Sunspots - Monday February 8th 2021

 Solar flux is 73 and the SSN 0. A=21 and K=1.

2m FT8 QRP (Sunday)

At 1655z I QSYed from 15m to 2m FT8 QRP using 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna. So far this evening, I have been spotted on TX by 5 stations in 2 countries after just a few minutes. On RX 5 stations spotted here. It is now 1708z.

UPDATE 1940z:  So far today, spotted on TX by 16 stations with the furthermost being EI2FG (565km). Every day I seem to be spotted by EI2FG. Although this could be aircraft reflection, this seems to be too random. I still find it amazing that with simple, QRP 2m gear and an omni-directional antenna, these sort of ranges are possible every single day.

No snow.....yet - NOT amateur radio

Although we have snow to the east of us, there is no snow here yet. I expect we will see some this week, although it often manages to just miss us.  Snow looks nice for a few days, but icy pavements can be a fall hazard best avoided.

UPDATE 2000z:  Still no snow here.

Quantum RX

Southgate News has a piece on some army research into quantum receivers that can look at the entire 0-20GHz spectrum in one go.

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2021/january/new-quantum-receiver.htm#.YB_2lyuTLrc .

Hare Park Chippenham - NOT amateur radio

 

This is another view of Hare Park, Chippenham, near Cambridge last week. 

This is definitely the best snowdrop display in the area.

15m FT8 QRP (Sunday)

It is now 0950z. About 30 minutes ago I turned on my 2.5W FT8 15m QRP to the tiny i has spotted ndoor loop on the shack windowsill. Just 1 spot on RX of 4X1WW (3644km). Nobody has spotted my QRP TX.

UPDATE 1014z: Now 9 stations spotted on 15m FT8 RX with the furthermost V51WW (8080km) in Namibia. Nothing yet spotted of my 2.5W on TX.

UPDATE 1200z:  26 stations spotted on RX. Nobody has spotted my QRP on TX.

UPDATE 1553z:  Just a single spot on TX of my QRP (from the Azores) and 75 stations spotted on RX today. 

Sunspots - Sunday February 7th 2021

Solar flux is 73 and the SSN 0.  A=7 and K=3.

70cm FT8

It is almost a year since I tried (successfully) 432MHz FT8. In many ways, 432MHz might be better for scatter modes than 144MHz. 

There are activity periods once a month (2nd Wednesdays) that I should try. 432.174MHz is where to look. The next is February 10th 1700-2100z.

See http://www.ft8activity.eu/index.php/en/ .

Salcombe - NOT amateur radio

As a child I grew up in Salcombe. 

It was years before I realised that the dappling on the schoolroom ceiling was the sun on the water. We took it all for granted. 

2m FT8 QRP (Saturday)

At 1457z, I QSYed to 2m FT8 QRP using 2.5W and the big-wheel. 2m rarely disappoints whereas 10m FT8 here was dreadful today. Just a couple of local spots of me so far on TX and no spots yet on RX.

UPDATE 1835z: 1 QSO so far. 12 stations have spotted me on TX and I have spotted 28 stations on RX.

UPDATE 1947z: 17 stations have so far spotted me on QRP TX and 30 stations on RX. I am still puzzled by some of the very long paths: every day I seem to be copied in EI at great range: this seems far too random to be aircraft reflection, so I wonder if FT8 allows some other sort of scatter to be possible even with QRP.