Sunspots - Tuesday November 12th

 Solar flux is 182 and the SSN 138. A=10 and K=2.

Cambridge in the sun - NOT amateur radio

We have had "anticyclonic gloom" for what seems like forever. We have seen hardly any sun until today. This was the River Cam outside King's College, Cambridge.

10m 500mW WSPR (Monday)

13 spots of my QRP beacon today.  See table. 

6m QRP FT8 (Monday)

 

57 stations have spotted me today, including several "across the pond". 

Bare - NOT amateur radio

I always think of November as the worst month of the year. It is often dull and dark, the trees lose their leaves and it really is "the pits".  At least in January nights are getting a bit lighter and there are the signs of new life.

Take, for example, the horse chestnut trees in the churchyard shown in the photo. A few weeks ago the leaves were there. 

Now there are very few revealing the rook's nests. I look forward to these being repaired in the early spring and the first buds.

Sunspots - Monday November 11th

 Solar flux is 231 and the SSN 121. A=25 and K=2.

QDX digital transceiver

This digital-only transceiver from QRP-Labs is really tiny. It can produce 5W, but I have added diodes in the power lead to ensure the RF PA is working without being stressed. This reduces the power out still further, but makes very little difference.

See https://shop.qrp-labs.com/qdx .

Watery sun - NOT amateur radio

Briefly, the sun has tried to shine, then given up. 

Tomorrow should be sunny when this "anticyclonic gloom" moves away. 

The photo shows our churchyard earlier.

Plums - NOT amateur radio

These plums are still on a small bush on our road. I am surprised they are still there and nobody has picked them. 

We have had a very mild autumn so far with little sun or rain.

6m QRP FT8 (Sunday)

My QMX+ on 6m was turned on about 0945z. At 1033z, I have been spotted by 12 English stations. 

Looking at https://www.tvcomm.co.uk/g7izu/radio-propagation-maps/europe-sporadic-e/ it looks like I could be spotted in mainland Europe. 

I am less hopeful of being spotted "across the pond" today on 6m FT8.

UPDATE  1035z: Spotted by 14 English stations. Remember this is QRP and a vertical omni, proving that with 6m FT8 contacts inter-G would probably be possible regularly with just a modest station.

UPDATE 1220z:  Spotted by VK9CV (11514km) on 6m QRP FT8. I think he is genuine. 40 stations spotting me on 6m FT8.

UPDATE 1624z:   55 stations have spotted me today on 6m QRP FT8 TX. No North American spots. I suspect the E-W F2 MUF has to be exceptionally high for this to be possible, especially with QRP.

UPDATE 1651z:  QRT on 6m.