10m FT8

As of a few minutes ago, I have QSYed to 10m FT8. Initially, I was calling CQ (2.5W). Now I am RX only.

UPDATE 1551z: No spots yet. Soon be time to QSY to 160m FT8.

472kHz WSPR TX - daytime

As a way of testing my new install of WSJT-X V2.0. I went on 472kHz WSPR TX with my 10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. Although I have yet to spot anyone, I have now received several spots of my QRP with best DX being spots from G0MRF (139km).

I see that DK7FC has being having success with an indoor loop on that band using 10mW ERP, proving again that a big antenna is not a prerequisite for 472kHz TX.

UPDATE 1114z:  Doh! Guess who forgot to tick the "upload spots" button. G1GKN was spotted loads of times, but nothing appeared on WSPRnet, so I was getting suspicious. He is now being spotted on WSPRnet.

Daytime 472kHz WSPR

WSPR-X 2.0 issue?

By accident, I found out that WSPR-X 2.0 was saving 8GB of wav files (even though I had ticked the box to save nothing!). I deleted all these from the "save" directory, but now all my 160m spots overnight failed to upload. The internet connection to PSKreporter seems fine. I shall de-install and re-install later to see if this fixes things. I am pretty sure that only those wav files were removed.

Later it said I experienced a sub-process error code 2, whatever that is. I deleted WSJT-X V2.0 and re-installed. I went on 40m and still no uploads!

Panic over! With the new install I have to tick the box saying "enable PSKreporter spots" or whatever it says. I had forgotten to do this! I seem to be getting plenty of 40m FT8 spots now and they all appear on PSKreporter.

Sunspots - Monday January 28th 2019

Solar flux is 74 and the SSN 22. A=5 and K=0.

160m conditions are changing?

As I have said before, I am no 160m expert. Last night was the first time this winter when not a single North American was spotted on 160m FT8 RX. Just one South American spotted: HK3W (8507km). The impression I am getting is 160m conditions are changing.

10m FT8

After a brief CQ call (2.5W) I have been on 10m FT8 RX. As yet, no spots on 10m FT8 on  RX and TX.

UK Garden Birdwatch

Every winter for the last 40 years the RSPB (our national bird society) has organised a Garden Birdwatch. You simply sit watching the birds in your garden or park for any one hour and record the maximum number of each species seen in the hour at one time. This year I saw 9 species, but missed some quite common birds usually seen. As in earlier years, larger birds seem to dominate. We have plenty of starlings as these congregate on the nearby windmill. They do not roost there, but seem to use it as a stopping off point.

XBM80-2 in Dutch

Frank PA3CNO tells me my XBM80-2 appears in the Dutch "RAZzies" magazine for February. Frank asked my permission first - thank you Frank. As I speak no Dutch I cannot understand a word!

See https://www.pi4raz.nl/razzies/razzies201902.pdfs

Sunspots - Sunday January 27th 2019

Solar flux is 75 today and the sunspot number 26. A=7 and K=1.

160m FT8

For several hours now, I have been on 160m FT8 using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.

On TX I ran 2.5W. Best DX on TX was a spot by LA2XPA (1281km) in western Norway. 5 further stations in 4 countries spotted me.

On 160m FT8 RX the best DX currently is RU8W (3643km).