10m FT8 RX

As there is a mini Es peak around now, I have returned to 10m FT8 RX. Within a short while of turning on I spotted OZ1LXJ (805km). Promising.

UPDATE 1600z: Not a bad 10m day so far. Best DX on 10m FT8 RX is EC5AC (1576km). So far, 7 unique stations in 5 countries spotted today on 10m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1715z: Best 10m FT8 RX DX today is EA9CD (1873km) in North Africa. Es? Now 10 uniques in 8 countries spotted today.

UPDATE 1755z: Now the Falkland Is! VP8LP (12772km) spotted, so there is some F2 about on 10m.  Now 15 uniques, 10 countries and 3 continents today on 10m FT8 RX. 10m dead?

UPDATE 2100z: In the end a PY in Brazil too. Altogether, a good day on 10m FT8 RX.

mcHF clone RS-918

The mcHF-QRP rig clone is being sold by XBS Telecom for 585 euros or less. As this is within the EU, no additional VAT needs to be added, I think. This is a nominal 5W SDR HF rig. If my reading is correct, this includes a 2 year warranty.

You may recall that MLS was going to sell this until it found the Chinese "rip off" had not been agreed with the originator.

See https://www.xbstelecom.eu/shop/en/sdr-100-digital/392-recent-rs-918-ssb-hf-qrp-15w.html

UK Pound versus the Euro - NOT amateur radio

OK, I was wrong!

Some time back, I predicted the Euro would lose value against the UK Pound by the end of the year. It looks like I shall be spectacularly wrong. What a surprise!

Perhaps the best advice is to believe the exact opposite of what I think. As said many times, I am no financial expert.

Reflections - NOT amateur radio

Anglesey Abbey, a National Trust property about 4 miles from here, has beautiful grounds at any time of the year. A few days ago it looked very "wintery" as the photo shows.

Late afternoon return to 630m WSPR

On 6m MSK144 RX I spotted stations in G, GW and GM today on 50.280MHz, but I have now returned to 630m WSPR (10mW ERP, 20%) for this evening and overnight.

Spots on 630m WSPR received from M0NKA (154km) and G4ETG (44km), even though the transverter crystal is still settling, so my signal still shows some drift.

UPDATE 1630z: Although my QRPP has been spotted by 3 unique stations, I have spotted none so far.

630m WSPR last night

After a promising start yesterday evening, the overnight period was disappointing with no new stations spotting my 10mW ERP and no new stations spotted here. In all, I was spotted by 10 uniques with best DX Norway again - LA3EQ (769km), and I spotted just 6 uniques. 630m was disappointing.

Sunspots - Thursday December 21st 2017

Solar flux is 73 today. Sunspot number is still zero. A=5 and K=0.

UPDATE 1626z: The sunspot number has climbed to 16.

6m MSK144 RX

Since breakfast, I have been on 6m MSK RX (50.280MHz) hoping to catch either random MS or aircraft reflections. So far, just GW4MBN (347km) spotted this morning.

On 630m WSPR again

As 6m MSK144 RX was not producing lots today, I have returned to 630m WSPR (10mW ERP, 20%). Overnight my best DX (on TX) was just OR7T (337km).

I am intrigued to see how I get on with just a ferrite rod antenna only. I may try this this evening if I can match it. The coax up to my 2m big-wheel is very non-resonant! You may remember many years ago I had some success on TX WSPR with a ferrite rod only on 30m and 40m.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/antennas/ferrite_tx .

UPDATE 1536z: My transmission at 1530z was just the ferrite rod antenna as an E-field antenna on the bench. I am now on the ferrite rod as a RX only antenna..

UPDATE 1850z: Well for once I am happy that the test with just a ferrite rod antenna failed. Not a single spot given or received with just the ferrite rod, but spots both given and received as soon as the "big"antenna (relative term!) was reconnected. Now back on 630m WSPR using the ferrite rod as the ATU to load up the coax to my 2m big-wheel, which is far from ideal!

UPDATE 1925z:  My QRPP 630m WSPR signal has already been copied in Norway and Belgium this evening. Are conditions up?

UPDATE 2012z: Already 9 unique stations spotting my 10mW ERP this evening. Best DX spot is by LA3EQ (769km). Conditions seem promising.

Bury St Edmunds market - NOT amateur radio

We love shopping in this old Suffolk market town, especially the market that has some real bargains. At the moment it has a bit of a Christmas theme!