10m FT8 RX (Tuesday)

In a few moments, I intend to go on 10m FT8 RX. If this looks good I'll QSY to 8m QRP FT8 TX later.

UPDATE 2210z:  Earlier, I was surprised how few spots I was seeing on 10m. The PC had stopped working as some software had updated. When reset, plenty were copied. 

Central Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

The parts of Cambridge that are most often in photos are the colleges and backs. Rarely do you see the town. This photo taken yesterday shows the "normal" town where the shops are. 

Sunspots - Tuesday October 25th 2022

Solar flux is 115 and the SSN 46. A=8 and K=1. 

Cambridge in autumn - NOT amateur radio

Monday is my day in Cambridge for my University of the Third Age course on Cosmology. I took this photo on the way.

10m FT8 RX (Monday)

All day, I have been on 10m FT8 RX. So far, quite a good day, but fewer stations spotted than yesterday, so I decided against QSYing to 8m QRP FT8.

DMR joys

It is surprising how well DMR works. I am monitoring TG91 on my network Android handheld T320 using Droidstar. As yet, I am a novice and there are many things still to learn.  Although a vocoder is used to make the signal digital, it does not really make things sound wrong. I can easily detect accents and everything sounds natural.

However, it is fun to have it monitoring on RX in the background. It is amusing to hear USA stations talking to Australia and a station in Ukraine talking with Australians.

The impression is there is more fun getting things working than actually using the mode. Contacts are just too easy!

10m and 8m FT8 yesterday

10m was in excellent form yesterday with lots of stations spotted, so I thought the E-W F2 MUF might reach 8m, so I QSYed and went on QRP FT8  on 40.680 MHz. Then we had thunder and lightning so I had to go QRT! No spots on 8m yesterday in the brief time I was on.

King's College - NOT amateur radio

The world famous King's College Chapel is often seen, whereas the rest of the college is seen less often. 

Usually, the grass is immaculate. Mind you, they probably spend a bit more on weed killer than I do!

Sunspots - Monday October 25th 2022

 Solar flux is 108 and the SSN 65. A=16 and K=3.

8m QRP FT8 (first) on 40.680 MHz TX and RX

Ever hopeful, I am on 8m QRP FT8 once again. 10m was good today, so I live in hope that the E-W F2 MUF to the USA will creep briefly to 8m. This assumes there are people monitoring over there!

UPDATE 1520z: No spots.