[G3XBM] Sunspots - Wednesday October 27th 2021

[G3XBM via rec.radio.amateur.moderated Admin]

Roger G3XBM's (Mainly) Amateur Radio Blog

///////////////////////////////////////////
Sunspots - Wednesday October 27th 2021

Posted: 26 Oct 2021 10:33 PM PDT
http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2021/10/sunspots-wednesday-october-27th-2021.html


Solar flux is 109 and the SSN 95 (pretty good). A=5 and K=1.

///////////////////////////////////////////
Building a radio

Posted: 26 Oct 2021 07:14 AM PDT
http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2021/10/buidling-radio.html


This was my grandson in the shack learning to solder and building a radio.
He got the hang of soldering very quickly.
Whether he will have a lifelong hobby only time will tell.
He was thrilled that he could hear signals.

///////////////////////////////////////////
CQ WW DX SSB contest

Posted: 26 Oct 2021 06:42 AM PDT
http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2021/10/cq-ww-dx-ssb-contest.html


This weekend is the CQWW DX contest SSB leg. In years gone by, I filled
pages in my logbook with QSOs, but since my stroke it has been far harder.
This year, 10m should be pretty good after poor conditions for several
years. I hope to pop on to work a few stations, although I never submit a
contest log. Many times I forget it is on! It runs all weekend and usually
the HF bands are buzzing.
See https://www.cqww.com/ .

///////////////////////////////////////////
10m FT8 RX (Tuesday)

Posted: 26 Oct 2021 06:32 AM PDT
http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2021/10/10m-ft8-rx-tuesday_26.html


My gear was turned on at about 1050z. So far, 115 stations spotted.
UPDATE 1316z: 198 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX.


///////////////////////////////////////////
Ferrite rod loading

Posted: 26 Oct 2021 07:02 AM PDT
http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2021/10/ferrite-rod-loading.html



On both 630m WSPR and 160m FT8 RX I have had great success using the
FT817ND and the coax to my 2m big-wheel antenna. Just a mains earth was
used in my case. If you cannot use this I expect a simple external ground
would do instead. The tapped ferrite rod is shown. This was used as an
ATU. The coax is quite short and the big-wheel about 5m at its highest. At
its lowest the coax is about 50cm off the ground.
On 160m my noise level is S8-9. Despite this I can copy loads on FT8.

///////////////////////////////////////////
Sunspots - Tuesday October 26th 2021

Posted: 26 Oct 2021 04:03 AM PDT
http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2021/10/sunspots-tuesday-october-26th-2021.html


Solar flux is 101 and the SSN 81. A=5 and K=1.