Some 2m propagation down to CT3 this morning - around 1000z - CT9ACF made it to around -15 here. On the vertical of course, so he would have been a great signal on a 'proper aerial'. I wasn't in the shack at the time otherwise could have probably worked him.
You can see that here, we're on the edge of the propagation, at the moment at least. Around 1400z, GM0HBK was visible for a couple of periods on 2m.
Other than that, a fair bit of testing with the automatic FT8 QSOs on 18MHz, running 100W (under close supervision!). The software did well only requiring a little manual intervention. Will I be doing lots of this? I don't think so, but it's fun to get going as well as possible.
When you look at the solar data for the day and think....oh! I guess the transpolar paths may not be great today then.
Played a bit of HF FT8 as I was testing an interface that Pete MM9SQL is building between WSJT-X and Cloudlog. Looking useful so far. Nice to catch Rene DL2JRM operating as UT/DL2JRM which must be a new WAFOCC country.
A bit more semi-automatic FT8 operation on 17m in the evening - not sure I want to do a lot of this, but it's quite interesting to get going!
Started off looking for T31TTT on 12m FT8. No sign - but did find TT1GD which was a nice one - I thought it was a new country but after logging it, I noticed I'd worked TT8XX on 10/12m before.
Another QSO today with RI0SP up in the Arctic, this time on 17m CW. He had a very fluttery signal, perhaps not surprising where he is, up in the polar zone.
Bit of a play in the 13z CWT. Hard going to North America on 20 earlier on, but improved later and 15m too - although only really hearing the East Coast. Jim K6AR audible on 20m, but couldn't attract his attention this week.
Nice chat with Roger GW5NF on 80m SSB this afternoon. Missed the 19z CWT as went out for a bite to eat with a friend, but tried a CQ call on 17m when I got back and was really surprised to be called by Dave AL7LO in Anchorage, Alaska - a very easy and enjoyable QSO. I *think* I've only worked Alaska on satellite from here before - and then a nice chat with John W8FJ to close out the day.
Spotted S21WD on 10m FT8 as I got into the shack with 4 streams. Getting nowhere as I write this and will probably head outside and work on the strawberry bed in a moment. As it turned out, they stopped transmitting - so I dropped down on to 20m CW and had a quick chat with Willy LY2PX. Lots of fading - whereas Willy is normally a great signal on 20m in the morning.
So far, I haven't written very much about VHF/UHF activity here. I suppose that's because it's been very quiet on those bands here lately. I got into the shack after we replanted the strawberry bed this morning to find a screen full of CQs on 2m FT8 from GM0HBK up in IO77. This is not entirely unusual and happens a few times a year. It's a good path up the Irish Sea and towards the Western Isles. When conditions are good, I can work 'HBK using 50W to the vertical and we've made it on 70cm as well.
I tried a CQ when I got back to the shack and although it was well heard, it wasn't heard up in IO77! Nice to see some better propagation on 2m though.
A nice QSO on 10m around lunchtime was RI0SP who seems to be up in the Arctic somewhere! There's a picture of a polar bear on his QRZ page! I gather both CY0S and XX9W are QRT now. Pleased to catch Red DL1BUG operating as TY5FR on 12m CW this afternoon.
Ten metres brightened up what seemed to be a fairly poor day for DX in spite of a half decent solar flux; XQ6CF, PY1AX, CX5FK and HH2K in the late afternoon.
Popped out for the evening and when I got back, I was pretty amazed to see this on my 6m screen! Only one decode and I'm sure it wouldn't have been possible to make a QSO. Even so, it looks like I was the only person in the UK to receive VP8LP this evening. He had plenty of spots in Southern Europe as well as North America.
Pleased to find the noise on HF reduced this morning - it's still there, but not as bad as last night. The wind's dropped and it's not as damp, which probably helps. Bands seem pretty quiet this morning though - activity wise.
Got back from a few errands in Fishguard to find Pete MM9SQL had implemented a widget for Cloudlog to show if you are on the air and what frequency you're on. That's on my QRZ page now. Also a message from Ed at RadCom asking if I'd be interested in reviewing the new Moonraker Luna transceiver - the answer of course is yes! The rig's sold out, so it maybe a little while before I get one to have a look at. It looks similar to the TYT copy of the Yaesu FT-8800 although not identical - so I'm guessing it's from a similar but not identical stable..
Had a few calls to try and work Andy 5X2VJ on 10m CW and also S21WD on 20m FT8. Similarly no luck. Time for lunch!
