Autumn apples - NOT amateur radio

The orchard in the garden next door is laden with apples. The photo shows a few windfalls in another garden.

Solar data

Early every month I take a look at the latest solar data. As yet, my source has not been updated with the summary for September.

We are approaching the next solar minimum so we can expect long periods when the sun will be spotless. This could well go on into 2021. The next minimum will probably be 2020. I also keep a watchful eye on predictions for cycle 25. The last forecast was expecting cycle 25 to be similar to cycle 24.

See http://www.solen.info/solar/

UPDATE 1552z: The data for September is now there. At the moment, the forecast is that we are already very close to the solar minimum. The next few months will give us a better idea. One of the graphs shows us already at solar minimum. Let's hope this is right.

See http://www.solen.info/solar/images/cycles23_24.png

More problems for the Chinese?

In a report today on Southgate News I see that New Zealand is trying to put a stop to the illegal import of unlicenced radios that can go outside amateur bands. This could impact people like Baofeng who sell cheap wideband radios. There is also a clamp-down in the USA.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2018/october/update-on-the-prohibition-of-unrestricted-two-way-radios-in-new-zealand.htm#.W7HlHvZFzIU

10m FT8

For a change, I am on 10m FT8 (2.5W), mostly RX with the occasional CQ. So far, no spots of others and 1 spot of me from GM4WJA (624km). Not sure of the propagation mode.

UPDATE 1025z: No further 10m FT8 spots on RX or TX.

UPDATE 1107z: A surprise FT8 QSO (in answer to my CQ call) with CS7AOL (1457km). No other spots.

UPDATE 1505z: 5 stations in 4 countries spotted on 10m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1542z: I am again calling CQ (2.5W). The impression I am getting is that transient E layer openings are still occurring, albeit less frequently than in the peak Es months, but there are fewer people on now: I guess they think 10m is "dead" and look elsewhere sadly.  At least with FT8 it concentrates activity and works with weak signals. As long as the station is there for 15 seconds, it gets spotted.

UPDATE 1907z: Several more Europeans spotted plus several South Americans (8). Sadly, no-one has spotted my CQs from outside Europe except EA8CYL (2990km) in the Canary Is off Africa.

Where my 2.5W 10m FT8 was spotted today

Stations spotted on 10m FT8 today

Sunspots - Monday October 1st 2018

Solar flux is 68 and the SSN 13. A=6 and K=2.

Overnight on MF WSPR

8 unique spots of my 10mW ERP 472kHz WSPR over night, with best DX a spot from PA3ABK (306km).

472kHz WSPR

I have now QSYed to 472kHz (630m) WSPR transceive with 10mW from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.

My 10m WSPR beacon is (for now) still TXing.

PSK Reporter

Personally I find PSK reporter maps very useful. Calling CQ on 2m FT8 QRP I often get no QSOs, but a look at the map shows that actually I was reaching many stations in several countries.

See https://www.pskreporter.info/pskmap.html

5G spectrum

Our high microwave allocations are under threat as possible spectrum is allocated for 5G. According to Southgate News the FCC is to auction 24GHz and 47GHz spectrum. The RSGB has made complaints already about UK 5G allocations.

If 5G is to use 47GHz, they will need masts on every street!! At least microwave parts should be cheap.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2018/september/fcc-24-and-47-ghz-5g-spectrum-auction.htm#.W7CJdfZFzIU

10m WSPR

As the antenna is free I am on 10m WSPR TX (500mW) again, but no spots so far.

UPDATE 1050z: Just a spot by DK6UG (633km) so far today on 10m WSPR.

UPDATE 1357z: Two spots received today. In addition to DK6UG, IZ3LCH (1149km) has spotted me.