10 Dec 2016
South Hams - NOT amateur radio
A and K indices
Some ask what these mean.
See https://www.electronics-notes.com/articles/antennas-propagation/ionospheric/solar-indices-flux-a-ap-k-kp.php for explanations.
See https://www.electronics-notes.com/articles/antennas-propagation/ionospheric/solar-indices-flux-a-ap-k-kp.php for explanations.
Blog issue?
At the moment I am experiencing an issue with my blog. I have tried to correct a post error using both Edge and Chrome but neither will allow me to make the correction!
In the 10m JT65 post it should say "using the format "B callsign locator"" and the bit in bold should not be. My apologies.
UPDATE 1500z: It appears the blog does not like me using the sort of brackets used in URLs. Changing these to colons works OK. I have now corrected the 10m JT65 post.
In the 10m JT65 post it should say "using the format "B callsign locator"" and the bit in bold should not be. My apologies.
UPDATE 1500z: It appears the blog does not like me using the sort of brackets used in URLs. Changing these to colons works OK. I have now corrected the 10m JT65 post.
Back on 10m JT65
Shortly before lunch, I went QRT on MF WSPR and started up on 10m JT65. As yet, no spots on 10m JT65 where I run 2W.
It has been fairly quiet of late on 10m, although the last week has seen 10m JT65 spots of my 2W signal from the USA and South America, despite the much lower sunspot numbers now and just QRP power. I only use simple wire antennas on HF. JT65 really is a great mode without the need for much power or big beams.
My recommendation is switch to 10m JT65. The DX is harder to find these days, but using weak signal modes gives you the best chance of being copied.
Using the format "B callsign locator" as a beacon when not looking for QSOs will show up on PSK reporter maps if you tick the "upload to PSK reporter maps" in your JT65 software.
WSJT-X V1.6 is stable and freely available. I've used this now for JT65 and WSPR for about a year.
UPDATE 1606z: 10m JT65 has been very quiet so far. I'd expect South Americans and maybe the USA to appear in the next couple of hours or not at all.
UPDATE 1706z: LW2DAF (11211km) was spotted about an hour ago on 10m JT65.
UPDATE 1758z: 3 South American spots so far tonight on 10m JT65.
It has been fairly quiet of late on 10m, although the last week has seen 10m JT65 spots of my 2W signal from the USA and South America, despite the much lower sunspot numbers now and just QRP power. I only use simple wire antennas on HF. JT65 really is a great mode without the need for much power or big beams.
My recommendation is switch to 10m JT65. The DX is harder to find these days, but using weak signal modes gives you the best chance of being copied.
Using the format "B callsign locator" as a beacon when not looking for QSOs will show up on PSK reporter maps if you tick the "upload to PSK reporter maps" in your JT65 software.
WSJT-X V1.6 is stable and freely available. I've used this now for JT65 and WSPR for about a year.
UPDATE 1606z: 10m JT65 has been very quiet so far. I'd expect South Americans and maybe the USA to appear in the next couple of hours or not at all.
UPDATE 1706z: LW2DAF (11211km) was spotted about an hour ago on 10m JT65.
UPDATE 1758z: 3 South American spots so far tonight on 10m JT65.
Old friends - NOT amateur radio
This weekend we have old friends over staying with us. When I was in hospital, they regularly drove 90 miles each way to come to see me in hospital. Up until 2009 they lived in our village but moved to the Cotswolds, partly to be close to their daughter who has MS.
I have said many times that a real illness shows true friends. Sadly, a church-going couple next door never once asked how I was and never came to see my wife. Some people just don't "do" illnesses. It is some years since I was in hospital for 3.5 months, but our Cotswold friends are as close as ever.
In a time of real crisis, some people "came up trumps". Others just fell away.
I have said many times that a real illness shows true friends. Sadly, a church-going couple next door never once asked how I was and never came to see my wife. Some people just don't "do" illnesses. It is some years since I was in hospital for 3.5 months, but our Cotswold friends are as close as ever.
In a time of real crisis, some people "came up trumps". Others just fell away.
Still on 630m WSPR
Usually by now I have switched to 10m JT65 (2W), but I am still on 472kHz (630m) WSPR with 5mW ERP. We have visitors and I'll probably change to 10m JT65 when they go out.
G0VQH (15km), G8LCO (58km) and M0XDK (80km) are all copying me on MF.
G0VQH (15km), G8LCO (58km) and M0XDK (80km) are all copying me on MF.
Amateur Radio blog
The Amateur Radio blog continues to provide lots to read most days. Every week they provide a summary Amateur Radio Newsletter by email if you subscribe. It is well worth checking in my view.
Sunspots and 10m - Saturday December 10th 2016
Solar flux is 72 today and the sunspot number 12. A= 24 and K=3.
9 Dec 2016
Early success on MF
Only about 15 minutes ago I switched from 10m JT65 to 630m (472kHz) WSPR. DL-SWL (701km) has already spotted me twice. As usual, I am running 5mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. This very very early.
UPDATE 1855z: DK6XY (723km) has just spotted me. This is the best DX so far this season.
UPDATE 1922z: These are the spots on MF of my 5mW ERP so far this evening:
UPDATE 1855z: DK6XY (723km) has just spotted me. This is the best DX so far this season.
UPDATE 1922z: These are the spots on MF of my 5mW ERP so far this evening:
£11 for a dual band hand held?
This came from Steve G1KQH:
A Dual band HT .... wait for it £11.00!!
A Dual band HT .... wait for it £11.00!!
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/
This includes free postage from China! Just how do they do it?
This includes free postage from China! Just how do they do it?
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