If you want to see which bands are "open" to where then this site might be of interest. You can select bands, modes and continents.
See https://www.dxmaps.com/spots/mapg.php?Lan=E&Frec=50&ML=M&Map=NA&HF=N&DXC=ING2&GL=N
11 Jun 2018
10 Jun 2018
The great FT8 debate
Like Marmite (here in the UK) you either love it or hate it! I love FT8.
Reading Southgate News today I was pointed to Dom Smith's blog on the subject. My voice is poor these days so I find speech modes hard. I also like seeing what is coming through on a different PC in the house, whilst doing something else. Although I go on FT8 TX sometimes, I use RX mostly.
See http://www.domsmith.co.uk/blog/2018/06/09/the-great-ft8-debate/
UPDATE 1336z: There is little doubt that FT8 is controversial. Some see it as the end of amateur radio as we knew it: the end of casual chats, leisurely QSOs. They may be right. Certainly FT8 is not a chat mode. Fast(ish) formulaic QSOs yes, but these cannot be received by a casual SWL. On the other hand it has transformed operating for many allowing QSOs where these would not have happened in the past. Every time I go on 2m FT8, even when conditions are "flat" I seem to get spots from over 300km away despite running 2.5W to an omni antenna! Every time I spend a day on 2m RX I seem to spot stations very very far away. It certainly has transformed bands for many. Overall, I think FT8 is a good thing.
Reading Southgate News today I was pointed to Dom Smith's blog on the subject. My voice is poor these days so I find speech modes hard. I also like seeing what is coming through on a different PC in the house, whilst doing something else. Although I go on FT8 TX sometimes, I use RX mostly.
See http://www.domsmith.co.uk/blog/2018/06/09/the-great-ft8-debate/
UPDATE 1336z: There is little doubt that FT8 is controversial. Some see it as the end of amateur radio as we knew it: the end of casual chats, leisurely QSOs. They may be right. Certainly FT8 is not a chat mode. Fast(ish) formulaic QSOs yes, but these cannot be received by a casual SWL. On the other hand it has transformed operating for many allowing QSOs where these would not have happened in the past. Every time I go on 2m FT8, even when conditions are "flat" I seem to get spots from over 300km away despite running 2.5W to an omni antenna! Every time I spend a day on 2m RX I seem to spot stations very very far away. It certainly has transformed bands for many. Overall, I think FT8 is a good thing.
10m WSPR TX
For the last hour (I guess) I have been on 10m WSPR TX (500mW, 100% TX, randomised frequencies).
UPDATE 1000z: Still no spots as yet.
UPDATE 1205z: So far today, just one spot from CT1CAK (1438km).
UPDATE 2006z: 19 spots of my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon from FY5KE (7110km) in South America. At times, he was receiving me at -9dB S/N. 15 different stations spotted me today.
UPDATE 1000z: Still no spots as yet.
UPDATE 1205z: So far today, just one spot from CT1CAK (1438km).
UPDATE 2006z: 19 spots of my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon from FY5KE (7110km) in South America. At times, he was receiving me at -9dB S/N. 15 different stations spotted me today.
6m FT8 RX
I stayed on 6m FT8 RX (50.313MHz) overnight, but no Americans spotted. This morning, so far, quite a few Es stations from Iberia as well as many Gs.
Best DX, so far, is EA8AQV (2989km) in the Canary Is..
UPDATE 0959z: So far, 21 stations in 4 countries today on 6m FT8. 41 countries spotted on 6m in the last day.
UPDATE 1345z: Umpteen stations in 6 countries spotted today on 6m FT8 RX.
Best DX, so far, is EA8AQV (2989km) in the Canary Is..
UPDATE 0959z: So far, 21 stations in 4 countries today on 6m FT8. 41 countries spotted on 6m in the last day.
UPDATE 1345z: Umpteen stations in 6 countries spotted today on 6m FT8 RX.
Church Fete - NOT amateur radio
9 Jun 2018
Afghanistan - NOT amateur radio
In the middle of the 1800s we were fighting in Afghanistan. Recently I read that the Taliban now controls the main city in Helmand province where many US and UK troops lost their lives. Was it worth it? Probably not.
If we have been fighting in Afghanistan for so long, you would think we'd mind our own business. Some battles are not worth fighting. Putting our troops in Afghanistan must have wasted billions. Better we spend the money on something more useful.
If we have been fighting in Afghanistan for so long, you would think we'd mind our own business. Some battles are not worth fighting. Putting our troops in Afghanistan must have wasted billions. Better we spend the money on something more useful.
FT8
There is little doubt that FT8 is a very big thing.
On 6m FT8 this morning I have spotted well over 50 different stations already. QSOs (albeit basic) are fast and all the activity is concentrated in a few kilohertz on each band. It works with weaker signals than CW or SSB.
What I fear is people will desert SSB and CW and use FT8 instead. A casual tune across bands might lead some to think the band is dead.
On 6m FT8 this morning I have spotted well over 50 different stations already. QSOs (albeit basic) are fast and all the activity is concentrated in a few kilohertz on each band. It works with weaker signals than CW or SSB.
What I fear is people will desert SSB and CW and use FT8 instead. A casual tune across bands might lead some to think the band is dead.
What happens when we die? - NOT amateur radio
When we are young, we assume death is a long way off and nothing to think about too much. As we grow older, I guess dying has a greater concern. In my own case, if I see another 20 years I'll be doing well. On my paternal side both my dad and granddad died in their 60s. I am 69.
Basically, we just cease to exist or something of us carries on in some sort of after life. The truth is no-one really knows. It is the deepest mystery of all.
What is certain is that we cannot imagine this: we live in one plain of a multi-dimensional universe. Religions hint at an after-life, yet all are different. In my mind, they are attempts to explain our existence, but all (probably) are incomplete or wrong looking at them with the perspective of history. We still believed in witches not too many generations ago! Some believed in fairies in the last century!
See http://www.bbc.co.uk/guides/zs4k39q#zskdg82
Basically, we just cease to exist or something of us carries on in some sort of after life. The truth is no-one really knows. It is the deepest mystery of all.
What is certain is that we cannot imagine this: we live in one plain of a multi-dimensional universe. Religions hint at an after-life, yet all are different. In my mind, they are attempts to explain our existence, but all (probably) are incomplete or wrong looking at them with the perspective of history. We still believed in witches not too many generations ago! Some believed in fairies in the last century!
See http://www.bbc.co.uk/guides/zs4k39q#zskdg82
Sibling reunion - NOT amateur radio
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