23 Nov 2018
How DID we manage? - NOT amateur radio
Yesterday, I was asked to add a safeguarding policy to one of the websites I do. Today, I received a newsletter from the Cambridge University of the Third Age and this now includes an updated safeguarding page.
Have we all gone stark raving mad??
In the past, society functioned at least as well, if not better, without all this box ticking. Now, I am sure the intentions are honourable, but do we really need it? Like anti-discrimination laws, I am sure those who wrote the legislation had the best of intent. I agree, we need to safeguard people and their data and discrimination against LGBT people is wrong. However, the balance seems to have swung too far.
Perhaps we need a few judges to say this is all getting stupid and refuse to award any damages or dismiss a few cases for those who didn't tick the boxes.
Perhaps we need a 125 page policy on how to exit houses next? Mind the step, as this is a trip hazard. If I fall exiting your house I may sue you for £1M damages! Oh silly me, I forgot to read the 125 page document spelling out how to walk safely.
Have we all gone stark raving mad??
In the past, society functioned at least as well, if not better, without all this box ticking. Now, I am sure the intentions are honourable, but do we really need it? Like anti-discrimination laws, I am sure those who wrote the legislation had the best of intent. I agree, we need to safeguard people and their data and discrimination against LGBT people is wrong. However, the balance seems to have swung too far.
Perhaps we need a few judges to say this is all getting stupid and refuse to award any damages or dismiss a few cases for those who didn't tick the boxes.
Perhaps we need a 125 page policy on how to exit houses next? Mind the step, as this is a trip hazard. If I fall exiting your house I may sue you for £1M damages! Oh silly me, I forgot to read the 125 page document spelling out how to walk safely.
22 Nov 2018
Dull, cold day - NOT amateur radio
Suddenly, the weather has turned and those long, hot summer days seem long ago. It is hard to think that in just a few weeks the evenings start to get lighter!
Return to topband
About 10 minutes ago I QSYed from 10m to 160m FT8. Already lots of Europeans including European Russia, with some calling CQ JA, although no JAs spotted here! Yet again, I am using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. It is still quite mind-blowing to spot so many stations each 15 second period on 160m FT8. Best DX, so far, on 160m FT8 RX is R9GM (3499km).
A brief 2.5W FT8 160m CQ was spotted by just a single G: G8DX (197km). At the moment I am RX only.
UPDATE 1945z: Most stations seem to be E-W. I am not sure if this is the antenna directionality or just that there are fewer stations in the N-S direction.
UPDATE 2045z: As on previous evenings, WU1ITU (4831km) was the first North American spotted on 160m FT8 RX.
A brief 2.5W FT8 160m CQ was spotted by just a single G: G8DX (197km). At the moment I am RX only.
UPDATE 1945z: Most stations seem to be E-W. I am not sure if this is the antenna directionality or just that there are fewer stations in the N-S direction.
 |
| Stations received so far this evening on 160m FT8 RX |
Rally on Sunday
Sunday 25 NOVEMBER : BISHOP AUCKLAND RADIO AMATEURS CLUB RALLY
Spennymoor Leisure Centre, 32 High Street, Spennymoor, Co Durham, DL16 6DB. This venue is ideally suited for both trader and disabled as it boasts good parking and access to a large ground floor hall. Doors open at 10.30am, 10.15am for disabled visitors. Admission is £2, accompanied under-14s free. There will be the usual radio, computer, electronics and bring and buy stalls as well as catering and bar facilities. Talk-in on S22. Contact John, G4LRG, 01388 606 396 or check website at www.barac.org.uk.
A list of rallies can be found at http://rsgb.org/main/news/rall
Spennymoor Leisure Centre, 32 High Street, Spennymoor, Co Durham, DL16 6DB. This venue is ideally suited for both trader and disabled as it boasts good parking and access to a large ground floor hall. Doors open at 10.30am, 10.15am for disabled visitors. Admission is £2, accompanied under-14s free. There will be the usual radio, computer, electronics and bring and buy stalls as well as catering and bar facilities. Talk-in on S22. Contact John, G4LRG, 01388 606 396 or check website at www.barac.org.uk.
A list of rallies can be found at http://rsgb.org/main/news/rall
10m FT8
All day I have been monitoring 10m FT8 RX. Only 13 Europeans spotted today with no "real DX".
Sunspots - Thursday November 22nd 2018
Solar flux is 69 and the sunspot number has returned to zero. A=5 and K=1.
160m FT8 RX overnight
In all, 8 USA and Canadian plus one Caribbean stations spotted on 160m FT8 RX overnight. As before, absolutely loads of Europeans too. Again, the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground was being used.
21 Nov 2018
QSY to 160m FT8 RX
About an hour ago, I QSYed to 160m using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground as the DX on 10m seems to have stopped. All being well, the first transatlantic DX on 160m will appear before 2100z. The band is filled with Europeans!
UPDATE 2219z: Right on target time, there was WU1ITU again. I am supposed to believe I also received a Pacific station, but I suspect this is a pirate in Asiatic Russia or Europe, unless I get convincing evidence otherwise.
UPDATE 2219z: Right on target time, there was WU1ITU again. I am supposed to believe I also received a Pacific station, but I suspect this is a pirate in Asiatic Russia or Europe, unless I get convincing evidence otherwise.
Growing up fast - NOT amateur radio
In 6 years he could be driving!
They grow up all too fast, but I guess that is life. We have made the most of his childhood days so far.
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