Sunspots - Saturday May 26th 2018

Solar flux is 75 today and the sunspot number is 32. A=3 and K=1.

FT8 versus JT65

In the last few months the usage of FT8 is phenomenal. It uses about a third the bandwidth (about 50Hz) of JT65 and a much shorter TX period. In many ways it is an ideal QRP mode, especially in Es conditions.

I think FT8 is not as good as JT65 in terms of very weak signals, but I am no expert. So far, I have not spotted what I would call real DX on 6m, whereas last season I copied lots on 6m JT65. Now, this may be just conditions, so I need a few more months to decide.

It would be interesting to know how serious DXers find FT8. I only use a V2000 vertical, so others probably do better than me. As you know I'm a fair weather DXer. I do not chase DX, but I observe 6m FT8 most days.

FT8 is not a mode for chats. Without auto-sequencing enabled there is very little reaction time. It is a good mode for quick, formulaic exchanges.

See http://www.dx.nl/?p=860
This seems to show FT8 is some 6dB worse than JT65 on weak signals. Maybe this accounts for why I am spotting less real DX? Now, since then FT8 has been improved. Certainly, I shall stick with 6m FT8 this season to see what is spotted.

Our local museum - NOT amateur radio

This was our granddaughter at our local museum recently.

YouTube posts - NOT all amateur radio!

A reminder that not all videos on my YouTube channel are amateur radio related.

Hamnet growing

According to a report on Southgate News, the Hamnet amateur network, mostly in Germany, is growing.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2018/may/hamnet-amateur-radio-network-is-growing.htm#.WwggIvZFzIU

Old Cars - NOT amateur radio

Just over a week ago we attended a funeral in Nottingham and stayed in nearby Southwell.

The owners of these old cars were also staying in our hotel.

Lightning in Europe

At the moment, the lightning is in mainland Europe with nothing shown here in the UK on the lightning maps. I guess the storms over northern France could be an issue in southern counties of the UK later.  Definitely worth a look in a few hours time.

Another rally

27 MAY 2018 : DURHAM DISTRICT ARS RADIO RALLY

Bowburn Community Centre, Durham road, Bowburn , Co. Durham DH6 5AT. Doors open from 10.10am to 2.30pm with disabled visitors gaining access at 10am. Admittance is £2. There will be a Bring & Buy Sale, trade stands, special interest groups and an RSGB bookstall. Catering and licensed bar on site. Michael Wright , G7TWX, 07826 924 192, dadars@gmx.com.

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

10m WSPR TX

Although I have been on since before breakfast (500mW, randomised frequencies, 100% TX) no spots yet today on 10m WSPR.

UPDATE 1155z: CT2IWW (1383km) is the best DX spot of my little beacon so far today.

UPDATE 1246z:  Best DX spot now was from EA8BFK (2880km) in the Canary Is.

6m FT8 - very quiet so far

Although I have been on 6m FT8 since before breakfast, all is very quiet so far with just a couple of Gs spotted and no Es here yet. I did go on TX very early (just one spot with 2.5W to my V2000 vertical stick).

UPDATE 1327z: Plenty of spots now. Best DX on 6m FT8 RX today is D41CV (4518km) in the Cape Verde Is.

UPDATE 1640z: So far today, 30 different stations in 5 countries and 2 continents spotted on 6m FT8.

UPDATE 1950z: 43 different stations in 6 countries and 2 continents today on 6m FT8 RX.