20m WSPR

As I was getting lunch for my XYL and I, I remained on 20m WSPR.  K9AN (6505km) was the first USA station to spot me on 20m today. I may well switch to 10m later. At the moment I am just resting and watching WSPRnet on a laptop in the lounge.

Sunspots and 10m - Sat Jan 16th 2016

Solar flux is 104 today and sunspot number 38 (K=1). Forecast for 10m propagation is "poor" again. At present I am on 20m WSPR but will probably move to 10m WSPR later, unless I try for more JT9-1 2-way QSOs on 20m.

QRT on all bands

No more 10m spots since the YL station this afternoon. I have gone QRT on all bands.

10m - magic band!

Many times before I have said 10m, like 6m, is a "magic band" that likes to surprise you. Today was no exception. Little did I expect to both give and receive WSPR spots with South America, but that is what the band turned up today. 4X1RF also spotted me in Israel on 10m. Magic band indeed!

UPDATE 1610z:  I now see that YL2GL (1747km) is being spotted. This is probably wintertime Es.

10m WSPR with FT817

For a change I am on 10m WSPR with the FT817 at 2W (more power) but listening for 80% too. As yet no spots, but I shall be on 10m most of the day.  I am hopeful of some wintertime Es and maybe some inter-G DX too on the band. I think F2 10m DX is unlikely.

Sunspots and 10m - Fri Jan 15th 2016

Solar flux is 104 and sunspot number 36 (K=3) today. 10m propagation is expected to remain "poor".

GM4SLV: John Pumford-Green

For many weeks no-one had heard any news of GM4SLV.  After hearing nothing I rang his home in the Shetlands this evening (fearing the worst) and I was so pleased to hear his voice. John is taking a break from the hobby, but all is well.  So the message is "don't panic Captain Manwaring". He is fine.

Australia on 20m WSPR

As we had visitors, I decided to use the WSJT-X V1.6 on 20m WSPR this afternoon. As well as lots of USA spots, I was spotted in Australia twice. Obviously the low Par antenna does a very credible job on 20m. Best DX was VK3AXF (16850km).

Another JT9-1 2-way QSO

Not long ago I had a 2-way QSO with OK2PDH by 20m JT9-1. There is little doubt that JT9-1 and JT65 are ideal modes for me currently. They don't need much power and QSOs do not require me to use my (poor) voice.

Stroke after-effects

I am still suffering with the after-effects of my stroke 2.5 years ago. I still have a very poor voice and still feel giddy walking. I also still tire easily and my fine-motor skills are not good. Although others tell me I am still improving, improvements are now very slow coming, so it is a case of coming to terms with me as I am now. Things upset me more easily and I seem more emotional. I also wonder about some aspects of my memory.   It seems harder than it was to spot errors in spelling and writing: words that shouted out at me as being wrongly spelt no longer do so. Of course, I am putting all this down to my stroke, but it may be old age creeping up on me!