Sunspots and 10m - Sunday February 5th 2017

Solar flux is 72 today. Sunspot number is 22. A=11 and K=3.

10m does not look that promising, but 10m has a habit of throwing surprises!

6m MSK144 RX and 10m WSPR

This morning I am on 6m MSK144  (RX only) and 10m WSPR (500mW 100% TX, randomised frequency).

Overnight I was on 630m (5mW ERP) using the earth-electrode "antenna".  I am informed by LA3EQ that LA2XPA (1310km) has a beverage antenna on 630m RX and that he lives on an island. His MF noise floor is low. This probably helps explain why he can copy my weak MF signal.

UPDATE 1200z: G4YHF (77km) spotted on 6m MSK144. Nothing yet on 10m WSPR.

UPDATE 1915z: Apart from EI4DQ (576km) and a couple of Gs, no DX as yet on 6m. I am about to go QRT on 10m, but will remain on 6m MSK144 RX overnight. I may go briefly on 6m TX as well as RX for a period.

UPDATE 1923z: I have now gone QRT on 10m WSPR but I am for a while only transceive on 6m MSK144 (15 secs TX period). M1BXF/SDR (14km) copied me about 10 minutes ago on 6m MSK144.

Growing Amaryllis - NOT amateur radio

We usually get an amaryllis bulb as a gift at Christmas. This last Christmas was no exception. They are great fun. Ours is now 68cm tall and both flowers have started to split. There is a chance both will be fully in flower next week. I thought one flower would have been out last week.

Amateur Radio Blog

This is always worth a look as there is usually something of interest.

See http://www.amateurradio.com/ .

Norway spot (again) on 472kHz WSPR TX

For the third evening in a row my 5mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground has been spotted in Norway by LA2XPA (1310km) on 472kHz WSPR. Tonight has started well. PA7EY (306km) has also spotted me on 472kHz WSPR.

UPDATE 1912z: LA2XPA has already spotted me 3 times on 472kHz WSPR this evening.

UPDATE 2145z: LA8AV (1035km) has been spotted despite my S8 noise floor when the PC is on the SMPSU. He must be a very good signal. BTW, LA2XPA (1310km) has now spotted me 4 times this evening on 472kHz WSPR.

Winter cheer - NOT amateur radio

This is a gloomy time of the year. Although there are hints of better days ahead with the days lengthening, we have had a very wet and gloomy January. February has started much the same. This moorhen had some much needed colour. Days are lengthening about 4 minutes a day presently.

472kHz WSPR yesterday evening and overnight

Although LA2XPA (1310km) copied me lots of times again, I don't think conditions were quite as good as the previous night. In all, I was spotted in 4 countries on 472kHz WSPR (5mW ERP) by 10 unique stations. In all, I spotted 14 unique stations in 6 countries on 472kHz WSPR RX in the last day.

Sunspots and 10m - Saturday February 4th 2017

Solar flux is 74 today and the sunspot number 39. A=18 and K=3.

First daffodils - NOT amateur radio

Last autumn we saw our first daffodils out at the end of November 2015. This year, we have only just seen the first daffodils fully in flower. Things are much later this year. At Anglesey Abbey the snowdrops and aconites are at last coming out.

Back on 472kHz WSPR

After the great successes of last night, I have gone QRT on 10m JT65 and started up on 472kHz WSPR (5mW ERP). At the moment I am on battery power, so the noise floor on RX is very low. I doubt I can repeat the successes of last night, but you never know.

UPDATE 1950z: LA8AV (1035km) has been spotted 3 times already at up to -13dB S/N. There is a chance he could copy me.

UPDATE 1954z: Despite the FT817 being a bit "deaf" on 472kHz, I still hear most of what is going on.  I think this proves sensitivity on this band is limited by external noise, so S/N is more important than basic rig sensitivity.

UPDATE 2000z: LA2XPA (1310km) in Kristiansund, Norway has already spotted my 5mW ERP. Promising again this evening.

UPDATE 2238z: LA2XPA (1310km) has spotted me 5 times so far this evening. At the moment conditions on 472kHz seem similar to last night.

UPDATE 2315z: Judging by the spots this evening and yesterday from Norway, I can only conclude that those receiving me up there must have a very low noise floor.