10m FT8 RX

Although I have only been looking for a few minutes, there are quite a few stations from Southern Europe, Eastern Europe, Russia and the Middle East already spotted on 10m FT8, despite poor solar numbers.

I think it is true that FT8 has transformed 10m with many more people staying on the band and finding DX that, in the past, would have been missed. Concentrating the activity in a narrow, well monitored, slot must help, as does the ability to decode weak signals.

3 cheers for FT8!

UPDATE 1248z: first South American on 10m FT8 today was PV8DC (7830km) in Roraima, northern Brazil. This was made famous by Arthur Conan Doyle in "The Lost World".

UPDATE 1408z: No further South Americans spotted on 10m FT8, but VO1NE (3931km) in Newfoundland recently spotted. It looks like 5 continents today. Still not bad with a poor antenna and no sunspots!

UPDATE 1622z: With 4 North Americans and 4 South Americans spotted, today has been quite good on 10m FT8.

UPDATE 1738z: With nothing new now for a few hours I think I'll QSY to 630m WSPR.

Sunspots - Sunday November 5th 2017

Solar flux is 71 today and the sunspot number is zero again. A=4 and K=0.

Mr President in Asia - NOT amateur radio

So the president of the USA is on an official visit to Japan, South Korea and China. I am not sure if anywhere else is on his agenda. I hope he is presidential and not the butt of more jokes. Maybe he can stop tweeting and actually listen?

Allegedly his views on the causes of climate change are at odds with scientists who have access to facts and evidence. Oh silly me - this is all rubbish and a Chinese plot. I quite forgot. Fake news.

UPDATE 2308z:  Apparently he is also visiting Vietnam and the Philippines.  See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-41773310

What made this? - NOT amateur radio

A few days ago we went to Anglesey Abbey which is about 4 miles away. We saw this hole, but I am not sure what creature made it. Moles usually leave a pile of earth. This hole had none. My guess is a mouse or a shrew? The hole was about 3cms (just over an inch) across.

630m WSPR

Quite early for me, I have already QSYed to 630m WSPR (10mW ERP, 20%). Already I am being spotted and spotting others. Although activity is quite high, there are only a few in Europe on TX.

Rain! - NOT amateur radio

Today we have real rain. It looks to be here for the day, perhaps easing off later. Tomorrow looks more promising. The grass needs cutting, but that can wait until next week.

630m WSPR last evening and overnight.

In all, 9 unique stations spotted my 10mW ERP 630m WSPR in the last day and I spotted 11 uniques.  Not the best of nights.

10m FT8 RX

I have been on 10m FT8 RX since breakfast. Only one station spotted so far 4X1QQ (3551km). I assume this is F2 propagation. Yesterday I had spotted several Europeans including several Russians by this time.

UPDATE 1026z:  Now spotted an Italian and one UK station on 10m FT8.

UPDATE 1230z: 13 10m FT8 spots so far. Mainly Europeans.

UPDATE 1528z:  So far, nothing from Australasia, South Africa or South America but one spot from the USA N2GHR (5521km) in New York late this morning.

UPDATE 1624z: Apart from the single spot of the station in the USA, today has been a bit disappointing on 10m FT8. I'll give it a bit longer, then QSY to 630m WSPR. It would be good to try 137kHz WSPR RX, but the FT817 is very deaf on that band.

Sunspots - Saturday November 4th 2017

Solar flux is 72 and the sunspot number still zero. A=9 and K=1.

QSY to 630m WSPR

After a great day on 10m FT8 RX again, I have QSYed to 630m WSPR transceive. I made the switch at 1910z (10mW ERP, 20%).

First 50 minutes on 630m WSPR tonight