Young swans - NOT amateur radio

On our return from Cambridge we got stuck behind a tractor, so we took a detour and chanced upon these young Mute Swans and a few ducks. They look like this year's young losing their grey feathers and starting out with white ones.

10m FT8

An earlier CQ (2.5W) was spotted by no-one and just a single spot, so far, on FT8 RX of PA2RG (318km). I suspect this was aircraft reflection although it could be tropo.

UPDATE 1642z: Just 3 stations spotted in 3 countries on 10m FT8 today with best DX 9A7JCY (1424km) in Croatia. Dire! For me at least, this has been a bad 10m day.

Sunspots - Friday November 2nd 2018

The pits!

I cannot recall when solar conditions have been this bad since the last solar minimum around 2008. Solar flux is just 66 and the sunspot number zero. A=5 and K=2. Hopefully we will soon see the start of cycle 25 and somewhat better numbers.

472kHz WSPR

Last night was probably the best here this season with 20 stations spotted and my own 10mW ERP signal was spotted by 11 stations.

As 10m FT8 was dire today, I have already decided to QSY to 472kHz WSPR.

UPDATE 2200z: In the last 2 weeks, 30 different stations in 6 countries have been spotted with EA7HPM (1726km) as the best DX. My own 10mW ERP has been spotted by 20 different stations with the most distant being LA3EQ (769km). My only "antenna" is the earth-electrodes about 10m apart with just a low wire running back to the shack. At the old QTH running the wire on the ground made very little difference. In my view this acts as a loop in the ground at MF.

10m FT8

Very disappointing here. Nobody spotted my CQ calls and no spots of others. Dismal!

Sunspots - Thursday November 1st 2018

Solar flux is 68 and the SSN zero. A=4 and K=1.

Rallies

Saturday 3 NOVEMBER : VERON Ham Radio Convention (Dag voor de RadioAmateur 2018)

IJsselhallen, Rieteweg 4, 8011 AB, Zwolle, Netherlands. 9.30am to 5pm, €9.00 entry fee, free to Under 16s. Tickets available on the door from 9am. On-site Car Parking €5.00. The organising committee of the Dutch Radio Society (VERON) created an attractive programme. Besides the official part, the 'Radio Amateur of 2017' will be announced, and several lectures will be given. There will be a homebrew exhibition, demonstrations and measuring facilities, the AMRATO (Amateur radio equipment sales), and the VERON Components market (flea market). Several commissions, working groups & associated societies are also presenting, and there will be a Youth Zone to inform youngsters about techniques and the many aspects of our hobby.


4 NOVEMBER 2018 CANCELLED : WEST LONDON RADIO & ELECTRONICS SHOW (Kempton Rally)


Sunday 4 NOVEMBER : BUSHVALLEY ARC ANNUAL RADIO RALLY
United Services Club, 8 Roe Mill Road, Limavady, Co Londonderry BT49 9DF. Doors open from 11am to 4pm with disabled visitors gaining access at 10.50am. Admittance is £3. There will be an auction, trade stands, a Bring & Buy, RSGB Book Stall and Special Interest Groups. A Talk-In station will be on the air. Catering is available on site. Contact Jason Smyth, MI3UIW, 07793 314 313, jason.smyth@pepsico.com.


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

472kHz WSPR

Earlier this evening I QSYed to 472kHz WSPR. So far, 8 stations have spotted my 10mW ERP signal and I have spotted 16 stations on RX. Promising.

Stations spotted on 472kHz WSPR so far tonight.

Kings College Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

This picture typifies Cambridge. People come from all over the world to see this view. We get it for just a free bus ride!  Even access to all the Cambridge colleges is free for locals. It is hard to think people pay thousands of pounds to see this.

10m FT8 RX

For now, I am on 10m FT8 RX.

With sunspot minimum conditions and being well outside of the Es season, I am not expecting much. Of late the South Americans have not been spotted in the early evening on 10m FT8 with my low antenna.

UPDATE 1556z: 3 stations in 2 countries spotted so far. Best DX on 10m FT8 RX is IT9PZM (1890km).

UPDATE 1650z:  I have just updated to WSJT-x V2.0 rc3. My recent 2.5W CQ was copied by no-one at all!