Sunspots - Sunday December 10th 2017

Solar flux has risen a bit to 71. Sunspot number is 11.  A=10 and K=1.

630m WSPR

As usual, I have QSYed to 630m WSPR (10mW ERP, 20% TX) for the evening and overnight. So far I have spotted 2 unique stations and I have been spotted by 5 uniques. My best spot was by G8HUH (250km).

UPDATE 2216z: The best DX on RX this evening is EA4GHB (1300km).

uBitx - multiband HF kit

Steve G1KQH has brought to my attention a multi-band version of the Bitx from India.  Most bits are SMA and on the board already. The kits sell for $109 ($129 after Christmas), which is excellent value. If you get a chance, read Steve's blog at http://g1kqh.blogspot.co.uk/ .

See http://www.hfsignals.com/index.php/ubitx/

10W moonbounce

Amateur Radio Weekly relays that a UK Foundation Licence holder using 10W has had a successful QSO "off the moon".

See https://www.essexham.co.uk/news/essex-eme-success.html?utm_source=amateur-radio-weekly&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter

4m (70MHz) next year?

Although I have "dabbled" with 4m in the distant past, I have not really tried the band seriously. As I am looking for a new challenge for 2018, my mind is drifting towards the 4m band. There are now lots of EU countries on the band which should be in reach by Es in the summer. As I recall, 4m is pretty effective for inter-G QSOs too, so 5-50W to a 4m halo should prove quite effective. 4m WSPR should be very effective. We'll see!

10m FT8

As of  about 10 minutes ago, I went QRT on 630m WSPR and QSYed to 10m FT8 RX. 2E0XXO (120km) already spotted. Not long after OZ1LXJ (806km) was spotted on 10m FT8.

UPDATE 1210z: 8 stations in 7 EU countries spotted so far on 10m FT8 today.

UPDATE 1746z: 12 stations in 9 EU countries spotted so far.

630m WSPR overnight

Last night and overnight I was on 630m WSPR again (10mW ERP, 20% TX). In all, I was spotted by 9 unique stations in 2 countries with best DX PA0O (440km).

On RX I spotted 15 uniques with best DX EA5DOM (1525km).

Light - NOT amateur radio

This was the light on our table at lunch at "The Merry Monk" in Isleham, UK yesterday.

Sunspots - Saturday December 9th 2017

Solar flux is 69 today and the sunspot number 11. A=10 and K=1.

Return to 630m WSPR

A few minutes ago I returned to 630m WSPR (10mW ERP, 20%). So far 4 unique spots of me even though the crystal in the transverter is still drifting. It usually takes about 20 minutes before the drift is zero Hertz.