Solar data for February

Data for February is now available.

Although we are on the long fall to the next solar minimum, there was a small rise in solar activity last month. This is a blip on the slow decline, but serves to remind us that there are good days as well as bad days. Even now there are days with real DX on 10m.

See http://www.solen.info/solar/ .

Endings - NOT amateur radio

I am not good at endings. Life goes on normally, then something happens to change the routine: things that had gone on for years and taken for granted come to an end. When this happens it is a real shock.

In reality, life is all about coming to terms with change. Change is always happening, yet we are often unaware or not looking. No, we have to accept change and move on. Change is a reality. As they say, "the past is another country". Enjoy things while they are there, accept them, and then move on. Change is part of life, whether we like it or not. For some of us this is hard.

Sunspots - Sunday March 4th 2018

Solar flux is 67 today and the sunspot number back to zero. A=6 and K=2.

2m FT8 RX (again)

This is getting addictive! Again, I am monitoring 2m FT8. In the last 6 hours 6 unique stations in 3 countries with best DX F6EAS (387km) in Normandy. Again I am using my big-wheel horizontal omni antenna. Gain is about 2dBd.

UPDATE 1030z: Already 14 uniques in 3 countries.

UPDATE 1400z: Now 24 uniques in 5 countries in the last half a day on 2m FT8 RX. I can honestly say that 2m FT8 has been a revelation. Every day seems to result in spots of stations at great distance, even though my antenna is nothing at all special and with hardly any gain over a dipole. Imagine the results with a 9 element beam!

UPDATE 1430z: Now 28 uniques in 7 countries on 2m FT8 RX with best DX DK2DTF (644km).

UPDATE 1622z: Now 30 uniques in 7 countries today on 2m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1905z: A local friend G3TFX has suggested I try vertical polarisation to see how much difference this makes, especially with DX signals. If tropo, I'd expect about 15-20dB polarisation loss. If aircraft reflection, the difference should be far less. The overall gain of the big-wheel with feeder loss is probably about 0dBd. The feeder loss and gain of my V2000 vertical is probably much the same. So, tomorrow I'll try 2m FT8 RX with vertical polarisation.

Eddystone Receivers

When I first got interested in the hobby in the early 1960s Far Eastern transceivers were unheard of. Many used war surplus receivers like the AR88 or CR100. For years I coveted an Eddystone EC10. One day I got one. The IF was low and the bandspread on 10m was abysmal! As a tuneable IF for VHF and UHF converters it was fine. Overall, it really was not a very good receiver. These days they are hard to find and really not worth the money.

The 840C was a much better radio. At one time they even did an amateur band only receiver called the EA12.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/ec10

Slapton Line - NOT amateur radio

This is also known as Torcross Line, Devon. In WW2 is was used as a place where D-day landings were rehearsed.

Sadly, a big stretch of the road along it was washed away and it is quite possible it will never be repaired. In the end the sea will inundate the freshwater lake known as Slapton Ley. This could be soon or in 50 years' time.

The question is how long do you keep re-building the road (A379) that runs along it? This stretch is one of the best views in the UK.

Online shopping - NOT amateur radio

Shopping online is quite common these days. I have successfully bought lots on line. However, it is not always a good story.

Recently I bought a couple of batteries for my watch via Amazon. Usually these last several years but one failed after a month despite it being a branded item. Cost-wise I probably saved several pounds even so. The second battery is still working fine.

I also bought a spare head and cutters for my electric razor. Even after a few months they struggle to cut, whereas the originals lasted years.

All I am saying is caveat emptor. Most things will be inexpensive and work fine, whereas some things may be problematic.

50 years - NOT amateur radio

It seems hard to believe, but my wife and I first met 50 years ago today.

Looking back, I just wonder where those years went. Even today, knocking on the door of 70, I still feel in my late teens inside. All I can advise is milk life, as it soon slips through your hands.

Time is an odd thing. On the one hand it seems to pass slowly, whereas on the other hand it passes all too fast. One thing is certain: we will not get another 50 years!

Sunspots - Saturday March 3rd 2018

Solar flux is 67 today and the sunspot number 11. A=4 and K=1.

2m FT8 RX

Although I am monitoring 2m FT8 RX again, there have been no spots so far today. Perhaps we have had a lift in the last few days and things are returning to normal?

UPDATE 1030z: An FT8 QSO on 2m with G8ALS (127km) and PA4X (403km) spotted in Limburg. Perhaps it was too early!

UPDATE 1126z: Now spotted 15 uniques in 3 countries. I had a QSO (2m FT8) with David G0LRD (26km) when he was using 1mW and good copy on the big-wheel. He was -21dB on a 3el in the loft with 300uW!!

UPDATE 1350z: Now 30 uniques in 5 countries.

UPDATE 1730z: Now 39 uniques in 7 countries.

UPDATE 2030z: The photo shows the stations spotted here on 2m FT8 in the last 12 hours.