Sunspots - Wednesday April 10th 2019

Solar flux is 78 and the SSN 12. A=10 and K=4.

160m FT8 RX

Using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground, 91 stations spotted so far this evening with the best DX spot being RV0AR (5577km) in Asiatic Russia.

70cm activity contest

This evening was the monthly UKAC 70cm activity contest. Using 5W and the 2m big-wheel omni and being on for about 50 minutes, I made 5 QSOs. Best DX was G8DVK (135km).

70cm QSOs this evening in the UKAC

OFCOM - Welsh board member

With a name like David Jones he could hardly be a board member for Scotland!

See https://www.ofcom.org.uk/about-ofcom/latest/media/media-releases/2019/david-jones-appointed-first-ofcom-board-member-for-wales?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=David%20Jones%20appointed%20as%20first%20Ofcom%20Board%20member%20for%20Wales&utm_content=David%20Jones%20appointed%20as%20first%20Ofcom%20Board%20member%20for%20Wales+CID_6f6620a0d34f2dc5447a98220b4c1e5b&utm_source=updates&utm_term=news%20release

Turing Plaque - NOT amateur radio

Alan Turing is perhaps the most well known code breaker of WW2. There were others, arguably even more important, that we hear little about such as Bill Tutte. This plaque to Alan Turing is on a wall in Cambridge, not too far from Kings.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W._T._Tutte

Move to the right? - NOT amateur radio

In recent years we have seen a move to more right-wing political parties. This has occurred in several European countries, in the USA and Israel to name just a few.

Generally people are frustrated with their politicians and are voting for parties that might, just might, do something about this. Now, my political position is centralist. I am a floating voter and am all for moderate leaders and policies. I am definitely not right wing.

Personally, I see the move to the right as an existential threat to the EU. It may not happen overnight, but I can see countries in the EU electing right wing governments and a "let's make our country great again" attitude. We can never go back to the 1950s. We live in a connected world, more interconnected than ever.

In my view, nations need to be more aware of this drift.

Overnight on 472kHz WSPR

Even though the season is ending, I went on 472kHz WSPR (10mW ERP) again overnight. 6 stations spotted me and I spotted 4 stations.

Overnight on 472kHz WSPR

10m FT8

Rather later than usual, I have turned on 10m FT8. At first I called CQ (2.5W) getting no spots, but now I am RX only. So far just G4CJC (74km) spotted. There are several G stations I regularly spot on 10m FT8. I suspect these are normal "no lift" tropo.

UPDATE 1130z: IT9FSH (2051km) spotted. Es?

UPDATE 1515z: As well as 29 EU stations ZP4KFX (10278km) is also being spotted here on 10m FT8 RX.

Sunspots - Tuesday April 9th 2019

There are indications/hints that we are now past the worse of the solar minimum and starting the long climb.

Solar flux is 78 (higher than for some time) and the SSN 12.  A=13 and K=2.

472kHz WSPR

A few minutes ago, I returned to 472kHz WSPR (10mW ERP 20% TX) using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. It usually takes about 20 minutes for TX to settle and drift drops to essentially 0Hz. The lightening risk seems low now. At the moment I am spotting 3 stations and 2 are spotting me. Best DX on RX is LA8AV (1035km).