Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

Bikes in Cambridge outside Sydney-Sussex College

Most Mondays this term,  I go into Cambridge for my U3AC course, "Living with less". The course is very good.  I travel into Cambridge and home on the bus and enjoy the bus ride. It involves a walk through the centre of Cambridge, which is quiet at this time of year.  In the summer it can get busy with language students and visitors. I am fortunate to have a wide choice of U3AC courses and Cambridge on my doorstep. Many people travel the world to see sights I just take for granted.

Sunspots and 10m - Wed Jan 27th 2016

Solar flux is 112 today. Sunspot number is 61 (K=1) and the 10m propagation forecast remains "poor" today.  With decent solar flux and quite respectable sunspot and K numbers, I would expect 10m WSPR to be quite decent today.  OK, on average, solar activity is declining, but this is on average. Today the numbers are quite good.

UPDATE 1038z:  So far, just G8VDQ (93km) spotted on 10m WSPR today. It is still quite early though.

40m WSPR overnight

Only in the last few minutes have I QSYed to 10m WSPR. 

I was on 40m WSPR overnight. It was worthwhile even with 2W to the very low antenna on 40m (a 10/20/40m end-fed Par) at about 4m (at most) above ground. Several 40m WSPR spots received from the USA overnight, although none from South America.

Since daybreak, just Europeans and G stations spotted and spotting me on 40m WSPR, although W4MO (7272km) spotted me as late as 0748z.

UPDATE 1005z:  No spots given or received yet on 10m WSPR.

QSYed to 40m WSPR

Rather than 630m, I have QSYed to 40m WSPR from 10m for the evening and (probably) overnight. On 40m (as on 10m) I am using 2W TX 20%, looking for others 80%.

UPDATE 1725z:  Plenty of spots already with best DX on TX, so far,  a spot by UA1ASB (2042km).

UPDATE 2306z:  No 40m WSPR DX outside Europe so far tonight.

10m disappointment

Apart from G3JKV this morning, no other spots given or received on 10m WSPR today. I was honestly expecting a half decent day on 10m WSPR today. I even went to double-check all the settings and that the PC is synced to internet time. All seems to be in order, so maybe this is just a bad day.

UPDATE 1604z:   W1VR (6965km) was spotted at 1558z.  10m WSPR DX at last!

More from G1KQH

Steve G1KQH has just sent me this:

Here is one for you 817 Fans.  Just flagged up on me when I was on Facebook, so you know as much as me at the moment but it looks good.

http://817companion.com/

73 Steve
http://g1kqh.blogspot.co.uk/

CCS concert - NOT amateur radio

A reminder that my XYL is taking part in a Cambridge concert in April. Tickets are available by post or on the door.

Sunspots and 10m - Tues Jan 26th 2016

Solar flux is 108 today.  Sunspot number is 58 (K=1) and the forecast for 10m propagation remains "poor". So far this morning just a spot of G3JKV (123km) off aircraft I think on 10m WSPR. There was a lot of Doppler on his signal so pure tropo is unlikely. As yet, no international 10m WSPR spots.

New spotter on 472kHz WSPR

G0HNW (200km) has spotted my 5mW ERP WSPR this evening several times. I am pretty sure he is a new reporter.

More QRP

From Oleg:

Dear Club 72 members and friends,
The "Snowman" QRP Winter field game will be in January 30 and 31, two
periods  in  9.00 to 13.00 UTC both days. This is not contest but QRP
activity only. See details at Club 72 web page, please - www.club72.su
Welcome  all QRP operators to play the game and enjoy QRP in Field or
Home  position  (or both). No any points, no logs but declaration and
photos only. Just for FUN!
72! Oleg RV3GM / KH6OB "Mr. 72"