Another lizard - NOT amateur radio

This was another lizard seen last week in Corfu. As soon as it saw me it scarpered - must be camera shy!

New version of WSJT-X available (V2.0 rc1)

There is a new beta version of WSJT-X available. This is WSJT-X V2.0 rc1. I have yet to download it.  Apparently the decode sensitivity on FT8 is slightly better by about 1dB.

It may be worth waiting as I have been told there are some issues with this beta release (PCs freezing). When I tried to install it aborted saying it was missing a .dll .

See https://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/k1jt/wsjtx.html .

10m WSPR (500mW)

Although I have been on 10m WSPR TX since breakfast, no spots as yet today.

UPDATE 1537z: Still no spots today.

UPDATE  1728z: Several spots from a couple of Germans. Best DX DK7FT (898km).

2m FT8

Once again, I am on 2m FT8 with 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna. After a brief CQ I worked G8ALS (127km) but was spotted yet again by 2 stations in Cornwall and one in France.

Best DX on RX is DJ6GK (607km). So far 12 stations in 5 countries spotted today.

UPDATE 1503z: So far, 24 stations in 5 countries spotted on 2m FT8 RX today.

2m FT8 RX today so far

UPDATE 1730z: 32 stations in 5 countries spotted on 2m FT8 RX so far today.

UPDATE 1902z:  33 stations in 6 countries spotted today on 2m FT8 RX today. Soon be time to go QRT.

UPDATE 1918z: Just before going QRT I called CQ at 2.5W. No QSOs, but yet again I was spotted by 2 Cornish stations. Every time I call CQ, this range seems possible. Amazing. This must be "normal" flat band tropo and not aircraft.

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.