472kHz WSPR

Last night, I was again on 472kHz WSPR (10mW ERP). I think the season is drawing to a close. In the end I spotted 6 stations and 6 stations spotted me.

472kHz WSPR overnight

10m FT8 RX

Despite the poor solar numbers, I am on 10m FT8 RX after a brief CQ call (no spots).

UPDATE 1740z: Just a couple of G spots today on 10m FT8. Dire!

Sunspots - Friday March 29th 2019

Solar flux is a poor 67 and the sunspot number 0. A=11 and K=2.

472kHz WSPR (10mW ERP)

With nothing at all on FT8, I have QSYed to 472kHz WSPR (10mW ERP). G8LCO (58km) has already spotted me.

UPDATE 2300: 4 spots so far of me with best DX PA0O (440km). Interesting again that more stations are copying me that I am copying others. This was the same the last time I was on 472kHz WSPR. It suggests many are leaving the band now that we are in spring. Most DX possible has already be worked, so people are turning to new challenges perhaps?

Stations that have spotted my 10mW ERP 

so far this evening on 472kHz WSPR

, 

472kHz FT8 (not WSPR)

As an experiment, I am on 472kHz FT8 (10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground). If I spot anyone at all I shall be amazed and if I have a QSO I shall be doubly amazed!

UPDATE 1940z: No 472kHz FT8 spots at all. Assuming nothing changes, I shall move to WSPR at 2000z.

Mother's Day - NOT amateur radio

It seems that our local Waitrose is gearing up for Mother's Day on Sunday. I guess (being a cynic) they see a quick profit.

Typical Oscar 100 RX

This picture appeared today. It shows a typical Oscar 100 (geosynchronous) satellite RX. At some point I may have a go. It seems to be working well. I guess the trick is to dual feed the dish so both the 2.4GHz uplink and the 10GHz downlink share the same dish.

Rallies this Sunday in the UK

31 MARCH 2019, : BATC REGIONAL CONVENTION

Premises of the North Bristol ARC, SHE7 building, Braemar Crescent, Filton, Bristol BS7 0TD. Doors open from 10am to 4pm. A full day of talks & demonstrations with a test bench available for visitors projects. Full details of the programme will be published on the BATC Forum before the event; https://forum.batc.org.uk Further information from Shaun G8VPG, tel.01225 873 098, g8vpg@aol.com.


Sunday 31 MARCH : PENCOED RC TABLE TOP SALE

Pencoed Rugby Club The Verlands Felindre Road Pencoed CF35 5PB. Doors open 9.30am, stall holders have admittance from 8am. Refreshments available on site. Details from Madeline Roberts on 0773 837 5775.


A list of rallies can be found at http://rsgb.org/main/news/rallies/

Other sites maintained

My three main blogs currently are:

http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.co.uk/ Amateur radio mainly.
http://qss2.blogspot.co.uk/ Almost anything!
http://eachurches.blogspot.co.uk/ East Anglian churches visited. I am afraid this latter blog has not been updated for some time.

I also run my wife's choral group website and the Sub 9kHz Amateur Radio website. These are linked on my main website www.g3xbm.co.uk

ISWL

Twice I was a member of the International Short Wave League. Once in the 1960s and I rejoined many years later. I left again after several years as it no longer seemed to reflect my interests.

Back in the 1960s it was quite strong. In later years, it was much weaker and I had the feeling it was dying out. I see it is still around today. When I eventually left, having contributed many articles for the club journal "Monitor", not even an email to say, "sorry you are leaving". I guess this would have been about 2011, although I cannot remember.

If anyone knows how many members of the ISWL there are today, I'd love to know. It would not surprise me if there are less than 100 members left. When I left for the second time, I seem to recall there were about 300 members.