6m transatlantic DX yesterday?

They call 6m the "magic band" for good reason. I heard on Facebook that several QSOs were made across the Atlantic yesterday from the UK and mainland Europe. I expect these were FT8 QSOs. 

Normally, transatlantic QSOs are associated with summer E layer propagation. I have no idea what propagation modes were involved yesterday.

15m FT8 RX

Using the indoor loop, I have been on 15m FT8 RX since 0845z. The UK clocks changed last night and it often takes me several days to adjust!  So far (it is now 0857z) 11 stations have been spotted with the furthermost being UF0W (5659km) in Asiatic Russia.

UPDATE 1244z:  505 stations in 5 continents spotted so far today on 15m FT8 with the tiny indoor loop. 

UPDATE 1441z:  So far today 662 stations spotted on 15m FT8 RX. Although I have only been on about 20 minutes, already my 2.5W FT8 to the indoor loop has been spotted by 17 stations.

Stations spotted to 1458z today

UPDATE 1533z:  31 stations have now spotted me and I have spotted 672 stations on 15m FT8 with the indoor loop today. Compared with a 15m dipole outside I must be losing a few dB, but I am still doing pretty well. With my loop tuning I can almost certainly get on 20m. I need to see if I can reach 30m or even 40m later.

UPDATE 1737z:  784 stations have been spotted on RX and I have been spotted by 64 stations so far today on 15m FT8 TX (2.5W). Furthermost are the Canary Is and the Azores.

UPDATE 1747z:  QRT.

Wind - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday we had quite strong winds. The trees in the garden have lost most of their leaves but a few stubborn ones remain. 

Sunspots - Sunday October 25th 2020

Solar flux is 72 and the SSN 11 still. A=17 and K=2.

SAQ transmission

Earlier today there were transmissions from the historic 17.2kHz CW VLF alternator TX in Sweden. Several people tested their VLF receive capability. 

Oscar 100 activity

Every few weeks I take a peek at the narrowband transponder of this geosynchronous satellite. Although activity was higher than the last time I looked, it is still quieter than I expected at this time. When I looked it was Saturday evening in Europe. Most activity still seems to be from Europe.

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/

Touch me - NOT amateur radio

This tree at Anglesey Abbey gets touched often. It is near the end of the Winter Walk and has very inviting bark. 

I think they polish it!

472kHz WSPR RX

For about 15 minutes (it is now 1918z) I have been on 472kHz WSPR RX using the FT817ND and the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. No spots yet.

UPDATE 1940z: 5 different stations spotted so far this evening. Furthermost was LA8AV (1012km). Next was SM6BGP (994km).

10m FT8 RX (indoor loop)

The sharper, and more efficient, indoor loop in very hard to tune on 10m.  My eyesight is not as good and I find it harder to get it spot on tune than I did. At the moment I am using the loop with thinner wire which is less efficient, but easier to peak. In the past, I cut coax cable to tune. Maybe I should consider than again. Once the length is established in does not need to be adjusted as long as I stick with FT8.

Just one station in the Canary Is spotted so far today on the poorer loop on 10m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1610z: The plug was intermittent on the sharper link. Now fixed.  Just a single spot of my 2.5W TX from G0VQH (13km).  On 10m FT8 RX 77 spots with best DX spotted PU5BOY (9961km).

Things getting worse? - NOT amateur radio

Recently I replaced my electric lawnmower. The battery does not last as long. Our kettle switch is temperamental after 7 years. My wife was going to replace her National Trust bag, but the new one has fewer pockets. My underpants are now thinner. My wife's coat has fewer pockets and is thinner.

Get the picture? We seem to make goods poorer so we are encouraged to throw the old ones away and buy new instead. This is a model of existence that cannot continue.