I did catch Andy after lunch once the pileup had run down a bit. It was tough knowing where to call as the pileup was inaudible here. Spent a little time over lunch looking at the pictures from Nigel G3TXF and Ian G3WVG from their operation as 3B8XF and 3B8VV respectively. Looks nice!
Finished some work in the house and came up to the shack with a cuppa and was pleased to find new FOC member, Randy, K5ZD operating from V4 - I managed to sneak a QSO in just before he went QRT. I enjoy working SOTA and POTA portables and working portables from North America is a real thrill. Mike WB2FUV is a regular operator and I've worked him a good few times now. Had a QSO with Mike on 18MHz this afternoon - signals were really marginal today - but we managed to swap reports ok.
CY0S and S21WD expeditions busy on 20m CW after 2030z. Managed to work S21WD which I thought was a new country but apparently isn't! Also nice to catch VK2GR, not as loud as sometimes, but an easy QSO. CY0S had an operator change and Sean G3ESE had posted his QSX frequency on the cluster - tried there and they came back first call. Nice to get CY0 on 20m CW as well as FT8.
Clocks went forward this morning and an early start owing to have to medicate Cedric the cockerel at 0815 meant I was in the shack early. Found FO/F6BCW on 20m CW but didn't seem to get anywhere with the pileup. T31TTT was on 20m FT8 coming through with about 6 streams. They came back about 2nd call which was very pleasing for a new country.
Bands didn't seem that exciting during the day. By the evening, there was a lot of noise on the bands (damp and the overhead power lines no doubt) but CY0S were strong enough to be heard on 17m and had a minimal pileup, so it was nice to work them on CW for a new band country.
Spent a little time playing with a nice radio control package called Wfview which talks to the TS-590SG. I'd hoped that it might work as a remote control package, but it seems their client/server setup only works for Icom radios at the moment. Looks promising for the future though.
BW QSO Party today - and Julie's birthday! So, I didn't plan too much activity as we were heading to Tenby.
Made a few QSOs in the morning and then a few on our return in the evening. particularly on 20m; VK7BO, VK2GR, TY5FR and Andy 5Z4VJ operating as 5X2VJ.
Solar flux heading up today although conditions still don't seem that great, although we're probably starting to see seasonal decline kick in! Last year I pretty much abandoned HF except for SOTA chasing between April and September. Hoping it'll be a bit more interesting this year..
15m brightened up around 1330z, with contacts to FG/F5HRY, PJ7AA and AI0Y. Even caught 10m open to W5ZR in Louisiana around 1600z although the band was fading by then. Worked XQ6CF on 10m CW around sunset. Saw a DX spot that T31TTT were on 10m FT8. I could see their US pileup, but sadly, not them....
EX0T was a nice one on 10MHz around 1900z. Bob's DU7ET as well - always in interesting places.
Wind had dropped so I put the DX Commander Signature 9 back up.
Picked up CY0S on 10MHz CW and shortly after on 14MHz FT8 (new band country). More locally, nice to work Declan EI6FR/P out on the hills in Ireland,
I've heard XX9W on CW a bit this morning but not strong enough to have a go at. Unfortunately TX5EU went QRT while I was away, so I won't be working them :-)
Got home from Haverfordwest and Justin messaged to remind me about the 80m SSB contest. Worked him and about 4 others.
CY0S coming through well on 40m CW, but a few calls didn't work, so I gave up as I'd worked the slot already!
Last morning in Cheltenham. Had a tune around on 40m remotely but no DX heard this morning. Tried a CQ and was well heard around Europe, and worked ON3DEN. The 40 and 80m dipoles seemed ok after a stormy night, which was a relief. VK2IA quite loud on 20m but he was going to have his evening meal and I needed to head up the road to see Mum. Nice to hear VK2IA talking to Steph F5NZY about remote setups.
Popped onto GB3CG and had a chat with John G8CQX.
Got back home around 1300 and had a very quick tune around in the dying moments of the 13z CWT. Conditions seemed very poor, only heard one W on 15m. Made the last few minutes of the 19z CWT and just a handful of QSOs on 20m with little DX. Did hear Tom K7QA with a nice signal but didn't have a chance to call him.
Tried CY0S for a while around 2100z on 18MHz FT8, but they were working mostly Jas. Went onto 15m and was pleased to work Dani LU1JI for a bit of a chat and CX5FK. Code practice from W1AW was pretty loud, so the band was open to the US as well.
