Another UK rally too late

Not sure who is to blame but I am getting rally reminders far too late! Yet again, this is included for completeness as it is totally useless. Let's hope future reminders come much sooner.

2 SEPTEMBER 2018 : TELFORD HAMFEST

Enginuity Centre, Coalbrookdale, Telford, TF8 7DQ. Numerous trader and exhibitor stands booked for visitors to enjoy and also a variety of presentations from guest speakers in the adjacent historic Darby Boardroom. New improved car parking facilities. Admission £4.50 (accompanied under 16s free) from 10am. RSGB Bookstand. On-site catering. Martyn, G3UKV, 01952 255416 (hamfest@ukv.me.uk). www.telfordhamfest.org.uk.

A list of rallies can be found at http://rsgb.org/main/news/rallies/

FT8call

This is a variant of FT8 that allows longer messages. Usual frequencies are a few kHz up from the usual FT8 window. I have not tried this yet.

WSPR or FT8?

As you know, I usually go on 10m WSPR TX, but today I am on 10m FT8 instead. OK, on 10m WSPR I usually TX with my WSPR beacon at 500mW. On FT8, I am mostly RX, but CQs go out at 2.5W. In both cases I use the same antenna, which could be several dBs better.

My impression is there is far more activity on 10m FT8 than 10m WSPR, although I have not really done a fair test. In theory WSPR should be better than FT8, but I am sure the 15 second TX periods in FT8 help to "smoke out" some brief openings. In WSPR the TX periods are 2 minutes.

If today is anything to go by, 10m FT8 is keeping 10m going for longer than many expected with good Es still into September.

Egyptian Goose - NOT amateur radio

This goose was spotted in Norwich yesterday. I think it is an Egyptian goose, which is an introduced bird. They are now spreading and quite common in Norfolk.

See https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/egyptian-goose

More Norwich - NOT amateur radio

This is another picture of Norwich taken yesterday. It shows the market reflected in sunglasses.

On many levels, Norwich is a great city. By road it is about 1 hour 15 minutes away. By train from Ely it takes about 1 hour.

Solar cycle 25 predictions

This quote is from http://www.solen.info/solar/polarfields/polar.html

"As of July 2018 the strength of the polar fields hints at a cycle 25 with a magnitude slightly stronger than that of cycle 24."

In a few years we will have a better idea. I hope they are right!

See also https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_cycle_25 . At the moment this doesn't say a lot, but I expect it will soon say a lot more.

Solar data for August available.

If you are interested in the solar data for last month and much more check out http://www.solen.info/solar/

10m FT8

For a change today, I think I am going to try 10m FT8. Activity on FT8 seems greater than WSPR, but the main Es season has ended, so I am unsure of the level of activity. I am about to turn things on (0815z). Although mostly RX I'll call CQ occasionally (2.5W).

UPDATE 0829z: Now active. Called CQ on 10m FT8, but no spots. So far, no-one else spotted. I live in hope!

UPDATE 0938z: Still no spots.

UPDATE 1124z: My CQ calls were not spotted. On RX 5 stations in 5 countries spotted with best DX 9A7JCY (1424km) in Croatia. I suspect this is Es. There seems more FT8 activity than WSPR. I think the 15 seconds (rather than 2 minutes for WSPR) TX period helps.

UPDATE 1451z: Now 14 stations in 10 countries spotted today on 10m FT8 RX. Most look like Es. Best DX spotted is YO2CI (1681km).

UPDATE 1817z: Now 15 stations in 10 countries spotted today on 10m FT8. There is still Es about!

UPDATE 1937z: Quite late this evening 3 Brazilians were spotted on 10m FT8. Best DX was PP5BK (10114km). Considering conditions as we approach sunspot minimum are the pits, this was a total surprise on 10m FT8 RX. I shall probably try 10m FT8 again tomorrow.

Sunspots - Sunday September 2nd 2018

The slow plod to the sunspot minimum continues.

Solar flux is still 67 and the SSN still 0. A=5 and K=1.

Rally and Buildathon - too late?

The following has only just been seen. It was rather late coming to me, and is included for completeness today being Sept 1st!

1 SEPTEMBER 2018 : G-QRP CLUB AND TELFORD & DISTRICT ARS BUILDATHON
Telford at the Park Inn Hotel, Telford, TF3 4NA. Steve Hartley G0FUW is leading the Bath style 'Buildathon' which this year features a design by Heather. M0HMO described as an 'HF Swiss Army Knife', a small digital, very portable device that will measure VSWR, RF power, DC voltage, resistance, continuity, HF frequency, GPS (Lat/long, Maidenhead and OS Grid ref) and more, for around £20. The Buildathon venue opens from 7pm and Heather recommends pre-booking for the project by calling her on 0780 254 8938 or email heather@myorangedragon.com . Bookings for a concessionary overnight stay at the Buildathon venue can be made directly to the Park Inn Hotel on 01952 429988, ASAP, making mention of the GQRP Radio event. Further information at www.telfordhamfest.org.uk.

A list of rallies can be found at http://rsgb.org/main/news/rallies/