A cricket on our window? - NOT amateur radio

On the bedroom window

This afternoon we had this visitor on the outside of our bedroom window. I think it is a kind of cricket although I am not sure. I am sorry the picture is not better. Body was about 2cms long but the antennae were much longer, I'd guess about 5cms.

Now RX only (with preamp) on 472kHz WSPR

Since about 2008z I have gone on to RX only (with the preamp) on 472kHz WSPR. I have gone QRT on 10m. It will be interesting to compare results with and without the preamp on MF. I suspect I'll copy the same stations but give them better reports. I am still using the earth-electrode "antenna". I'll do the comparisons in the morning. So far tonight, before going RX only, I was getting similar results on TX and RX as the night before. At one point I got really excited as I thought I'd been copied in Greece, then I realised this was on 10m!

UPDATE 2202z:  At the moment I am not spotting any new stations with the higher sensitivity on RX. This could change overnight, or it says that the FT817 has adequate sensitivity and external noise is limiting what I can copy.

UPDATE 2300z:  Based on the reports given to DK7FC and LA3EQ I am surprised that the preamp, although making the sensitivity better, does not allow me to give them definitely better reports. To be honest, I am a little surprised. I will see if I get clearer results overnight. My electrical environment on MF is fairly quiet, so I expected to get a really useful improvement with the preamp.

Quieter on 10m WSPR

Although there was some good DX around on 10m WSPR including VK and FR1, I was only spotted by a single station in the USA - KC1AWS (5308km). So far, today has seen fewer USA stations on the band. There was also a closer European,  DK6UG (633km), which could have been F-layer backscatter or out of season Es. Yet again, spots from the USA and the fourth day with spots from VK this autumn.  A $49 "stand alone" 10m WSPR beacon and plenty of fun.

More from our lovely quango

OFCOM's latest http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/ .

As I have said before, they are really interested in ventures that make money, like the auction of parts of the microwave spectrum. The amateur service is very low on the agenda I believe. Do they add value?

Sunspots and 10m - Tues Nov 3rd 2015

With a decent solar flux level, sunspot number of 94 and a 10m propagation forecast of "fair" we could be in for decent 10m results, although K=5 so conditions are quite disturbed.

UPDATE 1044z:  I see that  VK2KRR (16789km) spotted me at 0830z on 10m WSPR this morning.

Rally

Thursday 5 NOVEMBER : BANGOR & DARS ANNUAL SURPLUS EQUIPMENT SALE
Groomsport Boat House, 19 Harbour Road, Groomsport BT19 6JP. Table spaces are free to sellers but must be reserved in advance, entry is £2 at the door. Doors open 7 to 10pm. Refreshments available. Harry, 02890 422 860, norman.newell@yahoo.com

A list of rallies can be found at http://rsgb.org/main/news/rallies/

"London" grandchildren have gone home - NOT amateur radio

Riding bikes near the windmill

Our "London" grandchildren went home this afternoon. As with all our little grandchildren, we love having them. Sadly, my stroke of 2 years ago means I can do less with them than I would have done in the past. Nonetheless, they had a great time.  They enjoyed Halloween and played silly, simple, games.  Today they enjoyed riding bikes in our quiet close.

Best USA DX on 10m WSPR this evening

W4XWA (6947km) is, so far, the most distant spot of my 500mW WSPR beacon. Maybe as the evening goes on, and before the band closes, I will be spotted at even greater range.

UPDATE 1945z:  The last 10m USA spot of my little beacon was K9AN (6505km) at 1730z.  USA 10m WSPR spots have been daily in recent weeks.

Best night so far this autumn on 472kHz

Last night was the best so far this autumn on 472kHz with 15 unique WSPR stations spotted without the preamp.  Best DX was DH5RAE at 995km. I have resync'd both 10m and 630m and will stay on again this evening and overnight. My best 472kHz DX on TX (5mW ERP) were a few spots by PA0A (417km). Several others spotted me too on MF despite the low ERP.

UPDATE 1735z:  The best DX so far this evening on 472kHz RX is LA3EQ (769km). It has only just got dark here.

Sunspots and 10m - Mon Nov 2nd 2015

With a decent solar flux and a sunspot number of 88 (K=3) and a 10m propagation forecast of "fair" today should be a decent day on 10m.

UPDATE 1650z:   The first 10m WSPR spot from the USA was WI3V (5902km) at 1340z. There were early Russians on 10m this morning as well as a spot from FR1GZ (9724km). Since the first WSPR spots from the USA there have been plenty of others.