Up the pole - NOT amateur radio

It looks like a neighbour is having issues with his phone or perhaps having his broadband upgraded. It was a dull, dreary, cold and damp morning to be working up a pole!

10m FT8

7 stations in 4 countries spotted so far on 10 FT8 RX today.

UPDATE 1533z: So far on 10m FT8 RX, 18 stations in 6 countries, all in Europe.

160m FT8 RX

In all, 5 USA plus Canadians and 2 Caribbean stations spotted on 160m FT8 RX last night. Shortly, I'll QSY to 10m FT8.

Sunspots - Friday November 23rd 2018

Solar flux is 69 and the SSN 0. A=3 and K=1.

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.

Dull, cold day - NOT amateur radio

As usual, I went into Cambridge for my U3A course. It was a dull, cold morning.

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.

Stations received so far this evening on 160m FT8 RX

UPDATE 2045z:  As on previous evenings, WU1ITU (4831km) was the first North American spotted 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/rallies/

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.