Sunspots and 10m - Wednesday October 5th 2016

Solar flux is 93 today (not bad). Sunspot number is 33 and K=4. The forecast for 10m F2 propagation remains "poor".

2m UKAC contest this evening

As it is the first Tuesday of the month, tonight is the October 2m leg of the RSGB's UKAC activity contest. The contest runs from 1900z to 2130z. I shall take part for under an hour because of my poor voice. I shall be using 5W QRP and my big-wheel omni antenna.

As I have said many times, this is a friendly affair and there is no compulsion to send in an entry. Go on, enjoy the activity and maybe work a few new squares.

UPDATE 2030z: I had to stop because of my voice, but worked some decent distances with real QRP. Best DX was a station on the Welsh border G1YBB/P, well over 200km.

Stations worked tonight on 2m with 5W and omni antenna

QRP - yet more on Sputniks

This just came in from Oleg:

Dear Space Friends,
the  2016  totals, comments, pictures page opened on the Club 72 site
today. There is a 1'st QSO in the log today - RV3GM/S to G3XJS.
Preferably, to send me results daily.
72! beep-beep-beep...
Deep Space Communications Center
operator on duty -
Oleg ("Mr. 72") RV3GM / KH6OB


Dear Space Friends,
thanks  to  Peter  PA0PJE  for report and picture. I add photo on the
results  page  on www.club72.su  I only ask you to send me details of
today's "sputnik" QSOs to add in the totals log, please.

2'nd  picture  of  Yuri's UA1CEG "Vanguard" tcvr is on the page also.
Yuri informed he operated from the forest "wigwam" position today, but
no success for sorry.

Evening I CQed on 200 mW TX on 14060 but no one RBN copied my signals,
sorry.  For  TX I use VXO and PA, both transistors are GT320B Ge pnp.
Ant is 42 m Delta at 6 m AGL.

72! beep-beep-beep...
Deep Space Communications Center
operator on duty -
Oleg ("Mr. 72") RV3GM / KH6OB

Sepura Takeover Rumours - NOT amateur radio

Shares in my old company Sepura (SEPU) have tumbled in recent months. The LSE listed company was started in 2002. They are now rumoured to be a takeover target. Time will tell, but with TETRA likely to take off in the USA, someone should do well. Since retiring in 2008, I watch fro  the sidelines. I want them to do well. Their main market is TETRA - digital radio for professional users.

UK Stock Markets post BREXIT - NOT amateur radio

Both the FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 UK share indexes are currently at record high levels. I am sure the weaker pound helps exports, but these levels are high. Of course, being shares, they could tumble tomorrow! At the moment, the stock markets are not phased by BREXIT.

UPDATE 1216z: FTSE 100 at 7110.43 (up 1.82%). FTSE 250 at 7110.43 (up 2.2%).

QRP - now on 10m JT65

As of 1135z, I have gone QRT on 6m JT65 and 10m WSPR and am now on 10m JT65.

UPDATE 1155z: Nothing yet spotted, or spotting me, on 10m JT65.

UPDATE 1800z: Nothing still on 10m JT65. Plenty of South Americans on 10m JT65, but no luck yet this evening.

UPDATE 1820z: My first Argentinian tonight spotted on 10m JT65 a few moments ago in Buenos Aires. 10m JT65 has "come good" again! These spots are so regular. I am sure we are seeing TEP (trans equatorial propagation).

UPDATE 2102z: Only 3 South Americans copied this evening on 10m JT65.

Lunchtime Es (again) on 10m WSPR

EA1FAQ (1249km) has been consistently spotting my 10m WSPR strongly,  even though well outside of the main Es season and my little WSPR beacon runs just 500mW to a very average, low,  wire antenna. Virtually every day I am spotted by someone. I assume this is Es. Backscatter is unlikely and the distance too short for F2.

I shall soon be moving over to JT65 on 10m only.

QRP Sputnik days reminder

More from Oleg:

Dear Space Friends,
I only wish all sputniks and Vanguards happy flight!
All  comments,  reports,  pictures are appreciate here in the list or
direct  to  my  e-mail. All info's will be published on the "Sputnik"
results page - www.club72.su - totals log, soapbox, pictures etc.
SWLs are welcome also.
My  "Sputnik"  is  old  valves trcvr called "UW3DI" (14 valves) power
reduced  less  than  a  1 watt. My "Vanguard" trcvr is "Micro-80-pnp"
(only  Ge pnp 5 transistors on board) VXO 14060 kc 200 mW. Helping RX
is  "UA1FA" (home made in 70-80-th not mine hands). Antennas: 20 m GP
and Delta 42 m, both 6 m AGL.
72! beep-beep-beep...
Deep Space Communications Center
operator on duty -
Oleg ("Mr. 72") RV3GM / KH6OB

QRP this morning: 10m WSPR and 6m JT65

Today I started out on 10m WSPR (no reports yet) and 6m JT65 (just G0LRD at 25km spotting me). Later, I'll probably move to 10m JT65. On both bands I am QRP with 500mW WSPR and 2W JT65.

Sunspots and 10m - Tuesday October 4th 2016

Solar flux is 89 today and the sunspot number 32. However K=5 and the 10m F2 propagation forecast remains "poor".