Sunspots - Tuesday July 29th

 Solar flux is 145 and the SSN 126. A=7 and K=2.

10m 5W FT8 (Monday)

 My gear was turned on mid-morning.

UPDATE 1040z:  67 stations have spotted me with the furthest 9K2WA (4657km) and I have spotted 44 here.

UPDATE 1641z:  190 stations have spotted me with the furthest FR4OO (9722km). On RX 204 stations have been spotted.

UPDATE 1755z:  About 40 minutes ago I decided to reduce power yet again. Since about 1715z it has been at 1W FT8. 19 spots of my 1W 10m FT8.

Memories

The photo shows my grandson way back in 2011 chasing a piglet. 

He is now almost an adult and as tall as his dad.  They grow up all too fast.

Monday plans

 Today, I expect to try 10m 5W FT8 again later.

Batson, Devon, UK

 This hamlet is near where I grew up as a child.

472 kHz

 

This photo was many years ago testing my 472 kHz transverter that later featured in QST. 

With my earth- electrode "antenna" in the ground it has got as far as Finland. 

Apart from the last few years I have been on the band every year.

DNA tests?

At least 2 companies have DNA tests with offers ending soon. My daughter in law did one a few years ago and was disappointed to see no mention of her Vietnamese roots a few generations back. And no I don’t think she had a different father as a result of an affair! Her daughter looked very Vietnamese as a young girl.

I am wondering if anyone has experience of these tests?

Sunspots - Monday July 28th

 Solar flux is 145 and the SSN 126. A=5 and K=1.

Out of touch?

Yesterday I was listening to a UK repeater that seemed to be linked to loads of stations by Allstar and Hubnet. I was listening via Echolink. It was good to hear it busy.

It is interesting that I know very little about this branch of amateur radio.

Es going?

At the end of the Es "season" the usual pattern is there are fewer good days and fewer really big days. Es can still occur, but it becomes more sporadic. 

In past years I have noticed it opens to the north more, but this is not scientific. I have worked Scandinavians on 6m QRP SSB as late as September with just my vertical omni antenna.

My advice is stick with it, especially 10m and 6m FT8. F2 will be good in the autumn and we might see a few fleeting openings where Es and F2 link up.