Last night on 630m (472kHz) WSPR

Overnight was average here on MF. In all, I spotted 15 different stations and my 10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground was spotted by 10 stations with best DX a spot by PA0O (440km).

Sunspots - Sunday November 25th 2018

Sunspots again!  This may be just a blip, but there are sunspots again.

Solar flux is 69 and the SSN 14 today. A=4 and K=0.

Is this the start of cycle 25? Only time will tell.

QSY to 10m FT8

After a busy, family weekend, at about 1200z I returned to 10m FT8. At present I am RX only. No spots yet!

UPDATE 1258z: Just one spot so far on 10m FT8 RX MM0ZBH (482km).

UPDATE 1401z: Just 3 UK stations spotted so far today in 2 countries.

UPDATE 1707z: In all 4 stations only spotted today on 10m FT8 RX today, with best DX DL6RDM (944km).

Birthdays - NOT amateur radio

My wife is 70 today and I am 70 just before Christmas. It is hard to understand where the years have gone! Enjoy every precious moment. Inside, we both still feel young.

Sunspots - Saturday November 24th 2018

Solar flux is 68 and the sunspot number 0. A=3 and K=0. Sunspot minimum.

Best DX yet on 630m WSPR

Overnight, my 10mW ERP MF signal from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground was spotted by 16 unique stations with the best being a spot by SM4GOJ (1246km) in Sweden. Although I am not sure, I think this is the most distant spot I have ever received on 630m at this QTH.

On 630m WSPR RX I was able to spot 19 stations here.

Back on MF WSPR

This evening, I decided to try 630m (472kHz) WSPR again (10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground). Best DX, so far, on TX is PA3ABK (306km).

UPDATE 2218z: So far 14 unique stations spotted on 472kHz WSPR RX and 11 spots of my 10mW ERP on TX.

Up the pole - NOT amateur radio

It looks like a neighbour is having issues with his phone or perhaps having his broadband upgraded. It was a dull, dreary, cold and damp morning to be working up a pole!

10m FT8

7 stations in 4 countries spotted so far on 10 FT8 RX today.

UPDATE 1533z: So far on 10m FT8 RX, 18 stations in 6 countries, all in Europe.

160m FT8 RX

In all, 5 USA plus Canadians and 2 Caribbean stations spotted on 160m FT8 RX last night. Shortly, I'll QSY to 10m FT8.