Sunspots - Thursday June 20th 2019

Solar flux is 67 and the sunspot number still 0. This is definitely the longest spotless period this minimum. We must be at, or very close, to the sunspot minimum. A=4 and K=1.

Decreasing storm risk

At the moment the nearest storms are some way away in Holland. All being well I can be on the East Cambs net at 1830z and 6m FT8 RX afterwards.

See https://www.lightningmaps.org/blitzortung/europe/index.php?lang=en

East Cambs 2m net

A reminder that this local net meets on 144.575MHz (yes 144.575MHz) at 7.30pm FM on Wednesday nights. Normally we finish within 30 minutes. Although sometimes someone asks a technical question, these are normally not too challenging.

UPDATE 1920z: M0CNP (Burwell) joined us tonight.

6m FT8 RX today

So far this morning 132 stations spotted on 6m FT8 RX including Israel and Kuwait. Sadly no Far East stations spotted here.

UPDATE 1237z: 244 stations spotted so far today on 6m FT8 RX with a couple of Caribbeans. Best DX is KP4EIT (6834km) in Puerto Rico.

UPDATE 1347z: 285 stations now spotted today on 6m FT8 RX. Both Puerto Rico stations spotted have been coming through now for several hours.

UPDATE 1433z: Now 5 Caribbean stations being spotted with best DX HI8PLE (7062km) in the Dominican Republic. Total stations spotted on 6m FT8 today is 316. At the moment thunderstorms are some way away, so I'll remain on 6m FT8 RX for now.

UPDATE 1748z: Now 402 stations spotted on 6m FT8 RX today.

Anglesey Abbey door - NOT amateur radio

Anglesey Abbey is a National Trust property about 5 miles away. We visit the extensive grounds most months. Although sometimes busy, especially at weekends, the grounds are so vast that it is easy to find spots with few people. The door in this photo is on the way to the watermill.

Friedrichshafen - June 21-23 in Germany

This is the biggest European amateur radio exhibition. It is just possible some new products may be announced, although I think this is unlikely. There were a very few new products announced at Dayton, Ohio.

6m FT8 RX yesterday

Es was pretty good yesterday until I had to go QRT to avoid the storm risks. In all, 493 stations were spotted on 6m FT8 RX. in the last day.

Sunspots - Wednesday June 19th 2019

Solar flux is 67 and the SSN 0. A=4 and K=1.

Rough night ahead?

Until now, we have been storm free here today, but in the last few hours it has been raining and there are thunderstorms to the east and approaching across the English Channel. At the moment it is hard to know what we face by the end of the night. As a precaution, all antennas and mains plugs in the shack have been unplugged.

See https://www.lightningmaps.org/blitzortung/europe/index.php?bo_page=map&bo_showmap=6

Mending the HF antenna

As long as I can get up the ladder to my flat garage roof, I intend to mend my Par 10/20/40m end-fed antenna next week. This is not the best antenna in the world, but I know how it works. It can handle QRP power levels (actually up to 35W). The wire fatigued at a joint (after nearly 6 years), so it should be easy to fix. We have guests this week, so it can wait. The biggest challenge will be getting on and off the ladder!