16 Jul 2017

FT8 digital mode

This new digital mode is available in a beta release of WSJT-X. Although keen to give this new mode a try, I think I'll wait until it is formally released, although I am told it is already being widely used on 20m.

Western Backway - NOT amateur radio

Kingsbridge, Devon has very old pedestrian walkways that go around the town. This is Western Backway that also has a mill leet, although the mill closed long ago. Not many visitors are aware of these.

Sunspots - Sunday July 16th 2017

Solar flux is 90 today (high) and the sunspot number 34. A=4 and K=4.

10m WSPR TX

Since before breakfast, I have been on 10m WSPR TX (500mW), although no spots received yet.

UPDATE 2022z: 10 unique spots of my 500mW today on 10m WSPR.

6m JT65

I was briefly on RX and TX, but I am now just on RX. Plenty of EU Es in evidence with stations in southern Europe being copied.

Last night briefly I was also JT65 TX (1W ERP) and was copied in southern Spain and the UK.

15 Jul 2017

Back on the air

This time, I decided not to take any radios to Devon. I did last year, but hardly used them because of my poor voice.

On my return home I have been active on 10m WSPR TX (no spots) and 6m JT65 where I copied a few stations in southern Portugal and Spain, but no-one copied my 1W ERP.

Model Village - NOT amateur radio

On our way home, we called at Bourton in the Water to visit the model village. It was worth a look.

See http://www.bourtoninfo.com/tourist-attractions/the-model-village/ .

Sunspots - Saturday July 15th 2017

Solar flux is 91 (high) and the sunspot number 58 (quite high). A=4 and K=1. At this stage of the solar cycle these are good numbers.

Home again - NOT amateur radio

After nine days away from home (7 in Devon and 2 stopping on the way) we are now back home again. The grass needs cutting and those annoying brown patches in the grass, although smaller, are still there! Obviously we did not have enough rain.