My QDX and PC have been restarted and a Windows update carried out. It will be interesting to see if RX spots start.
UPDATE 2031z: 165 stations spotted on 20m FT8 RX. I suspect a delay at PSKreporter was the main issue.
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| Stations spotted with the QDX on 20m FT8 RX this evening |
A few minutes ago I QSYed to 15m FT8 with the little QDX transceiver. 10 stations have spotted me, but (according to PSKreporter) I have spotted zero stations, whereas locally there are plenty shown! Either this means I am not uploading spots to PSKreporter or there is a delay with RX spots.
UPDATE 1932z: Plenty of spots now appearing, so looks like there was a delay reporting RX spots.
UPDATE 1941z: Windows was updating, which may have had some effect.
At the moment I am on 17m FT8 RX with my QDX. PSKreporter seems to have a delay as I am seeing plenty on RX, but these are not being displayed yet. My internet is on and I have the PSKreporter box ticked on WSJT-X.
My other Windows PC came back yesterday and works fine with my tiny QDX. It has already been spotted all over the place and works fine on RX too.
Sadly I have still not got my Yaesu FT-710 to work on FT8. I cannot get the CAT to communicate with the rig. I have downloaded the drivers, adjusted the settings for the driver speed as they say, selected the correct port and all settings and still no joy. This is so frustrating.
After lots of trying, I just cannot see what I am doing wrong. If this is "finger trouble" at my end I just do not understand. I shall give it another try or it will have to go back. It is a pity, as this is a good rig.
Just a reminder that OFCOM updates the details held on licences etc. every week. Check the OFCOM website for more information.
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.
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 .
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.
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.
One of the pleasures of Cambridge is gliding along the back of the colleges on a punt on the river Cam. Many prefer others to do the puntin...
