1 Oct 2021

10m FT8 RX (Friday)

Since just before breakfast I have been on 10m FT8 RX. It is now 0813z. So far 3 stations have been spotted with the furthermost  4Z4WD (3561km). I suspect this is via F2 propagation.

UPDATE 0845z:  22 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX. It looks like F2 and tropo propagation modes this morning.

UPDATE 1233z: Stations widely spotted by F2 on 10m FT8 RX.  So far today, 68 stations spotted. The furthermost is YB6MIX (10252km).

Windmill renovation - NOT amateur radio

They are repainting the windmill next door, so it is currently closed. 

They have put a working model in the museum entrance. 

Sunspots - Friday October 1st 2021

 Solar flux is 95 and the SSN 46. A=9 and K=2.

30 Sept 2021

Museum duty - NOT amateur radio


The photo shows some of the things on sale at our local museum next door. We volunteer to help there. 

Season of mists... - NOT amateur radio

Even though I am old, I still get pleasure from seeing conkers at this time of year. The ones in the photo were seen a few days ago.

Rally cancelled

The 48th Welsh Radio Rally, due to be held Sunday October 3rd in Newport, has been cancelled, presumably over Covid-19 fears. I have no further information. 

Let's hope things are OK for next year.

10m FT8 RX (Thursday)

Since about 0825z I have been on 10m FT8 RX. So far today, 2 stations have been spotted after 5 minutes. One did not appear on PSKreporter.

UPDATE 1511z: 35 stations spotted today on 10m FT8 RX including a clutch of east coast USA stations. Is this a taste of what is to come? See map.

UPDATE 2122z:  QRT.

Improving HF conditions

We know conditions can vary day-to-day (some days can be bad), but on the whole things are getting better. We are now well on the upslopes towards the peak of sunspot cycle 25 and we can expect generally improving conditions for some years. Certainly 10m seems better. 

8m NoV (getting the latest draft)

The latest draft NoV is on my website. Some cannot see the embedded document, so I have added a link to the shared document. If your browser prevents seeing the embedded document click the link instead. 

The document should be shared for viewing. I do not think you can edit it, but if you can please do not change it. Instead save a copy for yourself and amend/improve this. Tell me how it could be improved. We all want applications to succeed.

This is the webpage:   https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/vhfuhfmicrowaves/8m-band


Sunspots - Thursday September 30th 2021

 Solar flux is 102 and the SSN 74.  A=5 and K=2.