No 6m today

Tomorrow I expect someone will tell me, "you should have been on 6m yesterday as conditions were the best for years".  It always happens!  Still, 10m FT8 RX has been good and much better than I dared hope, so all is not lost.

One thing our hobby has taught me: this is just a hobby and there is always tomorrow. The main objective is to have fun whatever "turns you on".

HF conditions

For the next two years we can expect HF conditions to deteriorate still further. The most probable time for the next solar minimum is sometime in 2020, although we have to be some way past to be sure. Luckily, modes like FT8 have come to the rescue allowing us to find openings that in the past might have been missed. At the moment the "experts" are expecting the next peak to be similar to the last one, although no-one can be sure.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/hfcondx .

Quiet lane - NOT amateur radio

When on holiday last week at Home next the Sea in Norfolk we had glorious weather. Most mornings we did a walk before breakfast.

For a change - 10m FT8 RX

For the last few hours I have been on 10m FT8. As well as lots of EU Es, there is some good DX about, despite summer, low flux and low SSNs. For example, HS0ZIV (9309km) and 3B8CW (9751km) as well as a couple of Gulf states. Pretty sure these are genuine judging by where they were spotted.

My very brief TX period (2.5W) before breakfast on 10m FT8 was spotted in Estonia and Finland.

This afternoon and this evening it would not surprise me to spot South Africa and South America on 10m FT8.

258 different stations spotted here on 10m FT8 RX in the last 6 hours alone. My antenna is poor and I am, frankly, amazed. There is no doubt that FT8 is transforming things with openings that would have been missed now caught. Sadly, SSB and CW "chats" will suffer. Amateur radio is changing - better in some ways and worse in others. With a poor voice these days, FT8 suits me fine, although I miss ragchews.

UPDATE 1228z: No South Americans or South Africans, but a couple of North Americans spotted on 10m FT8.

UPDATE 1238z: Now 4 North Americans spotted today on 10m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1426z: Although still no South American or African spots, I have already spotted 10 North American and 1 Caribbean stations.

Sunspots - Friday August 3rd 2018

Solar flux is 69 today and the sunspot number still 11. A=6 and K=1.

Icom IC7300

This is a fine HF/6m/4m transceiver which I am tempted to buy, but still feel it is over priced. In all the time it has sold, the price has hardly changed. Some are offering free covers or reduced priced PSUs. What I want is just the radio, but for less money!

The trouble is people are prepared to buy at the current price and, like the FT817 from Yaesu, it has no real competition. It is almost as if the dealers have been "got at" to hold the current price.

One thing is certain: if I buy at the current price they will all offer it for far less within 6 weeks!

10m WSPR TX (500mW)

Although not on very long, I have already been spotted by IZ3LCH (1149km). I assume this is Es.

UPDATE 2105z: Lots of spots from OZ9QV (864km) this evening.

Excellent Moonraker service

Well, I succumbed and decided to buy an Inrico T320 network radio from Moonraker. The first unit had faulty software loaded. Without quibble, Moonraker despatched a replacement unit and collected the first unit. I cannot fault their customer care and I am very inclined to use them again. Well done!

Some are very sniffy about network radios saying this is not real amateur radio.  They use the internet (via wifi, 3G or 4G to connect with Echolink or similar services). Basically they are Android phones with a PTT in the style of a 2m or 70cm handheld. The beauty is they have full Android functionality as well (like BBC News, GPS, camera and email). This is not the same as traditional amateur radio, but I have already had great fun with mine. My first QSO was via GB3SD near Weymouth, Dorset.

I still prefer "traditional" amateur radio, but these have a definite place. One thing is very apparent: repeaters the world over have fewer stations using them. I am still exploring.

Late on 6m

It is now mid-afternoon and I have only now turned the gear on. As well as EU Es there is WP4G (6803km) in Puerto Rico calling CQ on 6m FT8.

HAARP WSPR tests

Last night, I decided not to bother with looking for WI2XFX in Alaska on 80m WSPR. They got no spots at all on 80m. They got 330 North American spots on 40m. I don't think they were spotted elsewhere.

My overall impression was they were HAARP experts but very amateur amateurs. I may be very wrong of course and if I am please accept my apologies. With 1GW ERP I would have expected global spots by the thousand, even on 80m.