2m FT8 (10W to big-wheel omni antenna)

At about 0940z I QSYed to 2m FT8. Already 41 stations have spotted my 10W in 6 countries (see map). 22 stations in 4 countries spotted on RX (at 1018z). 1 QSO so far on 2m FT8.

UPDATE 1113z: Now spotted by 45 stations and 2 QSOs. It could be aircraft scatter, but this seems too random. I personally think some other scatter mechanism is responsible for the spotting of some of these. Just now, again, I was spotted in 5 countries. A very useful resource is the grabber at G0LRD. David monitors WSJT-X on 144.174MHz. See http://82.71.9.63:8080/cap/. It was G0LRD who erected my 2m Wimo big-wheel some years ago. I see he has one now!

UPDATE 1235z:  63 stations in 8 countries have spotted my 2m 10W FT8. 3 QSOs today on 2m FT8 TX with 10W. 46 stations in 7 countries spotted today on 2m FT8 RX. As I mentioned earlier in the week, 2m seems far from dead. I guess there is now far more FT8 and far less SSB and FM.

Cromer church - NOT amateur radio

A few days ago we visited Cromer in north Norfolk. It has a fine church (see photo) that was sadly locked. You can see the church from miles away. 

20m FT8 Thursday (4W to the indoor loop)

At about 0700z, I turned on my 4W 20m FT8 to the tiny indoor loop. The loop is about 0.5m across, made of thin wire (1mm diameter?) and sits on the shack windowsill. It is hardly a great 20m antenna!! So far, after 15 minutes, 14 stations have been spotted and 1 station has spotted me.

UPDATE 0925z:  So far, 97 stations spotted with the loop on 20m FT8 RX with the best DX being RV0AR (5577km) in Asiatic Russia.  On TX, 6 stations have spotted my 4W (see map).

Yesterday on 20m FT8

A total of 226 stations were spotted with the tiny indoor loop antenna yesterday and 7 stations spotted my 4W. See maps. 

Sunspots - Thursday September 17th 2020

Solar flux is 70 and the SSN 0. A=3 and K=0.

20m FT8 (4W and the indoor loop)

As 15m FT8 here was dreadful here, I QSYed to 20m FT8. 

Although I did a total reboot of the PC and reset the clock to internet time just now, still nothing on PSKreporter.  Locally I am spotting loads of stations. 

I wonder if there is a problem, albeit probably temporary, with PSKreporter? My RX and TX spots were fine on 2m FT8 earlier. I am pretty sure the internet connection is fine as I was able to do a time sync.

UPDATE 1506z:  1 spot on TX and 41 on RX now, so all is now fine.

Salthouse beach, Norfolk - NOT amateur radio

A few days ago, as the photo shows, we were on the beach at Salthouse, north Norfolk. This is a shingle beach. Just a few miles away it is sand.

15m FT8 with 4W and the indoor loop

Since 1300z, I have been on 15m FT8. No spots given or received yet. 

UPDATE 1430z:  No spots still on RX or TX. I may try 20m FT8.

Solar Cycle 25

According to spaceweather.com, solar cycle 25 has started.  At the moment it is hard to believe as we have had no sunspots for several weeks. 

The latest NASA/NOAA predictions show the next cycle just a tiny bit better than the last one. They are forecasting a weak cycle and peak.

See https://www.weather.gov/news/201509-solar-cycle

See also https://blogs.nasa.gov/solarcycle25/

Village magazine - NOT amateur radio

Although I don't think that this has been posted before please accept my apologies if it has! Since 1975 we have had a village magazine free every 2 months. It is a mix of local news and adverts.