Sunspots - Friday October 11th

 Solar flux is 216 and the SSN 150. A=96 and K=6.

Wood wasp? - NOT amateur radio

This fearsome looking insect was on our garage door after breakfast. It was still there after lunch. 

I think it is a wood wasp, but I am no expert!  The body was about 3cm long.

It has a very large bottom which you can probably only see by enlarging the photo.

UK politics - NOT amateur radio

Since the UK Labour party came to power several months ago, they have been mired in controversy with the media feasting on free gifts for leading politicians and the withdrawal of winter fuel payments for many. For a Labour party set up to support workers, neither looks great.

The UK Conservative government lost heavily with the right wing Reform party picking up much support. The Conservative party is about to pick a new leader and the choice seems to be between two right wing candidates.

Moderation seems to have gone from politics in many countries, with disaffected people often voting for parties with extreme views.

Rallies at the weekend

 The following have been notified Please check details before going a long way. Both are on Sunday October 13th.

• Dartmoor Autumn Radio Rally, Yelverton, PL20 6AL. Contact 2e0rph@gmail.com . 
• Hornsea ARC Rally , Driffield, YO25 9FB. See hornseaarc.com .

8m QRP FT8 (Thursday)

So far, just spots by WESSEXSDR (267km) of my 2.5W to a dipole.

UPDATE 1040z: ZR1ADI (9777km) again coming through, but no QSO.

UPDATE 1356z:  2 spots from Poland and somebody signing "PA test" on 8m FT8 RX.  Not sure if this is somebody trying their power amp or someone testing in the Netherlands.

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Thursday)

My stand-alone 10m WSPR beacon is already being spotted in South America  by PU5ALE (10191km). I assume this is F2 propagation. 

UPDATE 1438z:  24 stations have spotted my 10m QRP WSPR beacon today.

Thursday plans

 Later, I hope to go on QRP 8m FT8 (2.5W) and 500mW WSPR beaconing on 10m.

GQRP SPRAT

Many times, I have said that if I had to give up every radio magazine then SPRAT would be the last one to go. This is still my view. 

SPRAT is published every quarter as a colour A5 magazine. It is packed full mainly of simple construction projects and annual subs are very low. It is entirely run by volunteers with back issues of SPRAT available on a flash stick at a very reasonable sum. Well worth getting.

See https://www.gqrp.com/sprat.htm .

Sunspots - Thursday October 10th

 Solar flux is 220 and the SSN 107 . A=19 and K=2.

70cm FT8 activity contest

This evening starting at 1900z is the 70cm FT8 activity contest. 

It always surprises me how far away stations can be copied. I usually work a few locals, but spend most of the time on RX. I use a 2m big-wheel omni antenna only. 

I wonder if with 70cm FT8 we can tap into some kind of troposcatter?

All this makes me wonder how effective 70cm FT8 would be with a decent beam and reasonable powers.

UPDATE 1936z:  Lots of stations spotted with the furthermost DJ6TA (493km). The more I think about 70cm FT8 is a very under-used band!

UPDATE 2135z:  The map shows the stations spotted on 70cm FT8 this evening.