160m FT8 RX

As on previous recent evenings, 160m FT8 RX is buzzing with European stations. Lots have been spotted already. Based on this, I am sure there will be quite a few North Americans spotted later.

Stations spotted on 160m 

FT8 RX so far this evening

UPDATE 2155z: WU1ITU (4831km) first spotted at 2055z.

Stations spotted on 160m 

FT8 RX to 2230z this evening

Our house - NOT amateur radio

This panoramic photo shows our house in front of "our" windmill. As you can see, the windmill is right next to our house - a great view at breakfast!

That wall - NOT amateur radio

OK, no-one in the USA (I think) wants illegal migrants crossing from Mexico. But a wall? In this case, I think the American president is playing politics.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-46755084

10m FT8 RX again

Although monitoring since before breakfast, no spots as yet on 10m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1213z: Now 11 spots with best DX OK8DCC (1060km).

UPDATE 1722z: 16 stations in 9 countries when I QSYed to 160m.

Sunspots - Thursday January 4th 2019

Solar flux is 72 today and the SSN 16. A=2 and K=1.

Average night on 160m FT8 RX

Last night was average on 160m FT8 RX with 12 North Americans and 1 Caribbean stations spotted.

Stations spotted on 160m FT8 overnight 

with the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground

More OFCOM crappery

OFCOM has many times appeared to me to be a toothless quango. Southgate News reports on a Freedom of Information enquiry into the number of prosecutions for unlicenced radio microphones. It turns out that they have procecuted no-one at all!

Quango? Toothless? Enforcement?

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2019/january/ofcom-quizzed-about-enforcement.htm#.XC4xcfZ2u00

QSY to topband

As 10m was so dire, I have already QSYed to 160m FT8 RX using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. Although there was an immediate spot of a German calling CQ, activity usually ramps up after dark.

UPDATE 1751z: As on previous evenings, lots of Europeans again spotted on 160m FT8 RX.

Stations so far spotted this evening on 160m FT8 RX

10m FT8 RX

Although I have been on 10m FT8 RX most of the morning, so far not a single station copied! Sunspot minimum. Conditions on 10m seem dire here!

UPDATE 1512z: Just a single G spot on 10m FT8 all day. G0LFF (148km). The pits!

Longer days - NOT amateur radio

Although the winter solstice is before Christmas, it is early January before the mornings start to get lighter here. Evenings are already about 5 minutes later.

Although at first the changes are slow, by the end of the month things start to speed up. At least we have "turned the corner".

Christmas and New Year over - NOT amateur radio

By tradition, decorations are taken down on January 6th, but we have just put things away until next year. The Christmas tree is on the patio. It looks very green and may see us OK next Christmas. At the moment it looks bare everywhere, but we just want to get on with 2019 now. For the last couple of years we have recorded all the cards received. One last check on these before the cards get recycled.

Overnight on 160m FT8 RX

Quite a decent night with 14 North Americans and 1 South American spotted. Best DX spotted was KC9FFV (7612km) in Texas. I hate these newer FCC rules which mean you cannot tell which area a station is located in.

Stations spotted overnight on 160m FT8

Sunspots - Thursday January 3rd 2019

Unless I am mistaken, we are seeing solar flux values at their highest for some time. This could be the start of the climb to solar cycle 25's peak or just a blip. Solar flux is 74 and the sunspot number 16. A=2 and K=1.

MS shower

According to Southgate News the Quadrantid meteor shower peaks on January 4th 2019. I have no idea how this acts as an MS propagation mechanism by which I mean I have no idea how much MS conditions are improved during this shower. Of course I understand the way MS signals propagate.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2019/january/quadrantid-meteor-shower.htm#.XC0TX_Z2u00

Quite a collection

A few hours ago there was a Facebook posting about W9EVT's huge collection of radios.  Personally, I was not impressed, but fully accept that some are.

See https://www.qrz.com/db/w9evt .

Knackered! - NOT amateur radio

We have had a busy period over Christmas and New Year with people around for about 2 weeks. Today, the last of the grandchildren went home. We are exhausted!

Although we love seeing our children and grandchildren, we are also pleased when the house is again tidy and quiet. We are both over 70 years old now and it is now over 5 years since my brain bleed. Perhaps we tire more easily nowadays? My mother-in-law had a saying, "nice to see you come, nice to see you go". I know what she meant!

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

160m FT8 RX

For about 15 minutes, I have been on 160m FT8 RX. As yet, no spots, but I expect this will change once it gets dark.

Before that I was on 630m WSPR RX and a bit surprised to see a DL this afternoon.

As usual, using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.

UPDATE 1510z: EU2Q (1793km) in Belarus spotted on 160m FT8 RX. They have started!

UPDATE 1626z: Now 37 stations from all over Europe being spotted on 160m FT8 RX since it got dark.

UPDATE 2010z: As on previous evenings 160m FT8 RX is full of EU stations. I expect transatlantic stations to start coming through after 2100z.

Stations spotted so far this evening on 160m FT8 RX 

with the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.

