10m FT8 today

10m FT8 is off to a good start today with 3 different stations spotted in 3 countries with best DX on RX being EA1AKS (1037km).

Last night, 10m FT8 opened to South America again. At times 10m really surprises. Solar conditions are not good, but still we get N-S openings. I noticed that stations in the Canary Is were working Caribbean and Mexico on 10m FT8.

UPDATE 1442z:  Currently 9 different stations spotted in 4 countries, all in Europe so far today.

UPDATE 1805z: Now 12 different stations in 4 countries.

UPDATE 2113z: Time to go QRT. 10 South Americans spotted today on 10m FT8. Best DX spotted was LU8HGI (11258km) in Corduba, Argentina at -23dB S/N.

Network Radios

As HF conditions dive, some are turning to "network radios" instead. As an example, MLS sells the Inrico T320 which works over 3G ,4G or wi-fi networks through systems like Echolink. Essentially this uses the internet as the bearer, often with radio at the ends. The Inrico T320 is actually a handheld with charger. Some repeaters allow internet linking so you could talk through a network radio to mobiles on a distant repeater on the other side of the world.

See https://www.hamradio.co.uk/amateur-radio-handheld-radio-internet-radio/inrico/inrico-t320-network-radio-transceiver-pd-8674.php

Predictions for the next sunspot maximum

Forecasting the next solar peak is hard, but some have tried. Most experts don't expect much, but two have said they expect cycle 25 to be similar to cycle 24. In reality, we do not know! One thing we do know - unless I am very lucky, the next "peak" is the last I am likely to experience. Even the peak of cycle 25 is not certain for me!

See https://wattsupwiththat.com/2018/02/09/forecast-for-solar-cycle-25/
See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_cycle_25
See http://solarcyclescience.com/forecasts.html

Sunspots - Saturday April 28th 2018

Solar flux is 69 today and the sunspot number 11. A=6 and K=2.

Rally

29 APRIL 2018 : NORTHERN AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETIES ASSOCIATION EXHIBITION (Blackpool Rally)

Norbreck Castle Exhibition Centre, Blackpool FY2 9AA. There is car parking available and a talk-in station will be on the air. Doors open 10.15am for disabled visitors and 10.30 for the general public. As well as trade stands there will be a Bring & Buy and special interest groups. An RSGB book stall will be attending. Dave, M0OBW on 01270 761 608 or by email to dwilson@btinternet.com (www.narsa.org.uk).

A list of rallies can be found at http://rsgb.org/main/news/rallies/

RS-918 and mcHF SDR transceivers

This rig is a Chinese rip-off of the mcHF rig that was designed by a UK amateur, M0NKA. Kits for the mcHF are available, but the RS-918 is available ready built. It has been getting good reviews on eham (last time I looked 4.8/5 on eham). Sadly, the UK amateur did not register the design, so has no come-back. Having said that, I suspect the Chinese would have ripped it off anyway!

See http://www.m0nka.co.uk/ for the original design.

See  https://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/13489 for the review of the Chinese clone.

Mental health links - NOT amateur radio

These were given to me by a person called Molly Anderson. You may find them helpful. As you can see these are on my main website.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/mental

Tragic year - NOT amateur radio

This last 6 months have been filled with tragedy. In all, we are aware of 5 deaths, 3 with young people who died well before their due dates. The 5th today was my wife's cousin and childhood best friend. It has been a very hard time.

Yet again it re-enforces how fragile life can sometimes be.  All we can do is support those who have lost loved ones and milk life while we still have it. We go along assuming some things last for ever. Then something happens and you realise change is always happening.

It just reminds me how cruel life can be sometimes.

Sunspots - Friday April 27th 2018

Solar flux is 69 today and the sunspot number is 14.  A=4 and K=0.

10m FT8 RX

Today, I have returned to 10m FT8 RX.

The last few days on 6m FT8 have been an indication of things to come during the Es season. 6m FT8 activity is increasing.

As Es also has a big impact on 10m, expect to see lots of Europeans in the logs in the coming months, as well as real DX from time to time.

UPDATE 0817z: So far, just 2E1RDX (139km) spotted on 10m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1058z: Now M6GAN (111km) spotted on 10m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1215z:  Just 4 Gs spotted so far today on 10m FT8. Aircraft or tropo?

UPDATE 1318z: Just spotted PD1DL (322km). Strength suggests aircraft reflection. Now 5 different stations in 2 countries on 10m FT8 today so far.

UPDATE 1530z: CT1GVN (1801km) spotted. Now 7 different stations in 3 countries on 10m FT8 RX today.