Solar flux is 171 and the SSN 135.
My favourite website for daily solar data is after funding. See www.solarham.net.
At the moment I cannot see the A and K index figures on the new site.
11 Mar 2023
10 Mar 2023
Effective 10m antenna
At the moment 10m is in great shape.
On this band, worldwide DX is possible most days by F2. We are also approaching the Es season in the northern hemisphere bringing good propagation out to about 1500km, occasionally much further.
You may be after a simple, but effective, 10m antenna so I would like to remind you of my Homebase-10 antenna that was in Practical Wireless many years ago. It is very low cost and most of the parts can be bought at your local hardware store. It might make a nice weekend project.
See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/antennas/homebase10-10m-halo .
2nd Windows PC returned - FT8 test later
My second Asus Windows PC has been returned from repair under warranty. This was very fast. Later I hope to try this on FT8 with my FT-710. At the moment I am too giddy.
UPDATE 1335z: At first I tried to sync to internet time. Of course, I forgot that it did not recognise the connection! All sorted now and synchronised. Still to try with the FT-710. Need to install a driver first and WSJT-X.
Talk tonight
For the first time since before my stroke in 2013, I am giving a talk to the Cambridge Radio Club (CDARC). The talk is by Zoom only in view of the bad weather. I have prepared the slides and someone else is voicing my notes.
The talk is entitled" Fun With Amateur Radio". It is quite wide ranging. I am pretty sure visitors to the Zoom talk would be welcomed. Talks usually start at 2000z.
The usual style is people mute (apart from the speaker) and unmute if they have questions, or use the Zoom chat facility.
Most club talks are also via Zoom, so you could join CDARC even if you live in Australia! Annual subscriptions are very reasonable. In the past we have had speakers and viewers from many parts of the planet.
10m QRP WSPR (Friday)
At about 1024z, I turned on my 500mW WSPR TX beacon. So far, no spots.
UPDATE 1100z: 4 spots of me from the Canary Is so far.
UPDATE 1731z: 29 stations have spotted me.
Real winter - NOT amateur radio
This winter we have had more frosts and snow on the ground than for a long time. Years ago, we had snow on the ground every winter, whereas now to get any snow is the exception. This winter has been more like the winters in the 1950s. As I write there is snow falling and snow on the ground, even though it is officially spring according to the UK Mat Office!
Although I quite like the look of snow, I prefer milder sunnier weather. Roll on spring.
8m QRP FT8 (Friday)
Later today, I hope to go on 8m QRP FT8 again on 40.680 MHz. Although EI2IP and G4APB were both copied yesterday, I suspect my low ERP only gets spotted if conditions are exceptionally good via F2. Both these stations have probably got far greater ERP than I have. This is my choice to see what can be achieved on 8m with very simple gear. I suspect for reliable F2, I need at least another 10dB.
9 Mar 2023
8m QRP FT8 (Thursday)
It is now 1515z. My 8m FT8 QRP was turned on at about 1500z. So far, no spots at 1522z.
10m QRP WSPR (Thursday)
At about 1500z, my 500mW 10m WSPR TX beacon was turned on. So far, no spots today.
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