Solar Activity

Near the start of the month my favourite site for solar data is updated. I have not checked yet but this is usually done early in the month. It is worth taking a peek so we can see how the cycle is progressing. 

We are on the down-slope, but conditions on the higher HF bands are likely to remain good for a few years. 

It is my view that with modes like FT8 we will find 10m open more than we thought.

See https://www.solen.info/solar .

UK weather

We live in the part of England where it is most dry. 

Yesterday was a glorious day here with bright blue skies and cold. 

That's the trouble with UK weather. One day it can be lovely and the next dull and wet.

Simple VHF receiver by Charles Kitchen

Charles Kitchen N1TEV is a well known designer in the USA and across the world. 

This is a circuit for a VHF receiver that can be adjusted to decode SSB, CW and NBFM in addition to AM.

See https://www.arrl.org/files/file/Technology/tis/info/pdf/9712039.pdf .

Keeping an eye on CB

 Although the CB bands are just below the 10m amateur band it is often busy on CB when 10m seems dead. This suggests it is a lack of activity rather than poor conditions. Hopefully FT8 will help to show us 10m is still good on some paths.

In the meantime, it may be worth keeping an eye on the CB bands.

Sunspots - Monday December 1st

 Solar flux is 180 and the SSN 108.  A=16 and K=1.

10m 500mW WSPR (Sunday)

 Briefly I went on 10m 500mW WSPR. No spots. Now QRT.

6m 5W FT8 (Sunday)

Late Sunday, I went on 6m FT8 with 5W to the V2000 vertical omni antennas. 5 English stations spotted me. Now QRT.

My favourite band - 10m

Over many years, I have had most fun on 10m. Initially, I was on SSB, AM and FM on that band with a low wire dipole. Of course, on 10m antennas are small and CB antennas usually work.

These days, because of my poor voice following my 2013 stroke, I use digital modes like FT8 and WSPR mostly.

DXCC was worked on 10m QRP SSB with a simple wire dipole over 40 years ago, so DX chasing is no longer important. I am more interested to see where my QRP is reaching. That's one of the joys of our hobby: there are so many different ways to enjoy it.

Before my stroke I enjoyed experimenting. I still do, but restrict myself to what I can do at home that does not require soldering or fine motor skills!

A real experimenter

Thanks to DX Explorer, I was pointed to the website of LA6NCA who is a true experimenter. I had not visited his site before. It also looks like he has a good range of test gear. Certainly a site for inspiration.

See https://www.laud.no/la6nca/

DX Explorer website

Just now I was watching a video on this website. Then I realised it was derived from one of my designs!  I am flattered and hope he really has fun. He is eventually making a tiny PCB for it.