As a G8, my very first QSOs were from his shack under supervision. Back in the 1960s we could only use 70cms and higher if a G8.

I have very happy memories of those early days.

Topband overnight

In all, 10 North Americans spotted overnight on 160m FT8 RX. So, perhaps 160m conditions are still good and the other night, when so few North Americans were copied, was a blip? In all, 302 stations spotted on 160m FT8 overnight using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.

160m FT8 RX spots here overnight

Sunspots - Monday March 18th 2019

Solar flux is 69 and the sunspot number 0. A=12 and K=3. Still feels like sunspot minimum to me.

160m FT8 RX

For about 20 minutes now, I have been on 160m FT8 RX using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. As on previous evenings, there are lots of Europeans. Many are calling a 3B8, although I have not spotted this station. Best DX spotted here is RM4W (3365km).

The first photo shows the stations spotted on 160m FT8 RX in the first 30 minutes. The second photo shows the spots at bedtime (2240z). As the second photo shows, again plenty of Europeans spotted again. The question is will there be North Americans during the night?

Crossing The Bar - NOT amateur radio

This may be morbid, but I very much hope this poem is read at my funeral. As many know, I came from Salcombe, Devon. You may have to click the photo to read the poem.