6m FT8 once again

As I am now home again, I am back on 6m FT8 and 10m WSPR. Last night I managed a brief FT8 QSO with M0BEW (194km) and this morning I was heard by several G stations when again calling CQ. All TX periods are with 2.5W to the V2000 omni vertical.

Although Es is still likely, it seems quieter now. Certainly there is no Es evident here as yet.

UPDATE 1208z: Still no Es seen here. Just 9 Gs so far today with best DX on 6m FT8 RX being G0SYP (222km).

UPDATE 1535z: Just one Es spot so far about an hour ago: IZ6BXQ (1457km).

Crystal Ball - NOT amateur radio

I am experimenting with crystal ball photo apps.  There seem to be several around. This is an old picture taken about 9 years ago.

Sunspots - Monday July 9th 2018

Solar flux is 72 today and the SSN remains zero.  A=4 and K=1 .

KV5R site

Funny how you find new sites all the time. This one may be good for USA visitors in particular. It has some useful data on propagation.

See kv5r.com

BREXIT secretary resigns - NOT amateur radio

So I awoke to the news that the man running the UK exit from Europe negotiations has resigned. Not quite sure where this leaves things. In a fine mess I think.

Brother's garden - NOT amateur radio

A view of part of my brother's garden.

Few have a golf course in their garden! In all he has about 5 acres.

HF Codec

Southgate News reports on a new codec that encodes speech in just 450Hz.

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2018/july/codec2-hf-digital-voice-at-450-bps.htm#.W0ITIZDTWf1

Apologies

As many of you know, l am not at home so am unable to do the blog as usual. This means I am  unable to do some edits. Also I am not "on the air".

Sunspots - Sunday July 8th 2018

Solar flux is 72 today and the SSN 0  A=5 and K=1.

Walk- NOT amateur radio

Years ago this would have been a trivial walk for me. Nowadays it is like climbing Everest. I walked from Salcombe to my brother's house a distance of 2.9 miles along the Devon lanes. For me this was important to know I could do it. It took me 1.25 hours which for me is good. It was very hot and Devon hills are steep!