OK, I am getting old and grumpy, but I do not need my newspaper (free and only chosen as it is big enough for bones to be recycled in it when folded) to tell me to spend £849 on a machine to restore ionic balance.
Go for a walk, open some windows, get a life.
26 Jan 2018
Daffodils - NOT amateur radio
In better years, we have had daffodils from late November until May. This year, they were late with this clump appearing just a few weeks ago. Soon we'll have daffs everywhere.
Right now, snowdrops are appearing everywhere - a sign that spring will soon be with us and (hopefully) some better weather.
Ukraine - NOT amateur radio
Either the people in the Ukraine have suddenly taken a great interest in the content of this blog (mainly amateur radio) or I am being targeted by hackers or bots. Yet again, visit numbers are through the roof. I find it hard to think that the numbers I normally see in a whole day have already popped in.
Now on 10m FT8 RX
Following my usual pattern, I am currently monitoring 10m FT8 RX. As yet, no spots.
UPDATE 1330z: F5RD (681km) is the best DX spotted so far.
UPDATE 1452z: Now PG0DX (409km) spotted strongly. Aircraft?
UPDATE 1547z: 5 stations in 3 countries so far today on 10m FT8 RX.
UPDATE 1757z: Now 7 stations in 4 countries with best DX SQ4OJD (1357km) on 10m FT8 RX today.
UPDATE 1330z: F5RD (681km) is the best DX spotted so far.
UPDATE 1452z: Now PG0DX (409km) spotted strongly. Aircraft?
UPDATE 1547z: 5 stations in 3 countries so far today on 10m FT8 RX.
UPDATE 1757z: Now 7 stations in 4 countries with best DX SQ4OJD (1357km) on 10m FT8 RX today.
Last night on 472kHz WSPR RX
Are we becoming more stupid? - NOT amateur radio
Having just finished reading Bill Bryson's excellent book called, "The Road to Little Dribbling" (a laugh on every page!), I was struck by something he said.
Are we getting more stupid?
If you look around, you could be forgiven for thinking this. On TV quiz shows I am amazed how poor most UK people are on UK geography: no-one seems to know where anywhere is in our connected world! Allegedly, many USA citizens do not know where California or Texas is. Allegedly Sarah Palin thought Africa was a country. England? Where is that? Iraq? Iran? Afghanistan?
Bryson may have a point. Perhaps we are slowly being poisoned by something in our foods or atmosphere that is adversely impacting our brains. Perhaps we really are dimmer than our forefathers. Certainly we seem to be thicker and need things dumbing down. Are we also more selfish?
It would not totally surprise me if we found out in years to come that something, currently unknown, is slowly doing us harm. The most worrisome thing is we may be too stupid to even realise!
Are we getting more stupid?
If you look around, you could be forgiven for thinking this. On TV quiz shows I am amazed how poor most UK people are on UK geography: no-one seems to know where anywhere is in our connected world! Allegedly, many USA citizens do not know where California or Texas is. Allegedly Sarah Palin thought Africa was a country. England? Where is that? Iraq? Iran? Afghanistan?
Bryson may have a point. Perhaps we are slowly being poisoned by something in our foods or atmosphere that is adversely impacting our brains. Perhaps we really are dimmer than our forefathers. Certainly we seem to be thicker and need things dumbing down. Are we also more selfish?
It would not totally surprise me if we found out in years to come that something, currently unknown, is slowly doing us harm. The most worrisome thing is we may be too stupid to even realise!
Sunspots - Friday January 26th 2018
Solar flux is 69 today and the sunspot number still zero. A=10 and K=2.
Mag-mount 136kHz E-field probe picture
UPDATE 1550z: Well, I found the EFP in a drawer, but the coil and cap in the drain had been removed years ago. If I want to resurrect this, I shall have to rebuild this part. A nice small project over the spring or summer.
25 Jan 2018
QSYed to 630m WSPR RX
At about 1915z I QSYed to MF. Using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground, a preamp into the FT817, the shack PC on batteries, I have the best chances. Already many countries have been spotted.
UPDATE 2212z: After a break so the shack PC batteries could be fully charged before the overnight period, everything is now ON for the overnight run on 630m WSPR RX. Noise floor is as low as I can get it with this setup.
UPDATE 2212z: After a break so the shack PC batteries could be fully charged before the overnight period, everything is now ON for the overnight run on 630m WSPR RX. Noise floor is as low as I can get it with this setup.
Yet more excuses to NOT do real work?
"Ofcom has today published a further statement regarding the regulations for the award of spectrum in the 2.3 and 3.4 GHz bands.
Today’s statement sets out our decision to make further statutory instruments related to the spectrum award, following publication on Wednesday 24 January of the regulations that will apply for the award process.
The two statutory instruments are: the Limitation Order, which limits the number of licences to be awarded for the two spectrum bands; and the Register Amendment Regulations, which allow Ofcom to publish certain information regarding the licences awarded under the auction regulations.
The two statutory instruments will come into force on 1 February 2018."
Life is such fun at OFCOM. Do they ever do anything that does not involve money?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
