HF conditions

We are now over a year since the end of solar cycle 24 and the start of cycle 25. 

So far, we have got off to a slow start. HF conditions are a little better, but it will be some while before we really notice a difference.  

I suspect this autumn we will see widespread openings from Europe to the USA on 10m again. 

With modes like FT8 we are finding openings more often. FT8 is not a mode for chatting. SSB and even 10m FM and AM are better for this. As much as I like FT8 because of my poor voice, I do hope people still stick with speech modes.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/hfcondx . 

80m FT8 RX with the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground

Since connecting up the 80m FT8 RX yesterday, 1122 stations in 5 continents have been spotted on RX using the earth-electrode "antenna" as the map shows. 

Yesterday, 16 stations spotted my QRP TX too. It certainly works!! 

Oscar 100 narrowband activity

Every few weeks I check activity levels on Oscar 100 using the on-line SDR at Goonhilly Down in Cornwall.

My very unscientific look suggests activity is similar to a few weeks ago. This was the situation on Sunday PM UK time. 

See: https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/

Sunspots - Monday February 22nd 2021

 Solar flux is 75 and the SSN 11.  A=20 and K=4.

Asus EEE PC - NOT amateur radio

At one time this was my only PC, but it had not been used for many years. 

Much to my surprise, it still booted up when connected to a charger. My grandson enjoyed a game on it. I must admit for years it served me well.

The PC has a small screen and runs under Linux, although you need no Linux knowledge to use it. You still find them on the secondhand market.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp/Home/asuseee. As this is my old website, the links may well not work still!

80m QRP FT8 (Sunday)

For a total change, I am trying 2.5W FT8 to the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground on 80m.  So far, nobody has spotted me and just 1 G spotted on 80m FT8 RX - G6KUI (136km).

UPDATE 1600z:  G6TEL (233km) has spotted me well on TX and 17 stations spotted here on RX.

UPDATE 1751z: 221 stations spotted on RX with the furthermost R7GW (3240km). On TX spotted by 5 stations with the furthermost being F5PGT (480km). The earth-electrode "antenna" obviously has an SWR just over 3:1 so the FT991A auto ATU will not tune, but the FT817ND is OK still. This odd "antenna" still works fine on 80m. As I have said before, the XYL and neighbours do not even know it is there!

UPDATE 1922z: 433 stations spotted so far on 80m FT8 RX and 15 stations have spotted me on 80m FT8 TX with the furthermost EA1N (1076km) in northern Spain.

UPDATE 2120z:  596 stations spotted on RX in 3 continents. 18 stations have spotted me on TX.

UPDATE 2235z: 660 stations spotted on RX. Now RX only for the overnight period. 

Not quite - NOT amateur radio

 

Our grandson yesterday on a walk not quite in the sleepy village of Reach. 

Reach was an important inland port when the roads were poor and there were no railways. It has had an annual fair since the 1200s.

See http://www.reach-village.co.uk/index.html

472kHz WSPR overnight

By accident, I left my 472kHz (630m) WSPR RX on overnight. It was a waste of time as no further stations were spotted that I had not already spotted in the previous evening. As before, using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. 

In future nights I must remember to turn this off overnight or try RX on another band.

17m FT8 QRP (Sunday)

After a very brief period on 10m, I decided on 17m FT8 QRP with my 2.5W and tiny indoor loop today. So far, 2 stations spotted in Spain on RX and EA1ALE (1037km) has spotted me on TX.

UPDATE 1040z: So far today, 27 stations in 4 countries spotted on RX. All of these are in Europe.

UPDATE 1258z: 35 stations spotted on RX.

UPDATE 1505z:  Nothing spotted on RX from the Americas. 

UPDATE 1518z:  QRT.  In all, 2 stations spotted my QRP TX with the furthermost being EA8JK (3022km). Just 37 stations spotted on RX.

Sunspots - Sunday February 21st 2021

Solar flux is 76 and the SSN still 12. A=20 and K=4.