Sunspots - Sunday October 6th 2019

Solar flux is 68 and the SSN 0. A=7 and K=2.

Spotted in Norway on 472kHz WSPR

Overnight LA3EQ (769km) spotted my signal on 472kHz WSPR 3 times. This is the first time this autumn. Very pleased! At -30dB S/N I only just made it! Jan must have a very low noise level.

As usual, still using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. I shall work out the ERP later, but it is low milliwatts.

UPDATE 1000z: 7 stations spotted on 472kHz WSPR RX in the last day, including a couple of new stations.

472kHz FT8 QSO anyone?

If anyone would like to give this a try, I am happy to try 472kHz FT8 this Sunday. Unless anyone can tell me different, I shall use 474.2kHz USB dial as my setting frequency and transmit in the few kilohertz HF of that, as for other bands.

Please contact me at rogerlapthorn (at) gmail.com if you want to give this a try. FT8 is about 10dB worse than WSPR so I may copy you, but you may not copy me!

HF FT8

There is no doubt that FT8 is changing our bands.

Many are saddened that there are fewer casual chats these days, so our bands sound quieter. This has been especially noticeable on 6m, where many have deserted SSB and CW for FT8.

FT8 is a weak signal mode that does not lend itself to chats. An advantage of FT8 is that it works with weak signals (not as good as WSPR, but better than SSB and CW), occupies only 50Hz, all activity is concentrated within a few kilohertz and lots of people are monitoring.

So, if a band opens only briefly, it is more likely to be spotted. Using PSKreporter maps it is possible to see where your signal is reaching. Unlike WSPR, transmissions are only 15 seconds long. It is useful for quick QSOs. I think we has still to fully exploit this mode on HF.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/hf-ft8

Return to 472kHz WSPR

After quite a break, I am back on 472kHz WSPR TX (very low ERP) and RX.

I wound a new matching transformer (shown in photo) in the hope of squeezing a tiny bit more ERP from my earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. I will calculate the ERP tomorrow, but I don't think it is greater. The coil has more turns on the secondary, but I think the tapping point was not far off before.

My own signal has been copied by a couple of stations and G1GKN (99km) has been copied here a few times. I shall leave it on this evening and possibly overnight.

472kHz WSPR so far this evening

It would be good to try FT8 on 472kHz (about 10dB worse than WSPR), but I am not sure if people use FT8 on MF. Years ago I had some JT9 QSOs on MF.

UPDATE 1852z: Best DX so far on 472kHz WSPR RX is LA3EQ (769km) running 20mW ERP.

UPDATE 2108z: A few new stations spotted this evening, that I did not see last season: LA4NJ (800km) and DL1HWK (816km). I don't think these stations were active last season,

Cavenham Heath - NOT amateur radio

This morning we went for a walk at Cavenham Heath. The heather was well past its best, but we saw several stone curlews. These birds migrate shortly. None were that close sadly.

On the way we saw this fungus, but we saw fewer than the last time when we went in August.

See https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/stone-curlew/

High Street shops - NOT amateur radio

There is little doubt that shopping is changing. Many High Street stores have closed and they are replaced by charity shops, coffee shops or empty shops. More and more people prefer the convenience of shopping online. One finds what one wants and it is delivered next day to your home.

Yes, rents may be too high and the online retailers usually have a price advantage.

It is anyone's guess how the High Street will look in 20 years. It seems that retailers who adapt may survive. Those that don't adapt face a bleak future. It is not just shops: many other things will change in the coming years.

2m FT8

Since just before breakfast I have been on 2m FT8 RX. So far today, 21 stations in 5 countries spotted.

UPDATE 1447z: After a break when we went out for a walk I went back on 2m FT8 calling CQ (10W). 24 stations spotted me and a couple of QSOs resulted. 34 stations in 7 countries spotted here today on 2m FT8.

UPDATE 1648z: Now 46 stations in 7 countries spotted on 2m FT8 RX.

Sunspots - Saturday October 5th 2019

Solar flux is 68 and and the SSN 0. A=7 and K=2

Es'hail Oscar 100

Every few days I check activity on this geosynchronous amateur satellite. Whenever I look at the web SDR at Goonhilly, I usually see 4-8 SSB stations active. There are usually a few on CW too. Overall, activity remains quite low. By now, I was expecting far more activity.

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/