10m FT8 RX (Tuesday)

 My gear was turned on about 10 minutes ago and already 63 stations have been spotted with the furthermost VK6AS (14459km).

UPDATE 1415z:  603 stations so far spotted on 10m FT8 RX today.

UPDATE 1540z: 757 stations spotted today on 10m FT8 RX. 10m is back!!

Sunspots - Tuesday November 2nd 2021

Solar flux is 98 and the SSN 53.  A=10 and K=4.

160m FT8 RX with the active Wellgood loop

This evening and overnight I am monitoring 160m FT8 RX using the Wellgood loop. It was turned on at about 1930z. Early indications suggest it is every bit as good as the coax up to my 2m big-wheel, possibly better. I wonder if it will copy stateside stations later?

The Wellgood loop was a swap for my X80 antenna, that I had not used for many years and was lingering in the garage. I think we both got a good deal. Jason is pleased with the X80 and I am pleased with the Wellgood loop.

After about 25 minutes I have spotted 35 stations with the furthermost RW4PU (3416km).

My loop is just attached to the shack window with Blutak.

Passwords - NOT amateur radio

 

This made me laugh. 

10m WSPR TX (500mW)

Since about 1410z, I have been on WSPR TX with my little W5OLF 10m WSPR beacon. As mentioned before, this is about the size of a pack of cards and is totally self contained. No PC is needed. Time is synchronised with a button push, then it TXs 100%, but randomly changes frequency within the WSPR window every 2 minutes.

UPDATE 1455z:   8 unique reports with the furthermost by EA8BFK (2880km) in the Canary Islands.

UPDATE 1840z:   14 unique stations have spotted my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon today.

Updated solar data

It is pretty clear from 10m that we have "turned a corner" and 10m is once again a great F2 DX band. At times it behaves like a VHF band, whereas, when the solar flux and sunspots are better, it transforms into arguably our very best HF DX band.

Usually early in the month my favourite site for solar data is updated. At the time of writing this had not yet happened, but it might have when you read this. 

As I recall things, predictions were that Cycle 25 would be similar to Cycle 24 with a peak expected 2024 or 2025.

Family 2012 - NOT amateur radio

This was 2012. This grandson is 14 years old next week!! 

160m FT8 RX overnight

349 stations were spotted on 160m FT8 RX in the last day. Although better stations were working the USA, nothing was spotted from North America or South America overnight. I think the Iraqi spot was a DL with an incorrect QTH locator.

10m FT8 RX (Monday)

My gear was turned on at 0855z. At 1010z 139 stations spotted on RX.

UPDATE 1411z:  507 stations from all over the planet spotted.

Sunspots - Monday November 1st 2021

Solar flux is 103 and the SSN 83.  A=20 and K=3.