15 Sept 2019

Sunspots - Sunday September 15th 2019

Solar flux is 69 and the SSN 0. A=6 and K=2.

14 Sept 2019

Hepburn tropo forecasts

It is worth looking at the Hepburn tropo forecasts for the next few days. Looking at this, the next few days look quite promising in NW Europe.

See http://www.dxinfocentre.com/tropo_eur.html

But who would want to? - NOT amateur radio

This was a Facebook memory from 2010.

"Our" windmill - NOT amateur radio

We live right next door to a fully restored windmill. The photo shows it this morning bathed in autumn sunshine. Its sails turn occasionally.

6m FT8

More in hope than expectation, I have QSYed to 6m FT8. Just a single spot to my 10W CQ by G3VIR (138km) and nothing on 6m FT8 RX so far. At the moment no Es around here.

UPDATE 1235z: Just 2 G spots so far today on 6m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1334z: Just 3 G spots so far today on 6m FT8 RX with best DX G1OJS (189km). Although there will be sporadic Es openings, the main Es season is now over.

UPDATE 1800z: Now 10 stations spotted in 2 countries spotted on 6m FT8 RX today. Best DX on 6m FT8 RX was PA3PM (304km).

Church carvings - NOT amateur radio

Although some parts of our local church are almost 1000 years old, most date from the 1400s. It was designed by the same man who designed the famous Kings College Chapel in Cambridge.

High above, and usually hard to see, are some wooden carvings of animals, some of which the carver had never seen! Some of these carvings are in the photo.

MLS - something for the weekend

As usual, MLS is promoting some products.

See their website for details.

Roses-Expres (sic) - NOT amateur radio


On our recent visit to Catalonia we went on the Roses-Expres. This is actually a road train up some very steep roads. At the top the mountain the views were amazing. The first picture was on several days ago. The brochure is new.


2m FT8

I awoke early and there were no overnight spots here on 2m FT8 RX. Most sensible humans are asleep!

UPDATE 1055z: Now 4 stations in 3 countries spotted on 2m FT8 RX with best DX being DL9DBF (553km).

UPDATE 1110z: A recent 2m FT8 CQ was only spotted by G8TTI (186km).

UPDATE 1855z: I just returned to 2m FT8. A CQ resulted in a local QSO with GB3CAM (13km) and 29 spots in 5 countries with my best DX being GI6ATZ (479km). Not bad for 10W to my big-wheel. On 2m FT8 RX 22 countries in 5 countries spotted just now.

UPDATE 2010z: Now 55 stations in 7 countries spotted on 2m FT8 RX this evening. Best DX on 2m FT8 RX this evening is OZ5NM (754km).

UPDATE 2040z: I just called 2m FT8 CQ with 10W to the big-wheel. 34 spots and 3 QSOs resulted. I noticed that a station in Devon is calling a Polish station. There must be a lift. On RX 69 stations spotted today on 2m FT8 RX in 7 countries. Most of these were this evening.

2m FT8 RX today
UPDATE 2138z: A recent 2m FT8 CQ (10W) resulted in 1 G QSO and 41 spots with my best spot being by OZ5NM (754km) in Denmark. On 2m FT8 RX 83 stations spotted here today with best on 2m FT8 RX being SQ6RMA (1215km) in southern Poland. In all today 58 spots of my 2m FT8 TX (10W to the big-wheel omni).

Sunspots - Saturday September 14th 2019

Solar flux is 68 and the SSN 0. A=8 and K=1.