Wicken windmill - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday we did a walk at nearby Wicken where this windmill is. There is another at Wicken Fen which used to pump water. I think this one ground corn for flour.

Sunspots - Thursday August 3rd 2017

Solar flux is 75 today. Sunspot count is 12.  A=5 and K=1.

Return to 6m FT8

Actually, I was going to go on 6m MSK144 RX, but the frequencies recommended in WSJT-X v1.8 are not those I expected, so I have returned to FT8 instead. I see that M1BXF (14km) copied my brief CQ, but mostly I am RX only.

UPDATE 1925z: Best DX on 6m FT8 RX this evening is G8AQP (123km). This is probably aircraft reflection, although it could be tropo.

UPDATE 2035z: G3YDY (65km) is the latest on 6m FT8 RX. I think I'm too late for Es.

UPDATE 2118z:  Although I have spotted no new stations in the last hour, I think I'll remain on 6m FT8 RX overnight.

Near Wicken Fen - NOT amateur radio

This morning we enjoyed a walk near Wicken Fen. Fenland skies are large and, in their own way, beautiful.

The walk was longer than I thought. These days I find it harder to judge distances and speeds.

Old friends - NOT amateur radio

We got a surprise visit from some old friends who moved from our village to the Cotswolds some years ago. They just turned up in their camper van. They stayed for a cup of tea and came back for lunch the next day. The photo was taken as they left. It was good to see them.

Where I was born - NOT amateur radio

It is fun to say I was born in a grand stately home, but I was! After WW2 Flete House was a nursing home. In another age, I would have been born in a very modest place.

I am pretty sure I've posted this before, but it is fun to pretend I was born of nobility. 😏

20m FT8 RX overnight

Well, as an experiment I stayed on 20m FT8 overnight. There is a big take-up in the USA and Europe of this new mode. I lost count of the USA stations spotted using 20m FT8, but it was at least 21. In the other direction Kuwait and all over Europe were spotted. There is little doubt this will become the de facto digital mode for QSOs, especially on 20m.

It is a pity there is not a WSPR mode with a shorter period, maybe 30 secs. Several brief openings are missed on WSPR and WSPR is an ideal beaconing mode.

UPDATE 1708z: JA1BOQ (9484km) is currently the best DX on 20m FT8 RX.

2m UKAC activity contest last night

Last night was the August 2m UKAC activity contest organised by the RSGB.  Best DX was 182km, although I was on for less than an hour with just 5W and a big-wheel omni antenna.

As before, if I had been able to stay on longer, I'd have worked several more squares and stations. Sadly, my stroke affected voice said, "stop".

Stations worked last night in the contest.

Sunspots - Wednesday August 2nd 2017

Solar flux is 73 today and the sunspot number 0. A=6 and K=1.

Visits - NOT amateur radio

Even without the regular trawling by our Eastern European "friends", visits to this blog are way up. All I hope is that the content is enjoyed. I enjoy doing it, as it does not involve my poor voice. Usually, the content is pretty mixed. Mostly, but not exclusively, it is amateur radio related.