More Cambridge in the sun - NOT amateur radio

The photo shows the path up to King's College, Cambridge yesterday. It looks far more autumnal. At least the sun was shining!

PI4 versus FT8

Most beacons use PI4 whereas I would have expected them to use FT8. 

Does PI4 confer some advantages? Maybe better sensitivity? In my view, unless there is something about PI4 I don't know about, I would prefer beacons to use FT8 or at least have an FT8 sequence.

Just imagine if the IBP project beacons used FT8 on each band! One could leave a monitor on all day and see what comes through. 

This would be extremely valuable in the solar quiet years on the higher bands. 

I could see someone producing an IBP RX perhaps band switching to see which bands are open?

Sunspots - Tuesday November 12th

 Solar flux is 182 and the SSN 138. A=10 and K=2.

Cambridge in the sun - NOT amateur radio

We have had "anticyclonic gloom" for what seems like forever. We have seen hardly any sun until today. This was the River Cam outside King's College, Cambridge.

10m 500mW WSPR (Monday)

13 spots of my QRP beacon today.  See table. 

6m QRP FT8 (Monday)

 

57 stations have spotted me today, including several "across the pond". 

Bare - NOT amateur radio

I always think of November as the worst month of the year. It is often dull and dark, the trees lose their leaves and it really is "the pits".  At least in January nights are getting a bit lighter and there are the signs of new life.

Take, for example, the horse chestnut trees in the churchyard shown in the photo. A few weeks ago the leaves were there. 

Now there are very few revealing the rook's nests. I look forward to these being repaired in the early spring and the first buds.

Sunspots - Monday November 11th

 Solar flux is 231 and the SSN 121. A=25 and K=2.

QDX digital transceiver

This digital-only transceiver from QRP-Labs is really tiny. It can produce 5W, but I have added diodes in the power lead to ensure the RF PA is working without being stressed. This reduces the power out still further, but makes very little difference.

See https://shop.qrp-labs.com/qdx .

Watery sun - NOT amateur radio

Briefly, the sun has tried to shine, then given up. 

Tomorrow should be sunny when this "anticyclonic gloom" moves away. 

The photo shows our churchyard earlier.