1 Jul 2022

Solar data

Early each month, I look forward to the updated information on solar data. My favourite site has not yet updated its data when I looked, but usually does so quite quickly.

See http://www.solen.info/solar/

Sunspots - Friday July 1st 2022

 Solar flux is 96 and the SSN 40. A=5 and K=2.

30 Jun 2022

Batson Creek - NOT amateur radio


This is Batson Creek in Devon. I passed this on my 6 mile walk today. Although giddy I was well pleased I managed it.  Sadly the tide was out! 

Echolink password

 As I was awake early and in bed awaiting others, I thought I should try Echolink again after a break of well over a year. I am using the app on my phone. It asked for my password that I have forgotten and I cannot see how to reset it. Looks like I shall have to give it a miss. 

Seen on Facebook - NOT amateur radio


 Some will understand. 

Devon walk later - NOT amateur radio

After breakfast, I hope to walk to Salcombe along the back lanes. It should take about 1-2 hours. 

Sunspots - Thursday June 30th 2022

Solar flux is 92 and the SSN 48. A=6 and K=1.

29 Jun 2022

Kingsbridge Devon - NOT amateur radio


The photo shows the view looking from the embankment towards the town. Tide out!! 

Devon rain - NOT amateur radio


There is a phrase "come to sunny Devon where it rains 6 days out of 7". Lovely in the sunshine! It was just raining. Sunny earlier. 

8m WSPR DX

 ZP4KPX (S. America) has been spotted in Portugal and the UK on 8m weakly on WSPR. If he gets an official permit someone will contact him for a first 8m 2-way, either from Europe or the USA. No idea about his gear. 

Sunspots - Wednesday June 29th 2022

 Solar flux is 96 and the SSN 71. A=8 and K=2.

28 Jun 2022

8m DX QSOs

Both EI2IP and G9PUV have managed USA 8m FT8 QSOs. This was after a lot of hard work and patience. 

En Route - NOT amateur radio


For the first time since 2019 I am off to Devon by coach to see my brother. I usually go by train, but industrial action is making this hard at the moment. The photo shows the coach. I prefer the train, but have little choice. 

Using a loop in the garden in 2013


This was me testing a loop antenna in the garden in 2013. 

Sunspots - Tuesday June 28th 2022 and

 Solar flux is 98 and the SSN 32. A=12 and K=1.

27 Jun 2022

10m QRP WSPR TX (Monday)

Most of the morning, I have been on 10m WSPR TX with my 500mW beacon. After a promising start, just spots by 3 unique stations so far.

UPDATE 1808z:   22 spots of my 500mW 10m WSPR today.

8m experiment (Monday)

After 2 sessions on QRP FT8 TX on 40.680 MHz USB dial, I have been spotted just by EA3ERE (1153km) so far.

UPDATE 1811z: Spotted on 8m QRP FT8 by 3 stations, probably by Es (Poland, Slovenia and Spain).

Oldest human in a photo? - NOT amateur radio

This appeared as a Facebook memory earlier. If true, it is remarkable. 

Oscar 100 commercial gear

Apart from the DX-patrol offering diplayed at Friedrichshafen, I am unaware of any complete turnkey solutions to operating on Oscar 100. 

In particular not one of the Japanese manufacturers has offered anything. To me, this speaks volumes, literally. They cannot see volumes and hence profits. 

If DX-patrol can do it for €650 surely the Japanese will have considered it. There is no home market or market in the USA, so they are not interested. 

In my view the Japanese amateur manufacturers will be looking hard at the amateur radio market and asking if the effort is worth it in the coming years. 

Sunspots - Monday June 27th 2022

Solar flux is 102 and the SSN 33. A=22 and K=1.