More UK Rallies (Scotland and Devon)

Sunday 18 OCTOBER : GALASHIELS AND DISTRICT ARS RADIO RALLY
The Volunteer Hall, St Johns Street, Galashiels, Scottish Borders TD1 3JX. OT 11.15, £2.50. B&B, TS, C. Jim, GM7LUN, 01896 850 245, gm7lun@qsl.net.

Sunday 18 OCTOBER : HOLSWORTHY AMATEUR RADIO RALLY
Holsworthy Community College, Victoria Hill, Holsworthy EX22 6JD. TS, B&B, C, DIS. Register at http://harc.postalboard.com/login to make any enquiries. www.radioclubs.net/harc/.

A list of rallies can be found at http://rsgb.org/main/news/rallies/

Be careful of USB sticks

Steve G1KQH sent me a link yesterday about a Russian USB stick that kills virtually all devices into which it is plugged in. Apparently it sticks 220v into your device. So the message is only connect known safe USB devices into your PC or phone. This is rare and scaremongering but be safe. Don't forget USB sticks can also be a route in for virus's.

"I don’t fancy one of them up my USB port:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/internet-security/11932793/Killer-USB-stick-destroys-your-computer-in-seconds.html

73 Steve
http://g1kqh.blogspot.co.uk/"

FR1GZ spots me on 10m WSPR

Many times I have found that when 10m is expected to be "poor" I have found just the opposite. As an example FR1GZ (9724km) spotted my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon a couple of times this afternoon. So far, 10m has been "good" for me today. 4X1RF, OZ7IT and FR1GZ - not at all bad, and the day is not done yet!

More Sputniks

From Oleg...

"Dear Space Friends,
bad  condx last days, it is not good for QRPp activity. Even RBNs did
not copied my 50 mW CQs.
Yesterday op. Jozef OM6TC logged QSO with OM3PV with Sputnik clone TX
160 mW on 21060 kc to 30 m LW. Congrats Jozef!
Only  three  days  before  finish  of Sputnik Days. I looking for any
reports, please.
72! beep-beep-beep...
Deep Space Communications Center
operator on duty -
Oleg ("Mr. 72") RV3GM / KH6OB"

F2 DX on 10m WSPR

4X1RF (3519km) has spotted my little 500mW 10m WSPR beacon several times this morning. This is a hopeful sign as I think it means we could see more F2 later. I am assuming this was F2.  OZ7IT (853km) has spotted me several times too in the early hours on 10m WSPR.

Another UK Rally

Saturday 17 OCTOBER : NORTH WAKEFIELD RADIO CLUB RALLY

Middleton Leisure Centre, Middleton Ring Road, Middleton, Leeds LS10 4AX. Tables £6 if you bring your own, our tables £12. B&B, C. Tony, G0JVI, 07740 003 159, tonymawson@btinternet.com.

A list of rallies can be found at http://rsgb.org/main/news/rallies/

FTSE 100 - NOT amateur radio

At the moment, the UK FTSE 100 share index is up 0.95% on the day.  A lot can still happen during the day but it is trying to claw back recent losses.

Sunspots and 10m - Thurs Oct 15th 2015

Sunspot number is little changed at 56 (K=3) and 10m propagation is again expected to be "poor". With the solar flux at 100 there is a chance of some DX spots on 10m WSPR. We live in hope.

Unique 10m WSPR spots here so far today

The value of 10m WSPR - overnight success

In the small hours OZ7IT (853km) spotted my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon. I have no idea about propagation. It was probably a fleeting Es opening but it could have been tropo or even aircraft reflection.  He only decoded me once but had I not had the beacon running overnight this opening would have gone unnoticed.  This was the first non-local for several days to spot me on 10m WSPR.

UPDATE 1057z: OZ7IT (853km) spotted me several times in the early hours.

Quiet 10m

Yet again, 10m WSPR has been very quiet here, at least so far today. Although others may have done better, I have not seen any DX for several days. With climbing sunspots, I expect things may soon change and F2 DX will become commonplace.