Sunspots - Monday December 27th 2021

Solar flux is 125 and the SSN 95. A=3 and K=1. 

80m FT8 RX (Sunday)

As 10m is closing, I have QSYed down to 80m FT8 RX using the Wellgood active loop on the shack window. It has been on for about 10 minutes and, so far, 28 stations have been spotted. The furthermost is supposed to be in Iran, but I suspect this is a wrong QTH locator.

10m FT8 QRP (Sunday)

As 10m WSPR was good, I have changed modes to 10m FT8 mid afternoon. After initially being on TX with 2.5W (no spots suggesting I was being clobbered by a bigger co-channel signal), I am now RX only with 49 unique stations spotting me at 1455z. 

UPDATE 1615z:  134 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX today.

6m FT8 (Sunday)

After a very brief time on TX early this morning (2.5W, no spots of me) I am RX only with the V2000 vertical omni antenna. So far, (at 1044z) 5 stations spotted on RX with the furthermost OZ1HFG (873km). Most spots are Gs so far.

I am hopeful of some mid-winter Es.

If it looks promising, I may try TX again later.

UPDATE 1447z:  5 unique stations spotted including OZ and HB9. These could be winter Es or aircraft reflection. Now QSYed to 10m FT8.

Salcombe - NOT amateur radio

This is Salcombe is where I spent much of my childhood. My brother still lives near there. Because of the pandemic I have not been back since 2019 and I miss it. Let's hope this year I get back!

160m FT8 overnight

Overnight, I was on FT8 RX again. 201 stations were spotted in total as the map shows. 

Nothing "across the pond".

Lesotho - NOT amateur radio

About 10 years ago we went to South Africa. On one day we went up the Sani Pass into Lesotho and it suddenly felt like we had stepped back in time. Many of the people were subsistence farming much as they had done for thousands of years. 

10m WSPR TX beacon

As the 10m antenna is available, I am on 10m WSPR TX using 500mW to the W5OLF beacon. So far today just local spots, but at least I know it is working! 

UPDATE 1425z:  4 unique stations spotting me with the furthermost FR1GZ (9724km). Think I shall QSY to 10m FT8. 

UPDATE 1500z:  QSYed to 10m FT8.

Sunspots - Sunday December 26th 2021

Solar flux is 131 and the SSN 128.  A=7 and K=0.

160m FT8 RX (Saturday)

After 10m closed for DX, I QSYed to 160m FT8 RX with the Wellgood active loop. At 1900z (after about 25 minutes) 54 stations had been spotted with the furthermost YO3APJ (2073km).