Sunspots - Tuesday September 25th 2019

Solar flux is 67 and the SSN 0. A=13 and K=1 .

CME triggered auroras?

Southgate News reports that there is a risk of a coronal mass ejection causing auroras this week. In the past I have worked stations via auroras with QRP on 6m CW and 10m SSB. A geomagnetic storm is likely even if the CME debris misses Earth.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2019/september/minor-cme-impact-could-spark-auroras-this-week.htm

Rybakov antennas

The basic idea of Rybakov antennas is to feed these at the high impedance end via a transformer so the impedance is brought down to the range (usually VSWR better than 3:1) that can be matched with the auto ATUs in many modern HF rigs.

Somewhere in the garage I have an x80 antenna which was a commercial version. I think this antenna is no longer available, but I guess similar antennas are available. The one I have was criticised for blowing wildly in winds. If I can erect it on our bungalow, it should give me access to several bands.

If you buy the toroid formers and wind the transformers, Rybakovs are quite easy to make. There are several examples on YouTube and elsewhere on the internet.

Back on air

The storm risk seems to have passed with both the BBC and Met Office weather forecasts showing no thunder and lightning this evening, so I have reconnected the rig, PC, PSU and antenna and have returned to 2m FT8.

Distant thunder

OK, I only heard this twice but I have gone QRT and disconnected everything once again. At the moment they are not forecasting storms here, but I have done this "just in case".

RSGB's RadCom Basics

This is, as its name implies, a more basic version of RadCom that is available for members online. The latest version is now available. This is more aimed at beginners.

See https://rsgb.org/main/publications-archives/radcom-basics/

Prorogation of parliament is illegal Supreme Court rules - NOT amateur radio

The highest court in the UK has unanimously voted that the Prime Minister acted illegally by suspending the UK parliament. These are historic days. It is anyone's guess what happens next.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news

Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness - NOT amateur radio

Autumn is the season when leaves fall and the fruit trees are filled with ripe fruit. Our next door neighbour has well laden apple and plum trees. My own crab apple tree has more fruit than ever. A friend makes crab apple jelly, which is delicious with some meats. The photo shows a conker still in its shell.

It never fails! - 2m FT8

As the risk of storms has disappeared until lunchtime on 2 forecasts I use, I have reconnected the rig, PSU, antenna and PC for now.

Although it is raining heavily (the first decent rain here for months) I still get spotted in Eire, Cornwall and Germany with a 10W CQ call on 2m FT8 TX, even with the big-wheel omni antenna. In all, 8 stations spotted me, although no QSOs resulted.

Yesterday G4BAO (8km) was +18dB S/N despite running 20mW. I am sure we would have worked each other if he had run 100uW. On 2m FT8 RX no stations spotted here yet, but I expect this will change.

UPDATE 0854z: Just 1 spot on 2m FT8 RX so far G4VQZ (175km).

Spots from my latest 
2m FT8 CQ as of 1027z 

(10W to the big-wheel omni antenna)

UPDATE 0830z: Just a couple of Gs spotted so far on 2m FT8 RX. A very recent 10W FT8 2m CQ was spotted by 9 stations as shown in the map.

UPDATE 1027z:  Now 4 stations spotted this morning on 2m FT8 RX with best DX PE1ISS (409km).

UPDATE 1402z: A recent 10W FT8 2m CQ was spotted by 12 stations with the best DX being a spot by DF6PW (562km). On 2m FT8 RX I have spotted 15 stations in 4 countries so far.

UPDATE 1840z:  A 10W 2m FT8 CQ was spotted by 10 stations with a QSO with DL6YBF (471km). He called me!

UPDATE 2031z:  In the last few hours 20 stations in 4 countries spotted on 2m FT8 RX. On 2m FT8 TX (10W CQ) I received 8 spots in 3 countries.

Alibris sale - NOT amateur radio

At one time I used to get emails telling me about Alibris sales every week. Yesterday I had one offering £20 off for one day only. It was deleted. I have a filter to get rid of these.