Sunspots - Saturday October 13th 2018

Solar flux is 71 today and the SSN 11. A=5 and K=1.

472kHz WSPR

Earlier this evening I swapped to 472kHz WSPR (10mW ERP). Best DX on RX, so far, is EA4GHB(1300km). So far just 3 G spots of me.

FTSE below 7000 and BREXIT - NOT amateur radio

For some time now, the FTSE UK share index has been falling. It may recover or it could be a sign of market jitters. Many big pension funds depend on FTSE listed companies doing well.

I expect once the BREXIT outcome is clearer things will go one way or the other. A good BREXIT deal could result in a rebound in sterling. This depends on the UK parliament agreeing the deal.

If we leave without a deal, goodness knows what will happen. My gut feel is there will be some last minute bargaining, as no-one really want a bad deal.

Another royal wedding

Apparently the queen paid for the wedding, but we, Joe Public, paid for all the security. I am not sure where I stand on royalty. I guess as a brand it earns a few million, but I am against wealth and privilege when not earned. On the other hand I can't think of a suitable candidate for UK president! Most in public life are a shower.

Goodness only knows what will happen when the queen dies. No doubt this event has been rehearsed and rehearsed on the TV and radio channels. I guess it is bound to happen sometime soon, although her mum lived to a ripe old age.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-45827183 .

Park and Ride - NOT amateur radio

One advantage of being old is a free bus pass.

My University of the Third Age course has restarted (Italian Cities) and I drive to the outskirts of Cambridge, then get the Park and Ride bus. For me it is free. I enjoy the bus ride and the course. The photo shows the inside of the bus yesterday.

10m WSPR

I have been on 10m WSPR for about 30 minutes and, as expected, no spots yet.

Yesterday I was spotted in the Canary Is, although that was a bit later. Days with E layer propagation seen few and far between.

Also, I think there is a lot more activity on 10m FT8 these days than 10m WSPR.


UPDATE 1818z:  No spots. Bad day.

Today on 2m FT8

My earlier CQ (2.5W to the omni antenna) was spotted by 3 stations. So far today 3 UK stations spotted on RX.

UPDATE 1017z: 12 stations in 3 countries spotted today so far on 2m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1548z: now 18 stations spotted in 6 countries on 2m FT8 RX with best DX, so far, DD3SF(576km). A comparatively poor day! To think, before FT8, this would have been remarkable for me!

UPDATE 1815z: Now 30 stations in 7 countries spotted on 2m FT8 RX today.

Sunspots - Thursday October 12th 2018

Solar flux is 70 today and the sunspot number still zero. A=9 and K=2.

2m FT8 RX yesterday

Stations spotted here yesterday on 2m FT8 RX

It seems impossible to realise this is 2m!

Every single day it seems these results are possible even with my big-wheel omni and no beams and no lifts. There is no doubt that FT8 has transformed DX on this band.

In the past if I worked Germany on 2m I would have popped the champagne. Yesterday morning my 2.5W FT8 CQ was copied in Germany and I did not even tell the XYL.

Rallies this Sunday

Sunday 14 OCTOBER : HORNSEA AMATEUR RADIO RALLY

The Floral Hall, Hornsea HU18 1NQ. Doors open 10am, admission £2, under 14 free. There will be trade stands, a Bring & Buy run by the Hornsea ARC and RSGB book stall. Hot and cold food available in the cafe. Les, 2E0LBJ, 01377 252 393, lbjpinkney1@hotmail.co.uk www.hornseaarc.co.uk.


Sunday 14 OCTOBER : HOLSWORTHY RADIO RALLY 2018

Holsworthy Community College, Victoria Hill Holsworthy, Devon EX22 6JD. There will be traders, a Bring & Buy and catering. The venue also has disabled access. Doors open at 10am. Howard, M0MYB, holsworthyarc@gmail.com www.qsl.net/m0omc/holsrally.html.


A list of rallies can be found at http://rsgb.org/main/news/rallies/