Sunspots - Tuesday October 19th 2021

 Solar flux is 76 and the SSN 0.   A=10 and K=3.

Mind boggling numbers - NOT amateur radio

 When we talk about the universe, the numbers are truly mind-blowing.

The Milky Way has an estimated 1000000000 stars and at least as many planets. It is estimated there could be 2000000000000 galaxies in the observable universe.

If there are just 2 intelligent civilisations in our galaxy, there could be 4000000000000 intelllgent civilisations in the observable universe!

My brain hurts! 😁 

Wicken Fen - NOT amateur radio

This is a wild fen owned by the National Trust. It is quite close to us. My wife went there yesterday with some friends.

10m FT8 RX (Monday)

In a few moments, I intend to turn on my 10m FT8 RX system. With the SSN being 0 and the solar flux being lower than for a while, I am unsure how it will be today. 

UPDATE 0908z:  System on at 0807z.  8 spots so far - all in Europe. I suspect with suspect with a higher antenna (possibly a beam) I might spot signals 10dB weaker. No doubt the "big guns" will be working 10m FT8 signals I cannot even spot! I have absolutely no intention of erecting a mast and beam. If I miss some does it matter? No.

UPDATE 1020z:  42 stations spotted today on 10m FT8 RX with furthermost 9G5FI (5189km).

UPDATE 1200z:  79 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX. Furthermost is A65BR (5454km).

UPDATE 1253z:   97 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX today.  94 have been in Europe.  Many (possibly most) of these will be via Es propagation, underlining the value of FT8 in showing there is still Es well outside the traditional Es season. If things go as previous days, the Americas will start to come through shortly.

UPDATE 1450z:  133 stations spotted today. See map.

UPDATE 1545z:  149 stations with nothing from the Americas yet today.

UPDATE 1621z:  154 stations spotted. At the moment, this more like E layer than F2.

AMSAT-UK Satellite Colloquium

In all my time I have only had a single QSO through a satellite. That was probably in the 1980s. I have been interested, but not enough to get me active. 

My interest was first sparked by listening to USA stations on 2m SSB during late night passes of Oscar 6 and 7. In those days this was a real novelty. This would have been in the mid-1970s. They would appear, briefly, then they were gone over the horizon.

These days there are lots of amateur satellites including 1 geosynchronous one called Oscar 100.

We may get inspiration from the AMSAT Colloquium online on Sunday, October 24th. You have to register beforehand I think.

See https://amsat-uk.org/colloquium/ .

10m FT8 RX yesterday

With 200 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX yesterday, it was a good day despite me being very late getting on. See the map. I only started mid afternoon. 

First 8m QSO between South Africa and Europe

The first QSO has been recorded on 8m FT8 between South Africa and Slovenia.

See EI7GL's blog. 

UPDATE 0757z: No news of my application to OFCOM (RSGB copied) for an 8m NoV. It will probably take months and then be rejected!  😟

Sunspots - Monday October 18th 2021

Solar flux is 77 and the SSN 0.  A=10 and K=3.

Yaesu FT818

This was introduced some years ago, mainly to address component obsolescence with the FT817.  I have owned 2 FT817s over many years and these were good, solid QRP transceivers. In my case they have been used from 136kHz to 432MHz, in some cases with homebrew transverters. I have never, ever regretted having them.

When the FT818 came out I was extremely disappointed. It seemed that Yaesu had lost its way and ignored the huge worldwide market for a better, modern, product. They could have used the same mechanics and just changed the battery and guts. Instead, they introduced basically the very same product. Such a wasted chance.

In my view, they have one last chance. We are on the way up to the next solar peak and the world is expecting a replacement for a product that is about 20 years old.

Yaesu is well capable of designing a worthy successor to the FT817, so get on with it!

Yaesu  -  wake up!!!

10m FT8 RX (Sunday)

As we had visitors who have only just left, I am only now on 10m FT8 RX at 1452z. So far, 26 stations spotted after just a few minutes.

UPDATE 1516z:  So far today, 33 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1600z:  126 stations spotted so far (see map). 10m is definitely becoming a great DX band again.

UPDATE 1743z: 193 stations spotted.