10m FT8 - ever hopeful

Although I have been looking for about an hour, no spots yet on 10m FT8. At the moment, I am RX only. The band springs to life less often at sunspot minimum, but FT8 is proving it comes to life far more often than was previously thought.

UPDATE 1012z: 6 spots in 4 countries so far on 10m FT8 RX this morning. Best DX is RM6J (3412km). I suspect this is F2 propagation.

UPDATE 1146z: Still more DX on this "dead" band! ZS6WB (9094km) now spotted on 10m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1530z: No further "real DX".

Overnight in 160m FT8

Just one transatlantic station spotted, but A45XR (5794km) in Oman spotted on 160m FT8 at 2252z last evening.  Loads and loads of Europeans.

Sunspots - Monday November 12th 2018

Solar flux is 69 today and the SSN still 0. A=7 and K=3.

QSY to topband FT8

As the "real DX" seems to have stopped on 10m FT8, I have QSYed to 160m FT8. A brief 2.5W CQ using the earth-electrode "antenna" was spotted by a couple of stations including ON4GPE (355km). At the moment, I am RX only on 160m. Best DX on 160m FT8 RX is RC9F (3504km) in Perm.

UPDATE 1813z:  Absolutely amazing number of stations being spotted on 160m FT8 this evening.

160m FT8 RX so far this evening

UPDATE 2120z: A recent 2.5W CQ on 160m FT8 using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground was spotted by SA6BSS/RX (1057km) in Sweden. The first transatlantic station spotted was WU1ITU (4831km) at 2108z.

Stations spotted on 160m FT8 RX by 2130z

Our weekend - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday we did a walk at the nearby village of Reach and were amused to see there are still a couple of emus in a garden! You can imagine these poking their heads in the kitchen and saying, "hey what about some tea?". These have been here for several years now, along with the chickens. Emus are very much not native birds.

Today, my brother-in-law and his wife popped in on their way home from seeing their son and family in Suffolk.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emu

Stupid man! - NOT amateur radio

In my view, war is a wicked waste of human lives. 100 years since the end of WW1, people still fight wars and innocents are lost.

This is a view of the sky over our local church at 11am.

10m FT8

During today, I am again on 10m FT8, mainly RX, although I'll probably try a few CQs. A few eastern and southern Europeans spotted so far.

UPDATE 1218z: Amazing number of Europeans and Russians spotted on 10m FT8 RX today. This proves 10m is open far more often than people once thought.

UPDATE 1405z: PU1VBR (9314km) in Brazil spotted on 10m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1556z: Two South Americans spotted earlier on 10m FT8 RX. I suspect that is it for the day now with "real DX".

Overnight on 160m FT8 RX

Just a couple of North Americans spotted last night on topband FT8 RX. Lots of EU and Asiatic Russians spotted. Again, using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. I am surprised how effective this is on 160m.

Sunspots - Sunday November 11th 2018

Solar flux is 68 today and the sunspot number still zero. A=13 and K=2.

WW1 - NOT amateur radio

All the people who fought in WW1 are now dead and gone. Looking back, this must have been the stupidest waste of human life ever in history.

Surely by now you would have thought that fighting wars would be seem a futile waste. Yet still innocent lives and families are wasted over and over again. To name just 2 think of Syria and Yemen.

In my view, war is an outdated concept. It is high time jaw, jaw replaced war, war.

Cracks - NOT amateur radio

About 300m from our bungalow is a cottage with a clunch (a kind of chalk) out-house that may have been a dovecote. In the summer heat, the walls have cracked and they are trying to repair it.

160m FT8 again

As topband was so incredible in the last day, I am QSYing from 10m now.

Within a few minutes the best DX on 160m FT8 is RN9N (4605km). Again, the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground is being used. I am amazed by how busy 160m FT8 is with lots of Europeans and Asiatic Russians.

UPDATE 1812z:  A very similar log to last evening. Frankly quite amazing.

