Sunspots - Saturday October 10th 2020

Solar flux is 73 and the SSN 24 (sunspots at last!).  A=2 and K=1.

Anglesey Abbey, Wednesday - NOT amateur radio

 

Things are starting to change as trees start to take on their autumnal colours. Most are still green, but in a few weeks most will have their autumnal shades. Then the winds will blow and most will be leafless until the spring when the cycle starts again.

Butterfly - NOT amateur radio

This butterfly was making the most of the autumn sunshine when we went for a walk this morning in the nearby village of Reach.

2m FT8 (2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna)

Since 0816z I have again been on 2m FT8. Already spotted by 3 stations in 2 countries (at 0824z) with best DX F5APQ (180km) near Calais, France. Nothing yet on RX and no QSOs. 

UPDATE 1240z:  7 stations have spotted me and on RX 13 stations in 4 countries spotted with the best being DF6IW (612km).

UPDATE 1729z: 12 spots of my 2.5W 2m FT8 in 4 countries including Germany, France and Northern Ireland. Best DX was a spot by GI6ATZ (479km). QRP seems perfectly adequate.

"Your money or your life" - NOT amateur radio

If, like me, you were brought up on cowboy films on TV, this title will mean something. The mask was a favourite of baddies in the 1950s.  

It shows me last week in Norwich cathedral wearing a Covid-19 mask. 

I shall be glad when all this is over and we return to something more normal.

Revive Our World - NOT amateur radio

Usually, I am not a great fan of organised petitions, but I have just signed one and you may want to follow.  

Some things are certain: 

• Most countries across the planet are going to go into recession as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
• This is a great opportunity to hit the "reset" button and build a fairer, more sustainable, cleaner, world.
• The people of the world need to be fed.

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) in the UK has a petition running to make clear to the government just how we feel. In the past we have largely thought about how we can exploit the resources of our planet. In the future we will almost certainly be better off if we work with nature and not against it.  Like many, I am not a green activist, but can see the path we are on cannot be sustained.  

Think about signing it.

See also https://e-activist.com/page/67273/data/1?ea.tracking.id=Email_Share

Sunspots - Friday October 9th 2020

 Solar flux is 72 and the SSN 0. A=3 and K=0.

Fairy toadstools - NOT amateur radio

These were seen on our walk yesterday, no doubt encouraged by the wet weather we have had over the last few days.

Draconid meteor shower

I have never heard of this and have no idea how it affects VHF radio propagation. The more common meteor showers lead to enhanced pings and some real DX being worked on the VHF bands, especially with weak signal modes. 

It peaked last night, but should still be good tonight. Often MS signals are strong, but short lived. Certain modes are optimised for this sort of signal.  Even with very simple antennas I have copied some excellent DX via meteor trails on 2m.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-54450553 .

RSGB Convention

This is online only this year - October  9th-11th. See the RSGB website for more details.

See http://rsgb.org/main/news/rallies/