Felled beauty - NOT amateur radio

Today we visited Brandon Country Park, Suffolk on the edge of Thetford Forest. This tree was on the ground. Either it had been felled or it had blown down over the winter. We liked the textures and colours.

6m FT8

Before breakfast, I went on TX (2.5W) calling CQ on 6m FT8. Sadly, no-one received me, but it was very early!

Since then I have been on 6m FT8 RX only using the omnidirectional V2000 vertical antenna. So far, just a couple of Gs spotted on 6m.

UPDATE 1712z: 16 different stations in 2 countries so far spotted on 6m FT8 today. Best DX is PE0TS (445km).

UPDATE 2120z: Now QRT. In the end, 19 different stations in 2 countries spotted today on 6m FT8 RX.

Flatlands - NOT amateur radio

Here in East Anglia, UK we have few real hills, but some great skies. At the moment we have rapeseed plants in flower which are bright yellow. I like this photo which contrasts the chalk with the rapeseed.

Our local windmill sails turning - NOT amateur radio

We live next door to a fully restored windmill. The windmill is about 200 years old. Its sails turn usually on Thursdays and Sundays when the museum is open. The video shows the mill with the sails turning.

See http://www.burwellmuseum.org.uk

Yaesu - in trouble?

For many years (well as you ask since 1979 - nearly 40 years!) I have been a great Yaesu fan and I have been the delighted owner of many of their fine transceivers in that time. Now I am very worried.

• Firstly they "missed the boat" by not replacing the FT817 before the last sunspot peak. In my book this was an unforgivable error. The market was ready, yet they were stupid not to see and capitalise on this.
• Secondly they had to play catch-up when ICOM introduced the IC7300. The FT991A is clearly an attempt to match the IC7300. They were caught off guard, followers rather than leaders. No doubt some poor innocent was made to fall on his/her sword.
• Thirdly, the FT891 looks market priced to catch buyers. It is relatively low cost for a 100W mobile/base unit.
• Fourthly, the FT818 is definitely a development done on the (very) cheap with few features expected in a replacement for the FT817. If they were serious they would have added a speech processor, an auto ATU and a Lithium Polymer battery for starters. No, this looks a development with very little outlay indeed. Lost come to mind. Sad, pathetic would be truer.

As a real Yaesu man, I could be forgiven for thinking they are in deep trouble. Everything points to a struggling company. I am disturbed enough to think of avoiding them. My bet is on ICOM surviving and Yaesu going to the wall. Hopefully, I am very wrong. Over the next few years we shall find out.

Once the Chinese really get in this market, the Japanese face a real wake-up call and no Japanese company in the amateur market will be safe. The Chinese have started. Give them a few years. Soon, we may look back on these days as the golden age.

Sunspots - Thursday April 26th 2018

Solar flux is 69 today and the sunspot number 17. A=4and K=2.

6m - the magic band

Some people call this "the magic band". It can be nothing but white noise then, out of the blue, pops some rare DX. 6m is like "the curate's egg"  i.e. good in parts. There is little doubt in my mind that FT8 is going to change things for ever. This summer, in the Es season, it should be very interesting.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/vuhf/6m_op

Lunch out - NOT amateur radio

We ate a 3 course lunch today at Cote Brasserie in Cambridge. £13.50 each, and they add the gratuity to the bill (much better than tipping in my view). If the service was poor you can remove this gratuity. Service and food were very good. We will go there again.

See www.cote.co.uk

Dead bodies - NOT amateur radio

On two occasions I have seen dead bodies.

The first time was when I was an engineering student at university. I was "smuggled in" to the room in the medical school where they dissected corpses. I wore my white lab coat. This was the first time I had ever seen a dead human body. Reaction? The corpses looked like meat. It was hard to believe these were once real people with emotions, happiness, sadness, good times and bad times.

The other time was in 1987 when my dad died. I saw his body in the mortuary. He was cold and lifeless. My overriding memory was that the essential "him" was no longer there. It was like a chrysalis shell. Now, those who have a faith will say he lives on in another form. I just do not know. I wish this was true.

Death remains a mystery to us. It is a taboo subject.

6m FT8 RX on 50.313MHz

Today, I have moved to 6m FT8. The last time I tried this band, activity was way down on 2m FT8. Already, in just a few minutes, 4 Gs have been spotted plus an ON. Things look promising as if there are now more stations active. As the Es season progresses, I expect a lot more will get on 6m FT8.

UPDATE 1346z: 9 unique UK stations spotted so far on 6m FT8 today.

UPDATE 1444z: So far today 17 different UK stations spotted on 6m FT8. Best DX spotted is M0AIA (204km).

UPDATE 1600z:  Es? EA1AF (1263km) spotted on 6m FT8 earlier. As the Es season develops, I expect we'll see lots of 6m FT8 from Europe and further.

UPDATE 1958z:  Soon be time to go QRT.  In the end 23 uniques in 3 countries spotted with the V2000 vertical omni antenna on 6m FT8 RX today.   Activity on 6m FT8 is rising, probably the promise of Es.