10m F2?

At the moment I am on 10m FT8 RX and there is some evidence of F2 propagation with spots of Israel and Armenia. Best DX so far this morning is EK6RSC (3586km).

UPDATE 1216:  Best DX spot on 10m FT8 today is FR5FC (9743km).

UPDATE 1245z: Now South Africa and South America being spotted here on 10m FT8.

Moorhens - NOT amateur radio

We spotted a couple of moorhens on the mill leat at Anglesey Abbey last week. These are quite common. We usually see some.

Sunspots - Sunday October 8th 2017

Solar flux is 80 today and the sunspot number 11. A=5 and K=2.

630m WSPR RX last evening

Last night, I went QRT on 630m WSPR at bedtime. No greater DX than EA4GHB (1300km) spotted by the time I went QRT. 8 unique spots last evening on 630m WSPR. Average.

QSYed to 630m WSPR RX (eventually)

After a couple of attempts to leave 10m FT8 (which has been brilliant this evening), I have now eventually QSYed to 630m WSPR. Nothing yet spotted on 630m WSPR RX tonight.

UPDATE 2008z:  DJ0ABR (983km) is the first MF station spotted this evening.

UPDATE 2120z: This evening Netherlands, Germany and Spain spotted so far with best DX EA4GHB (1300km).

10m FT8 or 630m WSPR?

Some time ago I was about to QSY to 630m WSPR RX from 10m FT8 RX. When I checked the 10m FT8 sub-band was filled with South Americans, so I stayed on 10m. When I checked a few moments ago there were still plenty of South Americans, so I stayed on 10m. Later, I will probably switch to 630m WSPR RX.

10m FT8 tonight

Well, after a very average day, 10m came into its own this evening with lots of South Americans spotted on 10m FT8. I assume this is TEP. Certainly 10m FT8 has been amazing lately.

Life "on the edge" - NOT amateur radio

Often, I find it hard to explain to others just how I feel inside having had a stroke 4 years ago. Outwardly I look well and "normal".

And yet I feel giddy when on my feet all the time and I get tired very quickly. The best way I can describe life is "on the edge". My voice is very poor and I find verbal communications hard these days.

In many ways I am lucky. Inside though I still feel well below "normal".

I am not looking for sympathy, but I do feel frustrated and quite understand how hard it must be for others with hidden disabilities. People may be suffering inside when you don't realise.

Autumn cyclamen - NOT amateur radio

Autumn cyclamen at Anglesey Abbey earlier this week. Photo taken by my wife. At every time of the year there is something to enjoy there. Dahlias are nearing their end and in a few months the first daffodils will be out.

Low cost miniature UHF handhelds

Slowly, but surely, the Chinese are conquering the world by stealth.

You can buy 2 very low cost miniature UHF transceivers from China for £22.82 with free airmail shipping to the UK. Two! These give you 400-470MHz coverage and a Band 2 FM receiver! How do they do it and make money? How can any western or Japanese supplier hope to compete? There are even lower cost transceivers if these are too expensive!

See https://www.gearbest.com/walkie-talkies/pp_775273.html?currency=GBP&vip=2674264&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIyKyzvdne1gIVa6btCh37pwkvEAEYASAEEgK2VPD_BwE

5GHz band

I gather there are low cost modules for this band that can be used in ATV and WBFM amateur links. I see from Southgate News that OFCOM wants to allocate part of this band to broadband fixed wireless access.

Although I am sure we could co-exist, is this another example of the "thin end of the wedge" in the UK?  Amateur radio has no power and no money, whereas there is money in broadband fixed wireless access. Sadly, it seems that money talks.

10m FT8 RX

Since shortly after breakfast time, I have been on 10m FT8 RX. Unlike yesterday, not a single spot so far. In fact I just checked all settings in case I had made a mistake - locked to internet time, right antenna, set to right band on rig and PC, correct mode - all look fine.

UPDATE 1150z: GM4FVM (428km) has now been spotted. Aircraft reflection?

UPDATE 1230z: Now spotted 6 countries on 10m FT8 with best DX SU7JG (3527km).

Yesterday evening on MF WSPR RX

Last night I did not stay on 630m WSPR RX overnight. Instead, I was just on last evening. Nonetheless, I spotted all the main players seen overnight previously. In all, not a bad session.

