8m FT8 RX (Wednesday)

From about 1100z I have been monitoring 40.680MHz FT8.

UPDATE 1434z:  4 stations in Europe spotted in 4 different countries.

At one time I held a UK TX permit for 8m that I had to pay for. Comparing 8m with 6m, I decided not to renew it. I do not regret my decision.

10m 200mW WSPR TX (Wednesday)

My beacon was turned on at about 0805z.

UPDATE 2011z: Spotted by 101 stations. Amazing Es. Now QRT.

Canterbury last week

One of our sons lives in Canterbury, Kent, UK. 

The photo, taken by our son, shows us walking back to his car with our granddaughter.

6m 3W FT8 (Wednesday)

My gear was turned on at about 0805z.

UPDATE 1120z:  Spotted by 264 stations here so far today. See map. Best Es yet.

10th century iPhone?

Many people do not wear a watch preferring to see the time on their smartphone. 

The picture shows a 10th century pocket sundial. Not quite sure what happened when there was no sun 😂. 

It was found in Canterbury in 1938.

2m FT8 yesterday

For about 30 minutes, as usual, I went on the 2m activity contest.  I worked 4 stations with my 10W, poor voice and big-wheel omni antenna. 

Just before finishing, just for fun, I put out a call with 5W 2m FT8. Immediately I was spotted by PA2M (312km). 

It is so much easier on FT8. In all my years with 10W in the 2m activity contest, I don't think I have worked a single station in mainland Europe.  I think the main issues are my low ERP, my short time active and my poor voice.

Quartet Jazz Standards Podcast

My son, who is a professional jazz pianist, was featured on a recent podcast.

See https://www.quartetpodcast.com/2462355/episodes/19257777-episode-50-tim-lapthorn-piano-yesterdays?t=0

Sunspots - Wednesday June 3rd

 Solar flux is 146 and the SSN 133. A=6 and K=3.

PC chips

 It would appear there is a big push to smaller ICs and lower power consumption. Huawai may have made a breakthrough in how ICs are made. See this video from 2 bit DaVinci.

8m FT8 RX (Tuesday)

 My gear was turned on at 1215z:

UPDATE  1246z:  Just one spot of a station in northern Spain -  EB1B (1050km).

There appears to be a general lack of activity on 8m. I know my antenna is not the best and is fixed.  I do not regret re-applying for a TX permit.

Meidas Videos

It would appear President Trump of the USA is in a mess. Iran is making life hard for US negotiators. 

There would seem to be no easy way out with the USA coming out with power and believing this is a victory.  

Yes, they have inflicted a heavy blow to the Iranian navy and air-force, but the Iranians still have drones and control of the Strait of Hormuz. 

In my view, this was a war that should not have been fought.

It seems, allegedly, the US administration was banking on regime change to a regime more in support of western values. This has not happened. 

Arguably, Iran has emerged stronger on the global stage and the USA weaker.  

It has been hard for people to be clear of the objectives for this war. One of the videos I enjoy is the Meidas Touch.

6m 3W FT8 (Tuesday)

My gear was turned on just after 1000z.

UPDATE 1016z:  Spotted by 34 stations already and 29 stations spotted here.

UPDATE 1447z:  After seeing rumours about a 6m opening to the USA, I gave up on 8m and returned to 6m FT8. No joy so far. 105 stations have spotted my 3W 6m FT8 today - mostly Europeans.

Toad in the compost (again)

Yesterday. I was planting some bedding plants in the front garden. 

I mixed my own compost with some commercial compost. 

Imagine my surprise when a toad was spotted in the commercial  compost. 

It may be the one I spotted a few weeks ago.

10m 200mW WSPR (Tuesday)

 I was a bit concerned about thunder, but at the moment it is clear here, so my beacon was turned on at 1000z.

UPDATE 1302z: Spotted by 17 stations already!!  Good Es, especially this morning.

Sunspots - Tuesday June 2nd

 Solar flux is 132 and the SSN 146. A=9 and K=1.

6m 3W FT8 (Monday)

My gear has been on much of the morning.

UPDATE 1645z: Spotted by 147 stations with the best D4L (4517 km) and 159 stations spotted here including my first from the USA this summer on 6m.

10m 200mW WSPR (Monday)

My beacon was turned on just after breakfast.

UPDATE  1405z:   6 European stations spotting me.

New AI chip for home PCs

Nvidia has announced a new chip for PCs that brings AI to home PCs in a big way rivalling big chip manufacturers like Intel.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crmp9mppvzro

Solar conditions

 We are now on the downward part of the solar cycle with the peak a few years ago. Conditions are still quite good, but will decline later.  Often the higher bands are better than activity suggests.

The magic band

Many people think of 6m as the "magic band". Openings occur when least expected. Other times all that can be heard is white noise.

Around this time, as regular as clockwork, 6m opens to the Far East from Western Europe, probably linked to the formation of noctilucent clouds. 

At this time of year Es often links with F2 propagation further south bringing really long distance communication within range such as yesterday when stations well south in Brazil were copied on 6m. Stations in the Caribbean were also being worked, so perhaps the first hop was some sort of chordal hop E layer propagation. 

I’m only using a V2000 vertical so those with high gain beams could have done much better. 

I can see why many call it the "magic band" !!