OFCOM updates

As usual, OFCOM has revised the figures it holds about licences etc.. Check the OFCOM website for details.

10m FT8 RX (Friday)

At the moment, I am on 10m FT8 RX. So far, after 10 minutes, at 0856z, 5 stations spotted with the furthermost D2UY (6525km) in Angola.

UPDATE 1527z:  816 stations spotted today on 10m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1803z: 1103 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX (see map).

UPDATE 2045z:  1202 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX today.

Sunspots - Friday September 30th 2022

 Solar flux is 137 and the SSN 56.  A=7 and K=4.

Rally

I have been notified of the following rally on Sunday. As always, make contact with the organisers before travelling any distance.

Sunday October 2nd - Welsh Radio Rally, Newport,  NP18 2YE . See gw6gw.co.uk .

How simple can you make a transceiver?

Many years ago, I built the XBM80-2 80m CW transceiver. It never got cased, but shows how simple a transceiver can be! Somewhere recently I was told that it is a good idea to keep DC from hitting the crystal earpiece. If this is the case, it is probably worth adding a DC blocking capacitor between the audio transistor and earpiece. I have no idea if this is an old wive's tale or fact.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/80m-xbm80-2 .

Shetland - NOT amateur radio

This was on 365project a few days ago. It shows a Shetland scene.

8m QRP FT8

At 1736z, my 8m QRP FT8 was turned on 40.680 MHz hoping for some F2 transatlantic propagation. 

UPDATE 2010z:   No spots. QRT.

Where I was brought up - NOT amateur radio

This is Salcombe in Devon where I lived for part of my childhood. I lived there as a young child until 1959. 

10m WSPR

All being well, I hope to be on 10m WSPR later when we get home. I should be back this afternoon. 

UPDATE 1430z:  Back home at 1329z. 10m QRP FT8 turned on. 19 stations have already spotted me with the furthermost WA5TXY (7632km) near Dallas Texas. On 10m FT8 RX 123 stations already spotted.

UPDATE 1811z:   386 stations spotted on RX and I have been spotted by 33 stations in the last 4 hours (see map).

Sunspots - Thursday September 29th 2022

Solar flux is 135 and the SSN 72. A=5 and K=1.