Overnight on 160m FT8 RX with the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground

Quite a decent night, with 10 North Americans and 1 Caribbean station spotted. Best DX spotted overnight was KI5BLU (7636km) in Texas.

Stations spotted here on 160m FT8 overnight.

10m FT8 RX

For about 20 minutes, I have been on 10m FT8 RX, but no spots yet.

UPDATE 1611z: Just 3 10m FT8 spots today with best DX HB9GXK (802km). Not a great 10m day here.

Sunspots - Friday January 18th 2019

Solar flux is 68 and the SSN 0.  A=7 and K=2.

160m FT8 RX

Things are encouraging this evening with 3 North Americans spotted already along with loads of Europeans. I shall be staying on 160m FT8 RX overnight.

Amaryllis - NOT amateur radio

This year all our amaryllis flowers are white. Two were bought by our sons.

They all give us great pleasure.

Overnight on 472kHz WSPR RX

Again, not a bad night with 16 different stations spotted in the 12 hours of the evening and overnight period.

Stations spotted here overnight on 472kHz WSPR 

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

10m FT8 - dire!

For the last couple of hours I have been on 10m FT8. Initially I called CQ (2.5W) and since then I have been RX only. No spots.

UPDATE 1304z:  Just one spot so far. G4CJC (74km) spotted.

UPDATE 1542z: No further spots today.

Sunspots - Thursday January 17th 2019

Solar flux is 69 and the sunspot number 0.  A=6 and K=2.

Return to 472kHz WSPR RX

About an hour ago, I returned to 472kHz WSPR RX. So far this evening, again using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground, 7 stations spotted with best DX being LA2XPA (1310km).

Stations spotted so far this evening.

Scary? - NOT amateur radio

I don't think this has been on before. If it has, sorry. At night, our local church is illuminated. Some think it looks scary, although I quite like it.

Microwave tropo

As amateurs, we are usually pleased when tropo ducting affects microwave frequencies.  As Southgate News reports, to commercial users it can be bad news, as happened recently in Australia.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2019/january/tropospheric-ducting-event-hits-nbn--fixed-wireless-services.htm#.XD8_GfZ2u00

BREXIT, what next? - NOT amateur radio

As Laurel and Hardy would have said, "we are in a fine mess".

The UK Prime minister's  BREXIT plan was comprehensively rejected in a House of Commons vote last night. The only sensible, and likely, outcome is for her to sound out what most people really want. This should have happened 2 years ago.  But will she do this?

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-46393399

136kHz

Although I tried 136kHz OPERA RX last winter, I have never, yet, transmitted on this band from this QTH. Somewhere, goodness knows where, I have a small beacon I built for the band years ago. I really should try to find it and put it on my earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. If I can find the beacon, getting active on 136kHz should be easy.

10m FT8

About 15 minutes ago I QSYed to 10m FT8. As yet, no spots.

UPDATE 1543z: No 10m FT8 spots here so far today. Unless things change, today may be the worst day yet at this QTH on 10m. Soon be time to QSY probably to 630m (472kHz) WSPR.

UPDATE 1710z: No spots at all on 10m FT8 RX. Going QRT on 10m very shortly.

Little Egrets - NOT amateur radio

Before 1989 these would have been rare in the UK, but now they are everywhere. I am pretty sure this is due to climate change and their range extending.

Soon cattle egrets and great white egrets will be common in the UK too. Already cranes are back in decent numbers. In the next 50 years we can expect more bird ranges to move northwards.

472kHz WSPR RX overnight

Quite a decent night with 17 different stations spotted with best DX EA7HPM (1726km). All were received on the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.

Stations spotted here in last 24 hours on 472kHz WSPR

Sunspots - Wednesday January 16th 2019

Solar flux is 69 and the SSN 0.  A=5 and K=1.

BREXIT - NOT amateur radio

My dad did not mince words. If he was still alive he would say, "they couldn't organise a piss up in a brewery". How right he would be!

UPDATE 1930z: Clearly we are in historic times. The UK government is likely to be defeated in the motion on Theresa May's EU leaving agreement. What comes next is anyone's guess. I voted "remain" in the EU referendum 2 years ago, even though there is a lot wrong with the EU. All we really want is free trade with whichever countries we like and control over who lives and works here. Why is this so hard? As I see it, the EU gets not a penny until this is agreed, and I speak as someone who voted "remain"!

UPDATE 2019z: A huge defeat for Theresa May's "deal" with the EU. Now what?

QSYed to 472kHz WSPR RX

After the daylight hours on 10m FT8 RX with just UK spots, I have now returned to 472kHz (630m) WSPR RX. 2 spots already with G1GKN (99km) the best DX so far. After dark the best DX will go up considerably. No DX outside of Europe here this season on the earth-electrode "antenna"  in the ground.

UPDATE 1550z: Best DX now PA3ABK (306km).

UPDATE 1920z: Now 6 different stations spotted with best DX DC0DX (467km).

UPDATE 2016z: LA8AV (1035km) is the best DX spotted this evening. In all, 9 different stations spotted.

UPDATE 2132z: On 472kHz WSPR, 12 different stations spotted this evening, but only 3 were from England sadly. Perhaps they are on other modes? More likely, there is a lack of interest in this country. This is sad as my own transverter is easy to build and an earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground is small and simple and capable of good results. No need of huge antennas and extensive ground systems!

Moulton, near Newmarket - NOT amateur radio

After a walk around the village we ate at the Packhorse Inn. The last time we ate here was March 2017 and it seems to have gone downhill. At one time it was the best in the area, but I would now say it was only average.

