10m FT8 RX

As usual, I am keeping an eye on 10m FT8. 3 spots so far with best DX 9K2NO (4641km) in Kuwait.

UPDATE 1428z:  Best 10m FT8 DX is now FR4OO (9668km) on Reunion Is in the south Indian Ocean.

UPDATE 1510z: Now 10m FT8 propagation is moving west. ZS1TMJ (9563km) now being spotted. Later I feel sure there will be some South Americans.

UPDATE 1525z: First South American was PU2WSQ (9588km).

Sunspots - Wednesday November 8th 2017

Solar flux is 68 today and the sunspot number still zero. A=36 and K=6.

Cambridge Bus Station - NOT amateur radio

This was Cambridge Drummer Street bus station yesterday evening. The service bus did not arrive and the next bus was nearly 1.5 hours later! Notice how many people are on their "devices".

630m WSPR

As usual, I have been on 630m WSPR a lot of this evening. So far, conditions seem typical.

My son's brother-in-law has died - NOT amateur radio

Tragically, my son's brother-in-law, who was knocked over by a careless driver busy fiddling with her mobile phone, has died. He was in hospital for over a month in Australia.  1 second and his future would have been so different. His entire family is devastated.  The woman driver will have this guilt for the rest of her life. In many ways I feel sorry for her too.

Where is the good God who allows this to happen? Right now I find it hard to fathom any good in this situation.

2m UKAC Activity Contest

This evening was the 2m leg of the RSGB's activity contest. As my bus was late getting back from Cambridge, I was not on very long this time, so worked few stations. Normally, I add a map, but this time it is not worth it.

OFCOM monthly update

OFCOM has just produced its update for October.

See http://ofcom.cmail19.com/t/ViewEmail/i/AF858CA5839176DE2540EF23F30FEDED/59D1BD3EA2F08127C67FD2F38AC4859C

Hindu funeral - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday, I attended a funeral for my old manager at Pye Telecom. He was Indian and a really good man. He always told the truth and I had a great deal of time for him. The service was at the crematorium in Cambridge and was a Hindu service. It was very moving. According to Wikipedia there are 960 million followers in India alone.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduism .

The last 24 hours on 630m WSPR

The last evening and night were quite productive. My 10mW ERP WSPR was spotted by 13 unique stations and I spotted 16 uniques.

10m FT8 RX

Just before breakfast I moved to 10m FT8 RX again. Despite poor solar conditions and zero sunspots, several stations are coming in via F2.

Best DX currently on 10m FT8 VU2TS (8062km) in Southern India.

UPDATE 1048z: Best 10m FT8 RX DX is VK6RK (14469km) in Western Australia. Did someone say 10m was dead? Solar flux is low and the sunspot number is zero! FT8!

UPDATE 1150z: It just get better! VK5SFA (16221km) is now the best DX spotted on 10m FT8 this morning.  FT8 is magic.

UPDATE 2052z: Well. I think today was the best yet this autumn on 10m FT8 RX. Did someone say 10m was "dead"? Well even with low solar activity and zero sunspots the photo shows the spots on 10m FT8 today! Amazing!