17m FT8

For about 20 minutes I have been on 17m FT8 (it is now 1020z) with the poorer indoor loop and 2.5W. For some reason (I have to investigate) the better loop is not tuning: something has fallen off or is broken.

So far today, 20 stations spotted on RX with the furthermost being R4PU (3262km) and nothing yet on TX.

UPDATE 1121z: 48 stations spotted so far today. Nobody has yet spotted me on TX and no QSOs.

UPDATE 1417z: 136 spots on RX and 16 spots of me on TX with the tiny indoor loop including N1NK (5327km).

UPDATE 1552z:  23 spots of me so far on 17m FT8 RX with 2.5W and the indoor loop. 192 stations spotted on RX today.

UPDATE 1845z:  28 spots of me so far on 17m FT8 TX.  On RX 241 stations spotted.

Cycle 25 forecasts?

It is some time since I saw a forecast for the magnitude of the next sunspot maximum. 

We certainly seem to be on the up-slopes after the solar minimum. If there have been any recent forecasts, I have missed them! Please let me know if you know of any recent ones. 

The last forecast I saw was expecting the next peak to be broadly similar to the last one. Compared with the huge peaks after WW2 (e.g. 1957), this was a pretty poor one, although 10m was very good at times. I remember a peak (in the 1980s?)  when ZSs were coming in well on 6m SSB with just a wire dipole. It would be good to see that again.

See https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2020/what-will-solar-cycle-25-look-like-sun-prediction-model

Sunspots - Thursday October 29th 2020

Solar flux is 88 (highest for a very long time) and the SSN 36 (also highest for a long time).  A=12 and K=3.

Day off

 Apart from a brief outing this evening on the CDARC 2m FM net, I have had a day off from radio. Usually I go on FT8 on some band. Depending on how the mood takes me this can be anywhere from 30m to 70cm.

CDARC 2m FM Net 145.55MHz - Wednesdays

 This net is being resurrected by 2E0WDN, Steve. It meet at 8pm.

Water buffalo - NOT amateur radio

There is a nature reserve near us which has water buffalo to control the banks. One is shown in the photo. Don't think he likes me! 

Sunspots - Wednesday October 28th 2020

 Solar flux is 82, which is the highest for some time. SSN is 22.  A=9 and K=3. 

Early Halloween - NOT amateur radio

Our grandchildren go home tomorrow so we are having an early Halloween party! 

2m FT8

Just before tea I QSYed to 2m FT8 using 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna. I transmitted very briefly, but most of the time I was RX only. So far today 15 stations in 4 countries spotted. 

UPDATE 2235z: QRT.

Chinese radios

Looking on eBay just now there are several clones of a UK designed SDR transceiver. 

One example is the Ailunce product that retails at £389.99 with free post and packing from the Far East.  The price drops even further if you buy more than one.

What has always bothered me is what happens when it goes wrong? 

At this price, even if you add import duties and VAT it is way below the price of Japanese made products. When the Chinese really get into the amateur radio market (assuming they do) we can expect to see the big Japanese manufacturers really getting a shock.

I gather the UK designer did not register the design, hence the clones.

See https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ailunce-HS1-Shortwave-SDR-Transceiver-SSB-HF-0-5MHz-30MHz-Station-Ham-Radio-/401905344297?_trksid=p2349526.m4383.l4275.c10