Sunspots - Sunday September 23rd 2018

Solar flux is 67 and the SSN zero still. A=8 and K=4.

Japanese rovers on an asteroid - NOT amateur radio

Apparently the Japanese have successfully landed probes on an asteroid. One of our friends was Project Manager for a similar European project.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-45598156

MLS Deals

Every weekend MLS has a "something for the weekend" deal. Each week it is something different. The cynical amongst us will say it is just a way of offloading surplus stock, but if you are in the market for the goods on offer it is worth checking out.

See www.hamradio.co.uk/

Paxos - NOT amateur radio

Earlier in the week we went by boat to Paxos, an island not far from Corfu.

Sunspots - Saturday September 22nd 2018

Solar flux is 67 and the sunspot number zero. A=8 and K=3.

Back home - NOT amateur radio

We had a great holiday in Corfu but are back home again now. In Corfu it was hot with temperatures in the low 30s deg C every day. The weather could not have been better. When we got back it was cold!

The photo shows our plane on the ground in Norwich just after we landed.

10m WSPR TX (500mW)

As I am back home, I am TXing on 10m WSPR. Although on all morning, no spots so far. The main Es season is over so I am dependent on F2, TEP and random Es spots now.

UPDATE 1502z: Surprise, surprise! A couple of spots received on 10m WSPR - one from Germany and one from Italy. Best spot was from IZ3LCH (1149km).

UPDATE 2107z: Now QRT on 10m WSPR. 3 unique stations spotted my 500mW beacon today.

2m FT8

As I am home again I am on 2m FT8. No stations spotted yet, but a CQ at 2.5W to my big-wheel omni was copied by a couple of stations in Cornwall. Best DX was G7RAU (461km).

UPDATE 1057z:  So far today 13 stations spotted in 4 countries with best DX DK2DTF (644km).

UPDATE 1227z:  Now 17 stations in 6 countries.

UPDATE 1448z:  Plenty spotted!

UPDATE 2046z: G7RAU (461km) worked on 2m FT8 with 2.5W QRP and a big-wheel omni.

Stations spotted on 2m FT8 today

Pre-meal drink - NOT amateur radio

Last night we had a Greek meal at our hotel in Corfu. This is me enjoying a pre-meal drink.

Back to the post at home later today!

Sunspots - Friday September 21st 2018

Solar flux is 66 (lowest this cycle?) and the SSN 0. A=2 and K=0.