VHF/UHF DX Handbook

Southgate News brings news of a free digital download of this famous book from the 1990s.

See http://www.trpub.net/assets/applets/VHF-UHF_DX_Book.pdf

Sunspots and 10m - Wednesday February 8th 2017

Solar flux is 71 today and the sunspot number 11. A=7 and K=1. On average, solar conditions are declining progressively towards the next minimum, although in January conditions improved a little.

See http://www.solen.info/solar/ .

6m MSK144 (50.280MHz) RX

Overnight I was on 6m MSK144 RX only on 50.280MHz. So far only M6GAN (122km) spotted, presumably by aircraft reflection rather than random MS. This was in the hours before sunrise.

So far, I have spotted 6 countries on 6m MSK144 in totally flat conditions with Italy being the best DX and my 6m set-up is very average, if anything below average!

UPDATE 1930z: Best DX on 6m MSK144 today are EI7BMB (462km) and F4GTG (654km).

Local museum kiosk - NOT amateur radio

As I mentioned yesterday, the local museum and windmill next door had a new entrance kiosk erected yesterday. It has still to be fitted out inside, but they made good progress building it. It was all done within a day.

OFCOM

As usual, they have produced a monthly update.

See http://ofcom.cmail20.com/t/ViewEmail/i/075B54357750E53A/59D1BD3EA2F08127C67FD2F38AC4859C

2m UKAC tonight

Just a reminder than the next 2m leg of the RSGB's monthly activity contest is this evening 2000-2230z. Activity levels are usually high and it is a good chance to work a few new squares. It is preceded by an hour long FM activity contest.

UPDATE 2125z: 8 QSOs tonight in 5 squares with 5W and a big-wheel omni antenna in 47 minutes. Then I had to stop because of my poor voice!

2m UKAC - stations worked with 5W tonight in 47 minutes

See http://www.rsgbcc.org/cgi-bin/contest_rules.pl?contest=2mukac .

Sunspots and 10m - Tuesday February 7th 2017

Solar flux is 72 today and the sunspot number 15. A=13 and K=1.

Weak signal modes compared

My old work colleague Bob G3WKW kindly sent me this link knowing I'd be interested. It compares the decode capabilities of various weak signal modes.

See http://destevez.net/2016/10/simulating-jt-modes-how-low-can-they-get/ .

6m MSK144 this morning

Despite an S4 noise floor which I'd not had before (a ticking sound) I still managed to spot DK9WI (508km) and G6GAN (122km) on 6m MSK144 this morning. I assume these are aircraft reflections. My antenna is still the V2000 vertical omni fed with lossy RG58 coax.

UPDATE 1400z: F6ECI (811km) spotted strongly about an hours ago.

Return to 472kHz WSPR (5mW ERP)

After being on 6m MSK144 RX I have now returned to 472kHz WSPR with 5mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. At the moment the PC is on battery power so the noise floor on RX is low. I shall probably turn on the SMPSU overnight.  I spotted a DL this morning on 6m MSK144 but he did not get uploaded to PSK Reporter Maps suggesting I lost internet connectivity for a time.

UPDATE 2016z: These are the initial spots of me so far this evening on 472kHz WSPR.

472kHz WSPR spots so far

UPDATE 2055z: LA2XPA (1310km) has spotted me yet again on 472kHz WSPR. LA8AV (1035km) has been spotted here again on 472kHz WSPR. Sometimes he is very strong. MF conditions appear to be good tonight.