Magnetic loop on windowsill

After the recent experiments with the Rybakov antenna, I am trying the tiny magnetic loop antenna on the windowsill indoors (see photo). Although it matches on all HF bands, I get some RF feedback on some bands.

On 15m RX it seems to do pretty well.

UPDATE 1347z: On 17m FT8 it works (see logbook and map) with 6 stations spotting my 10W to the magnetic loop so far.

17m FT8 TX with 10W to the tiny magnetic loop

UPDATE  1356z: Just after posting the above I get spotted by WN4N (4339 miles) in Florida on 17m FT8!! Not bad with this tiny magnetic loop and 10W. Also spotted by 5T5PA (3791km) in Mauritania, West Africa on 17m FT8.

UPDATE 1420z: 8 stations in 3 continents  spotting my 10W 17m FT8 TX to the tiny indoor magnetic loop antenna so far today. Quite amazing.

UPDATE 1429z: 111 stations spotted so far today on 17 FT8 RX with the tiny indoor magnetic loop antenna.

UPDATE 1452z: A 2-way QSO with AV4VV (3938 miles) in North Carolina with 10W 17m FT8 to the tiny magnetic loop. I am now beginning to believe anything is possible!

UPDATE 1511z: Quite remarkable the stations spotted so far today on 17m FT8 RX with the tiny loop.

Stations spotted so far today on 17m FT8 RX
with the tiny magnetic loop on the windowsill

UPDATE 1530z: I am wondering if 17m is fading out now? There would appear to be far fewer stations on 17m FT8 RX now.

UPDATE 1735z:  In all, I was spotted 8 times by USA stations on 17m FT8 with the tiny magnetic loop on the windowsill indoors.

Stations spotting my 10W 17m
FT8 with the magnetic loop today

A Rybakov antenna on the bench?

In the garage I have a virtually unused SRC X80 end-fed vertical antenna. This was very briefly erected in about 2011 and has remained unused for years. I took it down as reports said it blew around in high winds and at the time my interest was mainly on 10m for which I had a suitable antenna at that time.

The X80 is a sort of Rybakov antenna. These are end fed antennas fed via a unun transformer so the very high end impedance is transformed into a VSWR less than 3:1 that can usually be matched via the auto-ATUs in most modern HF rigs.

As an experiment, I tried loading up the coax to my 2m big-wheel via this Rybakov transformer. I can get quite a good match on a couple of HF bands (at least) but on some bands the VWSR was so bad that the rig just turned off!

By ear, I think my small indoor magnetic loop is as good!

Sunspots - Sunday February 2nd 2020

Solar flux is 73 and the SSN 11.  A=6 and K=1.

Hackers? - NOT amateur radio

At the start of every month, visits to my blogs peak. These correspond to visits from a certain country in Eastern Europe. It looks like regular visits from hackers looking for vulnerabilities.

Usually, things return to normal next day. I guess if they found they were able to, they would implant links to dodgy sites or malicious software. Usually I change passwords frequently to avoid a problem.

Up to now, I have had no problems, but if you see anything unusual, that is why.

Outside the record shop - NOT amateur radio

Earlier today I mentioned that vinyl records seem to be making a comeback. This is our friend outside the record shop in Letchworth yesterday. The shop is also a cafe.

Solar forecast update

My favourite solar forecasting page has been updated today (Feb 1st 2020). It still shows the forecast that we have already passed the solar minimum and are starting the climb to the next solar peak. This is slow at first, but, if correct, it means better times are ahead. Fingers crossed.

See https://www.solen.info/solar/

BREXIT round 1 - NOT amateur radio

So the UK has left the EU. Several months of difficult trade negotiations now take place. We were staying with old friends (see photo).

As I have said many times before, there is a lot wrong with the EU and I would have preferred us to work for change from within the EU. I just hope we continue to work with the EU in a positive way.

2m FT8

Having just returned from a night away with friends, I am again on 2m FT8. My 10W FT8 CQ was spotted by 19 stations in 3 countries and on 2m FT8 RX 12 stations spotted in 3 countries. Typical 2m FT8 results.

UPDATE 1744z: Now 28 stations spotted in 7 countries.

UPDATE 2136z: Now 50 stations in 8 countries spotted on 2m FT8 RX since returning home this afternoon.

Vinyl records - NOT amateur radio

Old fashioned vinyl records are back again as witnessed by this shop in Letchworth yesterday.

Sunspots - Saturday February 1st 2020

Solar flux is 74 and the SSN 11. A=8 and K=1.