Sunspots - Thursday October 10th

 Solar flux is 220 and the SSN 107 . A=19 and K=2.

70cm FT8 activity contest

This evening starting at 1900z is the 70cm FT8 activity contest. 

It always surprises me how far away stations can be copied. I usually work a few locals, but spend most of the time on RX. I use a 2m big-wheel omni antenna only. 

I wonder if with 70cm FT8 we can tap into some kind of troposcatter?

All this makes me wonder how effective 70cm FT8 would be with a decent beam and reasonable powers.

UPDATE 1936z:  Lots of stations spotted with the furthermost DJ6TA (493km). The more I think about 70cm FT8 is a very under-used band!

UPDATE 2135z:  The map shows the stations spotted on 70cm FT8 this evening.

EI7GL blog

 After being absent for a while, John's excellent blog is back. John has one of the best amateur radio blogs on the internet.

See https://ei7gl.blogspot.com/. 

RSGB convention this weekend

 October 11-13th - RSGB 2024 Convention, Milton Keynes. See rsgb.org/conventon .

70cm activity contest

Every month the RSGB holds a 70cm activity contest on a Tuesday evening.  Because of my voice, I rarely stop on very long. Also, I suspect this contest is attracting fewer entries, people preferring FT8. The map shows the QSOs I managed with 10W and a 2m big-wheel omni antenna.

Fungi or Lichen? - NOT amateur radio

I think this log at nearby Anglesey Abbey was on the blog some months ago. 

It looks like the fungi (or is it lichen?) is changing colour.

10m 500mW WSPR (Wednesday)

Since getting home at about 1130z my 10m WSPR QRP has been on. No spots.

UPDATE 1330z:  Spotted by 5 stations so far.

UPDATE 2115z: Spotted by 21 stations today. See table.

8m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)

Since getting in at about 1130z, my 8m FT8 has been on. I called G4FKI (60km) who was calling CQ, but I think my 2.5W and horizontal dipole were not enough. Spotted by 2 stations in Spain though.

UPDATE 1332z: Spotted by 5 stations with the furthermost ZR1ADI (9777km) in South Africa.

UPDATE 1407z: I see ZR1ADI called me.

Sunspots - Wednesday October 9th

 Solar flux is 225 and the SSN 165. A=58 and K=4.

EI9KP?

EI9KP was a regular spotter of my 2.5W 8m FT8, but despite many spots by others in Eire recently, nothing by EI9KP. Does anybody know why please?

UPDATE 1826z:  Apparently Phil has dismantled his ham gear and is returning to Belgium.

What propagation mode?

On 8m FT8 today, my 2.5W to a low dipole has been spotted by 2 stations in Eire. This is too far (I think) for usual tropo and there seems to be a blackout on F2. I suppose it could be aircraft scatter.

The "fog of war" - NOT amateur radio

Back in the 1970s I recall we were told the Vietcong were "evil".  Now we hear about Iran being part of "the axis of resistance".

In times of war or heightened tensions it is easy for propaganda to reach unbelievable heights. It is hard to tell what is real and what "the powers that be" want you to hear.

At the moment we are hearing of the war in Ukraine and heightened tensions in the Middle East.

All I am saying is in the "fog of war" truth is hard to discern.  Do not believe all you hear.

Cranefly? - NOT amateur radio

 

My wife thinks we have seen these before, but I am not sure. It was on our front wall as I was doing some weeding. 

It was different from the usual "daddy long legs" which are common at this time of year.

QMX+ SSB

This has been promised in a later software update. I have not seen any formal announcement about this yet. 

For many people, this would be a reliable and low cost introduction to QRP operating. 

Hans Summers makes some superb kit.

See https://qrp-labs.com/qmxp.html .

8m QRP FT8 (Tuesday)

Although my 2.5W FT8 has been on since just after breakfast, no spots yet.

UPDATE 1015z:  Just EI2IP (607km) spotting me.

UPDATE 1130z:  EI3KF (574km) also spotting me.

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Tuesday)

 My beacon has been on since just after breakfast. 

UPDATE 1235z:  No spots. Is there a blackout on HF?

Dodging showers - NOT amateur radio

In between showers, I cut the front lawn this morning. 

The grass was very wet! If I had waited any longer, I would have had to wait a long time.

Thunder and lightning risk

 At the moment, the risk seems low, so I have gone on the air. If this changes, I shall go QRT.

See  https://www.lightningmaps.org/#m=oss;t=3;s=0;o=0;b=;ts=0;

UPDATE 1025z: It looks like the storms are creeping into SW England. Currently it is sunny and dry here in East Anglia.

