St Ives (Cambs) - NOT amateur radio

As reported yesterday, we went to St Ives on the guided busway. We noticed this pub as it had such a great display of real flowers outside. It is about 200m from the river.

Solar cycle 25

Having scanned what is available, my conclusion is that solar cycle 25 is expected to be much the same as cycle 24 i.e. not great. Perhaps it will be very slightly weaker.  The experts are also expecting the minimum to be quite long. Predictions are getting better, but this by no means an exact science.

This is probably the last peak I shall be around to see, so I hope it is reasonable.

See https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2018GL078387

2m FT8

My XYL had an early optician's appointment in Cambridge, so we were up early.

Yet again an early QRP CQ call was spotted in Cornwall as well as in the West Midlands. At the moment, at 0754z, 8 stations in 3 countries spotted on 2m FT8 RX with best DX F6DBI (501km) in Brittany.

UPDATE 1038z: Now 24 stations spotted in 4 countries on 2m FT8 RX with the best DX IU2KXV (1004km). GI6ATZ (479km) was called, he spotted me on 2m FT8 with my 2.5W to the omni, and I gave him a minus 4dB S/N (strong). Then, before we could complete, he completely vanished. Could this have been aircraft reflection? I called and called but no luck.

UPDATE 1556z:  Now 40 stations in 8 countries spotted on 2m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1830z: Now 45 stations in 8 countries on 2m FT8 RX. A brief CQ (2.5W to the omni) resulted in no QSOs but several spots. Best DX on 2m FT8 TX (2.5W) was G4RRA (334km).

UPDATE 1950z: A brief CQ (2.5W) was copied by 9 stations including G7RAU (461km), yet again, in Cornwall. This path rarely fails, although I have no explanation why this seems to work with such consistency.

UPDATE 2025z: Another good day on 2m FT8 RX.

Stations spotted today on 2m FT8 RX

Sunspots - Saturday October 6th 2018

Solar flux is 68 today and the SSN is 11.  A=8 and K=1.

Low cost spectrum analysers

In my working life spectrum analysers were very useful, but expensive. MLS do mail shots near the weekend and this is no exception. I see this time they are featuring certain accessories including some low cost spectrum analysers. I expect these are a poor substitute for the machines I used, but these are just a fraction of the cost.

See https://www.hamradio.co.uk/

St Ives (Cambs) - NOT amateur radio

Today we went to St Ives in Cambridgeshire on the guided busway. It was a great journey, free with our bus passes! St Ives is a decent UK market town by the river. Today was market day.

2m FT8

Today, I decided to go on 2m FT8 again. At the moment I am RX only, but will put out a few CQs later. Already (within an hour) I have spotted 14 stations in 6 countries with best DX DL6YBF (471km).

UPDATE 1620z: So far today on 2m FT8 RX 37 stations spotted in 7 countries with the best DX on 2m FT8 RX being DJ6GK (607km).

UPDATE 1655z: A recent CQ call (2.5W to the big-wheel omni antenna) was spotted by 10 stations in 2 countries with G7RAU (461km) being the best.

UPDATE 1955z: A very recent QRP CQ call om 2m FT8 TX resulted in no QSOs, but I was spotted by 8 stations with the best DX 244kms away.

UPDATE 2003z: Now 42 stations in 7 countries on 2m FT8 RX today.

Yesterday on 20m FT8

For a complete change I went on 20m FT8 RX yesterday. My antenna is very low and would not match! Even so, the photo shows the stations received. 20m FT8 is just too easy. Imagine if I had a decent antenna!

Sunspots - Friday October 5th 2018

Solar flux is 67 today and the sunspot number 12. A=5 and K=1.

Liner-2 2m SSB rig

How many remember the Liner-2? For me, it transformed 2m operation.

Back in the 1970s it was the ubiquitous rig for DXing on 2m in the UK and rest of Europe.

Coupled with a 30W linear and 9 el Tonna antenna, this was the rig of choice for many. They had plenty wrong with them, but I look back on mine with fond affection.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/vuhf/liner2