Sunspots - Sunday January 14th 2018

Solar flux is 70 today and the sunspot number remains at zero. A=7 and K=4.

Transatlantic on 472kHz

Last night, with the shack PC on battery power I copied 20 uniques, which is a record with my unbelievably bad antenna and ground. Honestly, you would be hard pushed to make you antenna any worse! The FT817 is also starting to get deaf at 472kHz (630m).

So, I was very pleased to spot N1BUG (4940km) twice last night in the early hours. This is the first time I have spotted any North Americans here at this QTH on WSPR on MF. Believe me, if I can spot across the Atlantic with my setup so can you!

New EbNaut decoder for VLF amateur DX

Paul Nicholson, a very good UK VLF SWL, has created some new software:

"Updated EbNaut decoder for Windows, now at version 0.8

 http://abelian.org/ebnaut/software_ms.shtml

This version does 16K23A which is a useful polynomial
for short messages combined with a large CRC.

The Linux program is up to version 0.9 now.

 http://abelian.org/ebnaut/software_linux.shtml

The only significant change is the use of DSW re-balancing
of the list decoder stack.  This may reduce decode time
a little when using very large list lengths.  It is most
useful when measuring the distance spectrum of a polynomial
where a degenerate tree often develops.
--
Paul Nicholson"

Back to 630m WSPR RX

At about 2130z I returned to 630m WSPR RX with the shack PC on internal battery power so the noise floor is lower. Already 5 unique stations spotted including ON7ZO (355km) who I am sure is new.

UPDATE 2210z: Now 10 unique stations including another new one for me - EA3AER (1142km).

Moles - NOT amateur radio

In the UK we get moles. These are small, furry animals that spend most of their time underground. They eat mainly worms.

You rarely see them but they have a nasty habit of leaving "mole hills" at regular intervals, often in well-kept lawns. They are otherwise harmless, but these mole hills can be a darn nuisance.

We saw these earlier today, but luckily not in our lawns!

See https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/other-garden-wildlife/mammals/mole/ .

10m FT8 RX

Yesterday I think I was on 10m FT8 but with the wrong antenna. Today I double checked! Quite a lot of Europeans spotted already on 10m.

UPDATE 1612z: 12 unique stations spotted so far today in 5 European countries on 10m FT8.

UPDATE 1727z: So far,17 uniques in 7 countries.

UPDATE 2123z: As well as lots of Europeans VP8LP (12772km) was spotted at 1751z. This is the first non-European spotted here on 10m FT8 this year, although my 10m antenna is very average.

630m WSPR RX last night

Turning off the mains to my shack laptop definitely helps reduce my 630m noise floor. Last night 16 unique stations were spotted, which is a record for me.

Winter - NOT amateur radio

At this time of year everything looks dead. In a few months we will have returning swallows, lambs, fresh green leaves and life. In reality, life is already stirring, but largely unseen.

Sunspots - Saturday January 13th 2018

Solar flux is 69 today and the sunspot number zero. A=4 and K=1.

BREXIT - NOT amateur radio

If we leave the EU it is naïve to expect to get a trade deal that is more favourable than if we are members of the "club".

My own view is we want the trade deal, but we want a final say over laws in the UK parliament and control over who can stay and work here in the UK. Our trade in the short term has been helped by low cost immigrant workers, but we have been lazy and done little to increase efficiency in many sectors.

Personally I'd prefer to remain in a reformed EU without the needless waste and with control (ultimately) of our laws and people coming into the UK.

If we have to leave, so be it. In the end, I am sure the UK will do just fine. The bigger losers will be the EU.  There is a lot right about the EU. There is also a lot wrong with it.