10m FT8 QRP (Friday)

It is now 0916z. Since 0900z, I have been on 10m FT8 with 2.5W and the indoor loop. No spots yet.

UPDATE 1107z:   20 stations spotted so far today on 10m FT8 RX with the furthermost being OD5YA (3466km). Nobody has yet spotted me. 10m is coming back to life!

UPDATE 1211z: 24 stations spotted on RX and 2 spots of me on TX from Eastern Europe.  No QSOs.

UPDATE 1332z:  So far, 3 stations have spotted me with the furthermost being EA8BFK (2881km).  25 stations spotted on RX.

UPDATE 1522z:  26 stations spotted so far on 10m FT8 RX today. Best DX so far spotted is K3QH (7050km).

UPDATE 1600z: Mostly quiet now so may QSY. 

Sunspots - Friday November 27th 2020

Solar flux is 106 and the SSN 43. A=7 and K=3.

2m FT8 QRP (Thursday)

As 10m is now quiet, I have QSYed to 2m FT8.  Nothing yet spotted on RX, but 3 stations have spotted me so far. No QSOs. As usual, 2.5W to the big-wheel omni antenna.

UPDATE 1840z:  So far this evening 5 stations spotted on RX with best DX G1BHM (355km) in IO70. On TX 6 stations have spotted me with the best DX G7RAU (461km).

UPDATE 1933z: Now 7 stations have spotted me and I have spotted 8 stations on RX. So far this evening all have been G, which is unusual.

UPDATE 2238z: QRT. 2 QSOs this evening. 

Another cancelled rally

The Rochdale and District ARS summer rally, due to take place on Saturday, has been cancelled. Let us hope they have better luck in 2021.  2020 has been an odd year for all of us.

10m FT8 QRP (Thursday)

It is now 1117z and I have been on 10m FT8 with the tiny indoor loop antenna and 2.5W for about 30 minutes. So far, just EA8CZL (2987km) spotted on RX and no spots of me on TX.  I wonder how far down my tiny indoor loop is on a full sized dipole?

UPDATE 1254z:  Nothing further.

UPDATE 1545z:  The USA and Caribbean spotted on 10m FT8 Rx this afternoon, but no spots of me! OK, just a handful spotted, but better than nothing. Who knows what a year will bring. Next autumn we could be spotting far more on 10m FT8.

Village walk - NOT amateur radio

We have just got back from a walk around the village. It is cold and frosty. The photo shows the church and trees in the churchyard. 

The birds are having a socially distanced chat in the trees on the left. 😁

Sunspots - Thursday November 26th 2020

Solar flux is 104 and the SSN 40. A=4 and K=1.

2m FT8 QRP (Wednesday)

At about 2030z I QSYed to 2m FT8 with 2.5W to the big-wheel omni antenna.  7 stations have spotted me on TX and I have spotted 5 stations on RX at 2106z.

UPDATE 2303z: QRT. 

Laugh? - NOT amateur radio

This came from a friend earlier. It made me laugh! We certainly are living in odd times. 

Big sunspot maximum?

People have remarked that the upward slope from sunspot minimum looks faster than we were expecting. It is still far too early to tell, but this is a promising. Many thought this would be a slow climb. It will be interesting to see new forecasts for the next maximum.