UPDATE 2110z: WU1ITU (4831km) copied on 160m FT8 RX - this is the first transatlantic this evening.

Sunspot cycle 25 start?

Some forecasts are suggesting that cycle 25 will start this year.

This image is at http://www.solen.info/solar/images/cycles23_24.png.

See https://arxiv.org/abs/1808.04868

10m FT8

10m FT8 has plenty of stations on RX today. This includes VO1NE (3925km) in Newfoundland. Sunspot minimum?

UPDATE 1534z: South Africa, South America, North America, Europe all spotted on 10m FT8 RX today. The power of FT8. It certainly proves 10m is open far more often than you think. If this sunspot minimum with a poor 10m antenna what will sunspot maximum with a decent antenna bring?

Apples - NOT amateur radio

Our next-door neighbour has a big garden with apples and pears. Generously, he puts a box outside his house so neighbours can help themselves.

Total 160m surprise

Someone yesterday suggested I tried 160m FT8 with the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. It is hard to even see this antenna! The map shows stations spotted in the last day on 160m FT8 RX. As I mentioned yesterday, with this antenna I have an S0 noise floor.

Sunspots - Saturday November 10th 2018

Solar flux is 67 today and the SSN zero. A=10 and K=2.

160m FT8 RX with the earth-electrode "antenna"

Someone suggested I try 160m FT8. Tonight I did (it is still on) and it is amazing. It is far better than I expected with lots and lots of stations spotted. Noise floor is very low and already 4 continents spotted. A very brief CQ (2.5W) was spotted by 7 stations with best DX OZ2TF (726km). It is a good match to the FT81ND without an ATU.

Buy online? - NOT amateur radio

A few weeks ago, my wife tried to buy some nail scissors locally to be told "no stock" and unlikely to be getting more in. Today, I went to a local shop specialising in photo frames and the like to buy a cardboard surround for a photo - nil stock "but we can order one". In both cases we ordered on-line instead. The scissors came in a few days and I expect the photo surround will come soon. Also, I expect both are far less expensive than buying locally!

We tried and failed to buy local. Is it any wonder high street shops are failing?

Solar cycle 25

It is a while since I saw the very latest news of the forecasts for the next peak and when the climb to it is likely to begin. We are very clearly at solar minimum.

Some forecasts were suggesting the end of the minimum as late as February 2019. It may already have passed or it could last all next year.

If you are aware of very recent forecasts, please share them with us.

Sunspots - Friday November 9th 2018

Solar flux is 69 and the sunspot number still zero. A=10 and K=1.

10m FT8

Maybe I am a sucker for punishment!  Back on 10m FT8 today, but no spots yet on TX or RX. At the moment I am just RX.

UPDATE 1406z: Lots of Europeans (24) spotted and 2 South Africans on 10m FT8 RX today.

A night off, 160m FT8 RX tonight?

Overnight I am usually on 472kHz WSPR. Last night (as I was out in the evening) I was QRT on all bands.

Someone suggested 160m FT8 with the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. I might try this tonight. I suspect 160m is probably as high as I can go with this "antenna" as the effective loop size will shrink as I move ever HF. I'll stick to RX.

It is some time since I tried 160m and I cannot recall trying 160m from this QTH. Many years ago at the old QTH I built an indoor antenna for 160m which worked well.

More OFCOM news

Now, don't get too excited, but OFCOM has released "more airwaves" (sic) to industry in the 57-71GHz band without the need for a licence.

Gosh! Now go dry yourself and take a cold shower. Too much excitement is not good for your heart.

See https://www.ofcom.org.uk/consultations-and-statements/category-3/implementing-decisions-57-71-ghz-band

Very quiet on 10m

Although I am on 10m FT8 RX, just one UK spot so far. Very quiet here.

UPDATE 1510z: Guess who spoke too soon? DL4RCE (902km) spotted.

