Sunspots - Friday March 6th 2020

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

Rallies

Saturday 7 MARCH : LAGAN VALLEY ARS RALLY

Hillsborough Village Centre, 7 Ballynahinch Road, Hillsborough, Co Down BT26 6AR. Doors open at 11am and entrance is £4. Dave Wilson, MOOBW, the RSGB President and Examination Quality Assurance Manager, will be in attendance to meet attendees and give a demonstration of the online exam system to anyone who wishes to see how it works. The RSGB Awards Manager, Bobby, MI0RYL will be there as will representatives from the RABIC.


Sunday 8 MARCH : CANCELLED

PENCOED ARC TABLE TOP SALE

Pencoed Rugby Club The Verlands, Felindre Road Pencoed CF35 5PB Due to unforseen circumstances the table-top sale has been cancelled.

Christening Font at Norwich Cathedral - NOT amateur radio

The Christening font here is unusual being a copper vessel that was at one time in a chocolate factory.

It is shown in the photo.

2m FT8

A few minutes ago I went QRT on 10m FT8 RX (no spots) and QSYed to 2m FT8. So far (2010z) 13 spots of my 8-10W the big-wheel omni in 3 countries  (G, GI and EI).

On 2m FT8 RX only 2 G spots so far.

UPDATE 2233z: 18 stations have spotted my 10W, but I have spotted only 3 Gs.

Norwich - NOT amateur radio

Today we went by train to Norwich to meet with my wife's brother and his wife. We met in the cathedral.

The photo shows Pull's Ferry where stone from France used to build the cathedral came in. They built a special canal up to the cathedral (now not there) to move the stones to the cathedral from the River Wensom.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Wensum

10m FT8 (mainly RX)

At the moment, and for much of the day, I am on 10m FT8 RX with the indoor loop. If I spot anyone at all I shall be pleased! At 10m, the loop should be more efficient, but will there be activity?

As Bas recently mentioned, especially on N-S paths there is still propagation on 10m. Have a go on 10m today!

Sunspots - Thursday March 5th 2020

Solar flux is 70 and the SSN 0. A=6 and K=1.

2m FT8

Have now QSYed to 2m FT8.  A couple of QSOs so far.

Stations spotting my 2m 10W
to the big-wheel this evening

UPDATE 2105z: So far this evening I have been spotted by 25 stations in 6 countries. Several 2-way QSOs with the 10W and big-wheel. The map shows stations spotting me this evening.

First cut - NOT amateur radio

First cut 

Today, I cut our grass for the first time this year. Intentionally, the cut was with the blades set high.

Still no sunspots

We had a few in January, but it has been spotless since. If we were after the minimum I should have expected to see a few by now. We live in hope! Solar flux is still very low. It would not surprise me to hear we are only now at the solar minimum.