Sunspots - Thursday March 14th 2019

Solar flux is 71 today and the SSN 0. A=4 and K=1.

QSY to 160m FT8 RX

About an hour ago I went QRT on 10m FT8 and moved to 160m FT8 RX. Already lots of Europeans spotted (84 stations already) with best DX currently RO9O (5145km) in Asiatic Russia.

It will be interesting to see how many stations from "across the pond" tonight.

UPDATE 2039z: So far this evening, 109 stations spotted on 160m FT8 RX using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.

UPDATE 2248z: Now 178 stations spotted this evening.

Cambridge Posters - NOT amateur radio

It is hard to say nothing happens in Cambridge judging by the number of posters my wife saw this morning.

Caveat emptor - Kuhne and Oscar 100 upconverter

This appeared on Facebook earlier about the Kunhe Oscar 100 upconverter. I do not know if these comments are correct, but it is worth a few questions of the manufacturer if you are thinking about buying one.

"It has been reported that the Kuhne up converter has a major design flaw related to frequency stability. This is so major that the voice is almost not intelligble on SSB from some stations using this Kuhne product. I have attached a recording documenting this issue (stations significantly worse than this has been heard as well). The station on the recording is using the Kuhne up converter.

Customers have also reported several soldered straps on the product so it appears thst an unfinished prototype has been released (!) Finally the product is not equipped with an input for external reference. This is very supprising since this is an S band transmitter. It should be clear to any seasoned and experienced RF engineer that frequency stability must be very critical on an S band transmitter for narrowband operation released into the market.

It is very surprising that Kuhne releases what in my opinion appears as a unfinished prototype with stability issues and straps into the market. Especially when we compare the price to other offerings in the market.

**Buyers be aware!**"

QSYed to 10m FT8 RX

Whether or not I spot anyone today on 10m remains to be seen, but about 10 minutes ago, I QSYed to 10m FT8 RX for the day. As yet, no spots.

UPDATE 1130z: Still no 10m FT8 RX spots here today.

UPDATE 1340z: 2 spots so far with best DX DJ8QX (466km).

UPDATE 1550z: No further spots today on 10m FT8 RX. I shall probably QSY to 160m FT8 shortly. Roll on the Es season! At the moment for poorly equipped stations (like me) 10m is hard work, even with FT8.

G3RJV Silent Key - Mr QRP

Sadly, as reported elsewhere, the Rev George Dobbs G3RJV who helped start the GQRP Club in 1974 has died. He had had dementia for some while, but this is sad news. I am sure he will be greatly missed in the amateur community. He certainly inspired me.

See https://www.amateurradio.com/ .
See also http://southgatearc.org/news/2019/march/rev-george-dobbs-g3rjv-silent-key.htm#.XIjpcPZ2u00

Clunch outhouse - NOT amateur radio

Clunch is a kind of chalk. Many walls and buildings around here are made of clunch. The out-building in the photo was badly cracked in the heat last summer, so they decided to rebuild it. The old roof timbers are propped against the wall, which is also clunch I think.

Plymouth Argyle - NOT amateur radio

So I am not a big soccer fan, but I still look to see how my old local team is doing. As last season, they were lingering at the very bottom of their league, whereas they are now way up the table. Not being an avid follower, I am not sure why they are doing so well again after their poor start. At this rate they should be safe and avoid relegation to a lower league.  

See https://www.pafc.co.uk/ .

160m conditions changing?

Many times in the past I have said that I am definitely no expert on 160m!

Last night the only North American spotted on 160m FT8 RX was V31MA (8300km) in Belize. The other station copied from "across the pond" was KV4FZ (6764km) in the Caribbean.

In all, 242 stations spotted on 160m FT8 RX overnight with the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. Now, this could be conditions changing or just a bad night.

160m FT8 RX spots overnight

Sunspots - Wednesday March 13th 2019

Solar flux is 69 today and the sunspot number 11. A=7 and K=1.