472kHz WSPR

Earlier this evening I QSYed to 472kHz WSPR. So far, 8 stations have spotted my 10mW ERP signal and I have spotted 16 stations on RX. Promising.

Stations spotted on 472kHz WSPR so far tonight.

Kings College Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

This picture typifies Cambridge. People come from all over the world to see this view. We get it for just a free bus ride!  Even access to all the Cambridge colleges is free for locals. It is hard to think people pay thousands of pounds to see this.

10m FT8 RX

For now, I am on 10m FT8 RX.

With sunspot minimum conditions and being well outside of the Es season, I am not expecting much. Of late the South Americans have not been spotted in the early evening on 10m FT8 with my low antenna.

UPDATE 1556z: 3 stations in 2 countries spotted so far. Best DX on 10m FT8 RX is IT9PZM (1890km).

UPDATE 1650z:  I have just updated to WSJT-x V2.0 rc3. My recent 2.5W CQ was copied by no-one at all!

Last night on 477kHz OPERA RX

Disappointing with just the 2 stations already spotted in the evening spotted overnight. This could mean several things. Perhaps my "antenna" is not brilliant. Perhaps conditions were not good. Perhaps there are fewer operators using OPERA. Maybe it is a combination of all of these or some of these.

Tonight, if I go on MF, I shall opt for WSPR again?

Sunspots - Wednesday October 31st 2018

Solar flux is 67 and the SSN 0. A=4 and K=0. Spooky poor conditions for Halloween.

477kHz OPERA RX

For a complete change, I am on 477kHz OPERA RX. This is a mode I have not tried this autumn on MF or on any band for that matter. In deep search I believe it is even better than WSPR, but I am unsure how many people are on 477kHz OPERA TX. No doubt, I'll soon find out!

UPDATE 2135z: So far G6AVK and SO5AS (1392km) spotted on OPERA RX on MF.

New video

It is a while since I posted a video on my YouTube channel G3XBM.  I have just made one showing the shack and antennas as of now in October 2018.

As my voice is not brilliant, there is no voice commentary, but there is music.

It was made with iMovie using my XYLs iPad. There is an Android version, I think, but I have not used this. It is a bit sad that my 7 year old granddaughter can use iMovie to make films better than me!

See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBIHNPAkaac

2m FT8 again

It's a safe bet. My 2.5W FT8 CQ was copied by 4 stations in 3 countries including N. Ireland and the Lizard in Cornwall by G7RAU (461km). On RX, 4 stations spotted in 3 countries.

UPDATE 1642z: Now 16 stations spotted in 5 countries so far today on 2m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1854z: Now 24 stations spotted in 6 countries.

Brandon Country Park - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday, I posted some fungi on a fallen tree. This is a picture on the same walk. Nice place for a stroll.

Sunspots - Tuesday October 30th 2018

Solar flux is 68 today and the sunspot number is zero still. A=3 and K=2