10m 2.5W FT8 (Tuesday)

Another great start on 10m FT8. After a very brief period on TX (4 spots)  I went on RX only

UPDATE 1126z:   730 stations spotted with the best 3D2AG (16213km) in Fiji and Victoria, Australia which, to my surprise, is even further. I went on 2.5W FT8 TX again briefly with the best DX a spot of me on Reunion Is.

UPDATE 2136z: 2016 stations spotted here today. The best day yet? QRT now.

630m WSPR RX overnight

At last I managed to set up my 630m WSPR RX correctly! In all, 7 different stations were copied with the best OH6OHX (1736km) in Finland multiple times (see table). 

I used the coax to my 2m big-wheel antenna via a ferrite rod ATU and a mains earth.

End fed antennas

 A popular antenna is the end-fed if multi band coverage is needed. I use one for 17m-10m. At the end of the wire the impedance will be high so a transformer is needed to bring this to an impedance that can be directly connected to a PA or often via an auto ATU in the rig. There is a video about it on the DX Explorer YouTube channel. There is also a follow-up video.

Sunspots - Tuesday March 3rd

 Solar flux is 148 and the SSN 82. A=5 and K=2.

630m WSPR RX (Monday)

 This evening I am monitoring 630m WSPR. Hopefully this evening I have the settings right!

UPDATE 1900z:  3 spots by DC0DX (467km).  It works!

UPDATE 2136z:    Spotted 5 stations with the best LA8AV (1038km).

Sunday walk

Yesterday morning we had some sun so we went for a walk in a nearby village. There were still plenty of puddles.

Dalham near Newmarket, UK

 

This village is not far from us.

8m FT8 RX

 Most of the day I shall be monitoring 40.680 FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1730z:  I think I had my settings wrong on 8m FT8 RX!

Something wrong?

 Last night I tried monitoring 630m WSPR. Not a single station copied that suggests something was wrong.

UPDATE 0853z:  Yes, wrong audio source selected. I may try again tonight.

Sunspots - Monday March 2

 Solar flux is 147 and the SSN 85. A=8 and K=1.