QSY to 630m WSPR

As of a few minutes ago, I have QSYed to 630m WSPR transceive (10mW ERP, 20%).

UPDATE 2118z: So far an average evening on 630m WSPR with my QRPP being spotted by 4 unique stations. I have managed to spot 4 uniques too.

UPDATE 2300z: Best RX DX on 630m WSPR this evening is IW4DXW (1190km).

A good God? - NOT amateur radio

As I write, my son's brother-in-law is clinging to life after suffering horrific injuries in Australia whilst a pedestrian crossing a road on green. A car struck him with the driver going through a red light whilst fiddling with her phone. He is dying.

It is hard to believe in a just God at these times. The sisters and parents are living in limbo and clearly are in a living hell. In history, the past is littered with cruelty such as the mass extermination of Jews in Europe not that long ago.

Can someone please explain to me how God is good? All the evidence is life is random and at times deeply cruel.

10m FT8 RX

Since breakfast, I have been on 10m FT8 RX. A few Europeans spotted with the best DX being UN7AB (3825km) near the Caspian Sea in Kazakhstan, presumably by F2.

UPDATE 1938z: For the first time in many weeks, 10m FT8 resulted in just Europeans and Russians - no ""real" DX. Shortly, I shall QSY to 630m WSPR.

630m WSPR overnight

Overnight I was again on 630m WSPR (10mW ERP, 20%). In all, I was spotted by 14 unique stations with best DX LA3EQ (769km) in Norway. In turn, I spotted 12 unique stations.

Sunspots - Tuesday October 31st 2017

Solar flux is 75 today and the sunspot number is 22. A=3 and K=0.

630m WSPR

As usual, I have QSYed to MF WSPR (10mW, 20%). So far, 4 spots of my QRPP with best DX spot of my signal by PA0RDT (243km).

UPDATE 2017z: For a brief period after 2000z I tried calling CQ on 630m FT8 hoping for a 2-way QSO.  Sadly no-one heard me! Just before, I did see the trace of a weak FT8 signal. Obviously I was just too weak. I have since gone back to WSPR.

In the field

Southgate News links to a very informative video from OH8STN on operating in the field i.e. out portable away from the home QTH.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2017/october/getting-started-in-amateur-radio-field-communications.htm#.WfdYILp2vIU .

Lack of 10m DX?

Today, there has been a distinct lack of real DX on 10m FT8. Although I saw plenty of Russians and Israelis this morning, I have not (yet) seen any Africans or South Americans on 10m FT8. There is still time for this to change.

UPDATE 1640z:  Just one South American, so far: LU6HWT (11346km) in Cordoba, Argentina.

UPDATE 1652z: Maybe conditions or post CQWW blues, but definitely less activity on 10m FT8 today.

Who can you trust? - NOT amateur radio

Quite a lot of politicians and their associates across the world it seems cannot be trusted. They are in high office and should be "whiter than white". Time and again we find out they are "dodgy". I am sure some seek high office for the right reasons, but sadly not all.

I am a great believer in "innocent until proved guilty". Too many have had their good names ruined even before any offence is proven. As they say, "mud sticks".

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-41804740 .

Autumn leaves - NOT amateur radio

"Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness" and all that. Today we went for a stroll at Brandon Country Park, Suffolk, UK. It was quiet and there were definite signs of autumn, as the photo shows.