27 Oct 2026

10m FT8 RX (Tuesday)

My gear was turned on at breakfast. Today, I decided to go RX only.

UPDATE 1158z: 204 stations spotted.

160m FT8 RX overnight

 Last night was the best yet with 430 stations spotted mostly in Europe. No  USA or Canadian stations.

Sunspots - Tuesday October 27th

Solar flux is 91 and the SSN 25. A=4 and K=1.

26 Oct 2026

160m FT8 RX (Monday)

 As I often do, I am monitoring 160m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 2004z:  So far, 247 stations have been spotted. I suspect a pirate YE1BON (11833km) who seems to be very strong.

English Lake District

Last week, one of my grandsons was here doing walks here as part of his Duke of Edinburgh gold award. This is a popular award in the UK, with several elements such as social care, physical endurance etc.. It is a good grounding and helps with CVs!

Over the weekend they had over 100mm of rain here, which he just missed! This is Borrowdale.

10m 1W FT8 (Monday)

My gear was turned on at about 0900z.

UPDATE 0913z:  7 stations have spotted me.

UPDATE 1058z:  22 stations have spotted me and 77 stations spotted here.

UPDATE 1425z:  60 stations have spotted me. See map.

160m FT8 overnight

 As I often do, I monitored 160m FT8 RX last evening and overnight.

In all, 286 stations were spotted with the best UN0GY (5538km) in Kazakstan.

Russian diesel?

 Allowing Russia to sell its diesel on the world market and in the USA is questionable.

Sputnik day

This has been on many times.

I am not sure if this still occurs, but in 2011 a group of us built a 15m CW TX using the same type of valve used in the first Sputnik satellite in 1957. 

One of the group G4NUA is now a SK. The rig was built by G4ALB and I was chief operator!

Within minutes we had a good QSO with a station in the USA despite only 400mW.

Sunspots - Monday October 26th

 Solar flux is 89 and the SSN 22. A=5 and K=0.