Sunspots - Monday March 4th 2019

Still the pits I am afraid. Solar flux is 69 and the SSN still 0. A=12 and K=2.

QSY to topband

At about 2018z I moved from 2m FT8 RX to 160m FT8 RX using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. Immediately loads of Europeans spotted. By immediately, I mean within a few seconds! Best DX is R7DA (2907km). Already, 25 stations spotted.

UPDATE 2214z: So far this evening 128 stations spotted on 160m FT8 RX.

The 128 stations so far spotted 

on 160m FT8 RX this evening.

That sunspot minimum

As mentioned yesterday, the jury is still out and predictions for the sunspot minimum vary widely. One source I use still predicts we are already over the worst of the minimum. Another one suggests we have years still to go. In another year we will have a better idea. In the meantime "keep taking the pills" as they say, or take up fishing.

Holme-next-the-Sea - NOT amateur radio

Last summer we spent a week in North Norfolk at Holme-next-the-Sea, where the photo was taken. The weather all week was perfect. Where we stayed (house and village) could not be better.

Oscar 100 occupancy

At the moment I am just keeping a watchful eye on the narrowband section of Oscar 100 by looking at the Goonhilly web SDR.

At the moment (especially as this is a weekend) occupancy is low and there are no QRM issues. I believe they have ways of jamming stations that are using too much power. As a guide the signal should be no stronger than the beacon. If your signal is stronger you are using too much power. At the moment this does not seem to be an issue and most (all?) stations are using a few watts or less.

As I said in earlier posts, activity, so far, is lower than I expected, although I am sure activity will increase over time. The photo shows activity this morning around 1000z on a Sunday morning.

UPDATE 1026z:  3B8FA just copied via Oscar 100.

UPDATE 1337z: I suspect that if ICOM swapped a 13cm upconverter and the IF for a down converted 3cm LNB for 23cm in their IC9700, possibly calling the rig the IC9800, they would have a big take-up. They could do this for under £2k. Think of it: £2k for a DX capable rig with low noise and the DX available at any time and with a small fixed dish, no towers, no rotators, neighbour friendly. No brainer.

Eye, Suffolk - NOT amateur radio

Back in the autumn we visited Eye in Suffolk. This is a delightful village with a fine church. We ate at this café (see LHS of photo) where the food was simple and inexpensive.

2m FT8 RX

So far this morning, 9 stations spotted in 2 countries with my best DX on RX being DF6PW (673km). In the last day, 62 stations in 6 countries spotted overall on 2m FT8 RX. My antenna is the big-wheel omni as usual on 2m horizontal.

UPDATE 0953z: Now 15 stations in 5 countries spotted this morning on 2m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1640z: Now 24 stations spotted today on 2m FT8 RX.

Stations spotted here today so far on 

2m FT8 RX with the big-wheel omni antenna.

Sunspots - Sunday March 3rd 2019

Solar flux is 69 and the SSN still zero. A=12 and K=3.

Ickworth a few days ago - NOT amateur radio

This photo may have been on before, although it doesn't matter. It was taken a few days ago at Ickworth near Bury St Edmunds when the sun was shining!

Since about Thursday it has turned far cooler, although still mild here in the UK. Tomorrow could be windy and wet.

Commercial gear for Oscar 100

It had to happen.

As soon as people realised Oscar 100, the geosynchronous satellite, worked then commercial gear started to become available. Kuhne is selling a 20W upconverter from 2m to 13cm (they will soon be selling a 3cm LNB) and another German company is selling a dual frequency dish feed. It would not surprise me if ICOM introduced the IC9700A with Oscar 100 capability built-in. It only needs a 13cm upconverter and a 10GHz downconverter. So, for under £3k the well healed commercial buying amateur can be guaranteed 24/7 DX with a small fixed dish. No towers, day and night, easy.

It has to happen. I can see ICOM and Yaesu beavering away to see who will be first. Watch this space at Dayton. I expect there will be heavily guarded prototypes got ready just in time with people busy in their labs in fear of their futures should they fail.