6m FT8 RX

For about 15 minutes I have been on 6m FT8 RX. As yet, no spots.

UPDATE 1550z:  No spots since switch on.

UPDATE 2037z: Just a spot of G0JSV (54km) today. Still monitoring 6m FT8.

472kHz WSPR RX last night

My best night yet this season with 21 unique stations spotted. Again, all were EU and not a single USA station. I have yet to spot a single station outside of Europe with the earth-electrode "antenna" at this QTH. The shack PC was on batteries and this stopped just after 0300z.

Sunspots - Monday February 12th 2018

Solar flux is 77 today and the sunspot number 24. A=3 and K=2.

CSG Shop

This is Latvian online shop, but I have heard some good reports of it, although I have not (yet) used it myself. They do some good GPS kit as well as 2.4 and 5.8GHz ATV modules.

See http://www.csgshop.com/

Back to 472kHz WSPR RX

About an hour ago I returned to 472kHz WSPR RX. So far, 9 unique stations spotted. I shall remain on until the shack PC battery turns off, which should be in the early hours.

UPDATE 2115z: Now 12 uniques spotted.

They're back - NOT amateur radio

Most of my blogs have seen visits way up today. I am sure these are not people with a sudden all absorbing interest in the things I write about. Whatever, I hope they enjoy their visits and then head off to somewhere else. Most probably bots doing a regular trawl for vulnerable sites.

So far, I have had no problems, but if this or my other blogs disappear or suddenly behave oddly you will know why.

10m FT8 RX

Today, this should be quite good for this part of the solar cycle, but a lot will depend on 10m activity. So far, I have been active for about 30 minutes and spotted nothing at all.

UPDATE 1425z: Just a couple of Gs spotted so far today. Very disappointing.

UPDATE 1634z: Now 5 G stations and nothing else today.

Stock market jitters? - NOT amateur radio

Stock markets around the world seem to want to tumble.

This may be a correction (and relatively short lived) or the start of a prolonged downturn with interest rates rising after a very long period of historic lows.

Some of our children have no idea of the sorts of interest rates we paid on our mortgages. At one time (1992?) UK interest rates reached 15%. Today, it is borrow, borrow, borrow as money is cheap. These days may be ending.

Overnight on 472kHz WSPR RX

Last night, 20 unique stations spotted. This is quite a good number.  Again, all were EU stations with none from the USA.

Sunspots - Sunday February 11th 2018

Solar flux is 78 today and the sunspot number a respectable 35. A=6 and K=0.