2m FT8

After going on the East Cambs 2m FM net, I went on 2m FT8. After a very brief TX period (2.5W to my omni antenna) with best DX G4RRA (334km) in Devon, I went on 2m FT8 RX only. So far 18 unique stations in 4 countries in the last 2 hours with best DX PD3HIM (452km).

UPDATE 2050z: Now 20 uniques in 5 countries in the last few hours.

ICOM IC7300

Probably the best commercial radio available to radio amateurs currently is the IC7300. However, its price is still set by market forces: it could still be profitable at a much lower selling price.

Whether prices drop depends on many factors, but there is no doubt that the price is what it is largely because people are still prepared to buy at this price. If the dealers can still make a killing why would they reduce prices? Also, currently there is no real competition.

See https://icomuk.co.uk/IC-7300/Amateur_Radio_Ham_Base_Stations

Pound jump v. Euro: why? - NOT amateur radio

Mid afternoon the value of the UK Pound suddenly jumped against the Euro. Anyone know why? In the UK this is a public holiday, so it was probably something in the EU.

CQ-DATV 58 mag online

I've mentioned before that lots of magazines are available on the internet. If you prefer you may download copies. Among these is the latest copy of CQ-DATV although back issues are also available at the same site.

See https://issuu.com/cq-datv/docs/cq-datv58

Local weather forecasts - NOT amateur radio

The UK weather Met Office forecasts feature a lot in my "grumpy old man" posts.

Having been on a 20 week U3A course on "Weather and Climate" I know it is hard. But honestly!!

Just an HOUR ago the Met Office reckoned it was dry here all afternoon and evening with a 10% chance of precipitation. Now they are saying light showers all afternoon. Well, actually they probably now say snow or thunder as I've not looked for 10 minutes.😖

Now open - NOT amateur radio

Our local museum and windmill reopened yesterday until the end of October. It is very good place to visit and one of the best local museums in the UK, and we live next door! This was the view from our lounge earlier today.

See http://www.burwellmuseum.org.uk/

10m FT8

It appears I am being hopeful!

Since breakfast I have been on 10m FT8, mostly RX. A couple of TX periods calling CQ (2.5W) brought no reports. At the moment, I have not spotted a single station on the band.

UPDATE 1020z: Still nothing.

UPDATE 1120z: F1VEO (594km) in Brittany spotted on 10m FT8 RX at -8dB S/N. So there is some life!

UPDATE 1405z: Now a couple of Gs spotted making 3 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX so far today.

UPDATE 1421z: Real DX!  D41CV (4518km) in the Cape Verde Islands now spotted.

UPDATE 1552z: 6 stations spotted so far on 10m FT8 4 Gs, 1 F and 1 D41.

Returning migrant birds - NOT amateur radio

It may be snowing in some parts of the UK, but the birds are flying back from Africa. Don't tell them or they might go back!

Every day now it seems, swallows, house martins and sand martins are reported in Devon. Even at Wicken Fen, just a few miles from here, we had a swallow reported last Saturday!

The earliest I have seen an swallow in East Anglia is April 7th. Usually the majority arrive mid April. At least they are being seen again. My heart always lifts seeing the first swallow of the year up here.

One of the memories of my dad is him telling me when he spotted the first returning house martin. He died in 1987.

See https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/swallow

Sunspots - Monday April 2nd 2018

Solar flux is 68 and the sunspot number zero. A=5 and K=2.

Solar data for March now available

The solar data now includes March. It has just been released.

See http://www.solen.info/solar/