The shack some years ago

This was one of my Facebook memories today. It shows my shack 11 years ago. 

Sunspots - Sunday September 24th 2023

Solar flux is 173 and the SSN 198 (I think this is the highest level this cycle. A=10 and K=0.

630m WSPR RX (Saturday)

For the last few evenings I have been monitoring 630m (472 kHz) WSPR RX. After about 10 minutes, G1GKN (54km) and DC0DX (467km) were spotted. Still using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.

As Colin G6AVK suggests, I must try to find out what is wrong with my 472 kHz transverter and get back on TX.

UPDATE 1947z: SM6NOC (1056km) spotted. This is my furthermost so far and the first over 1000km.

UPDATE 2036z:   4 stations spotted.

Autumn cyclamen - NOT amateur radio

These were at nearby Anglesey Abbey earlier this week. In every season, there is something to see.

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Saturday)

My QRP W5OLF beacon was on all night. Clearly there is F2 propagation with several spots from the Canary Is.

UPDATE 1037z: Still just spots from the Canary Is..

UPDATE 1121z: Still just spots from the Canary Is.. At the peak these were -5dB S/N (27dB in hand when running 500mW) suggesting just uW would have been sufficient assuming a low local noise floor.

UPDATE 1652z:   20 stations have spotted me including 4 reports from Antarctica.

UPDATE 1744z:  22 stations have spotted me. Clearly there is E-W F2 to the USA.

6m QRP FT8 (Saturday)

 Although I have been on for about 15 minutes, no spots have appeared on PSKreporter. I rechecked frequency, time sync and restarted WSJT-X. The internet connection works fine. 

Either PSKreporter has a long delay, or is not working as there are plenty of monitors that usually spot me that are within range.

UPDATE 0920z:  Darn Windows updates! Since doing the updates, I am being spotted. It is almost as if until the update was done, no spots could be seen. On my Chromebook, updates are done seemlessly, which is far better.

UPDATE 0950z: 3 spots of my QRP 6m FT8 with the furthermost DL3BUA (939km) near the Polish border. There is still life on 6m FT8.

UPDATE 1034z:  Still just those 3 spots of me on 6m FT8.

UPDATE 1150z: Now 4 spots including G8EEM (208km).

UPDATE 1206z:  4 spots of others on RX with the furthermost OZ8R (819km).

630m WSPR overnight

My RX was on overnight, but just the 4 stations spotted in the evening copied. It is not worth staying on overnight.

Sunspots - Saturday September 23rd 2023

 Solar flux is 173 and the SSN 184. A=10 and K=2.

630m WSPR RX (Friday)

Once again I am trying 630m WSPR RX with my earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. The stations so far copied are shown on the map.

UPDATE 2115z:  The impression I am getting is that there are a few keen operators, but perhaps fewer than in previous seasons. I am wondering if I should get on 630m WSPR TX .....or not.

Too quick - NOT amateur radio

This photo was taken about 9 years ago. It shows one of my grandsons collecting conkers. These are on our kitchen table. 

At the time you think they will be little for a long time. A blink and they are teenagers! Moral? Enjoy every moment.