Sunspots -- Saturday July 28th 2018

Solar flux is 67 today and the SSN remains zero.  A=4 and K=2.

6m FT8

As there are no storms expected today I shall probably give 6m FT8 a go shortly.

UPDATE 0845z: Best DX on 6m FT8 RX is UT4XU (1963km).

UPDATE 0958z: Best DX on 6m FT8 RX is now A45XR (5794km) in Oman in the Middle East. As this station is being very widely reported in Europe and Japan, I think this is genuine.

UPDATE 1350z: Plenty of 6m FT8 Es with stations all over Europe, Israel, the Gulf States and the Canaries spotted on 6m FT8 RX. Nothing from the Americas spotted here yet today.

UPDATE 2004z: Even now there is Es on 6m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 2024z: I was going to turn the rig off, but there are still USA stations being called by "real" stations with beams, so I decided to stay on, at least for now.  I am hopeful that even my very modest station might detect some of these DX stations on 6m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 2107z: I was right. KB4MRX (7072km) in Florida, USA spotted. Now WP4G (6803km) in Puerto Rico in the Caribbean.

Rain at last - NOT amateur radio

The last time I saw rain here in Burwell was in May. Already the storm has arrived and we have rain.

A Toast - NOT amateur radio

Whilst in north Norfolk this week we celebrated our 47th wedding anniversary with one of our sons, his children and his French in-laws. The latter bought us champagne and a surprise hamper. It was a good week with excellent weather.

Storms

Whilst in north Norfolk, we had a very violent thunderstorm in the early hours. Apparently there was one here in Burwell too this morning, along with a brief power cut. More storms are due overnight.

A good place to look is https://www.lightningmaps.org/blitzortung/europe/index.php?lang=en. This map can be placed anywhere in the world and zoomed in. Very useful to see how close the risk is. At the moment, I look OK to remain on until at least 1600z.

10m WSPR TX

Since getting home just before lunch, I have been on 10m WSPR TX (500mW) although up to now no spots at all received. It is now 1433z.

UPDATE 1523z:  EA1FBU (1297km) spotted me several times this afternoon on 10m WSPR before thunder forced me to go QRT.

Return to 6m FT8

With no storms due until tonight, I have returned to 6m FT8 QRP. A brief CQ earlier was spotted by a few stations, but resulted in no QSOs. Since then, I have been RX only. There is plenty of EU Es about.

UPDATE 1534z: Still plenty of EU Es as the map shows.

UPDATE 1642z: As there is thunder and lightning, everything has been disconnected and I have gone QRT.

Back home - NOT amateur radio

We are back home after a week in north Norfolk. The postman said there had been a storm at 6am. There is a need to water the plants (this evening) and I hope to reconnect my radios for this afternoon.  For once our home seemed small!

OFCOM and small scale DAB

OFCOM is after "expressions of interest" on small scale DAB.

See http://ofcom.createsend1.com/t/ViewEmail/i/44995242F11646D32540EF23F30FEDED/59D1BD3EA2F08127C67FD2F38AC4859C

Sunspots - Friday July 27th 2018

Solar flux is 66 today and the SSN zero.  A=4 and K=1 .