Sunspots - Tuesday July 3rd 2018

Solar flux is 68 today. The sunspot number remains 0. A=3 and K=1.

BREXIT - NOT amateur radio

Apparently the UK Cabinet meets on Friday to agree the UK's position on leaving the EU. Some tough talks are ahead.

Members of the EU are paranoid about it failing, worried about losing our budget contribution and perhaps a bit jealous. At the same time, the UK Prime Minister is weak with much squabbling in her ranks. Later this week we'll really see the truth.

I voted "REMAIN" 2 years ago, but there is a lot wrong with the EU. In my view, it has to reform or it will fall apart. Leaving the EU is fraught with economic dangers.

Missing 12 year olds found alive in Thai caves - NOT amateur radio

I really really hope this news is correct. What a traumatic experience.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-44688909

UPDATE July 3rd 1302z: It looks like getting them out will be hard.

6m FT8 RX

Not a great day. Spots from the Baltic area and around the UK but nothing else today so far.

UPDATE 1514z: There you go - I speak and 6m FT8 opens up! Stations in France, Italy and Sicily spotted on 6m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1632z:  Now Es from all over the place in Europe on 6m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 2010z: Whilst using my V2000 vertical omni on the 2m FM net I gather an HH (Haiti) was coming through on 6m FT8. I missed him! EA8JK (2999km) was worked on 6m FT8. As always, I was using 2.5W to my V2000 vertical omni fed with CB coax.

10m WSPR TX

Well, it is better than yesterday! So far, my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon has been copied in Germany and Italy today. Not great, but yesterday I got no spots at all.

UPDATE 1635z: Another spot from a different Italian on 10m WSPR.

UPDATE 2018z: 10 different stations spotted my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon today with EA8BFK (2880km) my best DX.

Sunspots - Monday July 2nd 2018

Solar flux is 67 today and the sunspot number 0. A=4 and K=0.

630m (472kHz) WSPR receive

For a total change, I am using WSJT-X to receive 630m WSPR. This is high summer so there are few stations active. If I copy anyone at all, it would be good. I shall stay on overnight.

UPDATE JULY 1ST: PA3ABK (306km) copied last night.

My early recording!

Way back in about 1965 a friend, Francis Wood, and I made a record. As I recall it was me saying, "Mary had a little lamb". Very profound!  We used the lid of an old coffee jar, a big horn and a needle. It involved shouting very loudly!

Whilst looking for something else, I came across it earlier today. Of course, these days I have nothing to play it as all my record decks went long ago. My son has a deck, so I could ask him sometime.

It was with Francis that we made some early experiments with optical communications. OC171s with paint scraped off. Memories.

FT8 - like Marmite?

Here in the UK we have a savoury spread made from yeast called Marmite. Some love it and some hate it.

It is a bit like that with FT8. Personally, I like FT8 and Marmite! FT8 works with weak signals, but is definitely not a mode for chats. With my poor voice if fits well for me, as chatting is much harder these days. If you enjoy a good old rag-chew, this is probably not the best mode for you.

In its favour people are constantly monitoring a few kilohertz of each band so brief openings are noticed. In the past a CQ on SSB or CW could easily be missed.

SAQ (VLF) transmission today

An earlier transmission on 17.2kHz CW from the historic Alexanderson transmitter at Grimeton, Sweden was well received in Italy. I cannot remember if there is another transmission later.