Neighbour pleaser?

Well, I think not.  Maybe OK if you live on a farm, but certainly my neighbours would object!

Southgate News have given details of the new antennas from InnovAntennas. These are billed as "compact".  I'd like to know what the non-compact antennas look like! With a tower, the investment must be of the order of £2k before you get a rig. Personally, this is not my style of amateur radio.

We are all different, so if this is OK with your neighbours and how you chose to spend your money, so be it. I make no judgements, but this is not for me.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2019/february/enter-the-innovantennas-xr7-and-xr7c.htm#.XHJlGvZ2u00

10m FT8

I was on 10m FT8 before breakfast today and called CQ earlier (2.5W). So far, no spots given or received on 10m here.

UPDATE 1005z: Still no 10m FT8 spots here today.

UPDATE 1127z: G0FWX (160km) spotted calling CQ. Also 2E0XXO (121km) spotted here, but doesn't appear on PSK reporter maps. Maybe my internet was briefly down? This station was spotted later.

UPDATE 1310z: With G4CJC (74km) spotted, there are now 3 spots in the log today on 10m FT8 RX. These were all in the UK.

UPDATE 1732z: Soon be time to QSY - probably 472kHz WSPR (10mW ERP). In all, 6 UK stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX today. Stunningly bad!

Overnight on 160m FT8 RX

Last night was not as good as earlier on 160m FT8 RX with just 8 North Americans spotted. Best DX spotted was V31YN (8346km) in Belize. In all, 403 stations spotted on 160m FT8 in the last day.

Stations spotted overnight on 160m FT8 RX 

using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.

Sunspots - Sunday February 24th 2019

Solar flux is 70 and the SSN still 0. A=2 and K=0.

160m FT8 RX

About an hour ago I QSYed to160m FT8 RX after the daylight hours on 10m FT8. So far this evening 87 stations spotted on 160m with best DX 5B4VL (3188km).

UPDATE 2051z: Now 167 stations spotted today on 160m FT8 with best DX R0SR (6425km) in Asiatic Russia.

UPDATE 2302z: Now 263 stations spotted this evening on 160m FT8 RX, but nothing yet from North America. Most interesting DX is 5T5PA (3791km) in Mauritania.

Quiet again - NOT amateur radio

After a few days with 2 of our young grandchildren, the house is now quiet again. We love having them, but I get tired more easily than I did. The photo shows them with my wife and a neighbour outside earlier in the sunshine.

Overnight on 472kHz WSPR

Overnight, I was on 472kHz WSPR (20% TX 10mW ERP). It was not a great session with the best spot of me being by PA3ABK (306km). On RX my best DX was LA2XPA (1310km) among the 9 stations spotted.

10m FT8

Yet again, I am monitoring 10m FT8 RX today in the daylight hours. So far just a G spot with no DX here.

UPDATE 1256z:   Now 5 stations in 2 countries spotted so far today on 10m FT8 RX. Best DX is DJ5JD (489km).

UPDATE 1353z:  Now 7 stations in 3 countries spotted today on 10m FT8 RX. No great distances.

UPDATE 1647z: Now 11 stations in 4 countries spotted today on 10m FT8 RX with best DX OZ1LXJ (802km).

Sunspots - Saturday February 23rd 2019

Solar flux is 70 and the sunspot number 0. A=4 and K=0.

472kHz WSPR

Tonight, and overnight, I hope to be on 472kHz WSPR (10mW ERP) using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground, On RX the best DX so far is LA2XPA (1310km) and on TX G4ZFQ (203km).

UPDATE 2112z: Average start on 472kHz WSPR this evening.