Sunspots and 10m - Fri Jan 22nd 2016

Solar flux is 103 and the sunspot number is 56 (K=3). The forecast for 10m propagation remains "poor" today.

40m WSPR overnight

Although I spotted and was spotted in South America overnight, there were no USA stations logged on 40m WSPR overnight. Plenty of Europeans though. At the moment, I am still on 40m WSPR, but will soon QSY to 10m WSPR.

QSYed to 40m WSPR

I have gone QRT on 10m WSPR and am now on 40m WSPR 2W TX 20%, RX 80%. It may take a few minutes for things to settle.

UPDATE 2010z:   I see I am being spotted on 40m in middle Europe.

10m open to the USA again

W1VR (6965km) was spotted this afternoon on 10m WSPR. This is the third time this month I have found 10m open to the USA. This time next year will be much harder as the sunspots fall.

UPDATE 1948z:  The intercontinental DX seems to have ended, but G4CUI (172km) is coming through again on 10m WSPR. I think it will soon be time to QSY probably to 40m WSPR.

Brazil (again) on 10m WSPR

Despite the forecast of "poor" 10m conditions, I see that I was spotted in Brazil again on 10m. KD0VWO (7412km) who is monitoring in N.E.Brazil spotted me at 1334z. He is located in GI95rg square.

472kHz WSPR last night

Yesterday evening and night I was again on 472kHz (630m) WSPR. There were no surprises with the same stations spotted and spotting me.

This evening, I may go on 40m WSPR again.

Until I get a better antenna I think no new stations are going to spot me, or be spotted, on MF.

Sepura shares (SEPU) - NOT amateur radio

Shares in my old company have fallen  a bit yesterday and this morning. They design and make TETRA and DMR radios, mainly where security is important.

Now may be a good time to buy? These days I have no connections with the company having long ago retired. In uncertain market conditions shares in a company involved in public safety may be a good bet?

Sunspots and 10m - Thurs Jan 21st 2016

Solar flux is 101 and sunspot number 59 (K=5). The forecast for 10m propagation remains "poor". These were the early spots:

DF1KZ still has problems knowing where he is! It should be EA8/DF1KZ or DF1KZ with a corrected QTH locator!!

QSYed to 472kHz WSPR

For the last 15 minutes or so, I have been on 472kHz WSPR with 5mW ERP, looking for others 80% of the time. DK7FC (669km) and G8HUH (250km) have been spotted and G0VQH (15km) has spotted me. The night is young still. I intend to stay on overnight.

RA3APW on 10m WSPR

Among the stations copied on 10m WSPR today was the 100mW beacon of old work colleague RA3APW who lives in Moscow.  Karen is really "into" amateur radio.

His homepage is at http://www.qsl.net/ra3apw/ra3apw/ .