Uber taxis - NOT amateur radio

Uber has lost its licence to operate in London. It is to appeal. A petition has 500000 signatures already calling on the London authorities to have a change of heart. My son and his wife use Uber.

I am unclear of the facts, but it rather smacks of Luddites with black cab drivers being annoyed their livelihoods are being threatened by 21st century methods and tools. A bit like online shops hitting the high streets?

My view is we cannot stop this: change happens and we have to adapt. Bank branches are closing as many do banking online. Bookshops close as many buy books online. What the high street will look like in 10 years is anyone's guess. All we can say is, "it will be different".

Daddy Long Legs - NOT amateur radio

Some detest these, but I think they are fun. In the autumn, they just crash into things. One year we had 15 in our bedroom at the same time. They are crane flies and their lava live in grass as leather jackets. To me, they are just plain stupid, but I like them. 😀 Body length is about 30cm. Their long legs make them bigger. Harmless.

This one was on the outside of the kitchen window.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daddy_longlegs .

6m FT8 RX

Just one G spotted so far on 6m FT8 in the form of G3LDI (70km) in the Norwich area. No DX as yet on 6m.

UPDATE 1046z: 3 stations in 2 countries so far with best DX TM9MC (267km) near Lille. This is F8KKH using a special callsign to commemorate Marie Curie. I suspect this was aircraft reflection.

UPDATE 1516z: No further spots.

10m WSPR TX (500mW)

Although I have been on 10m WSPR since before breakfast, no spots yet.

UPDATE 1518z: Still no spots received all day.

Sunspots - Saturday September 23rd 2017

Solar flux is 78 today and the sunspot number 22. A=5 and K=2.

630m WSPR RX overnight

Only 6 unique stations spotted last night, although these included my first German this season DC0DX. I shall try again this evening and overnight.

Garden in late September - NOT amateur radio

Our garden is looking more like autumn every day.  All the trees still have leaves, but they are starting to look tired.

Sometime in the next few months we'll get some strong winds and the leaves will be gone until the spring. Our impatients (busy lizzies) are past their best now. Every season has its good points.

QSY to 630m WSPR RX

Today has been the worst day here on 6m and 10m for many months. So, I have again QSYed to 630m WSPR RX.

UPDATE 1851z: First spots this evening were of G3WCE (91km). According to my maps this station is in the Norfolk Broads.

UPDATE 1922z: The next spot was of LA3EQ (769km).

UPDATE 2048z: Also copied were G6AVK (78km), F1AFJ (607km) and DC0DX (467km).

Most, if not all, stations spotted on 630m WSPR this season were also spotted last season.

Rallies this weekend

24 SEPTEMBER 2017 : PENCOED ARC TABLE TOP SALE
Pencoed Rugby Football Club, The Verlands, Felindre Road. Pencoed CF35 5PB Doors open at 8.30am for sellers, buyers at 10am and entry is £2. Tables are £10 each (first come, first served). Refreshments will be available along with hot food in the morning and at lunch time. Bookings with Madeline Roberts on 01639 767056 or 773 837 5775.

24 SEPTEMBER 2017 : BELGIUM AMATEUR RADIO & COMPUTER RALLY
HALL 'LOUVEXPO', rue Michel Debauque/Arthur Delaby, La Louvire, direct access from the motorway (50km south of Brussels). GPS N50 29' 01'' / E04 10' 51'' Open from 9am to 4pm. Talk-in on local FM repeaters 145.600MHz (and Echolink), DMR 438.875MHz and D-Star 439.4375MHz. Features 4000m, trade stands from UK, Holland, Germany, France and flea market. Michel, ON7FI, +32 (0)475 / 45 45 78 or email michel.dewyngaert@skynet.be www.on6ll.be.

A list of rallies can b found at http://rsgb.org/main/news/rallies/

WSPRnet changes

It may have been there for weeks (!) but I have just noticed a change to WSPRnet. You can now tick a box that says, "Excludes calls starting with Q and 0, typically used for balloon telemetry". I have not noticed this before.