Sunspots - Sunday September 20th 2020

 Solar flux is 71 and the SSN 0. A=3 and K=0.

Cromer pier - NOT amateur radio

We visited Cromer last Monday. It is an old fashioned holiday town on the north Norfolk coast. Much to our surprise, it was not "trippy", but had a charm of its own. We were expecting to pay to walk on the pier, but it was free.

2m FT8

Stations spotting my 10W at 1431z today

 A few minutes ago (about 1415z) I returned to 2m FT8 with 10W to the big-wheel omni antenna. Already 35 stations in 4 countries have spotted me! On 2m FT8 RX just 4 stations in 2 countries spotted here so far today (at 1431z). The map shows the stations spotting me at 1431z. 1 QSO so far.

UPDATE 1530z:  47 stations in 6 countries have spotted my 10W 2m FT8 so far this afternoon. Best is a spot by EI2FG (565km) near Cork.

 

UPDATE 2100z: Now QRT.  84 stations in 10 countries spotted with the furthermost being OZ1CCM (796km).  On TX 53 stations in 4 countries spotted my 10W today on 2m FT8.

E-field probe RX antennas

It is total myth that VLF Rx antennas have to be big. They do not!! Very effective VLF, LF and MF RX antennas can be very small indeed. Some years ago I tried an e-field probe antenna on 136 and 472kHz with excellent results.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/antennas/efp

Wireless charging of electric vehicles

Southgate News has a piece about the impact of wireless electric vehicle charging on the amateur and other services. The noise level close to these is way above ITU standards and is going to get worse over time. Wireless vehicle chargers operate between 79 and 90kHz.

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2020/september/rf-pollution-from-electric-vehicle-wireless-chargers.htm#.X2XjVWjYq00

Dahlias NOT amateur radio

Our neighbours opposite love dahlias. They had a great show last year and have a good show this year too as the photo shows. 

IC-705 in Europe?

MLS were expecting their first batch of these mid September, but I am not sure if they got these. Does anyone know if it has got CE approval? What I am wondering is is the blockage at the ICOM factory or approval? 

20m FT8 Saturday (4W to indoor loop)

As an experiment I left 20m FT8 RX on overnight. Best DX was 5Z4VJ (6858km) in Nairobi. As usual, I am using the indoor loop. 

UPDATE 0825z: On RX 150 stations spotted in the last 3 hours with best DX ZD7MY (7606km) on St Helena.  4W TX switched on at 0747z. No spots of me yet.

UPDATE 1040z: 248 stations in 4 continents spotted here this morning and 11 stations spotting me.

Sunspots - Saturday September 19th 2020

Solar flux is 70 and the SSN 0. A=5 and K =0. 

Keeping an eye on the neighbours - NOT amateur radio

Our neighbours were asked to keep an eye on their neighbour's house and garden when they were away on holiday. My neighbour decided to rebuild the fence. I think his neighbours have some leaks!