Catalans declare independence from Spain - NOT amateur radio

Although I have not yet checked the Euro, the declaration of independence from Spain of Catalonia is likely to spark a crisis. Catalonia now, Basques later?

Spain is in deep trouble.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-41780116 .

FT8 - the "new" digital mode?

So far, I have used FT8 on 630m, 10m and 6m. It is very quickly becoming the de facto digital mode allowing quick exchanges of basic QSO data whilst still using very little spectrum. It is not really a mode for chatting.  It seems to have transformed 10m. Spots on 10m have amazed me.

Complete QSOs can be completed in a very short time. As far as I know, unless things have changed in the last few days, it is still a "release candidate" rather than a formal release. At the moment I am still using rc2 although rc3 is available.

See https://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/k1jt/wsjtx.html .

Proper food (pasties) - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday we went to Norwich with our son and grandson. We went by train. I was pleased to see real food (pasties) on sale in the station!

6m FT8 RX

After a period on 10m FT8, I have switched to 6m FT8 for a change this morning. As yet, no spots.

UPDATE 1312z: Best DX today on 6m FT8 is EA2DLX (1025km) in northern Spain.

Sunspots - Friday October 27th 2017

Solar flux is 76 today. Sunspot number is 23. A=20 and K=1.

Sunspots - Thursday October 26th 2017

Solar flux is 77 today and the sunspot number 24. A=24 and K=4.

10m FT8 RX - Thursday, October 26th 2017

Well, there is little doubt that FT8 has transformed 10m. Looking at the map of spots for today on 10m, you could be excused for thinking this was sunspot maximum rather than way on the downward slope to the next minimum. Best DX today was VK8NSB (13800km) in Northern Territory, Australia.

OFCOM and spectrum at 3.6GHz

OFCOM has issued a statement about 3.6GHz spectrum.

See http://ofcom.cmail20.com/t/ViewEmail/i/C2AD8437ED18A39A2540EF23F30FEDED/59D1BD3EA2F08127C67FD2F38AC4859C

Trinity College, Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

Living very close to Cambridge, it is very easy to take some wonderful places for granted. This is a picture of the entrance to Trinity College. There is a proctor in the photo complete with bowler hat (bottom left in the shadows). As a local we get free entry into the colleges, which some cross the world to see. With bus passes these are totally free. What a privilege.

630m transformer

When I moved to the "new" QTH 4 years ago I found I needed a step-up transformer to match my 630m transverter to the earth-electrode "antenna". For this I used my traditional method - try it and see what works.

An auto-transformer was wound on a 3C90 42mm toroid core (at least I think that is what it was). It worked and seems to give a decent match.

Of late, I have used the coax up to my 2m big-wheel antenna as a Marconi, tuned against ground with a ferrite rod ATU. So far, best DX is Norway (769km) with 31 unique spots of my 10mW ERP.