Sunspots - Wednesday May 8th 2019

Solar flux is 78 today and the sunspot number 27 (quite decent for this part of the cycle). A=5 and K=0. It looks to me as of we have passed through the minimum, although this could be just a blip. At the last minimum we went months without spots.

2m activity contest this evening

As this is the first Tuesday in the month, it is the RSGB's UKAC activity contest starting at 1900z for 2.5 hours. Activity levels are usually high on SSB. This is a fun contest.

Sunspots - Tuesday May 6th 2019

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

OFCOM - Communications Monthly Update - April 2019

OFCOM has produced its monthly update of this. See their website.

First cuckoo heard - NOT amateur radio

At about 10am today UK time, I heard my first cuckoo this year up here. They have been around for a few weeks, but this was my first heard. This one was not too close. They quite like reed warbler nests.

6m FT8

Plenty of Es about early today. Already 20 stations spotted by 0830z with best DX spotted SP5AOZ (1398km).

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