365project - NOT amateur radio

As many will know, both my wife and I do the 365project and take a photo each day. Most of these photos would not win prizes, but it is fun to look back on several years day by day. There is no connection with Microsoft Word365.

Battery technology

Although hard to admit, I am behind in battery technology. When I left commercial industry some 10 years ago, lithium polymer batteries were new.

What I do know is that electric cars still have insufficient range to allow "normal" people to be interested. Electric cars are still expensive and the ranges generally insufficient for a long journey, although probably fine for most domestic journeys such as shopping and local travel.  I note the "new" FT818 portable from Yaesu still talks about a NiMH battery pack.

There is no doubt that a breakthrough is needed still, especially for electric cars. Until the price of batteries comes down a long way, charging times are slashed and capacity dramatically increased, we are going to struggle.

Batteries need to improve on many fronts. I am sure technology has moved on, there is lots of research, but what is needed is a real breakthrough. I am pretty sure I have not missed this.

See https://www.ft.com/content/46adb98c-d8ef-11e7-9504-59efdb70e12f .

2m FT8 RX

Overnight I remained on 2m FT8 RX. Just this morning in the last few hours, I have spotted 7 unique stations in 4 countries. Best DX currently is F8COD (424km) east of Paris. Sync to internet time was checked about 50 minutes ago.

UPDATE 1215z: Currently 18 uniques in 5 countries spotted here in last 3 hours on 2m FT8 RX. Best DX is currently DF8JO (535km).

UPDATE 2152z: Earlier this evening I was briefly on 2m FT8 TX. I was copied in Devon by G4RRA (334km) as my best DX. Not bad for 2.5W and an omni antenna

Sunspots - Monday February 26th 2018

Solar flux is 69 and the sunspot number zero. A=4 and K=2.

Painted Pebbles

This was the painted pebble my granddaughter found this morning. It will be re-hidden. Finding these painted pebbles has become a craze, especially with youngsters.

Getting colder - NOT amateur radio

It is a bright and sunny day, but it is cold. This was the ice from the bird bath at noon.

2m FT8 RX

It is still good this morning. I am amazed by the stations I am spotting. It is loads and loads. Already today 20 unique stations spotted in 4 countries. Best DX is currently PD0HCV (420km).

UPDATE 1235z:  33 uniques in 6 countries so far today on 2m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1517z: 40 uniques in 6 countries in the last 12 hours. 12 uniques in 3 countries spotted in the last hour. 144.174MHz USB dial is the spot.

UPDATE 1830z: DF7DX (564km) is the  best DX currently on 2m FT8 RX.

At Chippenham Hall - NOT amateur radio

This could almost be a Greek vase, but we saw it last week at Chippenham Hall, near Cambridge. The grounds were filled with snowdrops.

Sunspots - Sunday February 25th 2018

Solar flux is 70 today. Sunspot number is still zero.  A=9 and K=1.

Cold snap - NOT amateur radio

OK, I know our friends in the USA and Canada will be having a laugh, but apparently we are in for a cold snap in the UK with a good chance of snow in the east. This is all due to a big high pressure system out east feeding Siberian cold winds in the direction of the UK.

We seem to get few really cold snaps these days with little snow. Although this winter has been colder than for a while, it is nothing like 1947 and 1963 when it was very cold and snowy for months.

There is little doubt that the climate is changing and generally things are getting warmer, even if we do get a cold spell now for a while.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-43167583 .