2m FT8 RX near Cambridge

When I go on 2m FT8, a very useful resource is the monitor a G0LRD. It is situated not far from Cambridge and my signal is usually about +5dB S/N. With it, I can look at 2m FT8 activity received locally, and check my own 2.5W is clean.

An example of David's page is attached. I think David also uses a Wimo big-wheel omni antenna. It is a great local (to me) resource.

See http://g0lrd.vs.mythic-beasts.com/cap/. 

G0LRD 2m FT8 grabber

When monitoring my 2m FT8 signal on the grabber at G0LRD yesterday I noticed several times that the S/N was poor although mostly it was very strong. It turns out that David gets occasional local noise bursts that degrade the S/N.  This grabber is 26km away and very useful.

2m FT8 grabber

This has been mentioned before, but I find the 2m FT8 grabber just west of Cambridge run by David G0LRD very useful.  If you want to see what your 2m FT8 signal looks like near Cambridge, this is your chance. 

My signal at 26km is usually +9 to +12dB S/N. If you are far away, it will probably be much weaker. 

Most times there are signals from all sorts of places coming through. Even in flat conditions I can usually see German stations.

If you are in range, you too might find it of use.

See http://82.71.9.63:8080/cap/

Online 2m FT8 screen-grab

A station near Cambridge, G0LRD, has a very useful screen-grab of 2m FT8 activity as seen at his QTH. I find it useful to check my signal is clean and as expected. He gets me strongly. He seems to see very similar stations to me.

I still find 2m FT8 amazing. My low ERP signal seems to get spotted far and wide irrespective of conditions. I am convinced these are not aircraft reflections as these sort of ranges seem possible at any time even with low ERP. It is so easy that I hardly bother these days.

Soon, I think I should try harder on 70cm FT8 to see what is possible.

See http://82.71.9.63:8080/cap/

David G0LRD - thank you

Thanks to the kindness of G0LRD, David, who selflessly drove out to my home on a Sunday afternoon, I now have my 2m big-wheel installed in its proper permanent home. David was a complete stranger until today (although we'd briefly contacted on 2m) and I cannot thank him enough for his selfless kindness. The antenna works well on 2m (and even 70cm) and the whole installation looks great.

Years ago erecting this antenna would have been easy but at the moment I am just too wobbly. There are some very kind people in our hobby.

David - thank you.

10m WSPR - local only so far Easter monday am

10m WSPR spots to 0940z today - all local

Only G0LRD (25km) - 13 spots so far -  is copying me this morning on 10m at 0952z.  No signs yet of Asian stations despite sunspot count of 192. The forecast for 20-30MHz is "poor" with disturbed conditions and blackouts.

By lunchtime, only  EA1KV and GM4WJA were vaguely DX stations spotting me. Condition so far today have been very poor indeed  on 10m.  David G0LRD, from Fowlmere, is testing a new 10/6m loft fan-dipole. There were about 24 decent spots from him by lunch, but little else of note. 4X1DA (3597km) was coming through at 1210z, which is very late indeed.

UPDATE 1800z: My Windows 8.1 PC still does odd things with the WSPR program, sometimes not uploading RX spots etc.  Since resettng the clock and program I am uploading my spot of V53ARC and I see I've been spotted in Brazil, S.America.