Sunspots and 10m - Monday January 30th 2017

Solar flux has fallen slightly to 77 today. Sunspot number is 24 (dropped). A=7 and K=1.

RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch - NOT amateur radio

In all, 10 unique bird species seen, but some very commonly seen birds were not seen in the hour from 3pm to 4pm. I twice tried to submit my results to the RSPB, but on both occasions it told me there was an error.  On another page it said I had submitted the results! Rubbish!

For the benefit of anyone who wants to know, these are the birds spotted in our back garden 1500-1600z:

Woodpigeon 3
Starling 15
Robin 1
Blackbird 1
Black headed gull 1
Collared dove 3
Dunnock 1
Crow 1
Goldfinch 1
Jackdaw 1

Village walk - NOT amateur radio

This morning, we did a short walk around part of our village. I saw my first little egret in our village (these were rare in the UK before the 1980s) as well as a buzzard overhead. The weather was dull.

See https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/bird-and-wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/l/littleegret/ .

IW4AOT on 6m - MS?

This morning I spotted IW4AOT calling CQ on 6m MSK144. I assume this was random MS. He did not get uploaded to PSK Reporter Maps. Maybe I lost internet for a while?

UPDATE 1438z: G4CLA copied at 1349z on 6m MSK144. Tropo?

UPDATE 1842z: Now back on 6m MSK144 with 15 secs TX periods.

UPDATE 2212z: Now back on 50.280MHz (6m) MSK144 receive only for the overnight period. My apologies to G0LRD (25km) who was trying to work me earlier, but I was beaconing.

Sunspots and 10m - Sunday January 29th 2017

Solar flux is 80 today. Sunspot number is 28. A=9 and K=2.

QRP and QRP Club

In the last day I have received a couple of emails from Oleg:

Dear Club 72 members and friends,

Weekly QRP Rendez-Vous report (January 29, 2017)
Visitors of the week: RA1M, US3EN, UR7VT, UR0ET, UA1CEG, RV3GM, R1CAF,
RW3AA, UA0SBQ, DK1HW, F6FAI, DH0DK, OH6NPV, OK2FAO, RU3NJC, UA3LMR/p,
UA1ADF,  US7IB,  DK2QX, SM2FIJ, EA6BB, US5ERQ, UA1CEX, OM6TC, SM7RYR,
SM7ZDI
Congrats!
F6FAI entered in the Honor Frequenters list
Comments...
See full WQR Report on the Club 72 page - www.club72.su

72! Oleg RV3GM / KH6OB "Mr. 72"

This is a periodic Newsletter of the Club 72. Don't reply to Newsletter address! Send any requests or news to mr72@club72.su please.

Dear Club 72 members and friends,just reminder about the Snowman QRP Winter field game soon.
Keep in your diary - February 4 and 5, 2017
Short rules as follow:

This is not Contest but only QRP activity game just for enjoy
Two tours in the game:
February 4 and 5, both in time of 9.00 to 13.00 UTC
Bands - 20 and 40 m around QRP frequencies
Modes - CW, SSB, Digital
Power - QRP only, 5 watts output or less
Calling - CQ SN (CW) or CQ Snowman (SSB, Digital)
For "Field" positions:
- QSO with all stations
-  the  mandatory  information  in report - RST (RS) / power output /
temperature on working position (Celsius).
For example, 579/5W/minus15C. Any info form and order in report may be used.
For "Home" positions:
- QSO with only "Field" stations claimed
-  in  report  must be sent - RST (RS) / power output / identification
"HOME". For example, 559/3W/HOME
"Home" and "Field" positions may be changed during the game in your opinion.
No contest logs, fill the declaration only  (form on the Club 72 page):
The memorable certificate will be send to all stations. Also special marks for:
- the lowest temperature on the "Field" position
- the unusual original "Field" position
- the original home brew station in the "Field" position
- the greatest number of QSOs in the "Field" position
- the greatest number of QSOs with "Field" stations in the "Home" position
- the lowest power in the "Field" position
- the most absurd comic working position design (for both categories)
Donations or prizes are welcome.
See full rules on the Club 72 page - www.club72.su

Last night on 6m

Well, MSK144 proved productive with EI4DQ (576km) spotted not long ago and HB9Q (794km) spotted earlier. G6GEI (73km) also spotted.

Currently, I am on TX and RX on 50.280MHz MSK144.

First aconites - NOT amateur radio

This winter seems much colder than last. We have yet to see a daffodil out and the snowdrops are later. Yesterday I saw the first aconites out, in a garden not far from us (see above).

We are seeing more birds from Scandinavia like fieldfares, redwings, starlings and waxwings. The latter I have still not seen. Each winter we see some but usually they come as it is very cold in Scandinavia. Seeing lots here often suggests a cold winter.

MSK144 (6m - 50.280MHz)

Since about 1820z I have been on 50.280MHz MSK144 mode (2W). I am hoping to receive stations by tropo, aircraft reflection and maybe MS. Unfortunately I am only vertically polarised on 6m using my V2000 omni antenna.

UPDATE 1840z:  No spots as yet.

UPDATE 1905z: M1BXF/SDR (14km) has just spotted me. I changed the TX to "enabled", F TOL 200, and the TX period to 30secs so the relay changes less often. No spots on RX yet.

UPDATE 1940z: G0LRD (25km) has now spotted me on 50.280MHz MSK144.

UPDATE 2010z: F8ZW (652km) in Alsace, France is the best RX DX so far. Aircraft reflection?

UPDATE 2336z:  For the last hour or so I have been on RX only and intend to stay on RX until after breakfast tomorrow. Maybe I'll catch some random MS in the early hours?

I am surprised how effective this mode is proving. Getting better RX DX by random MS pings would not surprise me now.

RSPB Bird Count this weekend - NOT amateur radio

A reminder to those in the UK that the annual RSPB bird count is this weekend (Jan 28-30th). The idea is very simple: you simply choose any hour Jan 28, 29 or 30th and count the highest number of unique species seen in your chosen spot in that hour. For example: 6 wood pigeons, 2 robins, 4 blackbirds. You can do it in your garden, school, a local park or wherever. I have done this for many years. You just go to the RSPB website and upload your results. RSPB membership is not required. You may be surprised.