Sunspots - Monday October 1st 2018

Solar flux is 68 and the SSN 13. A=6 and K=2.

Overnight on MF WSPR

8 unique spots of my 10mW ERP 472kHz WSPR over night, with best DX a spot from PA3ABK (306km).

472kHz WSPR

I have now QSYed to 472kHz (630m) WSPR transceive with 10mW from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.

My 10m WSPR beacon is (for now) still TXing.

PSK Reporter

Personally I find PSK reporter maps very useful. Calling CQ on 2m FT8 QRP I often get no QSOs, but a look at the map shows that actually I was reaching many stations in several countries.

See https://www.pskreporter.info/pskmap.html

5G spectrum

Our high microwave allocations are under threat as possible spectrum is allocated for 5G. According to Southgate News the FCC is to auction 24GHz and 47GHz spectrum. The RSGB has made complaints already about UK 5G allocations.

If 5G is to use 47GHz, they will need masts on every street!! At least microwave parts should be cheap.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2018/september/fcc-24-and-47-ghz-5g-spectrum-auction.htm#.W7CJdfZFzIU

10m WSPR

As the antenna is free I am on 10m WSPR TX (500mW) again, but no spots so far.

UPDATE 1050z: Just a spot by DK6UG (633km) so far today on 10m WSPR.

UPDATE 1357z: Two spots received today. In addition to DK6UG, IZ3LCH (1149km) has spotted me.

Sunspots - Sunday September 30th 2018

Solar flux is 68 and the SSN 13 (yes spots!!). A=10 and K=3

Early morning mist - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday morning we were up early to travel from Ely to Canterbury by train to see our son and family. There was a mist over the fields and frost on our car window! The photo shows the view from the railway station shortly before our train left. Ely Cathedral looked amazing rising over the mist.

One of our grandaughters - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday we went to Kent to see our son and family. They live east of Canterbury in a cottage dating from the 1700s.

Our granddaughter likes dancing and has a fine voice when she sings. The photo shows her in her front garden.

2m FT8

As I was away most of yesterday l stayed on 2m FT8 overnight. Currently 37 different stations spotted in the last 12 hours with a couple of stations  in northernmost Spain.

UPDATE 1044z: Well, I was copied with my 2.5W to an omni in NW Spain on 2m! So far today, 44 stations in 6 countries spotted on 2m FT8 RX. EA1UR (1192km) is my best DX on RX and TX.  After replying to my CQ he was lost in QSB.

Note the station in NW Spain who copied my QRP 2m signal

UPDATE 1425z: Now 57 stations in 7 countries spotted on 2m FT8 RX today so far.

UPDATE 1452z: A recent 2m FT8 CQ (2.5W to the omni) resulted in no QSOs, but I was spotted (again) by G7RAU (461km) and GI6ATZ (479km), as well as others. On FT8 it seems the impossible is possible.