Dahlias - NOT amateur radio

Most weeks we go for a walk at nearby Anglesey Abbey. The dahlias there are still good, but will soon be gone. 

In the winter we are on the lookout for signs of new life such as daffodils and snowdrops. 

Every season there is something to see. Soon it will be the autumn colours, which always look great.

10m (Monday)

10m has always been my favourite band. On the run-up to the next solar peak, it is great again with worldwide DX. 

In years around the minimum people tend to leave it as it behaves more like a VHF band, although Es is good even at solar minimum. 

It also make a great band for local chats. I am surprised it is just empty (listen on the adjacent CB bands) around solar minimum years.   

Years ago the RSGB organised activity sessions in the evenings on 10m. Even with 10W SSB and simple, low antennas (CB half waves or wire dipoles) I found I could work across the country. With FT8, inter-G DX should be certainly possible.

Stations spotted this morning

Even when the sunspot count has been zero for days on end at solar minimum I have heard and worked DX, even with QRP SSB. With FT8, it is open far more often than people thought. Often at such times it is a lack of people and not a lack of propagation.

At the moment I am on 10m FT8 RX. Already 27 spots at 0830z from across the world.

UPDATE 0959z:  162 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX. If 10 withm looks good, I may QSY to 8m FT8 later.

UPDATE 1308z:   467 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1459z:  642 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX with the furthermost VK6AL (14448km). At the moment I am sticking with 10m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1633z:  839 stations spotted. I may turn to 8m FT8 QRP TX if the number goes over 900. I am not hopeful!

Thatched cottage - NOT amateur radio

A few years ago this cottage was extended. Looking at it one cannot tell. 

They made an excellent job. 

Sunspots - Monday October 3rd 2022

Solar flux is 154 and the SSN 102. A=12 and K=3. 

8m FT8 QRP TX (Sunday)

On 8m FT8 TX on 40.680 MHz (TX first period). 10m is looking good, so just hope some in the USA are monitoring 40.680 FT8!

UPDATE 1525z:  Spotted on 8m QRP FT8 by EA3ERE (1153km). No USA DX spots (!), but I am grateful to be spotted at all on 8m FT8.

UPDATE 1854z:  QRT on 8m. No USA DX!

Pixie testing

About 6 years ago, I managed to construct a 40m Pixie kit. Doubt if I could do it now, although perhaps I could with care. 

It must have been tested it at the QTH of G6ALB, although I do not remember this. The photo shows these tests.

Thatched cottages - NOT amateur radio

The photo shows some of the thatched cottages at Lode, about 8km from here.

10m FT8 RX (Sunday)

Stations spotted at 0930z

My current plan is to go on 10m FT8 RX for now and 8m FT8 QRP TX later if F2 to the USA looks promising. I am sure some of the problems are too few monitors over there on 8m as even the best stations were not spotted. 

UPDATE 0851z:   75 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 0955z:  181 stations from all across the world spotted on 10m FT8 RX. It looks again like conditions on 10m are excellent again today.

UPDATE 1354z:  750 stations spotted today on 10 FT8 RX. As 10m is looking very good, I may QSY to 8m FT8 QRP TX later, when there is a chance of being spotted in the USA....if anyone is looking! The most likely time to QSY to 8m QRP FT8 TX is just after 1400z.

Sound advice - NOT amateur radio

Saw this on Facebook yesterday. 

Sound advice for us all. 

Sunspots - Sunday October 2nd 2022

Solar flux is 148 and the SSN 100. A=3 and K=2.