Ice Rink - NOT amateur radio

Every year around this time there is a fair and ice rink on Parker's Piece in Cambridge. Here they are setting up. As you can see, the weather for November here is good. In the car coming home it was 15 deg C.

472kHz WSPR overnight

Probably the best night so far this autumn. Yet again, I was spotted in Norway as well as in Scotland and several places in England.

472kHz WSPR RX last night

472kHz WSPR TX last night

Sunspots - Thursday November 8th 2018

Solar flux is 69 and the SSN still zero. A=10 and K=2. Still very much at solar minimum.

472kHz QSO

As usual, I have QSYed to 472kHz WSPR.

Earlier this evening I saw G4GIR calling CQ on the band using JT9, so I gave him a call. He responded so we had a 2-way QSO on 472kHz using JT9. Unless I am mistaken, this is the first JT9 472kHz QSO I have had in at least 6 years.

Since then, I have largely been on MF WSPR (10mW ERP to the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground).

Main G3XBM website

It is some time since I reminded readers of my main website. This is not updated as often as this blog, but you may find something that "tickles your fancy" as they say. There are plenty of projects to whet your appetite. Some projects were built and a few might inspire you to do something similar. You may just want to browse!

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

Artist - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday, we did a walk (again) at nearby Anglesey Abbey. Leaves are really starting to fall now. This painter was making the most of the weather and light.

Return to 10m FT8

After a quiet night (QRT on all bands), I returned to 10m FT8 RX just now. As yet, no spots.

UPDATE 1005z: Just PA2I (394km) spotted - aircraft? Will today be quieter than yesterday on 10m FT8?

UPDATE 1915z: So far today, 15 stations in 6 countries, all European. Nothing outside Europe here.

Clipped wings - NOT amateur radio

So the Republicans have lost control of the USA House of Representatives in the mid-term elections, meaning President Trump will have more trouble getting controversial stuff passed. Republicans still control the Senate. Personally, I think this is no bad thing that President Trump has a few more issues.

Electrical fault - NOT amateur radio

Last night all the electrics went off. It was only in our house, so my heart sank. Using the switch box (isolators) I managed to isolate the fault to one set of sockets and turned this circuit off, so all other circuits still worked.

The electrician who installed the whole electrics came out early and found the fault in one socket, which he fixed. After 5 years it had got damp (no obvious leaks). This should be covered by the 10 year warranty we took out, otherwise we have to pay up for the callout and repair.

Sunspots - Wednesday November 7th 2018

Solar flux is 68 and the SSN zero. A=10 and K=3.

USA mid-terms - NOT amateur radio

"It is no exaggeration to say that the direction America takes will hinge on these results."

Today, the people of the USA vote in their mid-term elections for some of the Senate seats and all of those in the House of Representatives. It is a brave man who predicts the outcome. 

As an outsider, I see parallels in Trump with a certain European leader of the 1930s. Unbridled power can be dangerous and this is a chance to clip wings somewhat. The leader of the USA may have the best interests of the American people at heart, but unbridled power? Is that what the USA really wants? If it is, we face a much more uncertain future. 

With swings to the right in several countries, we live in dangerous times.  What continues to amaze me is how so many in the USA believe their best interests are served by a very, very rich businessman. 

"Make America great again" … yes please! 

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-46099744 .

OFCOM monthly update

As usual, OFCOM has published its monthly update. I suppose this keeps them busy and is better than having to understand anything that really matters.

Seasons - NOT amateur radio

There is something good about every season. In the summer it is the long warm evenings and the summer migrant birds. At the moment, it is the autumn colours and pumpkins. Those in the photo were at Brandon Country Park in Suffolk.

472kHz WSPR last night

The best night this season on MF with 11 stations spotting my 10mW ERP and yet again being copied in Norway. LA3EQ must have a quiet noise floor!

472kHz WSPR RX last night

472kHz WSPR TX last night

Sunspots - Tuesday November 6th 2018

Solar flux is 68 and the sunspot number zero. A=35 and K=4.