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Roger G3XBM's (Mainly) Amateur Radio Blog

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Sunspots - Saturday May 15th 2021

Posted: 14 May 2021 10:16 PM PDT http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2021/05/sunspots-saturday-may-15th-2021.html


Solar flux is 71 and the SSN 24. A =4 and K=3.

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Cycle 25 predictions

Posted: 14 May 2021 02:14 AM PDT http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2021/05/cycle-25-predictions.html


We are now on the up-slopes towards the solar peak of cycle 25. I have not
seen very recent forecasts but this forecast suggested it looks as if it
will be very similar to the last peak i.e. quite low.
See https://www.weather.gov/news/201509-solar-cycle .

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10m FT8 QRP (Friday)

Posted: 14 May 2021 11:42 AM PDT http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2021/05/10m-ft8-qrp-friday.html


10m is wide open this morning with Es. I am told 6m is good too, It would
not surprise me if Band 2 FM broadcast opens too. 2m? Probably too high.
I am on 10m FT8 RX at the moment after a brief period on QRP TX with 2.5W,
then 1W, and the indoor tiny loop. 115 stations spotted on RX and 16
stations spotted me in my very brief TX period.
UPDATE 1028z: 255 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX today and I have been
spotted by 27 stations on TX, most with just 1W to the tiny indoor loop antenna. Probably going down to 500mW soon.
UPDATE 1055z: Now TXing with 500mW. 2 spots of my TX so far. 280 stations spotted so far on RX.
UPDATE 1222z: 338 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX. Even with just 500mW TX
I have been spotted by 4 stations.
UPDATE 1342z: 397 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX with just the indoor tiny
loop today. Fantastic Es conditions. Just a handful in Asia and Africa (probably Es).
UPDATE 1439z: 517 stations spotted today on 10m FT8 RX with the tiny
indoor loop. This is definitely the best day yet this Es season. One was
W1JR (5267km). This latter one was probably Es.
Spots of my
1W (sometimes
500mW) 10m FT8
TX with the tiny
indoor loopUPDATE 1520z: 568 stations so far spotted in 5 continents today
on 10m FT8 RX with the tiny indoor loop on the shack windowsill and I have
been spotted by 56 stations on TX. I have never used more than 1W and quite often 500mW today.
Stations spotted
today on 10m
FT8 RXUPDATE 1840z: 887stations have been spotted today on 10m FT8 RX and
104 stations have spotted me on TX despite running 1W or less to the tiny indoor loop.

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