Sunspots - Thursday November 2nd 2017

Solar flux is 73 today and the sunspot number zero. A=4 and K=2.

Don't QSY yet!

So, I was about to QSY from 10m FT8 to 630m WSPR, but I see very recent South American spots, so left 10m running. In another hour or so, I shall QSY to MF.

UPDATE 1847z: Best DX today on 10m FT8 RX was LU8XAF (13413km). As there has been now DX for over an hour, I think it is time to QSY to 630m.

630m WSPR last night

As is my usual pattern, I was on 630m WSPR last night. My own 10mW ERP signal was spotted by 6 unique stations and I spotted 12 unique stations with best DX EA4GHB (1300km).

Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

Like many towns, Cambridge has a fair number of shops which you can see in any UK town.

In Cambridge the M&S store is on 2 sites and they have just widened the path to 1 of these, as the photo shows.

Like most clothes retailers, M&S is struggling on the high street. All retailers are facing competition from on-line suppliers. It is anyone's guess what our high streets will be like in 20 years' time.

10m FT8 RX

So far, and I have been on since breakfast, more spotted than yesterday with quite a few South Americans spotted already on 10m FT8: it seems these are coming through earlier. I guess this is to do with the seasons.

4 continents spotted so far today on 10m FT8.

Sunspots - Wednesday November 1st 2017

Solar flux is 74 today and the sunspot number 11. A=3 and K=0.

QSY to 630m WSPR

As of a few minutes ago, I have QSYed to 630m WSPR transceive (10mW ERP, 20%).

UPDATE 2118z: So far an average evening on 630m WSPR with my QRPP being spotted by 4 unique stations. I have managed to spot 4 uniques too.

UPDATE 2300z: Best RX DX on 630m WSPR this evening is IW4DXW (1190km).

A good God? - NOT amateur radio

As I write, my son's brother-in-law is clinging to life after suffering horrific injuries in Australia whilst a pedestrian crossing a road on green. A car struck him with the driver going through a red light whilst fiddling with her phone. He is dying.

It is hard to believe in a just God at these times. The sisters and parents are living in limbo and clearly are in a living hell. In history, the past is littered with cruelty such as the mass extermination of Jews in Europe not that long ago.

Can someone please explain to me how God is good? All the evidence is life is random and at times deeply cruel.

10m FT8 RX

Since breakfast, I have been on 10m FT8 RX. A few Europeans spotted with the best DX being UN7AB (3825km) near the Caspian Sea in Kazakhstan, presumably by F2.

UPDATE 1938z: For the first time in many weeks, 10m FT8 resulted in just Europeans and Russians - no ""real" DX. Shortly, I shall QSY to 630m WSPR.

630m WSPR overnight

Overnight I was again on 630m WSPR (10mW ERP, 20%). In all, I was spotted by 14 unique stations with best DX LA3EQ (769km) in Norway. In turn, I spotted 12 unique stations.