Sunrise - NOT amateur radio

Today has been a lovely, cold, early winter day with a brilliant sunrise as the photo shows.

Quieter on 10m FT8

An earlier CQ on 10m FT8 with 2.5W was spotted by no-one. So far today (it is currently 1145z) 3 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX with best DX RA2FL (1343km). It is surprising how often some stations are spotted suggesting it is low activity rather than poor conditions that is the main problem on 10m.

UPDATE 1345z: Now 4 stations in 3 countries so far spotted on 10m FT8 RX today.

UPDATE 1523z: 5 stations in 3 countries so far today on 10m FT8 RX. At this part of the solar cycle 10m seems very variable with some quite good days and others bad. At least with FT8 those who are still active get spotted. Usually there is a small peak in Es at the tail end of the year and in January in the Northern Hemisphere.  I don't know why this is. So, with some luck, Es might liven this up on 10m shortly.

Stations spotted today
on 10m FT8 RX to 1912z

UPDATE 1940z:  At the moment 38 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX including PP5VA (9957km). Not too bad in the end.

UPDATE 2142z:  Although I have been QRT for a couple of hours now the final total was 40 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX today.

Solar data

My favourite site on solar data has been updated. It still shows we have passed the solar minimum. Although the sunspot count is very low, there have been fewer days with extremely low solar flux.

See https://www.solen.info/solar/images/cycles23_24.png

Election crappery - NOT amateur radio

In the UK we have a General Election on December 12th.

It would appear that all major parties are telling lies or are involved in dirty tricks. Facebook has banned a Conservative advert and today we got a LibDem leaflet than looked like a free local paper. Last week we had a Conservative video that had been doctored to show an opposition MP looking stupid.

We lack politicians with backbone and integrity. Most seem to want the best for them rather than the common good.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2019-50624086

Sunspots - Monday December 2nd 2019

Solar flux is 71 and the sunspot number 0. A=4 and K=1.

VLF upconverter

Some years ago I needed a VLF upconverter so I could listen for SAQ on 17.2kHz CW. The converter(s) here might be of use to help you copy some of the commercial VLF stations. It will not help copy most amateur VLF stations where frequency accuracy and long integration times are needed.

If my memory serves me right, this design of mine appeared in GQRP SPRAT, although I cannot remember which one it was.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/vlf/vlfconv

Cookies - NOT amateur radio

Certainly in the UK and possibly elsewhere, we now have to accept (or otherwise) cookies on websites. No doubt someone somewhere thought this was "a good idea".

In reality we get annoyed and click "accept" without bothering to read. So, the whole thing becomes pointless, even dangerous. We get cross.

eHam.net

This website often has some good reviews and much else as well. If you are looking to buy something, it is worth checking this site first. If people have a very bad experience they tend to say so, but many reviews are balanced and fair.

See https://www.eham.net/

DX on 10m FT8 RX

Shortly before breakfast I turned on 10m FT8 for the day. My early 2.5W CQ on FT8 was spotted by no-one, but it seems the band has suddenly burst into life with plenty of Europeans plus 3B8CW (9752km) on Mauritius in the southern Indian Ocean. It is only 0938z.

UPDATE 1440z: Now 291 stations spotted today on 10m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1738z: 302 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX in the last day. I think that is it, although I shall leave the RX on for a bit longer. It is already dark here.

10m FT8 RX here today

UPDATE 1955z:  Well, that was not it! At 1808z LU5HA (11096km) was coming through. But not only that, PU2TWU and AK4QR also spotted but for some reason did not get uploaded to PSKreporter. Quite the best 10m FT8 day in some time.

Sunspots - Sunday December 1st 2019

Solar flux is 70 and the SSN 0. A=4 and K=1.