Overnight on 160m FT8

Since "rolling back" to WSJT-X V1.9 I have spotted loads of stations. Last night there were 6 North American and 1 Caribbean stations spotted on 160m. Best DX spotted was K6ME (8251km) in California, USA.

Stations spotted on 160m FT8 last night 
with the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground

Sunspots - Monday December 3rd 2018

Solar flux is 69 and the SSN zero. A=12 and K=2.

There is little doubt we are at sunspot minimum, but the question is when will we be on the upward slope towards the peak of cycle 25?

Manhattan style

In the past, when I was fitter, a favourite method of mine for small "one off" projects was Manhattan style. This allows neat layouts without the hassle of a PCB. The copper ground-plane makes a great RF earth. I used Me pads but as Steve VE7SL's note says, you can make your own. I have used this method from VLF to VHF to optical frequencies.

Return to 160m FT8

In the last few minutes I have returned to 160m FT8, going back, for now, to WSJT-X V1.9.

A CQ call (2.5W to the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground) was spotted by 3 stations in 2 countries with best DX a spot by G3TXL (360km) in west Devon.

On RX best DX is 9A3TR (1330km) with 6 stations in 3 countries spotted on 160m FT8 so far today.

UPDATE 1642z: So far today on 160m FT8 RX, 35 stations in 9 countries spotted with best DX RC9F (3504km).

UPDATE 2222z:  Lots of Europeans including Russians spotted on 160m FT8, but nothing transatlantic yet. Usually WU1ITU is the first spotted, but not tonight. Maybe this station has already moved to WSJT-X V2.0 rc5? Best DX on 160m FT8 RX is UN1L (4102km) in Kazakhstan.

Yet more houses - NOT amateur radio

It seems every available plot in our village is a great opportunity for a builder to make a quick profit. The houses in the photo were built in the last year. The problem is recalling what was there before!

2m FT8 - 77 bit (latest) version

For about 10 minutes, I have been on 2m FT8 using WSJT-X V2.0 rc5. I have been calling CQ during this period at 2.5W to the big wheel. No spots. At the moment I am RX only.

UPDATE 1140z: Well, I tried an uninstall and reinstall of WSJT-X V2.0 rc5 and still no spots! In desperation I have gone back, for now, to V1.9. Immediate spots with best DX PA3FMP (298km)!

UPDATE 1207z: Since rolling back to WSJT-X V1.9, for now,  5 stations now spotted.

UPDATE 1328z: Now 9 stations in 2 countries spotted so far today on 2m FT8..

UPDATE 1415z: Now 14 stations in 4 countries spotted today on 2m FT8 RX. I shall probably QSY to 160m FT8 at about 1500z.

160m FT8

As many will know, I upgraded to WSJT-X V2.0 rc5 yesterday. Despite being on all night, just the 2 spots from last evening on PSKreporter. A check on the lab PC showed quite a few stations actually received.

There can be several explanations. Firstly, my internet connection may have been non-functional at the time these signals were received. Secondly, maybe the PSKreporter site was unable to accept my reports. Thirdly, perhaps my PC failed to upload the spots, maybe due to a bug? I use Windows 10 with WSJT 2.0 and have not had any issues in the past.

If you have any explanations, I'd be interested.

There may be other reasons. By the way, I always sync to internet time before each session and use a program to always keep in sync to internet time. Timing is definitely correct.

I have done a total reboot of the PC and will see what happens on 2m FT8 today.

Stroke update - NOT amateur radio

It is 5 years since my stroke. Although compared with many I am quite lucky, I still feel far from right. Outwardly I look well and few realise how I really am. Some would call this a hidden disability. I feel sorry for others who look well on the outside, but inside feel very different.

The latest thing is clumsiness. Now this may be my stroke or just getting older, but I feel more clumsy than I did. This last few months have been particularly hard. Driving has always been harder, but now I avoid driving whenever I can.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/stroke .

QRPclub Vestnik magazine

The latest online magazine of the QRPclub is now available. Although mostly in Russian, you may be able to translate it using Google Translate or similar. The schematic will still be understandable as will the tables.

See http://club72.su/vestnik/qv15.pdf

Latest solar data

The latest solar numbers have been published and these still think we are at the minimum. Time will tell. If we are at the minimum, conditions should be not as bad this time next year. It usually takes several years to climb to the next peak.

See www.solen.info/solar .

"As of September 2018 the strength of the polar fields hints at a cycle 25 with a magnitude slightly stronger than that of cycle 24."  From the site linked above. We live in hope!

Another site (NOAA) seems to suggest we have a lot longer to endure! Maybe all of 2019 at least.

See https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/predicted-sunspot-number-and-radio-flux