Amaryllis - NOT amateur radio

Every year about now my wife plants an amaryllis bulb. Often we have several staggered. They grow at a phenomenal rate and give us huge pleasure. The photo shows ours at the moment and in about 6 weeks it will be tall with big flowers. 

8m USA permits

Already 7 stations in the USA have received experimental permits to operate at 8m. Come the next main Es season we could see even more approved and on the air. 

I do hope they all operate FT8 and within a single RX window for them all. This will make monitoring so much easier. 

In the last Es season the first USA station approved was copied in the UK. With 7 operational, things (and chances) can only get better. All that would be needed is a wire dipole and WSJT-X tuned so all the USA stations come in on FT8. Just leave the RX on and see what pops up. Of course, FT8 with a shared allocation would be good for all beacons, not just at 8m. This way, all beacons within the particular FT8 "window" could be monitored 24/7.

It is just possible that the F2 MUF limit could peak briefly such that distant stations on 8m could be copied. All this is new and exciting. We just do not know.

All the USA stations have been given permits in the ISM band. In the future, this could be a most interesting amateur allocation. Never mind transatlantic: they are going to have great fun in the next main Es season. There is a small Es peak around New Year. I wonder if there will be some Es within the USA at the turn of the year?

See https://ei7gl.blogspot.com/ .  On John's blog there are more details about these USA stations.

UPDATE 0650z:  I gather the first experimental licence has been issued in Canada to a VE7. 

Sunspots - Sunday November 21st 2021

Solar flux is 80 and the SSN 22.   A=10 and K=3. 

472kHz WSPR RX (Saturday)

Using the coax up to my 2m big-wheel antenna via a ferrite rod ATU and the mains earth, I am monitoring 472kHz WSPR this evening. So far,  5 unique stations already spotted with the furthermost DB8BG (498km).

UPDATE 2137z:  9 unique stations spotted this evening on 472Hz WSPR.

Pampas grass - NOT amateur radio

Our neighbour's pampas grass looks splendid at the moment. 

Facebook memory - NOT amateur radio

I hate wars. Nonetheless I look back on my dad's WW2 service with amazement. This dates from 2014 when we went to a talk on the Pathfinders. 

10m FT8 RX (Saturday)

My system was turned on at 0901z. So far (at 0952z) 69 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX. The furthermost is 4F3BZ (10632km) in the Philippines. 10m is definitely coming to life again.

UPDATE 1400z: 213 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX so far today.

UPDATE 1520z:  219 stations spotted with the furthermost VK6BMA (14443km) in Western Australia. 

UPDATE 1810z:  QRT.

472kHz WSPR RX last evening

Last evening, I was on 472kHz WSPR RX. In all, 17 stations were spotted. I was using the coax to my 2m big-wheel as the antenna with a mains earth. 

The birds - NOT amateur radio

Starlings gather on the sails on the windmill next door. 

They do not roost here, but seem to gather here then fly off to their roost. 

They remind me of Hitchcock's film "The Birds".

Sunspots - Saturday November 20th 2021

 Solar flux is 79 and the SSN 22. A=5 and K=1.