UPDATE 2217z: Already 3 North American stations spotted on 160m FT8 RX this evening. Yet again, WU1ITU (4831km) was the first logged.

Sunspots - Wednesday January 2nd 2019

Solar flux is 73 (highest for a while) and the SSN 13. A=6 and K=1.

Past the minimum?

2m activity contest

The 2m leg of the UKAC activity contest was this evening. I nearly missed it, only seeing the email reminder at 2045z. In all, 4 stations worked - not many, but better than forgetting! Best DX was (again) G4CLA (105km). As usual I run 5W SSB to my big-wheel omni.

Stations worked with 5W and omni 

antenna on 2m SSB this evening

472kHz WSPR RX

For about an hour now I have been on 472kHz WSPR RX. So far, 3 stations received with best DX DL7NN (873km).

UPDATE 2045z: 9 unique stations spotted so far this evening on 472kHz WSPR RX.

Cycle 25 - starting?

The latest solar news has been published. Are we seeing the end of the solar minimum or is this a blip?

See https://www.solen.info/solar/

"As of December 2018 the strength of the polar fields hints at a cycle 25 with a magnitude similar to or slightly stronger than that of cycle 24." 
A quote from this site.

Fungi - NOT amateur radio

We saw this fungi on an old tree stump on a walk this afternoon.

Disappointment on 10m FT8 today

Although I have been on 10m FT8 since mid-morning only 2E0XXO (121kmn) spotted so far.

Sunspots - Tuesday January 1st 2019

Solar flux is 69 and the SSN 0. A=10 and K=2.

If you are like me, all the days are fuzzy at this time of year. Today is Tuesday isn't it?

Happy New Year! - NOT amateur radio

So, today is January 1st 2019 - a new year. One thing is certain: the next 12 months will not be quite as we expect. There will be good times and sad times.  I hope, on the whole, 2019 is a good year for you.

Looking back on 2018 we had some sad times, but also some good times.

Take each day as a gift and enjoy the good times. Oh, and keep reading this blog!

Snowflake - NOT amateur radio

This was in Rose Crescent, Cambridge today. It makes a good seasonal decoration. Sadly, Kings College was closed.

All day on 160m FT8

Today, I have remained on 160m FT8 all day and I'll remain on 160m until the morning after breakfast. As on previous evenings, there are lots of Europeans being spotted. Usually WU1ITU is the first North American to be spotted. This station is usually first copied between 2030z and 2130z.

UPDATE 2246z: this station came through at 2047z tonight  :-)

Best Prices?

When looking around for good prices on amateur radio gear I looked at XBS Telecom. Their prices include VAT and a 2 year warranty and are much lower than the UK dealers prices. As far as I can tell the price in Euros is lower than the UK price in pounds. Someone, in the UK is a tad greedy?

See https://www.xbstelecom.eu/shop/en/

160m FT8 RX overnight

In all, 7 North Americans and 1 South American spotted, with best DX PU0FDN (6957km) on Fernando de Noronha off Brazil. This station was spotted in North America, Europe and South Africa, so is probably genuine.

UPDATE 1009z: Most of the DX has now gone, although OK6DJ (973km) was spotted in the last 15 minutes.

New QRPclub magazine

The latest QRPclub magazine is available for download.

See http://club72.su/vestnik/qv17.pdf

Sunspots - Monday December 31st 2018

Solar flux is 69 and the SSN 0. A=10 and K=3.

Grandchildren - NOT amateur radio

At the moment we have our "London" grandchildren staying. They miss their kitten. We bought them some toy cuddly kittens which were a hit at bedtime.

Return to topband

At 1553z I returned to 160m FT8. I called a German station, without luck, but spotted by G0LUJ (279km) and another G.

Since then, I have been on RX only. Lots of Europeans spotted. Best DX so far this evening is UA4HBW (3325km).

More amateur satellites

According to Southgate News a recent Soyuz (Russian) launch has placed more amateur satellites into orbit.

See http://russianspaceweb.com/kanopus-v5-v6.html

Baking - NOT amateur radio

Our granddaughter loves baking. Here she is busy making Yorkshire Pudding earlier today. She is pretty good.

472kHz WSPR overnight

In all, 19 different stations spotted on 472kHz WSPR overnight with best DX EA4GHB (1300km).

Panto - NOT amateur radio

Last night we went with our "London" grandchildren to the panto in Ely with their mum and dad. It  was "Jack and the Beanstalk".

Sunspots - Sunday December 30th 2018

Solar flux is 69 and the sunspot number 0. A=11 and K=2.

10m FT8

Quite decent winter Es on 10m today, with lots of EU spots on 10m FT8. Nothing outside Europe spotted so far. My own brief call (2.5W) to an EA4 was not spotted by anyone.

UPDATE  1441z: Now 33 stations in 14 countries on 10m FT8 RX today. All European.

QSY to 472kHz WSPR RX

Although not quite dark, I have QSYed to MF for the evening and overnight. Results usually pick up after dark, although there is at least one station coming through with QSB. As I was just turning on, I was not able to ID it, yet.