Return to 6m FT8

At least for the day, I have returned to 6m FT8 using the V2000 vertical omni antenna. A brief CQ much earlier (2.5W) brought spots from the UK and Portugal, but no QSOs. Since then I have been RX only with 17 different stations in 7 EU countries spotted, mostly presumably by Es.

UPDATE 1420z: 73 different stations in 22 countries spotted so far today on 6m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1615z: Although I have not spotted any today yet, the better stations in the UK and The Netherlands are working the USA on 6m FT8. I shall remain on 6m FT8 RX until later this evening.

80m WSPR HAARP test

Well, it appears the HAARP test from Alaska last night was only on 40m and not on 80m after all and they were only copied in North America on 40m.

Overall, using the earth-electrode "antenna" I spotted 51 different stations with best DX spotted on 80m WSPR being KC2WUF (5599km). Fellow local David G0LRD spotted 60 stations and more USA stations. Not sure what antenna he was using.

Overall I was quite surprised what I could copy on the earth electrode "antenna" in the ground. I shall have to try this on 160m WSPR or FT8 sometime. I think it acts as a loop so may be more directional than a long wire

UPDATE 1257z: According to John (see comment) they were on 80m WSPR. I shall try again tonight. See more recent post about the schedule for July31st.

Sunspots - Tuesday July 31st 2018

Solar flux is 67 today and the sunspot number still zero. A=5 and K=2.

80m WSPR RX

Well, I am all set to monitor 80m WSPR late this evening for the HAARP experiment from Alaska. Best results seem to be on the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. The map shows the stations spotted in the last hour. It seems to work remarkably well as an 80m RX antenna.

UPDATE 2119z:  40 different stations spotted so far on 80m WSPR this evening with the earth electrode "antenna" in the ground with best DX spot being SV8QG (2488km).

Cycle 25 hope?

"As of July 2018 the strength of the polar fields hints at a cycle 25 with a magnitude slightly stronger than that of cycle 24."

The above was on http://www.solen.info/solar/ . We live in hope!

East Cambridgeshire 2m FM Net

A reminder for those in the area of the East Cambs net on 144.575MHz FM at 1900z Mondays. Yes, one four four. This started out as an AM net. Newcomers are welcomed. We rarely stay on more than 30 minutes. Vertical polarisation. If the frequency is busy we usually QSY down 25kHz, although this is rare.

East Anglian Churches blog - NOT amateur radio

When we visit churches in East Anglia we try to update our East Anglian Churches Blog.

This has just been done to include Holme next the Sea in north Norfolk. This is a simple, light and airy church, not far from the coast.

I am afraid the updates to this churches blog are quite infrequent!

Rock strata - NOT amateur radio

Hunstanton is a typical English seaside resort about 50 miles north of us. The rocks there show very interesting patterns in the strata.

Sunspots - Monday July 30th 2018

Solar flux is 68 today and the sunspot number 0 .  A= 5 and K=1.

137kHz E-field probe on the car mag-mount

Many years ago, I tried looking for my tiny 137kHz beacon with a small E-field probe mag-mounted on the car. After seeing the signal quite well on the far side of Cambridge at about 24km, I stopped the test. As you can see, the EFP used readily available parts and was very simple.

At some point I should rebuild this and try from the QTH we moved to almost 5 years ago, maybe using the earth-electrode "antenna" on TX. I have felt too unwell since my stroke.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/antennas/137efp