Lincoln President Mk 2

This rig (mint) has barely been used since last winter. It works well too. The FT817 does all I need really. Because of my poor voice, I mostly use digital modes these days.  So, I shall probably box the Lincoln and use it as a trade-in later.

Sunspots and 10m - Wed Jan 13th 2016

Solar flux is 106 today and sunspot number 29 (K=2). The forecast for 10m propagation remains "poor". More in hope than expectation, I have been on 10m and 6m WSPR since breakfast. Overnight I was on 630m WSPR but just the usual stations, again.

We are definitely on the slide down the solar cycle, but 10m becomes more interesting, not less, as the sun goes "off the boil". Es enlivens 10m for several months each year and the band still supports QRP SSB DX N-S even in the worst years. 10m is a great band if you like a challenge and WSPR in the declining years on 10m should help to winkle out those fleeting openings. Never give up on this great band, our biggest HF band by far with space for most modes.

UPDATE 1010z:   No spots as yet on 10m or 6m WSPR although it is still very early.

UKAC - 70cms leg tonight

Tonight is the first 70cm leg of the RSGB's 70cm activity contest:

This contest takes place on Tue 12-Jan-2016 20:00 UTC
The rules for the contest can be found here
http://www.rsgbcc.org/cgi-bin/contest_rules.pl?contest=70cmsukac
 
Regards,
CC

UPDATE 2154z:  With just 1 station heard (G3YDY) and a high SWR on the antenna, I gave the contest a miss tonight. I went briefly on 10MHz WSPR and then back on 472kHz WSPR.

PI4CQ

Well, everyone in our hobby is a little mad I suppose!

See https://twitter.com/PI4CQ/status/686684040406142976?t=1&cn=ZmxleGlibGVfcmVjcw%3D%3D&sig=619126d5851ba6cc8594d82b29d11956a49fe6dd&al=1&refsrc=email&iid=ad255aadf0224eeeb292bd8bcdf32522&autoactions=1452612574&uid=3032771439&nid=244+595

DXpedition to Scarborough Reef I think.

20m JT9-1

After lots of CQs without QSOs I worked UA2FAK in reply to his CQ. I got a better report than I gave him, despite running 2.5W from the FT817. When I was calling CQ I see from PSK reporter that I was getting all over Europe from Scandinavia and Greece to Southern Spain.

I have now QSYed to 20m WSPR so I can monitor in the comfort of the lounge. Best DX so far on 20m WSPR is a spot from EA8/LA3JJ (2870km).

Sunspots and 10m - Tues Jan 12th 2016

Solar flux is 109 today. Sunspot number is 41 (K=3). 10m propagation is expected to remain "poor" although, like yesterday, some wintertime Es may liven things up a bit.

10m and 6m WSPR

Overnight I was on 630m WSPR where I gave and received spots to/from the same few stations. At the moment I am in 10m and 6m WSPR but I hope to go on JT9-1 (probably on 20m) later in the day.

10m and 630m WSPR

My 10m WSPR beacon is still running and I am also active on 630m (5mW ERP 20% TX, 80% RX no preamp and earth-electrode "antenna").  At 2000z I shall QSY to 144.575MHz FM for the East Cambridgeshire net. As my voice is not good, I try not to speak too much and usually finish by 2030z. I shall go back to 630m WSPR after I finish on the net.

UPDATE 2255z:  I see that David G0LRD (25km), who very kindly came over and erected my 2m Big-Wheel antenna,was spotting me on 630m.  I shall remain on 630m (472kHz) WSPR overnight although I went QRT on 10m WSPR some hours ago.

G0VQH and 472kHz RX

Jenny tells me she uses orthogonal loops and an active antenna on 472kHz located at the far end of her garden, which must be quiet electrically.  It certainly works very well as she decodes far more than I do on 472kHz RX. If my health permits, I must try an active RX antenna on the band.

10m Es

There was wintertime Es about today on 10m WSPR with spots (lots) of my 500mW WSPR beacon from Germany and Hungary. At the time of writing, 1540z, there have been no DX spots and nothing at all on 6m.

UPDATE 1556z:  I think there are definitely fewer stations on 10m WSPR and 6m WSPR, so the value of going on this mode diminishes. It needs a decent number updating to WSPRnet to get the real value from the mode. It is a pity there are not more people on WSPR. JT65 and JT9-1 really are 2-way modes and need me to be actually in the shack.  SSB is hard work for me at present and even CW requires my brain to work overtime! As I said before, I propose to use 2-way digital modes far more this year.

UPDATE 1756z:  HA4ULB (1456km) is still spotting me on 10m. I have also been spotted in Italy: classic wintertime Es.