Sunspots - Wednesday April 6th 2022

 Solar flux is 122 and the SSN 75.  A=6 and K=2.

10m WSPR QRP (Tuesday)

I still have to sync the time, but I am on 10m WSPR with 500mW from my W5OLF WSPR beacon. It is now 0835z.

UPDATE 0955z:  Just 5 spots from local G4KPX (14km) so far.

8m tests today

As G7PUV on the South Coast has got now his 8m TX permit, I shall try to receive him on 40.680 MHz USB dial FT8 today. At the moment I am also on 8m FT8 TX (TXing in the first period) on 40.680 MHz. Later, I shall be RX only to give Paul the best chance of being copied up here.

UPDATE 0850z:  2 local spots of me so far this morning. Now RX only on 8m FT8.

UPDATE 1346z:   Just switched to 40.680 MHz WSPR TX. Back to FT8 later.

UPDATE 1528z:  Back on FT8 (TXing first) on 40.680 MHz. So far, 3 local spots of me. Thank you.

UPDATE 1650z:  With grateful thanks to local G3TFX, my 8m dipole has now been raised in height. S/N on local signals is considerably better.

UPDATE 2000z:  QRT. Just local spots.

Tree roots - NOT amateur radio

I like the texture of these roots seen on our walk yesterday. 

Sunspots - Tuesday April 5th 2022

 Solar flux is 128 and the SSN 86.  A=11 and K=2.

English springtime - NOT amateur radio

The bell ringing grandson has a couple of YouTube channels. One is called Ringer Luke (check it out). On one, he added this video yesterday. 

Solar data update

My favourite site for solar data has been updated. It still looks like future forecasts have been upgraded, suggesting this could be a better solar cycle than was once expected. 

Bell ringing - NOT amateur radio

One of our grandchildren is mad about bell ringing. 

Yesterday we visited Fulbourn church so he could ring.  This is about 15km from us.

The photo shows him on the rope on the left, although he is not very clear in the picture.  He is mad on bell ringing!

10m WSPR beacon

 At the moment, I am on 10m WSPR TX using 500mW QRP from the W5OLF beacon. So far, just local spots. 

UPDATE 1053z:  3 different stations have spotted me. It looks like there was some Es earlier.

UPDATE 2100z: 9 different stations have spotted me today.

8m experiments continued

All being well, I hope to be on 8m FT8 TX again later on 40.680 MHz. At the moment I am on 8m MSK144, although I am not being spotted. Over the weekend I was spotted by 4 locals. Tests with Borat in Central Europe were not successful this time, but I am sure we will exchange reports soon. 

At one time I was expecting to be on 24/7, but for the moment I am only coming on in the day unless someone wants a test at night e.g. in a meteor shower.

I am not doing crossband contacts. Personally I think OFCOM should have created a very small 8m amateur band available by NoV. Just 5 kHz would have been enough. 

UPDATE 0935z:   After initially being on 8m MSK144 (no spots), I am now on 40.680 MHz FT8 TX (2 local spots) and RX.

UPDATE 1013z:  Just 8m FT8 RX only for a while. Back on 8m FT8 TX shortly.

UPDATE 1056z:   Back on 8m FT8 TX.  2 local spots.

UPDATE 1108z:  I have heard that Paul G7PUV on the south coast has now got his 8m permit.  As he has a beam and more power, I am hopeful of copying him on FT8.