Pound-Dollar exchange rate - NOT amateur radio

In the last few weeks the pound has gone down against most currencies. This makes UK exports more competitive, but imports dearer. Against the US Dollar the rate is $1.2244 to £1 currently. The world fears a "hard BREXIT" from the EU. My own view is the EU did not want the UK to leave as it needed us to prop up the (failing?) institution. I think the Euro will weaken a great deal in the next 18 months or so. I am no expert though!

In the short term we are likely to see higher UK prices (inflation) and a bettering of our trade deficit. Many EU nations will need our trade in the future. If we depend less on finance and make more, that would not be a bad thing.

10m JT65

No spots as yet on 10m, although it is very early and I have not been on very long. Maybe things will liven up later?

UPDATE 0904z:  RA6WF (3610km) in Dagestan, Russia spotted on 10m JT65.  I presume this is F2. At the moment I seem to be uploading my 10m JT65 spots to PSKreporter maps OK.

UPDATE 1250z: RA6AM (2908km) spotted me earlier on 10m JT65 (2W QRP). VU2TS (8062km) and EA8GF (2973km)  spotted here on 10m JT65. F2.

UPDATE 2025z:  Best DX on 10m JT65 RX was LW6EUR (11215km) in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Sunspots and 10m - Friday October 21st 2016

Solar flux is 75 today and the sunspot number 16. K=1

Yesterday - 10m JT65 RX

Yesterday I was puzzled why I was being spotted far and wide (including South America) on 10m JT65 (2W QRP), but I was, apparently, receiving nothing according to PSKreporter maps. When I checked my own WSJT-X screen on the shack PC, I could see lots and lots of South Americas, all over Europe, Israel, Thailand and others on 10m JT65 RX!  For some reason, my spots were not being uploaded to PSKreporter, whereas spots by others were. I think the problem must have been my internet connection.

At 0727z this morning I returned to 10m JT65 and the PC sync to internet time was checked. I wonder how today will go?

Time to go QRT

With no new spots now for some hours, I am about to go QRT on 10m JT65. I shall be back on in the morning.

Rally

For readers in Northern Ireland and  Eire I guess.

Saturday 22 OCTOBER : CARRICKFERGUS AMATEUR RADIO GROUP RADIO RALLY

Downshire Community School, Carrickfergus, BT38 7DA. Doors open at 11.30pm and admission is £3. There will be trade stands, a Bring & Buy, special interest groups and an RSGB bookstall. The venue has disabled facilities. Refreshments will be available. Details from Tim, MI0TBL by email to carg@hotmail.co.uk. www.radioclubs.net/carg.

A list of rallies can be found at http://rsgb.org/main/news/rallies/

On 10m JT65 since before breakfast

The 10m JT65 (2W) was fired up just before breakfast. As yet,  no spots given or received on the 10m band, but there are quite a few people looking across Europe and Asia. No signs of UK spots or spots from mainland Europe. Nearer Europe and UK is sometimes possible by aircraft reflection or tropo. Further away depends on Es, F2 or backscatter.

UPDATE 0924z:  Just had my first 10m JT65 spot today: from Austria OE3BOB (1228km). Es?

UPDATE 1128z:  IZ0AIS (1506km) has just spotted my 2W on 10m JT65.

UPDATE 1136z: Now EA5/G3XGS (1581km) is spotting me.  Did someone say 10m is "dead"??

UPDATE 1810z:  PU4ENY (9359km) in Brazil copied me earlier on 10m JT65 (2W QRP).

QRP, QRP Club and Sputniks

From Oleg:

Dear Space Friends,
all QSOs installed in the total log page. Thanks!
New memorable certificates sent to:
- Honor Cosmonauts
PA0PJE, OK1DXK, R1CAF/SWL
- Honor Astronauts
RA7RA, R2DNN/B, R2AJA/B
Note:  in  next  2017  "Sputnik"  Days  Beacon/TXs  may be claimed as
"Sputnik"  or  "Vanguard".  Identifications  "beep-beep"  or  "V V V"
require.
72! beep-beep-beep...
Deep Space Communications Center
operator on duty -
Oleg ("Mr. 72") RV3GM / KH6OB


Dear Space Friends,
Sputnik Activity Days finished. Thanks to all participants and to all
spectators! I'll add all QSOs in the totals log and make the order on
the  page  this  evening.  My  sorry,  I  too much busy with my house
reconstructions now.
Note: the dead line for all reports before October 25.
72! beep-beep-beep...
Deep Space Communications Center
operator on duty -
Oleg ("Mr. 72") RV3GM / KH6OB

Sunspots and 10m - Thursday October 20th 2016

Solar flux is 76 today.  Sunspot number is 31.  K=0. Yesterday was not bad on 10m JT65, certainly worth running JT65 in the background.

End of 10m DX today?

Just in case, I'll stay on 10m JT65 a little longer, but I think the DX is over here for the day. In the end I copied 10 South Americans although my own 2W QRP JT65 failed to be spotted there on 10m JT65 today. Still, it was a lot better than yesterday. CE5PRD (12194km) was the best DX today.