Sunspots - Tuesday May 22nd 2018

Solar flux is 68 today and the sunspot number 12. A=3 and K=1.

Windoze - zzz - 10

Let me start by saying I have used Windows 10 for a long time with no issues.

Today, my shack PC said it needed more disk space to do an essential update, so I added an external drive when doing this. My shack PC has a 32GB SSD. It is really only used for syncing to internet time and to run OPERA and WSJT-X software.

Now, if Windows 10 is so brilliant why does it take 90 minutes to install updates?!

Thankfully, as far as I can tell, everything I use still works.

"London" grandchildren - NOT amateur radio

At the weekend, we had our "London" grandchildren staying here for one night. Here they are with me.

Es (sporadic E)

Es tends to be very specific. Sometimes Es is there strongly in one place, but absent just a few miles away. Today may be such a day.

As yet, no spots of my 10m TX 500mW WSPR beacon and only G stations spotted on 6m FT8 RX. Elsewhere it might be very different. Maybe things will be better later or tomorrow? I shall be on both bands for several hours yet .

10m WSPR TX

I'd forgotten that whilst on 6m FT8 I can use a different antenna on 10m WSPR. On 10m WSPR I am 100% TX, but with randomised frequencies. I am using 500mW from my little WSPR beacon made by W5OLF.

UPDATE 1836z: No 10m WSPR spots of my beacon as yet. I have the feeling today is going to end with no spots of my little 10m WSPR beacon.

UPDATE 2030z: Well, I am about to go QRT with not a single report on 10m WSPR today!

HF Loops

This has been on before, but it is worth repeating.

HF loops are ideal in some applications. They can work surprisingly well, but are narrow band if efficient. They are ideal with QRP as quite high voltages can otherwise be created. I have used these on several bands. They can easily be made too.

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

6m FT8 today

This is becoming a habit! Just before breakfast I call CQ on 6m FT8 (2.5W, omnidirectional vertical antenna). Almost without fail, I get spotted by a couple of Gs, often quite distant, even though on TX for at most 3 minutes. The rest of the time I am RX only on 6m FT8. So far today  (0912z) just 3 G spots, no Es.

UPDATE 1548z:  Just 13 Gs spotted so far today on 6m FT8 RX. No Es evident here.

UPDATE 1612z: It pays to check. An EA1 was spotted but not shown on PSKreporter maps. More recently ON8DM (239km) has been spotted. Currently (only on PSKreporter maps) 15 different stations in 2 countries. With the EA1, that is 16 different stations in 3 countries so far today on 6m FT8.

UPDATE 1816z: Now 27 unique stations in 3 countries so far. Best DX is IT9RZR (2063km). Apart from the IT9 and the EA1 earlier, very little Es on 6m here today. QRT shortly.

May 2m UKAC activity contest results published

Although my voice prevents me being on too long, my score has risen in the AL section results. Using 5W and an omnidirectional antenna and never take contesting too seriously, I am quite pleased. although I shall probably miss June's session.

See https://www.rsgbcc.org/cgi-bin/vhfresults.pl?Contest=144MHz%20UKAC&Date=&year=2018

Stroke? - NOT amateur radio

This has probably been mentioned here before, so I apologise if I am repeating myself.

One thing I am aware of is how fast things seem to be going on the roads. When I am going 50mph it feels at least 60mph. Indeed I feel like I am going 70mph. Then I see a huge queue behind me!  I am only too aware that I drive more slowly than I did. It feels embarrassing, but cannot safely drive faster.

OK I am growing older and becoming a grumpy old man. Maybe it is an age thing, but it as if my brain operates at a slower pace. I also find watching subtitles on TV hard work. Usually I give up!

It feels like the recovery from my stroke has stalled.

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

Sunspots - Monday May 21st 2018

Solar flux is 68 today and the sunspot number 0.  A=3 and K=0.