Sunspots - Friday May 14th 2021

Solar flux is 75 and the sunspot number (SSN) 24.  A=7 and K=1.

Species? - NOT amateur radio

We saw these flowers earlier at Anglesey Abbey. I am not sure what these are. 

Webcams - NOT amateur radio

There are vast numbers of webcams around the world allowing locked-down people to travel the world virtually. One of these is the webcam of the peregrine falcons at Ely Cathedral in Cambridgeshire, UK.

See https://www.elycathedral.org/welcome/peregrines-nesting-in-the-cathedral .

2m FT8 QRP (Thursday)

At the moment, I am on 2m FT8 QRP with 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna. It is now 1004z and I have spotted 3 stations on RX and I have been spotted by 7 stations with the furthermost GI6ATZ (479km) on TX.

See http://82.71.9.63:8080/cap/ for a local (to Cambridge) 2m FT8 grabber.

Stations spotting my
2m FT8 QRP to1256z today

UPDATE 1228z: 7 stations spotted on RX and 12 stations have spotted me on TX with the furthermost EI2FG (565km).

UPDATE 1256z:  Now my QRP has been spotted by 13 stations.

UPDATE 2040z: Practically all the spots this evening were G stations. This suggests most of the propagation was "flat band tropo" rather than scatter. Now QRT. I wonder if scatter is linked to no rain. Today was pretty wet.

Hackers? - NOT amateur radio

The number of visitors to this blog has jumped today. 

I am not aware that my posts have suddenly attracted new people. I try to post things of interest, but I have already seen more visits today than I would normally see by teatime! I suspect, again, hackers are seeking soft targets. This happens quite often.

Exeter Rally postponed

The Exeter rally has been postponed until September 12th. Hopefully by then things will be more normal in the UK.

70cm FT8 yesterday

70cm FT8 has the potential to be a game changer. 

For a long time I have suspected that scatter modes might be better on 70cm than on 2m.  Last night there was a sort of contest.

Last evening 29 stations were spotted in 6 countries (see map) with just a 2m (144MHz) big-wheel omni antenna. 2 of these were 479km away! Imagine what would have been possible with even a small beam.

If there was regular 70cm FT8 activity I think surprising distances would be worked at any time. 

Devon - NOT amateur radio

The photo shows another view of where I come from in South Devon. For those that know it, Bowcombe Creek, near Kingsbridge.

This spot is good for birds. 

Sunspots - Thursday May 13th 2021

 Solar flux is 75 and the SSN 31. A=41 and K=2. 

70cm FT8 RX

I think there is a 70cm FT8 activity session this evening. So, I am on 70cm FT8 RX with the 2m big-wheel omni antenna.

UPDATE 1712z:  6 stations spotted so far.  Furthermost is ON7ZJ (302km) in Belgium.

UPDATE 1828z:  Now 16 stations spotted on RX with the furthermost DL5EBS (479km). Nobody has spotted my 1W on TX. I have had one QSO with G4NBS (22km). Now GI6ATZ (479km) spotted.

UPDATE 1856z:  20 stations in 6 countries spotted on 70cm FT8 RX this evening.

Stations spotted on 70cm
FT8 RX this evening

UPDATE 1954z:  26 stations spotted this evening on 70cm FT8 RX.