Sunspots - Tuesday December 16th

 Solar flux is 118 and the SSN 73. A=6 and K=2.

10m FT8 TX (Monday)

Just before tea I QSYed to 10m FT8  using my ready built 10m QDX-M. 

Although the TX works fine, I cannot work out what is wrong with the RX which appears to be totally deaf. Using Windows 10, I have (I think) exhausted everything I can try. The audio is not muted, the USB lead has been replaced, I have re-installed the drivers, the port has been correctly selected. I have tried starting the device again in case the PC is not recognising the device on RX. At the back of my mind is a hope that I will find something and it will spring in to life. Sadly, nothing tried has worked. 

Hans makes some splendid kit so I am reluctant to send it back until I am utterly convinced I am not doing something stupid, but I am at a loss. If I cannot find something tomorrow it will (reluctantly) be returned. 

If you have any suggestions of things I can try, please let me know.

Nearly

We always enjoy amaryllis plants growing at this time of year. 

One of ours is almost in flower and should be out at Christmas.

Bondi beach shootings

In my view everyone whether Jew, Muslim, Christian or otherwise has equal value.

Whilst everyone involved in the massacre at Bondi Beach deserves a lot of love and sympathy, I think President Netanyaho of Israel needs to answer some difficult questions. 

We all agree that the October 7th massacre of innocent people in Israel was evil and totally wrong, 

However I think the killing of nearly 60000 people in Gaza (including women and children) was evil too and the flattening of houses? Also, he should ask himself if the exclusion of the press from Gaza was wise?

What happened in Bondi was wrong and evil. 

Why can't we all live in peace, respecting every one of our fellow people on this planet?

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Monday)

 My beacon was turned on at about 1030z.

UPDATE 1541z:  5 stations spotting me with several "across the pond".

6m 5W FT8 (Monday)

 My gear was turned on at about 1030z.  

UPDATE 1119z:  So far, spotted by just 2 English stations, probably just normal tropo.

Philosophical question

Does anyone know of a philosophical experiment that proves there is a life beyond ourselves? We experience everything using our senses. Everything we experience is as we experience it.  We "think" things exist beyond ourselves. Can we prove it?

Monday plans

 Later I expect to try 6m 4W FT8 and 10m 500mW WSPR. That is if I dont change my mind!

Sunspots - Monday December 15th

 Solar flux is 119 and the SSN 78. A=7 and K=1.

Shetland sun

 

One of my friends on 365.org lives in the Shetland Isles and posts some interesting photos.

8m FT8 RX (Sunday)

 At about 1345z I switched to 8m FT8 RX on 40.680 MHz.

UPDATE 2023z:  No spots.

Online QSL card

Yesterday I received an QSL card online from a station in Italy. I have still to check my log, but will confirm the contact if the details are correct. 

Previously, I have had online QSL cards missing vital data like time, so I could not respond. As far as I can tell, this one included all the details.

These days I rarely send out real QSL cards by post.

6m 4W FT8 (Sunday)

 My 4W FT8 is on.

UPDATE  0910z:  9 stations have spotted me this morning (see map). I am unsure of the propagation mechanism but 4W FT8 and an omni V2000 vertical antenna seem to be enough.

UPDATE 2200z:  39 stations have spotted me. See map. Is this Es? Now QRT.

Christmas comes early?

Retailers have had a hard time lately. 

Is it me or did Christmas come early this year? I am sure this was to make sure profits were maximised. 

To me, the Christmas season starts no earlier than December 1st. Some shops were having Christmas goods as early as September. It seems Christmas has morphed into a commercial business.

Sadly, I am glad these days when all the hype is over.

10m 500mW WSPR (Sunday)

 My beacon was turned on at about 0700z.

UPDATE 0855z:  3 spots by YO3IVV (2078km).

UPDATE 2025z:  7 stations spotted me today. Now QRT.

Sunspots - Sunday December 14th

 Solar flux is 122 and the SSN 76. A=14 and K=2.

6m failure!!

 Just for fun I let my IC705 on FT8 during the Geminids meteor shower, but copied not a single station!  Late last night a few stations spotted my 4W FT8 but I don’t think this was MS. One was in Germany. Oh well, I tried, ho ho. I know MSK144 would have been a better choice but wanted to see if anyone was copiable on FT8.

6m 4W FT8 (Saturday)

 My 4W 6m FT8 was turned in at about 2030z.

UPDATE 2036z:  So far, 4 English stations have spotted me.  No great DX.

6m FT8 in the Geminid MS shower?

For MS most people (I think) use MSK144. I am tempted to leave my 6m FT8 on RX overnight to see what happens. I am wondering if I might copy some people on 6m MS on FT8?  In a big shower I would expect some bursts to be quite long, more so on 6m than 2m.

In my experience MS signals can be quite strong, but quite brief.

1W 10m FT8 (Saturday)

My gear was turned on at about 1200z.

UPDATE  2018z:  So far 246 stations have spotted me. See map. QRT soon.