Slow start on 10m FT8

Been on 10m FT8 for about 30 minutes and the only station spotted so far is 2E0XXO (121km) in Lincoln. An early CQ (2.5W FT8) was spotted by no-one!

UPDATE 1430z: It picked up. Lots of EU stations spotted and a CT1 worked (2.5W FT8). VY2HH (4445km) on Prince Edward Island, Canada spotted on 10m FT8 at 1413z at a strong -10dB S/N.

UPDATE 1852z: Already 6 South Americans spotted on 10m FT8 RX as well as Kuwait and Ghana. A great day. 5 continents spotted on 10m FT8 RX today. 10m near sunspot minimum!

10m FT8 CQs earlier (2.5W)

10m FT8 RX today

472kHz WSPR

As 10m seems to have closed, I decided to try 472kHz WSPR again (10mW ERP).

So far this evening, 9 different stations spotted on MF with best 472kHz WSPR  RX DX being LA8AV (1035km). On TX this evening best DX, so far, is a spot from G4PQP (100km).

472kHz WSPR RX so far this evening

Garden - NOT amateur radio

Autumn is here and we are getting the garden ready for the quiet winter months. Leaves are falling and soon there will be frosts. It was quite warm today, but these days will soon be gone. Next weekend the clocks go back and it is soon dark early. Every season has something good about it.

2m UKAC contest results

The results of the 2m UKAC activity contest for October have been published. Apparently my position has improved. Seeing I use 5W to an omni and usually stay on for less than 60 minutes, I am quite pleased. I do not take contests too seriously.

See https://www.rsgbcc.org/cgi-bin/vhfresults.pl?Contest=144MHz%20UKAC&year=2018

10m FT8

At the moment, I am back on 10m FT8. Best DX on RX is MU0WLV (374km) on Guernsey earlier. So far just G and MU stations spotted. An earlier CQ (2.5W FT8) was spotted by EI7GL (595km). Aircraft reflection?

UPDATE 1525z: Several stations in Portugal and Italy spotted this afternoon on 10m FT8 RX. Lzst night South Americans came through on 10m from 1800z. Last year on this date I was copying stations on 10m FT8 RX from every continent except Antarctica.

UPDATE 1715z: 10 stations in 4 countries so far on 10m FT8 RX today. All EU.

UPDATE 2057z:  I went QRT on 10m at about 1950z. No South Americans were spotted here on 10m FT8 today. Today was the quietest day for some time on the band. In the end, 10 EU stations spotted in 4 countries.

A good night on 472kHz

The last time I was on 472kHz WSPR I was disappointed. Last night was great with 9 stations in 3 countries spotting me and being copied in Norway for the second time this autumn with my 10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. I know this is several dB down on a "real" antenna, but it shows that even very compromised antennas work.

472kHz WSPR TX

On 472kHz WSPR, RX 11 different stations spotted in 6 countries with the best DX being IW4DXW (1190km).

472kHz WSPR RX

Sunspots - Saturday October 20th 2018

Solar flux is 70 and the SSN zero. A=2 and K=1. Typical sunspot minimum conditions.

QSY to 472kHz WSPR (10mW ERP)

The last time I was on this band conditions were not too good, so  am trying again tonight. 

Unique spots so far on 472kHz WSPR this evening

Still using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.

Action on 10m FT8 seems to have stopped for now, so I have gone QRT on that band.  I see GW4BVE was calling a station in the Falkland Is on 10m earlier on 10m FT8.

Grooming gang - NOT amateur radio

"During the three trials, jurors heard how the men - who are all British Asians of mainly Pakistani heritage - preyed on young, vulnerable girls, one of whom was described as having the mental age of a seven-year-old." From the BBC report.

I am most definitely not a racist. Many of my friends come from backgrounds other than white British. What really puzzles me is why every member of this gang is Asian. Is it something in their culture which makes them more likely to act in this way? It is inexcusable. Rather than pay for them in jail, send them back to Pakistan on the first plane. If they cannot follow our way of life, they deserve no part in it.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-45918845

Coax cable

It is many years since I last bought coax (2012?), so I am a bit out of touch on prices, types and sizes. Come to think of it, I must have bought some low-loss coax when David G0LRD installed my 2m big-wheel, but I cannot recall where I got this from!

Every weekend, MLS has some special weekend deals and this week it includes coax and coax tools.

See https://www.hamradio.co.uk/