Sunspots - Monday May 6th 2019

Solar flux is 75 today and the SSN 14. A=4 and K=1.

G3WMS SK

Yesterday I mentioned my happy days at Liverpool University and how one mad keen radio society member had done great things and gained an MBE. That amateur was Ian Vance, G3WMS (wild man of Somerset). Sadly today I found his obituary:  he died over a year ago. At one time he was the boss of STL. RIP Ian.

10m WSPR TX (500mW)

At about 1130z, I QSYed to 10m WSPR TX. It usually takes about 20 minutes to settle. I am running 500mW, 100% TX, randomised frequencies.

UPDATE 1630z: No 10m WSPR spots so far today.

UPDATE 2025z: Just a single 10m WSPR spot all day!  This was by DK6UG (633km) at 1802z.

6m FT8 RX

At about 1130z I QSYed to 6m FT8 RX. So far, just G spots.

UPDATE 1552z: Some Es about with a couple of Italians spotted at lunchtime. 21 stations spotted so far today with the best DX on 6m FT8 RX IZ2CPO (1004km).

UPDATE 2027z: Quite some Es today on 6m FT8 RX with a total of 32 EU stations spotted.

Stations spotted here today on 6m FT8 RX

Choir

Last evening, my wife's choir was singing in the chapel of Trinity College, Cambridge, UK.

See www.cambschoral.org.uk

On 10m FT8 again

Later, I might try 6m FT8 and 10m WSPR (100% TX, 500mW), but for now I am on 10m FT8 RX. There are already 14 stations spotted with evidence of widespread Es propagation.

UPDATE 1121z:  So far, 23 stations spotted today on 10m FT8 RX. All EU stations, mostly Es.

Sunspots - Sunday May 5th 2019

Solar flux is 74 and the SSN 12.  A=10 and K=1.

G3OUL

Many years ago I was a student at Liverpool University. At the radio club was a very keen amateur from Nailsea, near Bristol. He got a 2:2 degree, but went on the get an MBE and was a director of a very large UK company. In his career he was very successful. In my mind he had that rare gift: an instinctive "jizz" for RF design. In my experience very very few people have this. I am not in the least surprised he did well.

I realise I have not seen him in over 40 years. He might even be dead now. What I realise is how we age. He must be over 71 now, yet in my mind he is still that mad keen amateur back in the late 1960s.

Oscar 100 - still bags of space

This geosynchronous satellite has been operational for nearly 2 months. Using the Goonhilly SDR, I took another look at the narrowband transponder a few minutes ago. I know it takes time assemble suitable microwave gear, but I am still surprised by the low level of activity.

It is the weekend when I might have expected more activity, yet I only counted 8 stations at one time. An EA8 was calling CQ and getting no takers! A round trip of nearly 45000 miles is needed for the up and downlinks, but dishes are fixed and DX from South America to Thailand is available at any time without QSB, I remain surprised it is not really busy. Just a few watts seem to be enough.

TM1MOON (IN78) seems to be working quite a few stations from Brittany with 5W and a 70cm diameter dish.

Storms?

As usual, I get quite nervous when there are storms about, ever since a work colleague who lived in a very ordinary house, not too high, in the middle of a housing estate had his house hit doing huge damage. Whenever there are storms in the area, I disconnect rigs, PC, PSU and antennas "just in case". Consulting the thunder maps a short while ago suggested the storms were moving away, but I shall disconnect if there is any chance.

See https://www.lightningmaps.org/blitzortung/europe/index.php?bo_page=map&bo_showmap=uk&bo_period=2&lang=en