Today, I decided to try 2m 3W FT8 instead of 6m in the hope of some Es.
UPDATE 1043z: 3 Eire, English and Welsh stations have spotted me with the best EI2FG (563km). 5 English stations have been spotted here. EI2FG has spotted me several times this morning - scatter?
UPDATE 1425z: In the last hour I reduced the power still further to 2W FT8 to the big-wheel omni antenna. Despite this, I am still being spotted in Eire and N.Ireland. No sign of Es here today on 2m FT8.
To me, it seems inevitable that we will evolve to electric vehicles (EVs) in the coming years.
There has been a lot in the press about a breakthrough promising huge ranges, lower costs and fast charging times. It would appear that there are many competing approaches and it is far from clear which will emerge as winners.
There is clearly a wish to move away from rare earth materials, to ensure safety and move away from fossil fuels.
In my view we are not (quite) there yet, but we are now getting very very close to a breakthrough.
My beacon was turned on before breakfast.
UPDATE 1014z: 22 stations spotting me. Some have spotted me over 60 times!
As I write this piece Israel and Iran are in the middle of a shooting match that will get the world nowhere.
All that will happen is yet more distrust and hatred.
When will people ever learn?
UPDATE 1049z: Yes, they ARE all mad!! Israel, USA and Iran. Mad and stupid.
At the moment I don’t have any plans to return to 8m FT8. Instead I plan a return to 3W 6m FT8 and 200mW 10m WSPR …as long as there is no thunder!!
The Es season is well with us again. The usual sport is working loads of short skip on VHF.
Later in the season people get excited by far more distant E layer propagation such as across the Atlantic.
Often DX may be worked with really low power . Signals can be fleeting but strong and often quite localised.
When I first came to Cambridge I recall hearing 2m AM signals from Italy as strong as locals.
UPDATE 0914z: It looks like 2m Es in Eastern Europe. Today, I may try 2m 3W FT8 rather than 6m FT8.
In the past I had no problems with spelling.
Either as a result of my 2013 stroke or old age, it would appear that I can no longer just see by looking how some words are spelt. It is as if my built-in spell-check no longer works as well as it did.
To close the day, I have QSYed to 8m FT8 on 40.680MHz RX.
UPDATE 1821z: No spots. QRT soon.
If there are copyright issues let me know and I’ll remove it.
Iran has been viewed by many as an evil state, but there are better ways to deal with them.
In the past I have always found the people I have met in and from the USA to be kind and generous. The current situation saddens me.
Just like the dotcom bubble, lots are putting money into AI. In many ways those gambling on the stock markets are behaving as if we are living in a world without crises.
In reality, we have the Strait of Hormuz still blocked, the wars in Iran and Ukraine continuing, high fuel prices, higher than expected inflation, high interest rates etc. The world is in a mess.
All the signs are appearing that the markets are about to crash. Many of us (whether we know it or not) have money invested in the stock markets via pension funds. Many invest in the stock markets as individuals.
Wear your hard hats!
UPDATE 1013z: So far, spotted by 108 stations. Good Es.
UPDATE 1824z: 223 stations have spotted me. Now QRT. See map showing stations spotting me today on 6m FT8.
My beacon was turned on before breakfast.
UPDATE 1824z: 88 stations have spotted me. QRT soon.
Allegedly, the US secretary of state for peace made a speech at the ceremony celebrating D-Day criticising European immigration.
This is NOT the place.
During WW2 the USA 🇺🇸 was a reliable friend. Sadly this cannot be said anymore.
Later I shall probably go on 6m 3W FT8 and 10m 200mW WSPR. At some point I may check if the Heathkit HW8 I bought works.
Battery technology is improving year on year with CATL, China's biggest battery manufacturer, working towards batteries that would end "range anxiety" for ever.
Despite being half the day, not a single station spotted. If this had been 6m or 10m I would have spotted quite a few stations.
It would appear US politicians are, more and more, seeking to interfere in European politics, conveniently forgetting that the USA was originally mostly migrants and they have a huge issue with gun deaths.
As was once said (I paraphrase) "look at the plank in your eye first".
Basically keep out until your own house is in order, and don't lecture us.
It was obviously in danger of falling down.
Today, I decided to try 2m 3W FT8 instead of 6m in the hope of some Es. UPDATE 1043z: 3 Eire, English and Welsh stations have spotted me ...
