Sunspots Monday February 4th 2019

Solar flux is 71 and the SSN 0. A=11 and K=0

Return to 472kHz WSPR

Most nights I go on either 1.84MHz FT8 RX or 472kHz WSPR TX (20% 10mW ERP, with 80% RX). In both cases, the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground is used. Tonight (well this evening) it is the turn of 472kHz WSPR. I have yet to decide on the overnight period as most DX is spotted on 472kHz well before midnight, whereas transatlantic 160m DX usually come in after midnight. So, I may QSY to 160m FT8 RX at bedtime. G8LCO (58km) has already spotted my 472kHz WSPR transmission, even though it has yet to settle.

UPDATE 1636z: G1GKN (99km) is a good signal again on 472kHz WSPR RX.

UPDATE 2042z: LA2XPA (1310km) is the best DX so far this evening on 472kHz WSPR RX. With my 10mW ERP my best DX on TX is PA3ABK (306km).

10m FT8

Since about 5 minutes ago, I have been on 10m FT8. At first I called CQ (2.5W) and since then I have been on RX only.  Guess what? No spots!

UPDATE 1546z: So far today, just a single 10m FT8 RX spot.: G0OYQ (177km) in Humberside.

Wasted boxes - NOT amateur radio

According to a recent Facebook post there are 900000000 wasted boxes on consumer products every year in the USA alone. The example is toothpaste which comes in a tube, which is then put in a box, which is just thrown away. What a stupid waste! We need to force companies away from wasted packaging. In Iceland toothpaste does not come in boxes. If they can, so can we.

Perhaps we should all start by leaving the unnecessary packaging in the supermarkets?

"Going away" - NOT amateur radio

No doubt like many, I got an email yesterday to tell me Google+ was "going away" and that I needed to archive any data I wanted before Feb 9th. Yet another example of things getting worse, not better, with time. I have to admit, I have not used Google+ for years.

Why don't they just be honest and say Google+ was a failure? Sorry, I have little time for this "marketing speak". Please, tell us the truth, as we are grown ups and are not stupid.

Daffodils - NOT amateur radio

We still have several weeks of winter, but daffodils in flower promise spring and new life. These were in Dalham, a delightful village not far from here, where we did a walk earlier today.

Our village - NOT amateur radio

This is a house in our village. We nearly bought the house next door many years ago. Instead we stayed put in the same house for 38 years!

160m FT8 RX overnight

A good period. In all, 21 North Americans, 2 Caribbeans and 1 South American spotted with best DX on 160m FT8 a spot of HK3W (8507km).

Stations spotted overnight on 160m FT8 with 

the earth-electrode "antenna2" in the ground

UPDATE 1254z: DL7AU (927km) was recently spotted in broad daylight on 160m FT8 RX.

Cat - NOT amateur radio

One of the reasons we visited our and family in London yesterday was to see their cat, bought as a kitten a few months ago.

She is now growing fast and is very playful as the photo shows.

Sunspots - Sunday February 3rd 2019

Solar flux is 71 and the sunspot number 0. A=17 and K=3.