Rallies (Australia and UK)

FEBRUARY 26th 2017 : CENTRAL COAST AMATEUR RADIO CLUB RALLY
Wyong Racecourse, Howarth St, Wyong NSW 2259, Australia.
Billed as the largest event in Australia. More information at www.ccarc.org.au
FEBRUARY 26th 2017 : PENCOED AMATEUR RADIO CLUB TABLE TOP SALE
Pencoed Rugby Football Club, The Verlands, Felindre Road, Pencoed. CF35 5PB Tables will be £10 each (first come first served). Doors open at 8am for sellers and the setting up of tables. Buyers will be allowed in when the doors open at 9.30am. Entry fee £2. Hot food will be available in the morning and at lunch time. Hot and cold drinks will be available from the bar (non alcoholic drinks till lunch time). Table bookings through Madeline Roberts Tel. 01639 767056/0773 837 5775.

A list of rallies can be found at http://rsgb.org/main/news/rallies/

10m JT65

Since about 1012z, I have been active on 10m JT65 hoping for some activity. Solar flux is in the mid 80s, so 10m could be quite reasonable.

UPDATE 1405z: EB8RO (2888km) has exchanged spots with me. I assume this is F2.

UPDATE 1530z: LU6DAX (11594km) in Argentina spotted on 10m JT65. This band is definitely waking up.

UPDATE 1906z: Now going QRT on 10m JT65 and QSYing to 6m MSK144 RX.

2m WSPR overnight

Sadly, nothing at all on 2m WSPR on RX or TX. I was on overnight but will soon QSY to 10m JT65 transceiver I think.

Sunspots and 10m - Friday February 24th 2017

Solar flux is 84 and sunspot number is 18.  A=11 and K=3.

Soccer managers - NOT amateur radio

One job that has zero security is managing a UK soccer team. Leicester have sacked the manager who led them to become Premier League champions last season. In this season they are just above the relegation zone.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39070927

2m WSPR

After a day on 10m WSPR (no spots) I have returned to 2m WSPR (RX and TX) and will remain on overnight. 144.489MHz USB dial.

Soon be spring - NOT amateur radio

As Storm Doris rages outside, there are signs that spring is not far away. Daffodils are at last coming out in our garden and in our road and last weekend there were plenty of snowdrops out. Aconites are also appearing. The first swallows (birds) should arrive here from Africa in about 6-7 weeks' time.

6m MSK144 RX yet again

Again, I am monitoring 6m MSK144 RX but I have only copied UK stations so far today, presumably by aircraft reflections.

I suspect the "experts"  know the best times and the best routes to catch aircraft reflections as the same stations seem to be copied at similar times each day. This is not the case with random MS.

UPDATE 1440z: SK0TM (1156km) again spotted.

Sunspots and 10m - Thursday February 23rd 2017

Solar flux is 84 today and sunspot number 17.  A=10 and K=2.

10m WSPR TX (500mW)

Since breakfast I have been on 10m WSPR TX 100% with randomised frequencies on each transmission. No spots as yet, but I shall be on all day I expect.

UPDATE 2200z:  No 10m spots all day.