10m FT8 - dead?

For about 30 minutes now, I have been monitoring 10m FT8. As yet, nothing at all spotted on 10m today. Let's hope things improve!

UPDATE 1505z: Still nothing spotted on 10m FT8 RX today. Really bad. I am using WSJT-X rc5 now. Soon be time to QSY to 160m.

Best yet on 472kHz WSPR this season

Stations spotted here on 472kHz WSPR overnight

Overnight was my best yet this season with 16 different stations spotting my 10mW QRP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. Best DX was by LA2XPA (1310km) way up in Norway.

Stations that spotted my 472kHz WSPR (10mW ERP) last night

Sunspots - Saturday December 1st 2018

Still the pits...

Solar flux is 68 and the sunspot number still zero. A=2 and K=1.

Definitely at sunspot minimum!

472kHz WSPR

A few moments ago I returned to 472kHz WSPR.  It normally takes about 20 minutes for the transverter crystal to settle and the drift go to zero.

UPDATE 1830z: So far the evening, 3 people have spotted my 10mW ERP MF WSPR signal. All Gs.

Low cost spectrum analyser

This weekend is the MLS Hog Roast.

As part of their usual "something for the weekend" promotion they are showing a low cost spectrum analyser. It is years since I used one at work. OK, this is low cost, but covers 15MHz to 2.7GHz. Of all the test gear I ever used, a spectrum analyser was among the most useful.

10m FT8

Although conditions on the higher HF bands don't exactly look promising, I have returned to 10m FT8 for the daylight hours. As I have only just QSYed, no spots yet. Will I spot anyone at all? Only time will tell.

UPDATE 1400z: Just PD1DL (328km) and G4CJC (74km) spotted. I suspect the PD1 was by aircraft reflection.

Old friends - NOT amateur radio

Some old friends who moved out of our village several years ago are staying with us for a few days. The photo shows us enjoying a meal together last night.

What are they up to? - NOT amateur radio

We live next door to Burwell Museum and windmill. The photo shows 2 volunteers peering down the well. You may well ask why.

Well, they are hauling up the tray at the bottom of the well which catches money thrown into the well over the season, which runs from Easter until late October when the museum is open.

160m FT8 overnight

Although lots of Europeans spotted once again, far fewer North Americans spotted here. In fact only 3 USA stations overnight.

Sunspots - Friday November 30th 2018

Solar flux is 68 and the SSN 0. A =3 and K=0.