Sunspots and 10m - Fri March 4th 2016

Solar flux is 99 today and sunspot number 50 (K=0). The forecast for 10m propagation remains "poor". So far, it is now 1112z, there have been no spots given or received on 10m WSPR. I've been on since before breakfast.

Power on 10m WSPR

There seems to be an advantage on 10m WSPR with a little more power. VK2KRR was using 10W when I copied him earlier. VK5MR who copied me just once today at -24dB S/N when I was using 2W probably would not have copied me at 500mW. When conditions are good, more power does not make sense as 500mW is enough. When conditions are "just" there, it seems more power helps. So far today I have been spotted just once even at 2W TX. With 500mW I would probably not have been seen by anyone.

UPDATE 2052z:  After a promising start 10m WSPR was a disappointment today with just G spots since this morning.  It looked very promising early on.

FTSE 100 still climbing - NOT amateur radio

It is currently 1110z and the UK share index, the FTSE 100, is up by 0.39% on the day after a shaky start. It could still tumble later.  At its peak, early last year, it was over 7100.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business/markets/europe/lse_ukx.

UPDATE 1310z:  It is now falling and is  -0.02% down on yesterday.

QRP Club

More from Oleg..

Dear Club 72 members and friends,

I have a great pleasure to inform you about new Club 72 member -
op. Vladimir RK8A aka RW9WR, certificate nr 83.
You are welcome Vladimir!
Who's next?

72! Oleg RV3GM / KH6OB "Mr. 72"

365 Project - NOT amateur radio

For some years now my wife and I have done a photo a day as a record of our daily lives. I stopped when I was ill and started again in Jan 2015. It is interesting to see what we did. Unlike some, who go for very "arty" pictures, mine is just a record of ordinary daily life.  If you pay $19 annually you can have more albums and private viewing.  It is great fun to look back and quite a good discipline. I enjoy doing it.

See http://365project.org/ .

10m WSPR - hopeful with Australia yet again

Australia yet again...

With solar flux and sunspot numbers up a bit and very early spots on 10m WSPR of VK2KRR (16789km) I am quietly optimistic today, although no further 10m spots, as yet, at 0952z.

UPDATE 1028z:  VK5MR (16144km) in PF96lh square was the first to spot me this morning on 10m WSPR at 1010z at -24dB S/N. Yet again, despite the "poor" forecast for 10m I am seeing some impressive DX. 10m is far from dead, as WSPR proves yet again.

UPDATE 1117z:  These the 10m WSPR spots so far today:

UPDATE 1320z:  Just the single spot so far on 10m WSPR.   As well the Australian spots G3JKV and G4CUI (172km) have been spotted.

Sunspots and 10m - Thurs March 3rd 2016

Solar flux is 99 today (up) and sunspot number 65 (K=3) which is also up. 10m propagation is expected to be "poor" yet again. I have been on 10m WSPR (TX and RX) since before breakfast.

UPDATE 0906z:  VK2KRR (16789km) was spotted a couple of times very early and very strongly on 10m WSPR.

FTSE 100 - NOT amateur radio

Yet again the FTSE 100 UK share index is up on yesterday at 6163.97. It rose sharply earlier, but has been falling for a while. I guess it could go negative later. With so much uncertainty I think it will fall sharply soon, although I am frequently wrong! In this case, I very much hope I am proved wrong. Looking at China and Greece I somehow think that emotion rather than reality is driving the markets at present. Sooner rather than later the world will wake up to several facts:

1. Growth cannot go on for ever with limited resources.
2. Oil will run out.
3. The population has yet to peak in the world.
4. All the world needs feeding
5. All the world deserves a decent standard of living.

 UPDATE 1142z:   The FTSE 100 is currently -0.33% on yesterday.

First 10m WSPR spots

UA6AAK (2780km) has been spotted 3 times so far this morning on 10m WSPR. I assume this is single hoop F2. He is strong.

UPDATE 1045z:  These are the 10m WSPR spots so far today. Not at all bad so far.

UPDATE 1908z:  After a promising start on 10m WSPR, the day was a bit of a disappointment. I have gone QRT on all bands now as there was threat of thunder. These were all the 10m WSPR spots today.

Sunspots and 10m - Wed March 2nd 2016

Solar flux is 96 today and sunspot number 39 (K=1). The forecast for 10m propagation remains "poor" today.

I have been on 10m WSPR since about 0715z (2W TX 20%, RX 80%) although no spots given or received on 10m WSPR so far today.

Overnight, I was on 40m WSPR with the last USA spots on 40m WSPR being around 0700z this morning. Despite the very poor, low, antenna on 40m,WSPR seems to work wonders.