20m FT8 again

Once again I am on 20m FT8 using 10W to the 45cm diameter indoor loop. Already I have been spotted strongly in southern Italy and I have spotted 16 stations on 20m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1103z: So far today, my 10W has been spotted by 15 stations (1 QSO) and I have spotted 196 stations.

Spots of my 20m 10W 

FT8 TX to 1410z

UPDATE 1440z: 50 stations have spotted me today on 20m FT8 with the 10W FT8. On 20m FT8 RX 426 stations spotted so far today.

UPDATE 1618z: 54 stations have spotted me so far and 512 stations have been spotted here today so far on 20m FT8.

Sunspots - Sunday March 22nd 2020

Solar flux is 71 and the sunspot number still 0. A=8 and K=2.

W&S open?

According to Southgate News W&S is still open for business and taking sensible precautions with a couple of staff working from home "in the cloud". 

I guess this policy (of keeping the shop open) could change if government policy changes.

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2020/march/w-s-open-and-serving-your-hobby.htm#.XnZ2Ld-TK00

2m FT8 this evening

Stations spotting my 2m FT8 to the big-wheel 
omni antenna in the first 40 minutes this evening

It never fails.

I have only had my 2m FT8 10W to the big-wheel on for about 60 minutes, but I have already had 27 spots in 5 countries.

This must be some sort of non-aircraft scatter. It has completely transformed 2m for me. Unimaginable DX is in range.

Walks nearby - NOT amateur radio

Whilst keeping a safe distance from others, we are enjoying outdoor walks.

Today we went to Dalham, near Newmarket. Trees are coming into leaf and nature carries on.

On a positive note, I expect this latest set of bans has had a good effect on the planet. In some ways we have been alerted by over-dependence on cheap labour on the other side of the globe for our supply chains.

We seem to be kinder to each other too.

Webcams - NOT amateur radio

At the moment, quite a few of us are feeling more isolated. Quite a lot of us are using Duo, Skype, Facetime and similar to keep in touch.

Another thing is webcams which allow us to look at a distance. Last weekend I was able to see my brother and one of his grandchildren at the South Devon Railway at Buckfastleigh (see photo).

See https://www.earthcam.com/

See https://www.southdevonrailwayassociation.org/RailCam.shtml

On 20m FT8 with the tiny indoor loop

At 0730z, I turned on 20m FT8 with the tiny indoor loop antenna (45cm across and thin wire!) and 10W. Already several stations spotted. No spots of me yet.

UPDATE 0936z :  70 stations in 2 continents spotted so far. Just 1 spot of me from Norway so far.

UPDATE 1445z: 30 spots of my 10W today (see map). On RX 332 stations spotted so far.

UPDATE 1620z: Now 51 spots today of my 10W FT8 using the 45cm across indoor loop.

Pixie kit

Pixie 

Some years ago I built a Pixie kit from China.  The Pixie is a simple CW transceiver usually for 40m or 80m. Mine (shown in the photo) cost under £5 with free shipping by air and worked first time. Like many simple rigs, it is a compromise. Great fun.

2m FT8

Last evening I again QSYed to 2m FT8. 20 stations spotted me in 5 countries again convincing me that this is some sort of scatter propagation. EVERY time I go on I seem to be spotted at great range. I am only using 10W to my big wheel omni antenna. The map shows where I was spotted last evening.

Sunspots - Saturday March 21st 2020

Solar flux is 72 and the SSN 0. A=7 and K=2.