15 Oct 2015
FTSE 100 - NOT amateur radio
At the moment, the UK FTSE 100 share index is up 0.95% on the day. A lot can still happen during the day but it is trying to claw back recent losses.
Sunspots and 10m - Thurs Oct 15th 2015
Sunspot number is little changed at 56 (K=3) and 10m propagation is again expected to be "poor". With the solar flux at 100 there is a chance of some DX spots on 10m WSPR. We live in hope.
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| Unique 10m WSPR spots here so far today |
The value of 10m WSPR - overnight success
In the small hours OZ7IT (853km) spotted my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon. I have no idea about propagation. It was probably a fleeting Es opening but it could have been tropo or even aircraft reflection. He only decoded me once but had I not had the beacon running overnight this opening would have gone unnoticed. This was the first non-local for several days to spot me on 10m WSPR.
UPDATE 1057z: OZ7IT (853km) spotted me several times in the early hours.
UPDATE 1057z: OZ7IT (853km) spotted me several times in the early hours.
14 Oct 2015
Quiet 10m
Yet again, 10m WSPR has been very quiet here, at least so far today. Although others may have done better, I have not seen any DX for several days. With climbing sunspots, I expect things may soon change and F2 DX will become commonplace.
Sunspots and 10m - Wed Oct 14th 2015
Sunspot number is a little higher at 58 (K=4) but 10m propagation is expected to remain "poor". After yesterday, I am not expecting much on 10m today but with 10m you can never be really sure! Sunspot count is little changed on yesterday and conditions remain disturbed.
Somewhere I read that solar flux needs to be over 100 for things to really "take off". At the moment solar flux is 95.
Somewhere I read that solar flux needs to be over 100 for things to really "take off". At the moment solar flux is 95.
New QRP eBook from Australia
13 Oct 2015
FTSE 100 - NOT amateur radio
The UK FTSE 100 share index fell earlier, but seems to be staging a recovery. It may even end the day slightly up. There is still over an hour of trading left and a few shocks could change that!
See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business/markets/europe/lse_ukx .
UPDATE 2015z: In the end, the recovery "ran out of steam" and the FTSE 100 closed down 0.45% on the day.
See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business/markets/europe/lse_ukx .
UPDATE 2015z: In the end, the recovery "ran out of steam" and the FTSE 100 closed down 0.45% on the day.
10m doldrums
We seem to be a bit in the doldrums on 10m WSPR. Summer Es is now a thing of the past until next spring, although we will still get the odd opening, and F2 seems yet to become commonplace. There has been the odd F2 opening that my 500mW 10m beacon found, but not the daily USA openings I was expecting by now on 10m WSPR. By the time we get io November I expect daily F2 openings will be commonplace on 10m.
UPDATE 1528z: Still only local G4IKZ (18km) spotting me on 10m WSPR. Very quiet.
UPDATE 1528z: Still only local G4IKZ (18km) spotting me on 10m WSPR. Very quiet.
70cm UKAC contest this evening
Starting at 1900z, there is the monthly RSGB 70cm activity contest. This lasts 2.5 hours. Activity levels are usually very high during these events, although I imagine the number of portable stations drop off as the evenings get darker. As usual, I shall be using 5W pep and my 2m big-wheel horizontal omni which matches and gets out quite well on 70cm. The main limitation is my poor voice. Usually less than an hour of operating and I am "done in".
UPDATE 2000z: After a single QSO I called it a night on 70cm. I heard quite a few squares including IO90, IO91, IO92, JO02, JO03, at reasonable distances but my voice was not up for it. The Leicester 70cm beacon was at normal strength.
UPDATE 2000z: After a single QSO I called it a night on 70cm. I heard quite a few squares including IO90, IO91, IO92, JO02, JO03, at reasonable distances but my voice was not up for it. The Leicester 70cm beacon was at normal strength.
Yaesu FT991 issues?
The price is certainly falling for this rig, but quite a few people have expressed disappointment. I cannot comment on these reports. Some are disappointed saying it is, "cheaply made".
This is a trend of our age: I have noticed that M&S underpants are now thinner and not as good. My wife recently bought a coat (not M&S) and this was thinner than the one it replaced. No, making goods to fit a price seems to be the way things are today, rather than built to last. This says lots about our "consumer society". Things are not made to last any more: they are designed to wear out or fail so we buy new items.
This is a state of affairs that ultimately cannot last.
This is a trend of our age: I have noticed that M&S underpants are now thinner and not as good. My wife recently bought a coat (not M&S) and this was thinner than the one it replaced. No, making goods to fit a price seems to be the way things are today, rather than built to last. This says lots about our "consumer society". Things are not made to last any more: they are designed to wear out or fail so we buy new items.
This is a state of affairs that ultimately cannot last.
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