Sunspots - Tuesday October 8th

 Solar flux is 277 and the SSN 164. A=55 and K=3.

8m FT8 (Monday)

 After returning from Cambridge I decided to try 8m QRP FT8 . Nobody has spotted me but I have spotted G4FKI (60km).

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Monday)

 

When I got back from Cambridge, I turned on my little stand-alone 10m WSPR TX beacon. Just F2 spots (see table).

Radio magazines

Today my U3A courses restarted and I had some time to kill in Cambridge Library. I was quite surprised to see a copy of Practical Electronics. 

It got me wondering what electronics magazines can still be bought in newsagents?  

There were few adverts so I think their business model must rely on the sales of PCBs for the projects they feature.

Expanding - NOT amateur radio

When we came to this village in 1975 the population was just over 4000. Now it is approaching 8000. Some prefer to expand their homes rather than move. It still has a village feel.

Sunspots - Monday October 7th

 Solar flux is 265 and the SSN 167. A=16 and K=4.

Blacksmith - NOT amateur radio

This was the blacksmith with his son at our local museum Sunday.

8m QRP FT8 (Sunday)

 Although my 2.5W 8m FT8 has been on since just after breakfast, no spots yet.

UPDATE 0926z:  Just WESSEXSDR (267km) has spotted me.

UPDATE  1754z:   8 spots of my 2.5W 8m FT8 today. See map. Pretty sure this is the best this season.

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Sunday)

 

My beacon has been on since just after breakfast. Several spots via F2 propagation. See table.

UPDATE 1024z:  11 stations have spotted me so far with the furthermost PU5ALE (10191km) in Brazil.

UPDATE  1800z:  84 spots of me today.

Sunday plans

 Later I expect to go on 8m QRP FT8 and 10m QRP WSPR again.

Sunspots - Sunday October 6th

 Solar flux is 277 and the SSN 173. A=7 and K=2.

Oscar 100 narrowband activity

In a word - pathetic.

Every few weeks I take peek at activity of this geosynchronous satellite. It is very very low. I cannot say how disappointing I find this.

Bah humbug - NOT amateur radio

Not sure why, but I hate seeing Christmas things too early. If I had my way, all things Christmas would be banned until December. 

All this strikes me as pure commercialism with nothing at all to do with the true meaning of Christmas.

Rallies this weekend

 The following have been notified to me. Always check before going far.

• Sat Oct 5th - Carmarthen ARS Surplus Equipment Sale, Cwmduad, SA33 6XN. Contact G0JLX @gmail.com (shown as ....@mail.com which I think is an error?).
• Sun Oct 6th - Welsh Radio Rally, Newport, NP18 2YE. Contact welshradiorally@gmail.com. 

A full list of rallies is at http://rsgb.org/main/news/rallies .

10m 500mW WSPR (Saturday)

My tiny stand-alone 10m QRP WSPR beacon was turned on about 0812z. 

UPDATE 0851z:  Plenty of (I think) F2 spots.

UPDATE 1720z: So far today, 66 stations have spotted me.  See map.

8m QRP FT8 (Saturday)

 My 2.5W to the horizontal low dipole was turned on at about 0812z. The usual "watering hole"  for both FT8 and WSPR is 40.680 MHz USB dial. If you set your receiver here you will catch most of the activity.

UPDATE  0951z: G0KTN (211km) has at last spotted me. Pretty sure he has been trying for some time. Not sure if he has a better antenna, higher antenna, more sensitive RX or if conditions were up. Also spotting me was EI3KF (574km).

UPDATE 1000z:  It would appear that every time I try 8m QRP FT8, I get spotted by several stations. If I get spotted with my very tiny power (2.5W) and low dipole then imagine the results with 50W and a beam. There  have been some amazing 10mW FT8 QSOs. Under ISM rules many countries can TX on the band  without a special permit or even a licence. Check what the rules are in your country.

Stations spotting
my 8m FT8 today

UPDATE 1817z:  No further spots on TX. Slovenia spotted on 8m FT8 RX.

Sunspots - Saturday October 5th

 Solar flux is 291 and the SSN 180. A=8 and K=1.

Windmill - NOT amateur radio

This was "our" windmill next door this morning. 

Kings College Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

 This was King’s yesterday in the sunshine.

6m 2.5W FT8 ( Friday)

Just UK spots so far.

UPDATE 1309z:  22 spots of me with several in mainland Europe.

10m 500mW WSPR (Friday)

Looks like F2 spots.

UPDATE  1931z:   80 spots of me today including many in the USA.

Sunspots - Friday October 4th

 Solar flux is 312 and the SSN 229. A=8 and K=1.