"So" - NOT amateur radio

Some call me a grumpy old man, but have you noticed how many young people start their sentences with "So"? This really annoys me. I heard this twice on BBC Radio 4 just before lunch, like, you know.

OFCOM

Yes, allegedly all they care about is money.

See http://ofcom.cmail19.com/t/ViewEmail/i/7960D48FD07A6FAF2540EF23F30FEDED/59D1BD3EA2F08127C67FD2F38AC4859C

Sunspots - Monday March 5th 2018

Solar flux is 68 today. The sunspot number is zero still. A=6 and K=2.

The G3TFX experiment - 2m FT8 RX vertical

As promised, today I am monitoring 2m FT8 but using my V2000 vertical instead of the horizontal big-wheel. This was suggested by my old work colleague Richard G3TFX in Cambridge.

Already I am surprised by the number of stations still being received. This suggests that these stations are less dependant on polarisation than I thought, suggesting either aircraft reflection or random MS rather than tropo.

UPDATE 1015z: 12 uniques in 4 countries, despite being vertically polarised.

UPDATE 1130z: Now 19 uniques in 4 countries.

UPDATE 1405z: Now 28 uniques in 4 countries.

UPDATE 2105z: Well, the experiment has ended. Conclusion? Polarisation does not matter, so probably most DX received by aircraft reflections. Amazing. Map show stations received on 2m FT8 today with vertical polarisation.

Best bus rides in England (video)? - NOT amateur radio

With the closure of the A379 along Slapton Line, Devon we lose one of the best bus rides in England. I hope they repair this road, although I have my doubts as the storm damage is bad.

Head for heights?

Just watching this video made me feel sick! You would never catch me up there! I'd be terrified. Good job I've not got a large tower in my garden.

A short while later I found a video of someone going up an even taller tower!

Snowy windmill - NOT amateur radio

It is about 5 years since we had real snow. It has attempted to snow over the years, but last week we had real snow falling several times and, for us, very cold temperatures. Others may laugh! As some will be aware, we live next door.

Solar data for February

Data for February is now available.

Although we are on the long fall to the next solar minimum, there was a small rise in solar activity last month. This is a blip on the slow decline, but serves to remind us that there are good days as well as bad days. Even now there are days with real DX on 10m.

See http://www.solen.info/solar/ .

Endings - NOT amateur radio

I am not good at endings. Life goes on normally, then something happens to change the routine: things that had gone on for years and taken for granted come to an end. When this happens it is a real shock.

In reality, life is all about coming to terms with change. Change is always happening, yet we are often unaware or not looking. No, we have to accept change and move on. Change is a reality. As they say, "the past is another country". Enjoy things while they are there, accept them, and then move on. Change is part of life, whether we like it or not. For some of us this is hard.

Sunspots - Sunday March 4th 2018

Solar flux is 67 today and the sunspot number back to zero. A=6 and K=2.