Good news on the BBC - NOT amateur radio

We seem to be fed lots of bad news (I guess this makes papers sell) but tend to not hear about good news often. So, we end up thinking the world is all gloom and doom. In actual fact the good news far outweighs the bad. So let me bring you some good news for a change!

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-47974844

6m FT8 RX

You can tell there is a contest on! In the last day a total (so far) of 66 stations spotted (mostly Gs) in 7 countries with best DX spotted F4IAA (802km).

UPDATE 1252z:  Now 85 stations spotted in 10 countries spotted on 6m FT8 RX in the last day. Best DX is IZ5YFU (1222km).

UPDATE 1610z: 76 stations spotted in the last day on 6m FT8 RX in 10 countries. Mostly tropo I think. The photo shows those received, although missing is the station in N.Ireland. One station spotted my CQ recently (2.5W). This was M0TXS (56km).

6m MGM contest: stations 

received on vertical co-linear antenna.

Simple AM radio

Southgate News carries a report of someone's first steps into RF by building a simple TRF circuit. It uses a TA7642 TRF IC, which is like a ZN414 that some may remember. These form the basis of very simple TRF receivers. I recall making a similar circuit years ago for Medium Wave. As I recall, mine was fix tuned to Radio Cambridgeshire. I guess these ICs could be used for a simple RX in a 160m AM rig.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2019/april/making-a-simple-am-radio.htm#.XLuJ7fZFy00

Sunspots - Sunday April 21st 2019

Solar flux is 71 and the SSN 11. A=4 and K=1.

Like busses? - NOT amateur radio

The same thing happened last year. One day I saw my first swallow (bird) then the next day I saw more!  Today, I saw 2 more swallows. Next week, they should be common.

Easter Egg Hunt - NOT amateur radio

Our grandchildren are still young enough to enjoy hunting for chocolate Easter eggs hidden in the garden as the photo shows.

472kHz WSPR overnight

Considering it is quite late in the season, not a bad night. 6 people spotted my 10mW ERP  with my best spot being by PA0O (440km). On RX my best spot was of IW4DXW (1190km).

472kHz WSPR here overnight

6m FT8

Earlier, I called CQ on 6m FT8 and was spotted by 3 G stations. Later (it is now 1040z) 11 stations were spotted with best DX ON4CGB (242km).

UPDATE 2040z: Now 52 stations in 5 countries spotted on 6m FT8 today. There is a contest, so activity is greater than normal. Best DX is MM0CEZ (487km). Most stations are in England.

Sunspots - Saturday April 20th 2019

Solar flux is 72 and the sunspot number 23. A=4 and K=1.

10m FT8

Although I have only been on 10m FT8 for about 15 minutes so far just 2E0XXO (121km) spotted, but no spots of my CQ (2.5W) on 10m FT8.

UPDATE 1600z: So far today 8 stations in 4 countries with best DX EA3ENR (1153km).

UPDATE 1935z: When I QSYed to MF WSPR 11 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX.