10m FT8

After a brief CQ call (2.5W), I am now on 10m FT8 RX.  Local G4WSZ (12km) spotted my CQ and the only station spotted on 10m FT8 RX, so far, is PD1DL (328km).

UPDATE 1508z: Now G6XX (180km) spotted on 10m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1655z: No further 10m FT8 spots here today. Dire.

Bill G4PJ

An old editor of Practical Wireless contacted me yesterday about Bill G4PJ.  Bill, a SK for many years, lived in Salcombe, Devon and was my "elmer". He taught me a lot back in the 1960s. I even heard him 4 miles away on 160m AM on a crystal set!

He had a shack overlooking the water and his earth rod went straight into the sea! As a G8, my very first QSOs were from his shack under supervision. Back in the 1960s we could only use 70cms and higher if a G8.

I have very happy memories of those early days.

Topband overnight

In all, 10 North Americans spotted overnight on 160m FT8 RX. So, perhaps 160m conditions are still good and the other night, when so few North Americans were copied, was a blip? In all, 302 stations spotted on 160m FT8 overnight using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.

160m FT8 RX spots here overnight

Sunspots - Monday March 18th 2019

Solar flux is 69 and the sunspot number 0. A=12 and K=3. Still feels like sunspot minimum to me.

160m FT8 RX

For about 20 minutes now, I have been on 160m FT8 RX using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. As on previous evenings, there are lots of Europeans. Many are calling a 3B8, although I have not spotted this station. Best DX spotted here is RM4W (3365km).

The first photo shows the stations spotted on 160m FT8 RX in the first 30 minutes. The second photo shows the spots at bedtime (2240z). As the second photo shows, again plenty of Europeans spotted again. The question is will there be North Americans during the night?

Crossing The Bar - NOT amateur radio

This may be morbid, but I very much hope this poem is read at my funeral. As many know, I came from Salcombe, Devon. You may have to click the photo to read the poem.

10m FT8

Since early morning, I have been on 10m FT8. At first I called CQ (2.5W), but no spots resulted. Most of the time I have been on 10m FT8 RX. So far, 4 stations spotted in 2 countries with best DX spotted being EB5EEV (1480km) in eastern Spain.

"Our" windmill - NOT amateur radio

The 200 year old windmill right next door feels like ours, although it is owned by the village museum. We overlook the windmill whilst having breakfast and sitting in the lounge. The photo was taken earlier from the lounge window.

See  http://www.burwellmuseum.org.uk/

472kHz WSPR overnight

Although I 'd describe last night as "average", I did manage to get my 10mW ERP 472kHz WSPR copied up in Norway. LA3EQ (769km) spotted me just once and this was only just at -31dB S/N. In all, I was copied in 4 countries.

Stations that received my 10mW 

ERP 472kHz WSPR last night.

On 472kHz WSPR RX, a total of just 7 stations were spotted. There seem to be fewer active TX stations in range, although with just the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground I may be 10dB down on the better equipped stations.

Stations spotted here on 472kHz WSPR overnight.

Sunspots - Sunday March 17th 2019

Solar flux is 69 today and the SSN=0. A=12 and K=4.