CQ-DATV mags free

See http://cq-datv.mobi/ebooks.php .

CQ-DATV is available for free download. I have not tried amateur TV but some remarkable results are being achieved by DATV in the 146-147MHz band. Like all things in our hobby, you can only do so much. I think the use of digital techniques has given amateur TV a new lease of life.

Time passing - NOT amateur radio

Someone said that time passes faster as you get older. It certainly seems this way.

November came and went in no time at all. October was just as fast. It will soon be Christmas, January will soon go, February is a short month and before you know it there will be buds and daffodils everywhere. I am not wishing my time away, but time does seem to disappear.

I do so hope that I feel much better in 2016.  It is 2 years since my stroke and I was expecting to feel so much better by now.

472kHz WSPR

Returned to 10m WSPR at breakfast time. Still on 630m (472kHz) WSPR but I am having trouble accessing the WSPRnet database. Overnight, no new stations copied, or copying me, on 472kHz WSPR. I may switch from 630m to 6m soon.

UPDATE 1040z: M0LMH (223km) is spotting me in daylight on 472kHz WSPR.

Sunspots and 10m - Mon Nov 30th 2015

Sunspot number is 47 today (K=5) but solar flux is 95 and the forecast for 10m remains "poor". With disturbed conditions, I am not expecting great things on 10m, but you never can be sure. No spots as yet on 10m WSPR.

There is often a small Es peak at the end of the year, so we could see some nearer Europeans on 10m Dec/Jan via Es. This is also the case on 6m.

Sunset - NOT amateur radio

We are at the "pits" end of the year as far as sunlight is concerned, but the evenings start to get lighter from mid December even though the mornings get darker for a few weeks more. By the end of January the evenings are getting better light-wise by almost an hour. February is a short month. It is good to think the nights will soon be getting lighter again. It may be a little different where you live.

See http://www.timeanddate.com/sun/uk/cambridge?month=12&year=2015 .

Family weekend - NOT amateur radio

This weekend we had our "London" grandchildren here with their mum and dad. As you can see, our grandson, aged 8 years old,  decided to play dead on the rug.  They left quite late in the afternoon.

472kHz WSPR - same stations

It is now 1800z and I am still spotting the same stations as previously and the same stations are spotting me. I enjoy 472kHz WSPR but we do need more new stations.

It is not hard to get on the band and, as I have proved, large antennas and high ERP are not needed for WSPR. My approach using a simple transverter and FT817 will get you going.

UPDATE 1900z:  I see Ive been spotted by G0HWW (29km). Not too far, but a new station.

Quiet day on 10m WSPR

I was late getting on 10m WSPR today, but I was on early enough to catch any USA openings. There were none today.  

FR1GZ (9724km) spotted me at 1500z and, apart from this, all was quiet. CQWW CW was in full swing so this may have reduced WSPR activity, but the main reason was poor conditions.

Daylight 472kHz WSPR

It was more convenient to stay on 630m (472kHz) WSPR today. I have only just turned on my 10m WSPR beacon. I was quite surprised to see LA3EQ (769km) being spotted in daylight.

Sunspots and 10m - Sun Nov 30th 2015

Solar flux is 96. Sunspot number is just 36 (this will be much lower this time next year) and K=2. 10m propagation is again expected to be "poor".

UPDATE 1123z:   I am still on 630m WSPR (I was on 630m WSPR overnight) as we have family here.  I shall QSY to 10m and 6m later.

UPDATE 1130z:   The best DX on 630m (472kHz) WSPR RX was DH5RAE and the best DX on 472kHz WSPR TX (5mW ERP) was DL-SWL at 701km.