Sunspots and 10m - Sun Jan 10th 2016

Solar flux is 106, sunspot number 84 (K=1) and the forecast for 10m remains "poor" today.  I am not expecting great things of 10m today.

Back on MF

As I don't have to be in the shack for WSPR (I can monitor in the lounge, or even in bed!) I have returned to 472kHz (630m) WSPR.  It takes a few seconds to pop in the shack if anything is amiss.  I am able to use a different PC in the lounge and my iPod Touch in bed.

UPDATE 1846z:  Nice no see I was spotted by a new reporter this evening M0TAZ (79km). DK7FC (669km) has been spotted as usual.

JT9-1 20m QSO

Photo thanks to Bas.

I had my first JT9-1 QSO of the year on 20m a little while ago working SM3HHI (1376km) with 2.5W from the FT817 and using the new baby shack PC running WSJT-X V1.6. It looks like this should be a good mode with my poor voice.  With this software it is very straightforward. QSOs take about 6 minutes to call CQ, exchange grids and reports and the confirmations.

UPDATE 1202z:  As interesting as the QSO, I see from PSK reporter that I was being received all over Europe.

UPDATE 1638z:  We have had visitors all afternoon, so I have not been TXing.  A couple of stations were lost (OK and RA9) on 20m JT9-1 just after lunch. These stations replied to my CQ but were lost before the QSOs could be finished.

UPDATE 1646z:  I left the 20m JT9-1 running on RX all afternoon. I see that I spotted N2LD (5645km) and OD5PY (3466km).

Sunspots and 10m - Sat Jan 9th 2016

Solar flux today is 109 and sunspot number 80 (K=2). 10m propagation is again expected to be "poor".

10m WSPR earlier today

EA8/DK5HH (2951km) spotted my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon at 1202z today. I think this was single hop F2 propagation. Although not super-DX, it does show that there is still life on 10m. WSPR is ideal for "smoking out" short transient 10m openings.

Anglesey Abbey NT - NOT amateur radio

Anglesey Abbey - Jan 8th 2016

We visit the extensive grounds at nearby Anglesey Abbey, owned by the National Trust, most months.  There is always something to see whatever the season.  Everything is early this year because it has been so mild down here. Many snowdrops are out, some daffodils are already dying and lots of other flowers are in bloom.  The photo shows one of the lawns in winter with bare trees. The weather is expected to be much colder next week.

China

It seems odd to me that the Chinese haven't taken the amateur radio market by storm already. When the Chinese do wake up I think ICOM, Yaesu and Kenwood will struggle. It would not surprise me if at least one goes bankrupt. They are "swimming against the tide". China is currently a low cost assembly area and even Apple take advantage of this.  So far, the Chinese products we have seen have not been a match for the Japanese, but surely this will change? Volumes are not the issue as some variants are made in decent numbers. No, the Japanese amateur manufacturers need to wake up fast or they will go under.

Sunspots and 10m - Fri Jan 8th 2016

Solar flux is 95 today and sunspot number 29 (K=2). 10m propagation is expected to be "poor" so I am not hopeful of decent results on 10m today.  We are definitely seeing the effects of falling solar activity sadly, although at times 10m is good so never give up on the band. This is exactly where WSPR is useful. At present I am active on 10m WSPR and 630m WSPR.

472kHz WSPR

I am back on 472kHz (630m) WSPR (5mW ERP 20%, RX 80%) and will remain on overnight.

UPDATE 1004z 8.1.16:  No surprises overnight.

20m WSPR and JT9-1

As I was busy with other things all morning I was active on 20m WSPR. We are out most of the afternoon so JT9-1 may have to wait until I have more time in the shack.