Back on 472kHz WSPR

For the evening and overnight, I have returned to 472kHz (630m) WSPR using 5mW ERP.  So far, just local spots out to 80km.

UPDATE 2015z: G4FTC (123km) in IO91 spotted me as the best DX spot so far.

UPDATE 2242z: PA0RDT (243km) is the best TX DX so far this evening on 630m.

10m JT65 now and MF overnight

About an hour ago I stopped 472kHz (630m) WSPR and started up again on 10m JT65, but no spots as yet on 10m.

Last night on MF G3XIZ (46km), G4FFC (45km) and best DX this season so far LA3JJ (993km) spotted me on 472kHz WSPR. As usual, I was using 5mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground on 472kHz (630m). All great - thank you! So far, I think I have been spotted by 24 unique stations in 5 countries this season on 472kHz WSPR.

UPDATE 2010z: DG0OPK (730km) spotted me on 10m JT65 3 hours ago. No "real" DX though.

Screening for aortic aneurisms - NOT amateur radio

Apparently men in their 65th year are eligible for free screening for aortic aneurisms. I was never informed! Today I found out about someone who died suddenly abroad from this treatable condition. Locally, the contact is via http://www.cuh.org.uk/abdominal-aortic-aneurysm-screening .

UPDATE 1850z: So I rang the help desk and was told they had my results from 3 years ago! Well, it was not me as I have never had this test. NHS efficiency??

Sunspots and 10m - Thursday December 15th 2016

Solar flux is 71 today and the sunspot number 25. A=4 and K=1.

Visible Aurora

The Space Weather website reports on a world famous surfer who sees a visible aurora in Norway.

See http://www.smh.com.au/sport/surfing-great-mick-fanning-seeks-new-adventures-20161213-gtaaxn.html

ULF amateur success

Stefan DK7FC has successfully decoded his radiated signal at 65km on 2.97kHz. He refers to an attachment that is not included here.

"Hi ULF,

My post-processing of the 4 day recording is still running, almost 50% of the data is shown on the spectrograms now.
I'm happy to confirm the successful decode of a 5 character EbNaut message over 65 km on the 101 km band, with a BIG SNR! It's the one which started on 08.DEC, 7 UTC. First there was no decode until i found that i made a mistake, the actual start of the transmission is 6:58:40 UTC, an offset of -1 symbol.
Capture in attachment. I also attach the wav file, if someone wants to play with it, the size is very small.

73, Stefan"

For EbNaut resources see: http://www.abelian.org/ebnaut/

10m JT65

I have returned to 10m JT65 (2W QRP). So far, I have spotted one G in IO93 and SV4RRK (2194km). So far, no-one has spotted my QRP. Are we seeing the start of the small winter Es peak?

Sunspots and 10m - Wednesday December 14th 2016

Solar flux is 71 today and the sunspot number 14. A=4 and K=0.

472kHz (630m) WSPR

So far, I have now been spotted by 21 unique stations in 4 countries this autumn using 5mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" on 472kHz WSPR. I have now QSYed to 10m JT65.

UPDATE 1938z: I am about to go QRT on 10m JT65 and QSY to 472kHz (630m) WSPR.

70cm UKAC

As this was the second Tuesday in the month, it was the 70cm leg of the RSGB's activity contest. I was only running 5W to a 2m halo fed with lossy coax. Best DX tonight was just 105km, although I was only on for 20% of the time because of my poor voice.