Sunspots - Wednesday February 20th 2019

Solar flux is 68 today and the SSN zero again. A=3 and K=0.  Not good.

160m FT8 - Japan hunting

This evening, I am monitoring 1.908MHz FT8 in the hope of spotting some Japanese stations who do not have full access to the 160m band. According to Bas, the best chances are 2000-2200z. Later in the evening, I'll probably  revert to 1.84MHz FT8 in the hope of spotting some North Americans.

UPDATE 2308z: Although quite a few Europeans spotted up on 1.908MHz, sadly no Japanese.  It is now light there  so I think that is it for tonight.

XBS Telecom

Apart from the hassle of buying from overseas, XBS telecom seem to have the best prices inclusive of VAT and a 2 year warranty in Europe. As an example, the Yaesu FT991A retails at 1136.70 Euros. Additionally you can get a 100 Euros cash back from Yaesu.

See https://www.xbstelecom.eu/shop/en/fusion-digital-c4fm/148-yaesu-ft-991a-base-hf50144430mhz-analogiquec4fm.html

Oh, by the way the Yaesu FT991A is packed with a Yaesu 3 year warranty card!

Still not too busy on Oscar100

Today at about 1520z I took a listen on the geosynchronous satellite Oscar100. At the moment, activity still seems low, at least on the narrowband transponder, When I listened there were just 2 QSOs going on using USB. There has been some SSTV, but I have heard, so far, just one station on CW. I am not sure what is happening on the TV transponder. I shall have to see if there is anyone doing a TV webSDR.

UPDATE 1538z: Anyone know of a webSDR that relays TV from Oscar100? I haven't found one. So far I have only seen a power density view which shows how active the TV transponder is but not actual TV signals.

Distant windmill - NOT amateur radio

This morning, we did a walk at nearby Landwade and saw no-one at all! My wife took this picture of "our" windmill at a distance of about 3.5km. It is right next to our home.

10m FT8

Most of the day I have been on 10m FT8 RX. So far, only 3 spots with best DX LA3WJA (1155km).

UPDATE 1500z: Now 5 spots. No great DX.

160m FT8 RX

With 22 North Americans spotted on 160m FT8 RX, last night was pretty good. On the advice of Bas, I shall try listening for the Japanese stations tonight on 1908kHz between 2000-2200z.

Sunspots - Tuesday February 19th 2019

Solar flux is 70 again and the sunspot number 0. A=6 and K=1.

160m FT8 RX

From about 2015z, I have been on 160m FT8 RX using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. As usual, there were lots of Europeans spotted, plus a few Asians and Africans, 128 stations in total. WU1ITU (4831km) was the first North American spotted at 2151z.

Stations spotted so far on 160m FT8 RX this evening

UK politics - NOT amateur radio

So, 7 people have left the UK Labour party. As my politics is fairly centralist, I support them and hope they are soon joined by others from whatever party. I hope they form a new centralist party. Come the next election, I expect another coalition which, I hope, is more on the centre than the extremes of both Conservative and Labour parties.