60m FT8

Last evening and overnight I was on 60m FT8 using the Wellgood active loop RX antenna on the shack windowsill. Best DX was 9Y4DG (7209km). Earlier attempts at 60m WSPR resulted in just 3 unique spots. In the first few minutes on FT8, 16 stations were spotted!! 

Sunspots - Wednesday November 24th 2021

 Solar flux is 80 and the SSN 39. A=9 and K=2.

60m WSPR RX (Tuesday)

For a change I am on 60m WSPR RX. There appears to be 2 WSPR frequencies and I am monitoring 5.3647MHz, which is in the WARC band.  The antenna is the Wellgood active loop on the shack window.

So far this evening, 3 German stations spotted on 60m WSPR.

Salcombe lifeboat disaster 1916 - NOT amateur radio

105 years ago the small town where I lived as a child experienced a tragedy. Most of the lifeboat crew were drowned. One of my aunts witnessed it. It must have left a deep scar on the community.

15m FT8 RX

As 10m FT8 RX was disappointing, I QSYed down to 15m, which was filled with North Americans on FT8 RX. 

As an experiment, I swapped the coax to my big-wheel for the Wellgood active loop. If anything, the Wellgood loop is better, so I have left it connected.

Already 51 stations spotted, most on the tiny indoor Wellgood active loop antenna.

UPDATE 1620z:  122 unique stations spotted, most on the Wellgood active loop antenna. I have now used the Wellgood active loop from 630m to 21m. Perhaps I should try it on a new band this evening?

Sunset, Salcombe, Devon - NOT amateur radio

This photo was on a Facebook group earlier today. It shows the sun going down last night in Salcombe, where I was brought up as a child.

Amazing run - NOT amateur radio

Kevin Sinfield has successfully completed his amazing run of 101 miles in 24 hours, raising over £1M for motor neurone disease (MND) research. This is a truly horrible condition and his teammate at Leeds Rhinos rugby team was diagnosed with this a few years ago.

As someone who finds just walking a few miles really hard, I am totally impressed. Well done.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/59366038 .

472kHz WSPR RX with the Wellgood active loop

My Wellgood loop is tiny and no attempt has yet been made to optimise the size, position or orientation of the loop, which is just attached to the shack window with Blutak. 

Last night, 4 unique stations were spotted on 472kHz WSPR RX.  My impression is this is a few dBs down on the coax to my big wheel. Now, this could be activity, conditions, orientation, local noise, position etc. .

On 1840kHz (160m) FT8 it works well and is every bit as good.

10m FT8 QRP (Tuesday)

After a very brief period on QRP TX (2.5W), I am now RX only. The gear was turned on about 0830z. It is now 0836z and, so far, no spots given or received. It is a bit early.

UPDATE 1428z: 123 stations spotted on RX.  A brief period just now with me on QRP TX resulted in no spots!

Sunspots - Tuesday November 23rd 2021

Solar flux is 78 and the SSN 22 (again).  A=9 and K=2.