In all, 20 different stations spotted here on 630m WSPR RX over the last 2 weeks.

Sunspots - Saturday October 7th 2017

Solar flux is 81 today and the sunspot number 22.  A=9 and K=1.

Back to the Stone Age next? - NOT amateur radio

Well, I freely admit that I do not have all the facts, but to an outsider living in the UK Donald's latest policy on birth control seems another backward step in the "land of the free". What never fails to amaze me is just how many American's supported him in the last election: to my mind this is more disturbing than Trump.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-41528526 .

Something for the weekend

As usual, MLS, a major UK dealer, has some special discounts. With the cashback the FT891 is £554.95. So, why is the IC7300 so expensive? Because we pay at these silly prices. Blame us.

See https://www.hamradio.co.uk/amateur-radio-pc-302.php

Silver birch seeds - NOT amateur radio

We have a large silver birch tree in our garden. At this time of year we get seeds everywhere! Yesterday, I swept up 5 dustbins full of seeds.

Mill Leat - NOT amateur radio

A lovely spot at Anglesey Abbey yesterday with Lode Water Mill at one end and this bridge at the other.

10m FT8 RX

Since breakfast I have been on 10m FT8 RX. So far, just one G spotted G00YQ (177km) in the Hull area. No "real" DX.

UPDATE 1010z: 10 unique spots so far, with best DX Israel at 3575km.

UPDATE 1522z: 7 South Americans on 10m FT8 RX so far. Again, the best DX is LU way down south. - LU8XAF (13413km).

UPDATE 1820z: Well, I was about to QSY to 630m WSPR when I noticed that there were loads of South Americas still coming through on 10m FT8. So, I'll QSY to 630m WSPR later.

Sunspots - Friday October 6th 2017

Solar flux is 85 today and the sunspot number is 26.  A=7 and K=3.

A good MF night

Last night I was on 630m WSPR RX. After some mysteries with the charger on my PC, I was on through the night with the PC running on its internal battery. This lasted until after 0500z, so most of the session. I am now on 10m FT8 RX with the PC battery charging. Noise does not seem to be an issue on 10m.

In all. 13 unique MF spots with a couple of stations new for this season.

QSY to MF WSPR RX

At about 2025z I switched to 630m WSPR RX from 10m FT8 RX. The rig and PC will be monitoring through the night once again. If previous nights are typical, I can expect to spot the same stations again! Every morning, I hope to see some new ones, but I am always disappointed.

UPDATE 2105:  No spots yet received on MF. I suspected my rig and PC settings, but all looks fine. By now, I was expecting several Europeans to be coming through. Another check is in order. Or are more giving up on MF WSPR?

UPDATE 2128z: Well, I do not understand it. Turning off the PC's charger resulted in spots, yet I have been getting plenty of spots with this on on previous nights. The noise floor drops about 4 S points with the charger off and the noise floor did seem a bit higher than previous nights. It is almost as if there is a threshold above which decodes do not occur. Puzzling. Anyway, I am monitoring with the PC on its internal battery. This should be OK until breakfast or just before. I have seen one new one this season PA0MLC (394km).

UK pound against major currencies - NOT amateur radio

Today, the UK pound has lost value against all the major world currencies. This may be because of the Prime Minister's speech yesterday and the feeling that we are a bit rudderless. It looks like we are due for a leadership contest in the governing Conservative Party or even another General Election.

10m dead?

So far today, these are what I have spotted here on 10m FT8 with my indifferent antenna. Hardly a dead band! I think much is TEP.

UPDATE 2018z: LU2XP (13308km) was the best DX spotted here today on 10m FT8 along with several other South Americans.

Toadflax - NOT amateur radio

This was growing wild just a few metres from our bungalow. It must have flowered very recently as I'd not seen it before today.

See https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/10295/Linaria-vulgaris/Details

630m WSPR overnight

9 unique spots on 630m WSPR, but yet again, the same stations spotted with best DX Italy at 1190km.

Sunspots - Thursday October 5th 2017

Solar flux is 85 today and the sunspot number 27. A=5 and K=1.

