Sunspots - Friday November 10th 2017

Solar flux is 65 (low) and the sunspot remains zero. A=20 and K=4. Not at all promising for the higher HF bands.

Bank closing - NOT amateur radio

Like many branches, the only bank in our village closes tomorrow. Our nearest bank is 4 miles away. Like many, we bank online and get money from a cash machine. It is closing because of lack of use. We are to blame.

Wireless Charging

There has been a fair bit of concern in recent weeks about the spectrum pollution that may result in future from the wireless charging of devices and vehicles. Spectrum for this may be allocated at the next WRC in 2019. Now, wireless charging is probably a "good thing" and may help with fossil fuel use reduction, but this needs to be done in ways that minimises RF spectrum pollution. Once the genie is out, there is no going back.

10m FT8 RX

Since breakfast I have been on 10m FT8 RX.  As yet (0937z), no spots on 10m.

UPDATE 1335z: Still no spots at all on 10m FT8. Very quiet.

UPDATE 1628z: Just G4YBI (83km) to the east of London. Tropo or aircraft? Quite the worst day on 10m for quite a while.

Overnight on 630m WSPR

Not the greatest of nights with 6 unique stations spotting my 10mW ERP and in turn I spotted 12 unique stations on MF. It has been much better!

Sunspots - Thursday November 9th 2017

Solar flux is 67 today and the sunspot number still zero. A=47 and K=4. On the face of it, not too promising.

Now on 630m WSPR

As there have been no South Americans spotted here for several hours now, I have moved to 630m WSPR (10mW ERP, 20%) for the evening and overnight period.

10m to South America

FT8 seems to work well, even on 10m. Today there were stations all across Europe spotted and as far as Kuwait, plus Reunion and South Africa, so I was surprised when only 3 South Americans were spotted on 10m FT8 today. I was expecting far more.

In a short while I'll move to 630m WSPR.

Would Trump win now? - NOT amateur radio

The BBC asked a number of "experts".  I was surprised by what they said.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-41839706  .

Profits - NOT amateur radio

John Lewis in Cambridge yesterday and that god "profit" is clearly visible. Frankly, it makes me sick. Why does Christmas get earlier and earlier? Profits!

Personally I'd ban all Christmas things until December.