Solar flux is 97 today and sunspot number 55 (K=4). 10m propagation is expected to be "poor" again. I am not expecting conditions on 10m to be much good today, but in the past I have had a surprise.
UPDATE 1020z: Although I am still on 40m WSPR, I shall be moving to 10m WSPR shortly.
20 Jan 2016
Safari - NOT amateur radio
For no apparent reason, the Safari browser on my iPod Touch 4g has stopped displaying the graph of visitors to the various blogs I do. They appear fine in Firefox on the laptop. This has only recently happened. I used to check visits to the blogs when in bed, but am unable to do so now. I tried a complete reboot, but still the same. It is as if blogger.com has changed something. Anyone else had a similar issue?
19 Jan 2016
QSY to 40m
In a few minutes I am going to QSY to 40m WSPR for a change from 10m WSPR. On this band, the antenna is very low, but I may leave the rig running overnight to find out what is possible. I shall be TXing at 2W for 20% of the time and on RX looking for others for 80% of the time. It may be a little while before things stabilise.
I shall be monitoring WSPRnet on a different PC in the lounge, with periodic visits to the shack to check all is well.
UPDATE 1924z: I had to install Windows Updates on the shack PC, but I've been on 40m WSPR for a little while and have been spotted in Germany and Holland so far at 2W. Even though the antenna is low on 40m, it gets out.
UPDATE 1938z: These were the results in the first 30 minutes on 40m WSPR.
UPDATE 2135z: So far this evening my best DX is FY5KE (7117km) in South America who has spotted my 2W on 40m WSPR 4 times. This is despite my antenna being very low for 40m. The reports were very good too. I have also spotted him on 40m WSPR this evening.
UPDATE 2300z: Now W4MO (7272km) is spotting me on 40m WSPR. Despite my antenna being very low for 40m, it has already reached 3 continents this evening.
UPDATE 2315z: FY5KE (7117km) has spotted my 2W to a very low antenna on 40m WSPR 14 times so far this evening on 40m WSPR.
I shall be monitoring WSPRnet on a different PC in the lounge, with periodic visits to the shack to check all is well.
UPDATE 1924z: I had to install Windows Updates on the shack PC, but I've been on 40m WSPR for a little while and have been spotted in Germany and Holland so far at 2W. Even though the antenna is low on 40m, it gets out.
UPDATE 1938z: These were the results in the first 30 minutes on 40m WSPR.
UPDATE 2135z: So far this evening my best DX is FY5KE (7117km) in South America who has spotted my 2W on 40m WSPR 4 times. This is despite my antenna being very low for 40m. The reports were very good too. I have also spotted him on 40m WSPR this evening.
UPDATE 2300z: Now W4MO (7272km) is spotting me on 40m WSPR. Despite my antenna being very low for 40m, it has already reached 3 continents this evening.
UPDATE 2315z: FY5KE (7117km) has spotted my 2W to a very low antenna on 40m WSPR 14 times so far this evening on 40m WSPR.
Good advice - NOT amateur radio
Following Graham's link below, here is an earlier version (added 1918z):
RSPB Garden Bird Count - NOT amateur radio
The annual UK RSPB bird count is any hour in the last weekend of January. I have been doing this for years. You just choose a spot and count the maximum number of each species seen in the hour. It can be surprising. When done, I submit results to the RSPB online. It is always a great pleasure and you do not need to be an expert birder to do this. Each year, the RSPB get a great deal of data. Some years I see very little. Some years I have seen up to 11 different species.
Most times you will see quite common birds, but occasionally you may see something unusual. It is the number of the ordinary birds seen that tells the real story. If you can, grab a coffee and sit down, look out the window, and count the birds in your garden or park. I am sure, like me, you will enjoy it.
See https://ww2.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdwatch .
Most times you will see quite common birds, but occasionally you may see something unusual. It is the number of the ordinary birds seen that tells the real story. If you can, grab a coffee and sit down, look out the window, and count the birds in your garden or park. I am sure, like me, you will enjoy it.
See https://ww2.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdwatch .
Back on 10m WSPR
Just a few minutes ago I QSYed from 630m to 10m WSPR and re-synced the clock. Currently I am running 2W TX 20% and on RX looking for others 80% of the time.
UPDATE 1150z: Overnight and this morning on 630m there were no surprises with the same stations spotting me and being spotted. Tonight, I might give another band a try for a change. LA3JJ (993km) did spot me on 472kHz (630m) overnight though. I was still using just 5mW ERP and the earth-electrode "antenna". He must have a quiet location!
UPDATE 1200z: No spots on 10m as yet.
UPDATE 1240z: Some evidence of wintertime Es on 10m with DK6UG (633km) spotting me. There is also some F2 around with 10m spots from the Canary Is.
UPDATE 1830z: EA1KV (1304km) spotted several times, presumably wintertime Es again.
UPDATE 1150z: Overnight and this morning on 630m there were no surprises with the same stations spotting me and being spotted. Tonight, I might give another band a try for a change. LA3JJ (993km) did spot me on 472kHz (630m) overnight though. I was still using just 5mW ERP and the earth-electrode "antenna". He must have a quiet location!
UPDATE 1200z: No spots on 10m as yet.
UPDATE 1240z: Some evidence of wintertime Es on 10m with DK6UG (633km) spotting me. There is also some F2 around with 10m spots from the Canary Is.
UPDATE 1830z: EA1KV (1304km) spotted several times, presumably wintertime Es again.
New record number of visits to blog
Yesterday saw a new high in daily visits to this blog. I have no idea why!
As you know, I try to reflect what interests me, what I am doing in our hobby and a few things which are unrelated to amateur radio. I intend to continue in much the same way, hoping you all find something of interest here. Please let me know if you think the blog is missing anything important.
Clearly there is a QRP bias, but my stroke has made me concentrate on what I can do. This year, I want more 2-way QSOs but as I find speech hard (for too long) I will be looking for JT65 and JT9-1 QSOs in the main. Of course, these will be with just a few watts. When not in the shack I shall be on WSPR monitoring elsewhere in the house.
As I am slower at spotting errors than I was, please let me know if you see any. I try to correct any I notice but I must miss some.
As you know, I try to reflect what interests me, what I am doing in our hobby and a few things which are unrelated to amateur radio. I intend to continue in much the same way, hoping you all find something of interest here. Please let me know if you think the blog is missing anything important.
Clearly there is a QRP bias, but my stroke has made me concentrate on what I can do. This year, I want more 2-way QSOs but as I find speech hard (for too long) I will be looking for JT65 and JT9-1 QSOs in the main. Of course, these will be with just a few watts. When not in the shack I shall be on WSPR monitoring elsewhere in the house.
As I am slower at spotting errors than I was, please let me know if you see any. I try to correct any I notice but I must miss some.
Sunspots and 10m - Tues Jan 19th 2016
Solar flux is 99 today and sunspot number 48 (K=3) and the forecast for 10m propagation continues to be "poor". I am not expecting great things on 10m today, but I am often surprised.
18 Jan 2016
QSYed to 472kHz WSPR
After most of the day on 10m WSPR, I have now QSYed to 472kHz WSPR for the evening and night. For some time I have had problems accessing WSPRnet. Again I am TXing with 5mW ERP and on RX for 80% of the time using the earth-electrode "antenna" with no preamp on RX.
10m USA yet again
As well as G8VDQ (93km) earlier by tropo and aircraft this morning, WA4ZZW (6873km) was spotted on 10m mid-afternoon. Both stations were using 5W. I have been on 10m TX (randomised TX frequency) continuously until the last few days since when I've been on RX for 80% of the time.
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