Daytime 630m WSPR RX

For a change, I am on 630m WSPR RX in the daytime. A couple of spots with best DX PA3ABK/2 (306km).

UPDATE 1308z: G0MRF (139km) is always a good signal with me, but his daytime S/N is much worse than in the middle of the night. I presume this is due to my local noise level being higher rather than propagation.

UPDATE 1420z: 3 different stations in 3 countries spotted so far. Best DX spotted F5WK (364km).

UPDATE  1615z: LA3EQ (769km) is currently the best 630m WSPR spots today.

UPDATE 1745z: 5 uniques in the last hour with best DX DH5RAE (995km).

UPDATE 2245z:  My last spot was at about 2116z, so the PC lasted over 9 hours on its internal battery - impressive!

Last night on 630m WSPR RX

Again, an average night here with 15 uniques copied. As far as I know, these were all stations spotted before and all EU stations. G3XIZ was actually very very strong (+9dB S/N). What is shown here is a second spotting probably as a result of my system handling strong signals!

Sunspots - Saturday January 27th 2018

Quiet and not much happening. Solar flux is 69 and the sunspot number zero still. A=8 and K=2.

630m WSPR RX

Just before 1900z, I decided to go onto 630m WSPR RX with the earth-electrode "antenna" that has been successfully used on previous nights with the preamp and shack PC on battery power. Already 3 spots in the very first period.

MLS discounts

MLS is again doing its "something for the weekend" discounts. If you were thinking of buying any of these, you might save a bit.

See https://www.hamradio.co.uk/

Hygge detox, no thanks! - NOT amateur radio

OK, I am getting old and grumpy, but I do not need my newspaper (free and only chosen as it is big enough for bones to be recycled in it when folded) to tell me to spend £849 on a machine to restore ionic balance.

Go for a walk, open some windows, get a life.

Daffodils - NOT amateur radio

In better years, we have had daffodils from late November until May. This year, they were late with this clump appearing just a few weeks ago. Soon we'll have daffs everywhere.

Right now, snowdrops are appearing everywhere - a sign that spring will soon be with us and (hopefully) some better weather.

Ukraine - NOT amateur radio

Either the people in the Ukraine have suddenly taken a great interest in the content of this blog (mainly amateur radio) or I am being targeted by hackers or bots. Yet again, visit numbers are through the roof. I find it hard to think that the numbers I normally see in a whole day have already popped in.

Now on 10m FT8 RX

Following my usual pattern, I am currently monitoring 10m FT8 RX. As yet, no spots.

UPDATE 1330z: F5RD (681km) is the best DX spotted so far.

UPDATE 1452z: Now PG0DX (409km) spotted strongly. Aircraft?

UPDATE 1547z: 5 stations in 3 countries so far today on 10m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1757z: Now 7 stations in 4 countries with best DX SQ4OJD (1357km) on 10m FT8 RX today.

Last night on 472kHz WSPR RX

Overnight I was on 472kHz WSPR RX using the earth-electrode "antenna", a preamp and the shack PC on battery power. In all, 15 unique stations spotted. Not bad, but not the best.