Shack

This photo was taken today. It shows the shack. Currently I am trying daytime FT8 on 160m.

Daffodil - NOT amateur radio

On the Winter Walk at nearby Anglesey Abbey is usually a small clump of daffodils. Normally these are the first to appear. A few years ago some were out in November. We were quite surprised that this one (the first) is only now appearing. December 29th is quite late for this clump. Even the snowdrops are only now starting to flower.

160m FT8 overnight

With 27 Stateside stations spotted on 160m FT8 overnight, it was not a bad night. Overall 535 stations on 4 continents spotted on 160m FT8 RX in the last day. Amazingly, a pre-breakfast 160m FT8 CQ (10W) was spotted by 31 stations in 7 countries with the best DX being a spot by DK7KUG (885km) in JO64 square.  Still using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground that is invisible to the XYL and neighbours! They don't even know it is there!

160m FT8 RX overnight

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.