The village is delightful (see photo). In the field in the middle of the village was a little egret. If this was 1980 we would have been amazed.

472kHz (630m) WSPR RX

Until reminded by Facebook yesterday, I had forgotten that N1BUG was spotted here on this band last year on the earth-electrode "antenna". I may give 472kHz WSPR RX a go this evening and overnight.

Overnight on 160m FT8 with the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground

Overnight, I was on 160m FT8 RX. Quite a reasonable night with best DX HK3PJ (8482km) in South America. In all, 7 North Americans, 1 Caribbean and 1 South American spotted.

Stations spotted here on 160m FT8 RX last night

Sunspots - Tuesday January 15th 2019

Solar flux is 69 today and the sunspot number 0. A=6 and K=2.

On 10m FT8 RX

About 10 minutes ago I QSYed from 160m to 10m FT8 RX. As yet, no spots.

UPDATE 1015z: One station spotted so far: G4HZW (212km).

UPDATE 1430z: Just UK stations spotted so far today on 10m with best DX MM0ULL (714km). This may have been aircraft reflection?

Gave 10m FT8 a miss today

For a change, I decided NOT to venture on to 10m today. No doubt I will have missed the best day for months! My normal pattern is 10m FT8 in the day and 630m or 160m in the evening and overnight. Usually 10m yields a few spots and a few countries. As the sunspot cycle gathers pace we can expect some juicy DX. Even now, better equipped stations are spotting some great stuff. Clearly at sunspot minimum it is now much harder, but 10m is a band of surprises. Expect the unexpected on 10m!

Amaryllis - NOT amateur radio

Every winter we enjoy seeing amaryllis plants growing. You pop the bulb in some soil and compost and watch it grow at a phenomenal rate. Each morning it seems to have grown even bigger! Once it starts you can practically see it grow. The flowers are very large.

Usually they are over in about 6 weeks. Sometimes they flower again later in the year. This year, most of ours are white, a colour we have not had before.

Return to 160m FT8

A few moments ago I returned to 160m FT8. My 2.5W CQ was spotted by M0BEW (194km). As before, I am using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. No doubt the EU DX will appear after dark.

UPDATE 1530z:  Best DX so far is RW3LL (2049km).

UPDATE 2212z: WU1ITU (4831km) is currently the best DX. This station was first copied at 2124z.

Club 72

Just got this from Oleg:

"Dear Club 72 members and friends,
today Club 72 is 9'th Birthday! Club was born in January 14, 2010.
Thanks ALL for gathering and friendship! The best wishes for ALL you!"

Overnight on 160m FT8 RX

Quite a good night with lots of North Americans spotted with best DX KY7M (8369km) in New Mexico. Again, this was using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.

Stations spotted on 160m FT8 overnight.

Sunspots - Monday January 14th 2019

Solar flux is 69 today and the SSN is 0. A=3 and K=2.

QSY to 472kHz WSPR RX

As 10m has closed for the day (well here at least), I have QSYed at 1655z to 472kHz (630m) WSPR for the evening. I may well switch to 160m FT8 RX later, if I remember! G1GKN (99km) immediately spotted.

UPDATE 1733z: Best DX spotted so far is PA0MLC (394km).

UPDATE 1849z: Now 4 different stations spotted with best DX F1AFJ (607km).

UPDATE 1912z: LA8AV (1035km) spotted as the best DX this evening.

UPDATE 2128z: Best DX spotted this evening on 472kHz WSPR RX is LA2XPA (1310km).

Maybe THIS year?

Looking back over 2018 I see I failed in at least one project aim!  I actually bought the e-field probe, but it has still to be erected. Maybe next season?

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

Twat - NOT amateur radio

This car was probably stolen and the driver high on drugs?

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-46851036 .

Clunch building - NOT amateur radio

Not far from us is a small cottage with a clunch outhouse. This outhouse cracked very badly last summer. They pulled it down and are now rebuilding it with the original clunch stones. By the way clunch is a kind of chalk. I think the window is new.

Orchids - NOT amateur radio

My wife has a gift with orchids. We have had most many years and one now for 7 years. The secret is not to over-water. Most seem to thrive on a thimbleful a week.

When is Es'hail2 satellite operational?

At least one local ATV enthusiast is gearing up for Es'hail2, the geosynchronous Qatari satellite that has linear amateur radio transponders for ATV and modes like SSB/CW. Already the beacon is being received well. What I am not sure about is when it will be ready for use. I should check their website. I am pretty sure there will be an internet feed so one can see what is coming through. I think there are SDR receivers being set up at Goonhilly Down in Cornwall, UK.

The prospects of QSOs any time between Brazil, India, Europe and even Thailand are amazing. Even more so are the prospects of ATV exchanges at these distances on microwave frequencies with fixed antennas.

10m FT8 RX

Since about 0915z I have been on 10m FT8 RX here. No spots yet.

UPDATE 1236z: OE6VHF (1217km) spotted.

160m FT8 RX overnight

Again using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground, plenty of Europeans spotted plus 7 North Americans and 1 Caribbean.

160m FT8 spots here overnight.

Sunspots - Sunday January 13th 2019

Solar flux is 69 and the sunspot number 0. A=3 and K=0.

Football - NOT amateur radio

It is years since I attended a game. However I watch the position of my old local team in the league tables.

So far this year Plymouth Argyle has had a bad season in League Division One. At present the team is in the relegation zone and could be relegated at the end of the soccer season unless it improves.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/teams/plymouth-argyle  .

Guess what? They actually won away from home!