Past the worst?

The latest solar data has been published. This source seems to think we are moving beyond the solar minimum.

Sunspots - Saturday February 2nd 2019

Solar flux is 71 today and the SSN 0. A=17 and K=3. Bouncing along the solar minimum?

472kHz WSPR

For a change, I have gone back on 472kHz WSPR (10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground). Already a couple of spots with best DX on TX G0MRF (139km) even though the transverter has not yet settled fully.

UPDATE 2125z: Still just a couple of spots of me, but 10 spots, so far, of others with best DX being LA2XPA (1310km).

UPDATE 2225z: Now 4 stations have spotted my QRPP with best DX a spot by PA3ABK (306km).

China-USA trade war - NOT amateur radio

Reports indicate that a trade war between the USA and China may be ending. At least that is one less mess for President Trump to clear up. What about Israel, Russia, Syria, Afghanistan, Iran, Mexico to name just a few? Midas touch? Hardly.

My advice (which I am certain will be ignored!) is engage brain, listen to experts, then tweet if you really think this adds value. Otherwise, please, just shut up. Most in the world look on in wonder.

Cambridge in winter - NOT amateur radio

As mentioned yesterday (I think) Cambridge is a lot quieter at this time of the year. There are still visitors, but fewer. In many ways this is a good time to visit the city.

The photo shows Trinity Street looking towards St John's College. The world famous Bridge of Sighs is about 200m away on the left.

Heffers, on the right, is the biggest bookshop in Cambridge. When I first came to Cambridge in 1970, there were Heffers shops in several places around the town.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridge_of_Sighs_(Cambridge)

10m FT8 RX

Although monitoring 10m FT8 RX since breakfast, only a couple of UK stations spotted with G4HZW (212km) the best DX so far on 10m today.

UPDATE 1444z: Still just those 2 UK spots today.

160m FT8 RX overnight

Quite a decent night with 18 North Americans and 1 Caribbean stations spotted overnight. Best DX was K6NR (8616km) on the west coast of the USA. Still using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.

Stations spotted here last 

night on 160m FT8 RX.

More OFCOM consultations

OFCOM is consulting again, this time on wireless technology.

See https://www.ofcom.org.uk/spectrum/spectrum-management/supporting-role-wireless-innovation-uk-industry

Solar numbers

In a while, I shall check the solar data for January to see if there are any updates on the size and dates of the solar minimum and the next peak. This data is usually available quite early in the month.

See http://www.solen.info/solar/

Sunspots - Friday February 1st 2019

Solar flux is 72 and the SSN 0. A=14 and K=3.