12 Aug 2020

10m FT8

Using 4W to the indoor loop, I am currently on 10m FT8. It is now 0830z. So far today, 10 stations have already spotted me.

UPDATE 0920z:   23 stations have spotted me so far this morning and 19 stations in 3 continents spotted on 10m FT8. An outside antenna I think should be better? I guess 6dB (maybe more) could make quite a difference on weaker signals that might not be in audible on the indoor loop. For Es, the loop is probably is good enough most of the time but on marginal F2 or TEP I guess this loss could matter.

UPDATE 1500z:  Since returning from our meal out 39 stations have spotted me already. 11 stations spotted here so far this afternoon.

WSJT-X V2.2.2

Well over a month late, I have upgraded to V2.2.2.   I did try upgrading some weeks ago , but it said I was missing a dll, so I stuck with the older version. Today it installed fine. Not sure if this was Windows  is or WSJT-X. Anyway it is now installed and working fine.

10m antenna?

As many know, the outside antenna that I used on 10m packed up so I have been using my indoor loop successfully for the last few months.

In the next few months I hope to re-elect an antenna for 10m. In the past this would have been trivial, but sadly not anymore. A couple of people have kindly offered me help, but with Covid-19 I am reluctant to ask them. My thoughts are what could be erected with the least effort. I guess this either a wire dipole or inverted vee. My own Homebase-10 would be good, but the trouble would be making it now.

Thunderstorms? - NOT amateur radio

The last few days have been very hot and humid. It has been almost unbearable. Later, we may have thunderstorms.

See https://www.lightningmaps.org/?lang=en#m=oss;t=3;s=0;o=0;b=;ts=0;y=44.621;x=8.4747;z=4;d=2;dl=2;dc=0;

UPDATE 1548z:  Although the nearest thunderstorms are about 100km away, i think there are distant rumbles.

Sunspots - Wednesday August 12th 2020

Solar flux is 74 and the SSN 12. A=3 and K=0.

11 Aug 2020

70cm activity contest

Tonight is the RSGB organised 70cm activity contest (UKAC). This starts at 1900z.

UPDATE 2205z: In the end I managed 45 minutes with the 10W and 2m big-wheel omni antenna. 6 contacts. My best DX has still not been worked out although it is probably G4CLA (105km).

PSKreporter and 8m + 5m

Today I learned that PSKreporter now supports 8m and 5m. 8m is just beginning to become active in some countries.

Old bank - NOT amateur radio

The only bank in our village closed 2.5 years ago. Today it looks like it is being gutted. I have no idea what is going on.

Autumn already? - NOT amateur radio

At the weekend we went to Cavenham Heath. Quite a few of the ferns were looking autumnal already.

Sunspots - Tuesday August 11th 2020

Solar flux is 74 and the SSN 12. A=3 and K=1.