Sunspots - Wednesday March 4th

 Solar flux is 144 and the SSN 64. A=16 and K=3.

Device memory

In the last 20 years or so, device memory has come a very long way.  256GB micro SD cards are now increasingly common, whereas just a few years ago this would have been amazing and unbelievable. It makes you wonder what will be the norm say in 2050 or 2100?

The human brain has an estimated capacity of 2.5 million GB, which is absolutely huge! Perhaps there will be a breakthrough allowing memories to have capacities approaching this? 

Will our grandchildren look back in amazement when we thought 1TB appeared huge.  I can remember when we thought 256k was huge!

10m 2.5W FT8 (Tuesday)

Another great start on 10m FT8. After a very brief period on TX (4 spots)  I went on RX only

UPDATE 1126z:   730 stations spotted with the best 3D2AG (16213km) in Fiji and Victoria, Australia which, to my surprise, is even further. I went on 2.5W FT8 TX again briefly with the best DX a spot of me on Reunion Is.

UPDATE 2136z: 2016 stations spotted here today. The best day yet? QRT now.

630m WSPR RX overnight

At last I managed to set up my 630m WSPR RX correctly! In all, 7 different stations were copied with the best OH6OHX (1736km) in Finland multiple times (see table). 

I used the coax to my 2m big-wheel antenna via a ferrite rod ATU and a mains earth.

End fed antennas

 A popular antenna is the end-fed if multi band coverage is needed. I use one for 17m-10m. At the end of the wire the impedance will be high so a transformer is needed to bring this to an impedance that can be directly connected to a PA or often via an auto ATU in the rig. There is a video about it on the DX Explorer YouTube channel. There is also a follow-up video.

Sunspots - Tuesday March 3rd

 Solar flux is 148 and the SSN 82. A=5 and K=2.

630m WSPR RX (Monday)

 This evening I am monitoring 630m WSPR. Hopefully this evening I have the settings right!

UPDATE 1900z:  3 spots by DC0DX (467km).  It works!

UPDATE 2136z:    Spotted 5 stations with the best LA8AV (1038km).

Sunday walk

Yesterday morning we had some sun so we went for a walk in a nearby village. There were still plenty of puddles.

Dalham near Newmarket, UK

 

This village is not far from us.

8m FT8 RX

 Most of the day I shall be monitoring 40.680 FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1730z:  I think I had my settings wrong on 8m FT8 RX!