6 Dec 2016

Late switch to 10m JT65

Rather later than usual, I have gone QRT on MF and am now on 10m JT65 (2W).

Although I have copied South America on most days recently on 10m JT65, my own signal has not been spotted for a few days. Better luck today? Ever hopeful!  I think there are fewer people on 10m JT65, which is a pity.

We should get some Es in the northern hemisphere as there is a small peak around December and January, although I do not know why.

UPDATE 1150z: No spots as yet on 10m JT65. I shall be on until this evening.

UPDATE 1700z: KK1D (3361 miles) Spotted me on 10m JT65 an hour ago. This is the first USA station to spot me this winter on 10m. I was quite surprised.

Sunspots and 10m - Tuesday December 6th 2016

The solar data has been updated.  Solar flux is 81 today. Sunspot number is 37.  A=4 and K=1.

Solar data - delayed

My solar data comes from http://www.hamqsl.com/solar.html but this is still showing yesterday's date, so I am unable to update this as yet.

Overnight on 472kHz

Last evening and overnight I was again on 472kHz (630m) WSPR with 5mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. No new reporters, but I was copied by DL-SWL (701km) again, this time in the late evening.

More ULF tests in Germany

Stefan DK7FC has been busy winding a loading coil so he can carry out radiated tests at 2.97kHz at a distance of 65km. He has already tested successfully at 30km. Up to now his loading coil has not quite reached resonance. At these frequencies very slow data rates are needed, but he is hopeful of success.

5 Dec 2016

Moulton, Suffolk, UK - NOT amateur radio

My brother came up for a few days from Devon, so we went out for a lunchtime meal in the nearby village of Moulton. Here is my wife and my brother on our walk around the village before our meal. There are lots of thatched cottages in this village a few miles from Newmarket. As always, the food at the Packhorse Inn was excellent.

Soar Mill Cove, Devon - NOT amateur radio

This photo was taken 4 years ago in South Devon, UK where I was born.  The cliff walk from Hope Cove to Salcombe is perhaps one of the most beautiful in the world, although I am biased!

Winter sun - NOT amateur radio

We seem to have moved very rapidly from warm summer days to winter. Already we have had more frosts than in all of last winter and it is still December.

Yesterday we did a walk at nearby Anglesey Abbey, where the trees are now bare and the herbaceous borders "sleeping". Another month and the snowdrops and some daffodils will be out.

10m JT65

For about 10 minutes now I have been QRT on 630m WSPR and I am now again on 10m JT65. As yet, no spots given or received.

UPDATE 1648z: LU5MT (11576km) has been spotted on 10m JT65 near the border with Chile. This is very early at 1616z.

Sunspots and 10m - Monday December 5th 2016

Solar flux is 82 today. Sunspot number is 37. A=2 and K=0 .