LA8AJA's homepage

As I was setting up N1MMLogger to try to catch some new countries on RTTY, I noticed that another update of MMTTY was issued. The official site now has info about the update AA6YQ released. Get the new version here: http://mmhamsoft.amateur-radio.ca/mmtty/

Thanks to JE3HHT and AA6YQ for making this new version possible!
Makoto (Mako) has made the source code available to Dave and given him
permission to make program updates. Dave is the author of the DXLab suite
of programs and has taken time from his busy schedule to do programming on MMTTY. Please check out his programs at http://www.dxlabsuite.com

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Revision history Ver1.66F -> Ver1.66G
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1. Changes to the Main window’s Options menu

– Soundcard Output Level works on Vista (tnx to Ken VE5KC)

– Soundcard Input Level works on Vista (tnx to Ken VE5KC)

I had some time before work today, so I turned on the radio and checked the cluster. A25/DL7DF was active. A2 is pretty rare for me. After a few calls, I managed to work them on 20M (for a new one) and 17M. I also made some CQ’s on 30M today as well. I worked VK4AT Trevor, ZL2IFB Gary (homepage) and ZL1BYZ John (homepage). Signals were a bit up and down with some flutter, with John being the strongest.

I haven’t been much active or eager lately for radio, but when I have the opportunity to call CQ and get answers from DX, I start to remember the fun I had with this hobby when I started out. It makes me want to be more active again.

A few updates here and there today:

• LA9DFA has regained interest in hamradio after a while of absence. He improved his Morserunner score 3 times in a short period. The table on my page is updated.
• Logsearch has been updated with the latest LA8AJA qso’es.
• LoTW has been updated with the latest LA8AJA qso’es.
• Several tweaks of the theme has been done. WP-Pagenavi has been added to the search resultpage and categoripage. The look has also been edited for the same pages. They now match the other pages.

Yesterday I thought that I would try some CQ’s on 30M to see if I could attract any dx. I noticed this weekend that OJ0J was spotted by the US at around 12z, so I thought why not try myself. The band was pretty quiet, but after a few CQ’s, the first JA was in the log with JA1QVR. 7 more followed after that with JH2GZY, JA2DXD, JH7JVJ (best signal), JA8JC, JA1MZL, JA0EME (wonder if he is active on EME) and JH6JMM. Signals were mostly good, but with some qsb. I also worked three UA0’s with UA0BBA, RU0AK and RU0SU. K0BLT from Nebraska was the last QSO in the log. It was nice to see that one of my favourite bands was open for some DX in broad daylight.

LA7SL sent me a mail with some good news yesterday. Finally new sunspots appearing. This is certainly great news for all radioamateurs. The higher bands has been quite dead way too long. Read the news below.

Space Weather News for Sept. 22, 2008
http://spaceweather.com

NEW SUNSPOT: For the first time in months, a significant sunspot is emerging on the sun. It is a fast-growing active region with two dark cores, each larger than Earth. The magnetic polarity of the sunspot identifies it as a member of new Sunspot Cycle 24. Because the year 2008 has brought so many blank suns, some observers have wondered if we are ever going to climb out of the ongoing deep solar minimum. Today’s new sunspot is an encouraging sign that the 11-year solar cycle is indeed progressing, albeit slowly. Visit http://spaceweather.com for sunspot photos and updates.

SEPTEMBER EQUINOX: Seasons on Earth change much faster than they do on the sun. Today, autumn begins in the northern hemisphere and spring in the southern hemisphere when the sun crosses the celestial equator. The crossing, called the "equinox," takes place at 1544 UT (11:44 EDT) on Monday, Sept. 22nd. Happy equinox!

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