10m 500mW WSPR TX (Thursday)

My stand-alone W5OLF 10m QRP WSPR beacon has been on most of the day. 45 stations have spotted me. 

UPDATE 1807z: 62 stations have spotted my 10m 500mW WSPR today with the furthermost ND7M (8408km).

6m QRP FT8 (Thursday)

Having been on most of the morning I have been spotted by 32 stations so far today when running 2.5W FT8.

UPDATE 1805z:   So far, spotted by 36 stations. 

Remind me of the month? - NOT amateur radio

Both in John Lewis and Marks and Spencer they have Christmas stuff on display. 

Anything to increase profits. 

Personally I find this sick. I know retailers have it hard, but early October?  Really?  Give us a break.

Duck supper - NOT amateur radio

 

Last evening, our son cooked us duck. 

It was very good with all the trimmings.

8m improving?

Based on the last few days, it would appear 8m conditions are improving. F2 propagation is getting better, and more frequent. 

Yesterday, my 8m FT8 2.5W to a low dipole was spotted across the Atlantic by 2 stations. We can expect  8m F2 propagation to be good at this time of year with high sunspot numbers.

Plans for Thursday

 Today I think I shall try 6m FT8 as 8m was good yesterday so I am wondering if the F2 MUF will exceed 50MHz.

Sunspots - Thursday October 3rd

Solar  flux is 275 and the SSN 194. A=7 and K=1.

Oil price - NOT amateur radio

 Despite the increasing tension in the Middle East, the price of oil seems remarkably stable.

8m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)

 After all, I decided to try 8m QRP FT8 today. So far, no spots.

UPDATE 1202z:  So far only G4BAO (8km) spotting me.

UPDATE 1229z: My first 8m spot from "across the pond" this season by WW1L (4976km).

Stations spotting my 2.5W 8m FT8

UPDATE 1252z: Now spotted by 3 stations.

UPDATE 1342z: Spotted by 4 stations and PJ4MM (7483km) spotted on RX for the first time this season on 8m FT8 RX.

Stations spotted on 8m FT8

UPDATE 1717z:  Spotted by 8 stations on 8m QRP FT8 with 2.5W and a low wire dipole. Best day yet.

Stations spotting me
today on 8m QRP FT8

Nearby floods - NOT amateur radio

 

To the west of us, there has been some widespread flooding. We have avoided it over here thankfully. One of my friends on 365project posted this photo of her local park flooded and closed.