Sunspots - Friday November 16th 2018

Solar flux is 71 and the sunspot number 11. A=2 and K=0.

Now on 160m FT8

A recent 2.5W 160m FT8 CQ using the earth-electrode "antenna" was spotted by R3BB (2446km) quite strongly. I am amazed. At the moment, I am RX only on 160m FT8.

UPDATE 2158z: Lots of Europeans spotted as well as WU1ITU (4831km) in Maine, USA. I am also supposed to have spotted a station in Argentina at +7dB S/N. Most of his spots are from Europe, so I think this is a pirate.

Rallies this weekend

Saturday 17 NOVEMBER : RADARS TRADITIONAL RADIO RALLY

St Vincent de Paul's, Caldershaw Road, off Edenfield Road (A680), Norden, Rochdale, OL12 7QR. Doors open to the public at 10.30am with disabled visitors gaining access 15 minutes earlier. Admission is £2.50 with those under 12 years free. £5 per pitch (for traders with own tables) or £10 for a pitch with table provided. Bring & Buy as well as commercial traders and amateur radio sellers. Refreshments available including bacon and sausage butties. Robert, M0NVQ, m0nvq@outlook.com, 0777 811 3333.


Sunday 18 NOVEMBER : NEVADA RADIO & WATERS & STANTON OPEN DAY

Nevada Radio, 1 Fitzherbert Spur, Portsmouth PO6 1TT. First ever joint open day running from 10am to 4.30pm. Major manufacturers will be in attendance to demonstrate their latest radios. There's a free burger and coffee for every attendee (available 11am to 2pm). The main warehouse will be opened to customers to wander around and pick up many one-off deals of the day, or pick through a large selection of vintage and used radio equipment. www.nevadaradio.co.uk.


Sunday 18 NOVEMBER : 41st CATS RADIO & ELECTRONICS BAZAAR

Oasis Academy, Homefield Rd, Coulsdon CR5 1ES. Free car parking, doors open 10am, admission £1.50. Trade stands, special interest groups, refreshments. Andy Briers, G0KZT, 0772 986 6600. [https://www.facebook.com/events/437043790050777/].


Sunday 18 NOVEMBER : PLYMOUTH RADIO RALLY

Harewood House, Church Rd, Plympton PL7 1NH. Doors open at 10.30am, £2 entrance fee. David Beck, d.beck123@outlook.com www.plymouthamateurradioclub.btck.co.uk.


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

Brother - NOT amateur radio

For the last few days my brother has been staying with us. He came up from Devon on the train and has just gone back. He always makes himself at home, which we like.

160m FT8 overnight

As well as countless Europeans, 2 transatlantic stations were spotted overnight on 160m FT8 with the best DX being NS9I (6106km) in Wisconsin.

I still use the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. It seems to work pretty well on 160m - much better than I expected. You cannot see it!

10m FT8

Quite late in the day, I have QSYed to 10m FT8. So far, no spots on TX or RX. Later, I shall go back on 160m FT8.

UPDATE 1532z: Just PD1DL (328km) spotted so far. I suspect this is aircraft reflection.

Darwin's beetles - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday, we visited the newly refurbished Zoology Museum in Cambridge. It is excellent. In the exhibits were this collection of beetles by Charles Darwin.

Sunspots - Thursday November 15th 2018

Solar flux is 69 today and the SSN 11. A=2 and K=0.

Hacking attempt? - NOT amateur radio

For quite a time now, the hackers seem to have left me alone. When I checked visitor numbers earlier, they had leapt to unheard of numbers. Now I can't believe that my modest comments suddenly captured the imagination of the amateur radio world. Either this is a mistake by Google or a deliberate hacking attempt. I shall have to check my other blogs.

UPDATE 1637z: All blogs are the same! I suspect a Google error.

Overnight on 160m FT8 RX

Last night 4 transatlantic stations were spotted on 160m FT8 RX including a Canadian quite early on. As on previous nights, absolutely loads of Europeans spotted.