Sunspots - Sunday December 29th 2019

Solar flux is 72 and the SSN 0. A=2 and K=0.

160m FT8

Look at all the stations in 2kHz on
160m FT8 RX. I counted 17!

For a change, I am on 160m FT8 with the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. A recent 160m FT8 CQ was copied by 3 stations with best DX PA3CSG (402km).  Power into the earth-electrodes is about 10W, although I expect the ERP is milliwatts.

On 160m FT8 RX within a few minutes I spotted 75 stations with best DX spotted RA6HN (3243km).

UPDATE 1946z:  Now 129 stations spotted tonight on 160m FT8 RX well within an hour.

UPDATE 2240z: UN1L (4097km) is currently the best DX on 160m FT8 RX in Kazakhstan. No stateside DX yet.   237 stations spotted so far on 160m FT8 RX this evening. I think most of these are in Europe.

UPDATE 2250z: WA2TP (5509km) in New York State has just been spotted!

6m FT8

As we sometimes get winter Es, I decided to try 6m FT8 today (50.313MHz). For 6m, I only have the V2000 vertical antenna.

Although nothing so far spotted on 6m FT8 RX, my own 10W signal was copied by G0LGS (171km) quite well. At the moment I am on 6m FT8 RX only.

UPDATE 1255z: 4 stations in 2 countries spotted so far and a couple of stations spotting my 10W FT8 CQ calls.

UPDATE  1603z:  Just caught a winter Es opening to Poland. 3 stations worked with best DX SP3UR (1230km). I was spotted by 8 stations in 4 countries on 6m FT8 RX with 10W and the omni vertical V2000. On 6m FT8 RX 23 stations in 4 countries spotted today.

UPDATE 1646z: Quite amazing!  A string of 6m FT8 QSOs after my CQ calls and widely spotted despite just 10W and the omni antenna. Typical Es with some very strong signals. Best DX on RX is YL2GJX (1613km) in Riga, Latvia. This is a fine city.

Stations spotting my 10W 6m
FT8 in the last few hours

UPDATE 1649z: On 6m FT8 RX 69 stations spotted so far.

Station spotted this afternoon on 6m FT8 RX

6m FT8

UPDATE 1752z:  Now 83 stations spotted today on 6m FT8 RX.

VHF/UHF FT8 activity "contests"

Bas has brought to our attention these sessions which might well appeal to FT8 enthusiasts. Although the first one is on New Year's Day, some may like to take part.

See http://www.ft8activity.eu

Winter sun - NOT amateur radio

On Christmas day we went for a walk around the village. The churchyard looks bare in winter.

Although there were a few snowdrops about to come out, there were no daffodils.

472kHz WSPR overnight

In terms of the number of people spotting me this was the best night ever on 472kHz WSPR TX. In all, 32 stations spotted my 10mW ERP in the last 24 hours including 2 from Norway and 1 from Poland. The fact that so many people were able to spot me is remarkable considering the "antenna" and QRPP.  It is a credit to these stations and the WSPR software.

Stations spotting my 10mW ERP 

472kHz WSPR in the last 24 hours

Sunspots - Saturday December 28th 2019

Solar flux is 72 and the SSN 0.  A=3 and K =0.

472kHz WSPR TX (10mW ERP)

As usual, I have QSYed to 472kHz WSPR TX for the evening and night. Within the last hour 10 stations have spotted me with best DX F6GEX (590km). Once again using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.

2m FT8

Before lunch I QSYed to 2m FT8. I called CQ (2.5W to the big-wheel omni) and was spotted by 4 stations with best being EI2FG (565km).

On 2m FT8 RX 19 stations in 5 countries spotted with best DX spotted being  DK6JU (529km).

By using FT8 I think my range has more than doubled. This is possible at any time.

Stations so far spotted today on 2m FT8 RX
with the FT817ND and big-wheel omni to 1445z

UPDATE 1414z: 26 stations in 5 countries so far spotted on 2m FT8 RX with best DX spotted DF7IW (612km).  On 2m FT8 TX 6 stations have spotted my 2.5W CQs so far.

UPDATE 1416z:  FT8 has totally changed 2m for me!  DX that would once have seemed impossible is there every single day whether conditions are up or not. Even my 2.5W to the big-wheel seems to be quite enough. Amazing is an understatement.

UPDATE 1445z:  So far today, my 2.5W 2m QRP to the big-wheel omni has been spotted by 9 stations in 3 countries on 2m FT8 TX.

UPDATE 1811:  Now 71 stations in 7 countries spotted on 2m FT8 RX today. Best DX is DL6IAK (669km).

UPDATE 1918z:  Now QRT on 2m FT8 RX. In the end, 77 stations in 7 countries spotted with best DX DL2AKT (761km). QSYed to MF WSPR.

ICOM IC-705

https://icomuk.co.uk/

As of December 27th 2019 I have no further updates on this transceiver other than the expected release date in Japan is around April 2020 and the expected price in the UK is similar to the IC-7300.

If the price is sensible, I may buy one, once the bugs are overcome. I cannot see it on sale in the UK before the end of 2020. It would not surprise me if this is 2021. The absence of an internal auto-ATU is a big mistake, I think.

At the moment my best advice is keep checking the ICOM UK website.