Doh!

At 2000z I went on 144.575MHz FM in the East Cambridgeshire net. At this time I noticed that I was not on 10m JT65 as the rig had turned off! I should have checked earlier as I may have been off much of the day. It was my fault for not checking sooner. I was looking at PSK Reporter Maps on a different PC.

I have now gone QRT.

Granddaughter's note - NOT amateur radio

Last weekend was our elder grandson's birthday. His sister stared at him and she wrote him this note!

10m JT65

At just before 0730z, I returned to 10m JT65 with 2W QRP. As yet no spots.

UPDATE 1236z: Still no spots given or received on 10m JT65.

UPDATE 1900z: No spots (given or received) all day on 10m JT65. This has been one of the worst days on 10m JT65 this autumn. Mind you, it seems to confirm that if the South Americans are coming through by TEP, you need some means of extending this to northern Europe.

Sunspots and 10m - Monday November 14th 2016

Solar flux is 79. Sunspot number is 13. K=3. Yesterday, quite a few South Americans were spotted here on 10m JT65. Conditions today look broadly similar, albeit the sunspot count is lower.

Beginnings - NOT amateur radio

Flete House, where I was born. Always impresses! Actually it was a nursing home after WW2 for many years. Now posh flats. I like to say I was born in a stately home - well I was! If I bought one of the flats I could die where I was born.

Trump's Wall - NOT amateur radio

Partly a fence now. Mr Trump changing his mind or influenced by his peers? It will be interesting to see his policies when he is in charge.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-us-2016-37969112

New Zealand Earthquake - NOT amateur radio

It was interesting that the BBC News this lunchtime on Radio 4 did not even mention the latest earthquake in New Zealand. We are fed what they think we should hear. Some reports say it was stronger than the earthquake that so badly damaged Christchurch a few years ago.

We were in Christchurch exactly 2 years before this happened. New Zealand is a beautiful country with a small population. When an earthquake strikes, it can be a real burden to cope financially. Of all the places I have been fortunate enough to visit, this was the loveliest, followed by Iceland. Iceland we assumed would be barren but it was beautiful with lupins in flower all over the place. Both in New Zealand and Iceland the people were kind and welcoming.

Rallies - no news

If you want me to publicise your local rally just contact me. I am happy to push your rally. The blog has a worldwide readership, so whether Telford or Timbuktu, it matters not: just let me know.

At this time of year, things on the rally front are quiet in the UK as the weather is "dull November".

10m JT65

I returned to 10m JT65 (2W QRP)  just over 1 hour ago. So far, spots given and received from Europe, but nothing further as yet.

UPDATE 1230z:  Best DX on 10m JT65 are spots (given and received) in the Canary Is. and Russia. As conditions seem quite decent, I think South America should be in reach on 10m JT65 this afternoon. USA? This remains to be seen.

UPDATE 1515z: As yet, no evidence here of South Americans on 10m JT65, which is surprising.

UPDATE 1530z: Did someone say 10m was dead? This is my log so far today. I run 2W QRP to a very average, and low, wire antenna. No beams! I am sure others can do much better.

UPDATE 1554z: LU5CQC (11211km) in Buenos Aires, Argentina is the first South American spotted on 10m JT65 this afternoon.

UPDATE 1635z: 4 South Americans spotted on 10m JT65 so far this afternoon: Argentina (2), Brazil and Uruguay.

Sunspots and 10m - Sunday November 13th 2016

Solar flux is 79 today and the sunspot number has gone up to 51 (not bad at this part of the solar cycle). However K=4.

UPDATE 1534z: The K index seems to be improving. K=3 now.