472kHz last night

Not a bad night. In all, 14 stations spotted here on 472kHz WSPR RX and I was spotted by 8 stations with the 10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.

Interestingly, my noise floor with the PC charger working on mains is S0 on the FT817ND.  Last year, with the old FT817 it was S7 and I had to turn off the mains to get down to S2 on RX. On the face of it, I have made no changes. All very odd.

QSY to MF WSPR

Every time I try 2m FT8 I seem to spot at least 7 countries. Even my QRP CQs get spotted at distances that I'd consider remarkable by any other mode.

As 2m was getting too easy, I QSYed to 472kHz (630m) WSPR with the usual 10mW ERP this evening. Already 10 stations have been spotted since 2010z, including LA8AV (1035km). He seems to be spotted most evenings. My own 10mW ERP WSPR has been spotted by 5 stations. Not a bad start.

Fungus - NOT amateur radio

This is the season when odd fungi appear. It must be the autumn chill and dampness in the air. This afternoon we went for a stroll at Brandon Country Park where this fungus was growing on a fallen tree trunk.

Vestnik 14

This just came in from Oleg:

"Dear Club 72 members and friends,
Enjoy  reading the new issue # 14 of "QRP Vestnik" (Reporter) October
2018. Download 4 pages PDF 420 kB -
http://club72.su/vestnik/qv14.pdf
Any comments, offers, materials, pictures are welcome!
Thanks for assistance Alex SV8CYR and Jos ON6WJ!

72! Oleg RX3G / KH6OB "Mr. 72" "

472kHz WSPR overnight

Last night was quite a good session with 15 stations spotted and 8 people spotting my 10mW ERP signal from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.

472kHz WSPR RX overnight

472kHz WSPR TX (10mW ERP) overnight

Exhaustion - NOT amateur radio

This is probably an after-effect of my stroke 5 years ago. Every morning after breakfast I am totally exhausted. I need to rest and do very little. Then I feel a bit better. Compared with 6 years ago, I am much more clumsy and lacking in energy. A few nights ago I dreamt I could run. Sadly, it was just a dream.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/stroke

Sunspots - Monday October 29th 2018

Solar flux is 67 (low) and the SSN 0. A=4 and K=1.

2m FT8

After a night on MF WSPR I have returned to 2m FT8. A 2.5W CQ to the omni was spotted in 3 countries with the best DX being a spot by F4IAA (802km) south of Limoges.  Yet again I was spotted in Cornwall.

UPDATE 1020z:  Currently 7 stations in 3 countries spotted on 2m FT8 RX today. Best DX spotted is DF3JR (439km). Interestingly, my own CQ calls were spotted further than I have so far spotted myself.

UPDATE 1153z:  Now 12 stations in 5 countries spotted today on 2m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1738z: Now 32 stations in 7 countries spotted today on 2m FT8 RX.

472kHz WSPR

As 28MHz FT8 was not very productive this evening I have now QSYed to MF. My first 2 minute transmission (10mW ERP) was spotted by 4 stations. No great DX, but an encouraging start.

Best DX so far on 472kHz WSPR RX is DF1VB (506km).

UPDATE 2204z: PA3ABK (306km) is the best DX on 472kHz WSPR TX (10mW ERP) this evening.

472kHz WSPR TX (10mW ERP) this evening

QSYed to 10m FT8

Hoping to see if there are any South Americans on 10m FT8 RX, I have just QSYed from 2m FT8. I put out a brief CQ (2.5W). Unsurprisingly, no spots! On RX , no spots either.

UPDATE 1954z:  Only a couple of spots on 10m FT8 RX: 2E1CIT (94km) and F5BQV (561km) in Brittany. No South Americans.