Since 0805z, I have been on 15m FT8 with 2.5W and the indoor loop antenna. No spots yet today.
UPDATE 1336z: No spots of me yet today on 15m, but 75 stations spotted on RX with the furthermost being KP4JRS (6801km) in Puerto Rico.
Typical November day here... wet and dull!!
Solar flux is 82 and the SSN 11. A=3 and K=1.
Back in the 1970s when scientific calculators first appeared I waited and waited for the next version, that would be better, to appear. In the end I did not buy one!
I feel a bit like this with the IC-705 from ICOM. It well matches my operating style and even without a trade-in I can probably get a decent deal. By the way, XBS Telecom in France is selling these with a 3 year warranty and VAT for 1344 euros! Yaesu are reported to be working on a line of SDR transceivers, but when?
Since about 1600z, I have been on 2m FT8 with 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna. So far spotted by 3 stations today with the furthermost being G7RAU (461km) in Cornwall. Just 1 station copied on RX so far.
It is now 1310z. For the last 30 minutes are so, I have been on 10m FT8 with the poorer indoor loop and 2.5W from the FT817ND. As yet, no spots given or received today.
UPDATE 1526z: Just 1 station in Norway spotted on 10m FT8 RX. No QSOs and nobody has spotted me yet today. In summary so far today? - useless!! At least the rain has stopped and the sun is shining . 😀 Today has been the worst 10m day for me this autumn.
UPDATE 1607z: Probably QRT on 10m FT8 shortly and QSY to 2m FT8. I see some South Americans were being worked from Norway today. I guess this is where high power and big beams high up might count!
Like many amateurs, I am keen to know what is coming. On the Southgate News pages are links to the spaceweather forecasts by Dr Tamatha Skov WX6SWW. For more information look at www.spaceweather.com .
My 17m QRP FT8 (about 4W) was turned on at about 1618z. Within a few minutes, I was spotted by 33 stations, See map.
