Tuesday plans

 At the moment I am inclined to try 10m FT8 at 1W after breakfast.

Christ’s Pieces, Cambridge, UK

Autumn  seems to have suddenly arrived. It all seems to have happened in the last couple of weeks.

The power of AI

A few  days ago, I saw an old photo of my dad with his WW2 flying crew. It was black and white. I put it through AI and I was impressed.

Sunspots - Tuesday November 4th

 Solar flux is 133 and the SSN 87. A=20 and K=3.

On 474.2kHz WSPR RX again (Monday)

630m ATU

After the success last evening I am again on 474.2kHz WSPR RX with my ad hoc antenna and ground. 

UPDATE 2203z:   Already spotting 8 stations with the furthermost 8 spots of OH1LSQ (1733km).

Milking?

Whenever something sensational happens it seems the media "milks" the story, going on for days and days, 

Recently, we had what appears to have been a mentally ill person stabbing train passengers. Whilst fully understanding this must have been very traumatic for those on the train, I get really annoyed that the media goes on and on about it. In this case it was the BBC. It seems that every story must be rung dry and made to last. We rarely get good news as this is, sadly, not newsworthy.

Recent examples have included the UK Prince Andrew.

Google Ad(non)sense

Suddenly the number people looking at this blog shoots by a factor of about 10.  I am sure the popularity of the posts has not suddenly gone up!   I have no idea how they measure visits, but I am sure it is not correct.

Sunspots - Monday November 3rd

 Solar flux is 123 and the SSN=43.  A=18 and K=3.

630m WSPR RX (Sunday evening)

It is ages since I tried 630m WSPR RX. I connected my coax up to my 2m big-wheel via a ferrite rod ATU as the antenna and a mains plug ground. All this is very far from ideal! Judging by results, it certainly works.

Change of plan - 40m 2W FT8

 Earlier in the evening I can go on 40m FT8 TX at 2W via my coax to the 2m big-wheel antenna via an ATU.

UPDATE 1831z:  No spots of me although I have spotted a couple of stations in Germany with this ad hoc set-up.

UPDATE 1853z:  Swapped to my 10m EFHW antenna via the ATU. Lots more stations spotted on RX, but nobody has spotted my 2W.

UPDATE 1858z:  I have come to the reluctant conclusion that 2W is below the noise floor for most stations in Europe. I shall stick with it for a while longer, then go back to 474.2kHz WSPR RX only.