160m FT8 RX

Stations spotted to 2120z this
evening on 160m FT8 RX

Using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground, I have returned to 160m FT8 RX.  As yet, just Europe and Africa spotted. Nothing yet from other continents.

UPDATE 2132z:  So far this evening 203 stations spotted on 160m FT8 RX. A promising start in just over 90 minutes.

UPDATE 2206z:  UN1L (4097km) in Kazaknstan is the first Asian station spotted this evening on 160m FT8 RX.  Although I have an S9 noise level on SSB, with this "antenna" I seem to have no problems at all with FT8.

UPDATE  2224z:  Now 270 stations spotted on 160m FT8 RX in just over 2 hours.

UPDATE 2233z:  A few moments ago the first North American was spotted. This was VE2FXL  (4996km). Now 4 continents spotted this evening on 160m FT8 RX.

Return to 17m FT8

Although my recent CQ calls on 17m FT8  got no spots or QSOs, on RX 5 stations in 3 continents already spotted with the best being YV5DRN (7611km) in South America. Still using the tiny magnetic loop on the windowsill with 10W.

UPDATE 1518z: Just spotted by CU2GI (2575km) in the Azores on 17m FT8 TX.

UPDATE 1528z: 3 spots of my 10W 17m FT8 CQ to the tiny magnetic loop so far with quite decent reports too.

UPDATE 1648z:   10 USA spots of my 10W FT8 17m CQ calls with the tiny magnetic loop on the windowsill. 13 spots of me in total.

UPDATE 1857z:  Now QRT. In all, 14 stations spotted my 10W FT8 on 17m. I am amazed this tiny magnetic loop works so well.

Promises - NOT amateur radio

The first daffodils have appeared in our close.

Over the coming months we will see plenty, but like the arrival of summer migrant birds, they herald better times ahead and gladden the hearts.

This was a photo my wife took a few hours ago. Winter is here, but spring is coming.

10m WSPR?

It is a while since I tried 10m WSPR. A few years ago it was a popular mode whereas many have swapped to FT8. We are currently very near to sunspot minimum and outside the Es season in the Northern Hemisphere.

One of the reasons for not going on is the lack of an outside antenna, but yesterday's success with the magnetic loop on 17m FT8 on the windowsill has got me wondering. I can run 500mW WSPR on 10m all the time on TX with randomised frequencies every 2 minutes. So, this could run all the time in the background. On 10m the loop is likely to be more efficient than 17m, but would anybody be looking?

I am tempted.

Space weather forecast by the UK Met Office

Southgate News regularly carries the space weather, but there is also a forecast by the UK Met Office.

See https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/specialist-forecasts/space-weather

15m FT8

As I have no external antennas for 15m, I am again using the indoor magnetic loop antenna on the windowsill. Only 1 station spotted so far  - OD5ZZ (3438km) and no-one has spotted my 10W yet.

UPDATE 1415z: No spots yet of my 10W FT8 to the magnetic loop. 2 EA8s and 1 OD5 spotted on 15m FT8 RX so far.

UPDATE 1435z:  After calling CQ on 15m with 10W FT8 for about 40 minutes with no success, I have returned to 15m FT8 RX only.

Cowfield - NOT amateur radio

Where we used to live backed onto fields. For years, we had cattle in the fields in summer and we could hear them munching over the fence. Many years ago the 11 acre site was bought for the village by the local council. It is a real meadow and has the remains of a Roman settlement as well as a castle built nearly 1000 years ago in the time of King Stephen. We walk there often. The photo shows the field in summer. Even now we still call it the cowfield.

Sunspots - Monday February 3rd 2020

Solar flux is 72 and the SSN 0. A=6 and K=2.

Magpies - NOT amateur radio

These magpies (see photo) were at Anglesey Abbey recently. A few years ago magpies were rare in this part of the UK. In nearly 40 years of travelling 12 miles into Cambridge for work I saw not a single magpie. These days I see them almost daily. At one time, buzzards were rare up here . Now we regularly see them. Red kites were limited to Wales. Now we see them often near major roads. Since the  1980s little egrets have become common in the UK.

Declining radio amateur numbers?

Southgate News has a piece today about declining amateur numbers in Germany. This is mirrored elsewhere. In 20 years' time, unless things change, we could see steep declines in our hobby.

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2020/february/germany-ham-radio-decline-continues.htm#.XjbnpY6TLnE