10m FT8 RX

For a change, I am on 10m FT8 RX this morning and not on 10m WSPR TX and 6m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 0950z: G4CJC (73km) in N. London spotted. I must be looking on the right frequency then!

UPDATE 1200z: Lots of stations from all over Europe plus a couple in Israel and ZS6C (9123km). All 10m FT8.

UPDATE 1218z: Now 2 South Africans in the Johannesburg area spotted on 10m FT8. Now 13 countries in 3 continents spotted on 10m FT8 today!

UPDATE 1615z: Now Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil being spotted on 10m FT8.

630m WSPR RX

Yet again I am monitoring 630m WSPR RX. Best DX is LA8AV (1035km). Yet again, I am spotting the same stations.

Unless things change, I am going to try other bands and modes. Tomorrow I may give 10m FT8 a try during the day. On MF I am not sure what to try.

6m FT8 RX and 10m WSPR TX

Following my usual daytime pattern, I am active on these bands. As yet, no spots, although it is only 0850z.

UPDATE 2018z: On 10m WSPR I was spotted very frequently by EA8BFK (2880km) and in Germany and Denmark. On 6m FT8 I spotted a couple of Gs as well as S51AT (1250km).

630m WSPR overnight

A disappointing night on MF with just 5 unique spots. What is more disappointing is I am spotting the same stations. Again, the best DX was IW4DXW (1190km).

Sunspots - Wednesday October 4th 2017

Solar flux is 86 today and the sunspot number 25. A=8 and K=3.

Butterfly - NOT amateur radio

Whilst at Anglesey Abbey earlier, we saw this butterfly. I am not sure of the type. Perhaps someone else in the UK can help ID it? It was smaller than a cabbage white (about 60%).

UPDATE 2145z: Apparently it is a speckled wood, which is quite common.

630m WSPR RX

Since the 2m UKAC, I have been on 630m WSPR RX using the coax to my big-wheel 2m antenna as my 630m antenna. So far, just the same stations copied with LA8AV (1035km) as the best DX.

2m activity contest tonight

As this is the first Tuesday of the month, tonight is the 2m UKAC contest organised by the RSGB. It starts at 1900z and finishes at 2130z. Because of my poor voice, I usually stay on for only 20-60 minutes. This is a very friendly "contest".  As I usually get less than 10 contacts with my 5W SSB and omni antenna, I transcribe my log and enter the 10W and lower section. I have always found people helpful and understanding of my voice disability. Activity levels are high.

UPDATE 2026z: 10 contacts with the best DX being IO82 square. In the end I managed 70 minutes. Best QSO was G1YBB/P at 229km near the Welsh border.

Sour grapes? - NOT amateur radio

At the moment the EU seems to want to play "hard ball" with the UK over Brexit. Personally, I think it is in the interest of most in the EU to reach a good settlement.

Many of us in the UK only wanted Brexit so we could keep control over our population: we are a small island with limited space and resources. Like many, I actually voted to remain in the EU, even though it was/is far from perfect.

No, personally, I think the hard EU line is because they are peeved we are leaving and will no longer contribute money to the project. EU nations need our trade. We will be free to trade with the world on our terms.

EU - get real!

World Wide Web? - NOT amateur radio

This beautiful spider's web was seen at Anglesey Abbey this morning. Some people have a totally irrational fear of spiders. Certainly here in the UK they are mostly harmless. Like daddy longlegs, I think they are fun. We have quite a few in the bath at this time of year and we had one in the lounge a few days ago about 5cm (2 inches) long, if you include legs. These all get put out of the window.

Surrey ARC newsletter

When I first saw this on Southgate News I assumed this was Surrey, UK. Actually it is Surrey, British Columbia, Canada.

See https://goo.gl/iBHyhE

Overnight on 630m WSPR RX

Not a bad night on MF, with a new station this autumn. ON7ZO (355km) is new I think. Best DX was IW4DXW (1190km).

10m WSPR TX (500mW)

Well, since before breakfast I have been on 10m WSPR TX with my 500mW beacon. EA8BFK (2880km) has been spotting me now for over an hour, but nothing else. I suspect the path to the Canary Is is F2 propagation and that Es will be much rarer now at this time of year.

UPDATE 1738z: EA8BFK (2880km) was spotting me again from 1728z. The reports are getting progressively stronger. This must be F2.