G3XBM via rec.radio.amateur.moderated Admin
2018-11-03 04:57:08 UTC
Roger G3XBM's (Mainly) Amateur Radio Blog
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QRT
Posted: 02 Nov 2018 03:26 PM PDT
http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2018/11/qrt.html
Tonight, I have gone QRT and will not be on 472kHz WSPR overnight.
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Another video being prepared
Posted: 02 Nov 2018 03:24 PM PDT
http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2018/11/another-video-being-prepared.html
Later this weekend, I hope to have another video on my G3XBM YouTube
channel. Someone suggested a walkthrough of the shack and antennas with me
commentating. This I have done, although I need to put these clips together
with MovieMaker, which I think is on an old PC.
My voice is bad these days, so I apologise in advance. Maybe you will have
to watch a few times if you miss the odd word. If I can, I'll explain
things in words on the screen if I can remember how to do this! As I said,
should be ready later this weekend.
Like buses, you wait for ages, then several come along.
UPDATE 2225z: For reasons I don't understand, MovieMaker would not allow
me to save the video. Over the weekend I may try a different package if I
can find one.
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Solar conditions
Posted: 02 Nov 2018 03:33 PM PDT
http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2018/11/solar-conditions.html
Every month I look out for the solar numbers for the last month and the
latest forecasts for solar cycle 25, especially to see the latest "expert"
views on the timing of the minimum and the size of the next peak. The best
place I find is http://www.solen.info/solar/.
Although the "experts" are saying we are already at, or very near, solar
minimum, the graphs could be interpreted as the minimum continuing for
another year or so. If you know of better predictions, please let us know.
According to http://www.solen.info/solar/cycle25_spots.html the minimum is
expected to be between August 2018 and February 2019 i.e. now.
"As of September 2018 the strength of the polar fields hints at a cycle 25
with a magnitude slightly stronger than that of cycle 24." This is a quote
from the above website.
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472kHz WSPR
Posted: 02 Nov 2018 08:08 AM PDT
http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2018/11/472khz-wspr_2.html
Overnight was only average.
On 472kHz WSPR RX 16 stations spotted with LA1TN (1269km) as the best DX.
On TX just 6 stations (all in England) spotted my 10mW ERP.
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10m FT8
Posted: 02 Nov 2018 09:43 AM PDT
http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2018/11/10m-ft8_2.html
An earlier CQ (2.5W) was spotted by no-one and just a single spot, so far,
on FT8 RX of PA2RG (318km). I suspect this was aircraft reflection although
it could be tropo.
UPDATE 1642z: Just 3 stations spotted in 3 countries on 10m FT8 today with
best DX 9A7JCY (1424km) in Croatia. Dire! For me at least, this has been a
bad 10m day.
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Sunspots - Friday November 2nd 2018
Posted: 02 Nov 2018 02:19 AM PDT
http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2018/11/sunspots-friday-november-2nd-2018.html
The pits!
I cannot recall when solar conditions have been this bad since the last
solar minimum around 2008. Solar flux is just 66 and the sunspot number
zero. A=5 and K=2. Hopefully we will soon see the start of cycle 25 and
somewhat better numbers.
///////////////////////////////////////////
QRT
Posted: 02 Nov 2018 03:26 PM PDT
http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2018/11/qrt.html
Tonight, I have gone QRT and will not be on 472kHz WSPR overnight.
///////////////////////////////////////////
Another video being prepared
Posted: 02 Nov 2018 03:24 PM PDT
http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2018/11/another-video-being-prepared.html
Later this weekend, I hope to have another video on my G3XBM YouTube
channel. Someone suggested a walkthrough of the shack and antennas with me
commentating. This I have done, although I need to put these clips together
with MovieMaker, which I think is on an old PC.
My voice is bad these days, so I apologise in advance. Maybe you will have
to watch a few times if you miss the odd word. If I can, I'll explain
things in words on the screen if I can remember how to do this! As I said,
should be ready later this weekend.
Like buses, you wait for ages, then several come along.
UPDATE 2225z: For reasons I don't understand, MovieMaker would not allow
me to save the video. Over the weekend I may try a different package if I
can find one.
///////////////////////////////////////////
Solar conditions
Posted: 02 Nov 2018 03:33 PM PDT
http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2018/11/solar-conditions.html
Every month I look out for the solar numbers for the last month and the
latest forecasts for solar cycle 25, especially to see the latest "expert"
views on the timing of the minimum and the size of the next peak. The best
place I find is http://www.solen.info/solar/.
Although the "experts" are saying we are already at, or very near, solar
minimum, the graphs could be interpreted as the minimum continuing for
another year or so. If you know of better predictions, please let us know.
According to http://www.solen.info/solar/cycle25_spots.html the minimum is
expected to be between August 2018 and February 2019 i.e. now.
"As of September 2018 the strength of the polar fields hints at a cycle 25
with a magnitude slightly stronger than that of cycle 24." This is a quote
from the above website.
///////////////////////////////////////////
472kHz WSPR
Posted: 02 Nov 2018 08:08 AM PDT
http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2018/11/472khz-wspr_2.html
Overnight was only average.
On 472kHz WSPR RX 16 stations spotted with LA1TN (1269km) as the best DX.
On TX just 6 stations (all in England) spotted my 10mW ERP.
///////////////////////////////////////////
10m FT8
Posted: 02 Nov 2018 09:43 AM PDT
http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2018/11/10m-ft8_2.html
An earlier CQ (2.5W) was spotted by no-one and just a single spot, so far,
on FT8 RX of PA2RG (318km). I suspect this was aircraft reflection although
it could be tropo.
UPDATE 1642z: Just 3 stations spotted in 3 countries on 10m FT8 today with
best DX 9A7JCY (1424km) in Croatia. Dire! For me at least, this has been a
bad 10m day.
///////////////////////////////////////////
Sunspots - Friday November 2nd 2018
Posted: 02 Nov 2018 02:19 AM PDT
http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2018/11/sunspots-friday-november-2nd-2018.html
The pits!
I cannot recall when solar conditions have been this bad since the last
solar minimum around 2008. Solar flux is just 66 and the sunspot number
zero. A=5 and K=2. Hopefully we will soon see the start of cycle 25 and
somewhat better numbers.