Sunspots - Tuesday July 17th 2018

Yet again, the sunspot number is zero. We can expect days without sunspots in the next few years as we approach the solar minimum. Next winter could be dire with little Es to liven things up. Solar flux is 72. A=9 and K=3.

Another good Es day?

With early spots on both 10m and 6m, today promises another good day on Es. We will see!

Which planet? - NOT amateur radio

So, the US president has met the Russian leader and, allegedly, blamed the FBI rather than Russia for interfering in the 2016 presidential election. Now, I have no wish to interfere in US politics, but to those of us in the rest of the world his judgement seems "bizarre". This is being charitable.

With BREXIT, one could argue who am I to judge? Just my opinion, but shared by many.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-44852812 .

PSK reporter maps - changes

PSKreporter is used often here to see what is being spotted on 6m FT8. Today I went on and there appears to be some changes to the maps. For now, I am reserving judgment. I quite liked the "old" style, but perhaps I am just a boring old man! Some would be ruder!

I have not tried the maps with other modes. Usually I choose "FT8" from the drop down menu.

See https://www.pskreporter.info/pskmap.html

10m WSPR TX (500mW)

Yet again, as the antenna is free, I am on 10m WSPR TX with my little "stand alone" WSPR beacon. Already, several spots from Austria by OE4LTB (1270km).

UPDATE 0934z: Spots received from all over central Europe on 10m WSPR TX. Today looks promising.

UPDATE 1320z: 118 spots so far today on 10m WSPR with spots from 8 different stations with EA8BFK (2880km) again being the best.

UPDATE 2016z: A good day on 10m WSPR. In all, to now, 167 spots by 10 different stations.

Kingsbridge, Devon - NOT amateur radio

In my youth we moved from Salcombe to Kingsbridge, Devon. At the time it seemed we'd moved miles. This is a photo of Kingsbridge from the air recently. It is a nice place and they have great flowers on display in the town.

If you know the area you will know Kingsbridge is the "capital" of the South Hams and about 5 miles north of Salcombe, these days an expensive yachting centre for those with lots of money and small brains.

The South Hams is a beautiful, largely unspoilt, area of Devon.

6m FT8

Yet again, I am monitoring 6m FT8.

Yesterday, we had some great Es with plenty of stations spotted throughout Europe and North Africa. This morning (0850z), there is already Es from northern Spain and Sicily. No "real" DX spotted yet on 6m FT8 RX.

A brief period on TX (2.5W) got several G spots.

Sadly, I have not managed to copy east Asia on 6m FT8 RX. There have been some openings, but I guess my basic set-up is not good enough. It was easier on JT65 last year!

UPDATE 0930z: EU Es is good today. Already 18 different stations spotted on 6m FT8 RX in 9 countries

UPDATE 1058z: S01WS (3043km) in Western Sahara  now being spotted. He is being spotted all over Europe, so I believe this is genuine. Lots of Es on 6m FT8.

Sunspots - Monday July 16th 2018

Solar flux is 73 today and the sunspot number 0. A=4 and K=1.

Football World Cup - NOT amateur radio

Although not a great football fan, this was a good final between France and Croatia. France won 4:2. The match was good spirited and Croatia battled to the end. Whatever one's views on Russia politically, the World Cup went off well.

England got further than in a long time and, on the whole, fans were well behaved.

It would be good if we had a few more English players in the Premier League. Apparently only a third of Premier League players are English. This is a pity when we have a pool of good players who would qualify. I guess the teams are motivated by money and profits. Shame.

Australian friends - NOT amateur radio

Our Australian friends called on their way to York earlier. It was the first time we had seen the grandma since 2014.

The kids loved the windmill next door, which they had to visit!