630m WSPR overnight

In all, I was spotted by 9 unique stations with the best DX LA3EQ (769km) in Norway. As usual, my ERP is 10mW.

Sunspots at last! - Wednesday November 15th 2017

Solar flux is 74 and the sunspot number 14 (not zero!). A=11 and K=3.

New student flats - NOT amateur radio

Years ago we bought a car from West's garage in Cambridge. They moved and now they are building new student flats on the site. This photo was taken from a bus tonight in the dark. No doubt these are "posh" with en suite facilities: not like we had!

630m WSPR

For a little while I have been active again on 630m WSPR (10mW ERP, 20%). So far,  4 unique spots of my QRPP signal, all in England. I shall remain on overnight probably.

70cm UKAC contest

This 70cm activity contest, organised by the RSGB, was tonight.

Although I worked a couple of stations and heard several more, the limitations of my system were apparent tonight (just 5W, lossy coax, 2m halo).  To take this seriously I need a 70cm beam and a rotator! Best DX this evening was only 57km. In all, I think I was active for less than 30 minutes. In past 70cm UKAC (activity sessions) I have worked a lot further.

Also, because of my poor voice I was not on very long. Disappointing.

Gearbest

A little while ago I ordered 2 UHF transceivers from them. A few weeks later a package arrived containing just 1 transceiver. My original order was  very, very, clear that the order was for 2pcs (transceivers). After a great many emails to them it is clear they do not understand English and insist I ordered just 1!

In the end they have agreed to a full refund. I shall not be doing business with Gearbest ever again, despite their good prices. If you order things online beware: the company may not understand!

5MHz

According to Southgate News, Germany now will get access to the WRC 5MHz allocation and an extension of their 50MHz band.

I wonder when the WRC 5MHz band will become available in the UK?

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2017/november/german-radio-hams-get-5-mhz-band-and-50-mhz-extension.htm#.WgrA77p2vIU .

Copied in Scotland on 630m WSPR

Overnight, I was spotted by 12 unique stations including GM0UDL (659km). This is my first report from GM this season. I am not sure how many stations have spotted my 10mW ERP from my crap antenna, but it is probably more than 40 now in 8 countries. All I can say is that if I can do it then, honestly, anyone can.

Sunspots - Tuesday November 14th 2017

Solar flux is 72 today, but the sunspot number remains zero. We will see many days or months without spots in the years ahead. We could even see years with a sunspot number of zero! A=6 and K=3.

10m FT8 RX

As is usual, I've been on 10m FT8 RX since before breakfast. Just a single spot so far - PD0HCV (422km). This could be aircraft reflection?

UPDATE 1105z: With just 2 Gs and one PD0 spotted this looks like another bad day on 10m FT8?

UPDATE 1235z: Now 4 G stations spotted plus 1 PD0. Maybe people are realising 10m FT8 will also be useful for inter-G QSOs even when it behaves more like a VHF band?

UPDATE 1925z: Another dismal day on 10m FT8. More G stations spotted plus one other from Holland. Time to QSY to 630m WSPR!