Hope?

"It seems we have crossed a threshold. Though solar activity remains low, recent history shows no Solar Cycle 24 sunspots, only Solar Cycle 25 activity. I remain optimistic." 

From the K7RA propagation website.

160m FT8

As 6m was quiet, I have QSYed to 160m FT8 using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. Best DX on RX is RU1AB (1966km). At the moment (1744z) 29 stations have been spotted on 160m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1839z: Now 70 stations spotted on 160m FT8 RX with best DX RV6ADY (2980km).

UPDATE 2209z: Very early spots of VO2AR (3823km). So far this evening 348 stations spotted. Best DX on 160m FT8 RX is RV0AR (5577km).

Sub-9kHz amateur radio on TV

How good is your German?

A recent ARD TV program had a bit on sub-9kHz amateur radio. Even though my German is almost non-existent it was good to put some real faces to people I had previously only known as callsigns. Even without any German language skills you can look at the pictures!

See https://www.ardmediathek.de/ard/player/Y3JpZDovL2JyLmRlL3ZpZGVvLzJlYWUzYWMxLWVhZDAtNDI2Ni05YjY2LWQ1NWQ1MDE3ODk5Ng/?fbclid=IwAR1SCzy2H_dqRGZwg1eEG60bDYAaIJvoKFI05cO0SgL1JGkD-uZlD2qJpA4

MX-2 - 2m SSB portable

Somewhere, I still have my MX-2 SSB handheld for 2m. The last time it was used must be 7 years ago! I had a lot of fun with mine.

It was used as a handheld on 2m and to drive a homebrew 10m 1W transverter. As I recall, for a while it was the only rig I had. Plenty of DX contacts were had on 10m and some handheld DX with just a whip on 2m SSB. The battery did not last long and by modern standards it would be considered slightly large.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/vuhf/mx2

The end of winter is in sight - NOT amateur radio

A few days ago we visited nearby Anglesey Abbey. Although we are in the middle of winter, there are already signs of new life appearing, as the collage shows.

2m FT8 with the vertical antenna

Overnight I remained on 2m FT8 RX with the vertical omni antenna. The height of the big-wheel and V2000 are similar as are the gains on 2m for the big-wheel and V2000.

In all, 34 stations in 4 countries were spotted in the last 6 hours on 2m FT8 RX. This is very similar to the results with the big-wheel, suggesting many stations come in via aircraft scatter, where the polarisation is randomised. Staying on overnight is a waste of time as most stations were spotted in the last few hours.

Conclusions? I agree with Martin that much of my "real DX" on 2m is via aircraft scatter.

6m FT8

At about 0930z, I swapped to 6m FT8.  Initially I called CQ (10W to the vertical V2000). As yet, no spots given or received.

UPDATE 1146z: Just a couple of Gs spotted so far this morning.

UPDATE 1340z: A recent 6m FT8 CQ (10W) was spotted by just a single G: G0GGG (211km). It would appear that he is the only G able to copy me. He has now spotted my CQs twice, although no QSO.

UPDATE 1520z: Just 4 G spots today only.  My CQs have been spotted by a couple of Gs, but nothing from continental Europe.

Sunspots - Wednesday January 22nd 2020

Solar flux is 72 and the SSN 0. A=6 and K =2.

Antennas

One possibility I have is to erect a BuddyPole or similar multi-band /P antenna in the garden when needed. This cannot be as effective as a larger antenna, but would give me multi-band capability. I imagine on 10m, 12m and 15m they could be quite effective.

Certainly on FT8, they should work. This might solve my antenna erection issues. I could put it out when required and put it away when not needed.

If you have any views, please let me know.

UK earthquakes - NOT amateur radio

Thankfully, we get few serious earthquakes in the UK. Big ones are rare. The website below keeps records of those that have occurred recently.

See https://earthquakes.bgs.ac.uk/earthquakes/recent_uk_events.html