Autumn - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday we did a walk at nearby Anglesey Abbey. There are signs of autumn everywhere now. 

In many ways November is the dullest month with miserable days and few lights. At least after Christmas the days start to get longer and there are a few positive signs.

Sunspots - Tuesday November 5th

 Solar flux is 242 and the SSN 191. A=14 and K=1.

The future of the 8m band

At the moment the 8m band is in great shape. We are around the sunspot maximum and 8m behaves like 10m quite often. 

8m is a great research band and it is a great pity more PTTs are not granting amateur radio access. Instead, in many countries  people have to pay to do research.

In a few years, the conditions will be very different.  Now is the best time to do propagation research.

Propaganda , ever so subtle - NOT amateur radio

You are probably unaware of just how subtly we are subject to propaganda. 

The "others" are always the "bad guys" and we are the "good". Actually, the truth is somewhere in between. Many times in history we have been the "bad guys". Remember we are subject to propaganda as well, although we may not realise it.

The answer is get your data from multiple sources, often with radically different ways of seeing a situation. In reality, the truth is an amalgamation of inputs from various sources. 

Don't believe at face value what you are being fed in the news.

8m QRP FT8 (Monday)

My 2.5W to a low wire dipole in on. So far spotted by G4FKI (60km) only on TX. Just 9K2YM (4721km) spotted on RX.

UPDATE 1511z:  16 stations have spotted my 8m FT8 today. When the sunspots are good 8m behaves like 10m.

UPDATE  1756z: 18 stations have been spotted on 8m FT8 today. See map.

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Monday)

 

My QRP 10m is on. I think most of my 19 spots are either F2 or F2 back-scatter.

UPDATE 1031z:  36 stations have spotted me with the furthermost RA0SX (5904km).

UPDATE 2117z:  Spotted by 104 stations today with the furthermost F61695 (9729km) in the Indian Ocean. QRT.

Hollow tree - NOT amateur radio

What is it about hollow trees that fascinate us? We love looking through them. This tree at Anglesey Abbey yesterday had holes on both sides and begged a photo!

Monday plans

 As yesterday was so successful, I think I shall do the same as yesterday i.e. 500mW 10m WSPR TX and 2.5W 8m FT8. Let's hope for more E-W F2 propagation on 10m and 8m,

Sunspots - Monday November 4th

 Solar flux is 241 and the SSN 220. A=11 and K=4.

Danish stations on 8m

Bo OZ2M reports that a number of OZ stations are now active on 8m using a LMR licence that has to be paid for and applied for. There are some restrictions. 

I am totally surprised that so many PTTs seem dead against even a very narrow amateur radio 8m band, especially around solar maximum when much propagation research would be possible. 

Perhaps they will grant it ....too late, years after solar maximum! I can imagine many committees, quangos and much bureaucracy!