Here is this week’s space weather and geophysical report, issued 2018 Sep 03 0229 UTC.

Highlights of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 27 August – 02 September 2018

Solar activity was at very low levels. Both Regions 2719 (S07, L=131 class/area Cro/040 on 23 Aug) and 2720 (N08, L=136 class/area Dao/100 on 25 Aug) quietly rotated off the disk on 29 Aug as areas of plage. Region 2720 resided on the disk as a low latitude, reverse polarity group. No Earth-directed CMEs were observed.

No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit was at very high levels on 28-29 Aug and at high levels on 27 Aug, 30-31 Aug and 01-02 Sep). A peak flux of 97,630 pfu was observed at 28/2145 UTC.

Geomagnetic field activity ranged from unsettled to G1 (Minor) and G2 (Moderate) storm levels on 27 Aug followed by unsettled to active levels on 28 Aug. Quiet levels persisted on 29 Aug – 02 Sep. The period began under the continued, but waning, effects from the 19 and 20 Aug CMEs. This was coupled with influence from a positive polarity CH HSS. Solar wind speeds began the period near 550 km/s and gradually increased to a peak speed of 666 km/s observed at 17/1730 UTC. Total IMF reached 7 nT at 27/1607 UTC while the Bz component reached a maximum southward extent of -6 nT at 27/1627 UTC.

By midday on 28 Aug, field activity declined to quiet levels and remained so through the end of the summary period. The IMF was at nominal levels while solar wind speed gradually decreased to near 340 km/s by the end of the period.

Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 03 September – 29 September 2018

Solar activity is expected to be at very low levels through the outlook period. A slight chance for low levels is possible from 05-24 Sep with the return of old Regions 2718 (S07, L=191), 2719 (S07, L=131) and 2720 (N08, L=136).

No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to be at high levels on 03-04 Sep, 13-20 Sep and 23-26 Sep due to recurrent CH HSS influence. Normal to moderate levels are expected on 05-12 Sep, 21-22 Sep and 27-29 Sep.

Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be at unsettled levels on 03 Sep due to effects from a SSBC. Unsettled to active levels are anticipated on 07-09 Sep, 11-17 Sep and 22-23 Sep with G1 (Minor) geomagnetic storm levels possible on 11 Sep, all due to CH HSS activity.

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In this episode, Martin M1MRB is joined by Chris Howard M0TCH, Dan Romanchik KB6NU, Martin Rothwell M0SGL, and Frank Howell K4FMH to discuss the latest Amateur / Ham Radio news. Colin M6BOY rounds up the news in brief, and this episode’s feature is - Loudspeakers for Ham Radio.

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Ham College episode 44 is now available for download.
General Amateur Radio Exam part 15. Skywaves, MUF, more HF Antennas.
01:07:35
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iCW is a system of CW using the internet. I’ve mentioned it before so won’t go into the edtail here, but, I like it and I’m sure others won’t, probably because it uses no RF. My counter to that is Morse didn’t always use RF so what’s the deal? Regardless of your feeling it is easy nowadays to pay little attention to tone as modern rigs have a user definable tone and they are generally a well formed sine wave. This, as I found out, isn’t the case when using external keyers.

I bought a K16 keyer kit from Kanga Kits for next to nothing in today’s terms with the anticipation of connecting it to iCW through the internal soundcard. perhaps using the computer as a kind of filter to keep some of the rough edges away. What resulted in iCW was the ‘sound of sanitation’ as we dubbed it. Basically it is a brilliant keyer and I’d recommend it to anyone but sounded like $hit when on its own. It probably isn’t meant to be used like that though so don’t pay too much attention to that.

Next up was a filter using the Sotabeams DSP audio filter, let’s not assume that I am using this as its intended purpose but there could be some mileage in having a play and seeing what happed. There was an improvement but not as much as the audio output from a rig. So to continue the sewage based analogy the attempt at polishing the turd succeeded only in rolling it in glitter.

Last up was the more elegant solution. A handy filter called the Hi-Per Mite. For the lazy it makes the squarish wave that comes out to the K16 a little more sine like. For the intrigued a greater explanation is available at the place where you can buy these, the 4 States QRP Club.

The audio samples and graphs go to show that with a relatively small interaction a filter is all you need to prevent your calls be ignored for any number of reasons except for perfect tone. I would be pleased if the two components could be easily integrated as not only an exceptionally competent keyer but also practice oscillator.

Zoiks!

I wasn’t ure what I was seeing here. Apart from the fact that the tone is enough to make you want to turn it off!

Ah thats better…Just one signal and pleasureable to listen to as well

So, what have I learnt this time?

The K16 Keyer is excellent but needs some help to make it sound nice. The Hi-Per Mite filter is just the companion it needs.