QSY to 10m FT8

After a busy, family weekend, at about 1200z I returned to 10m FT8. At present I am RX only. No spots yet!

UPDATE 1258z: Just one spot so far on 10m FT8 RX MM0ZBH (482km).

UPDATE 1401z: Just 3 UK stations spotted so far today in 2 countries.

UPDATE 1707z: In all 4 stations only spotted today on 10m FT8 RX today, with best DX DL6RDM (944km).

Birthdays - NOT amateur radio

My wife is 70 today and I am 70 just before Christmas. It is hard to understand where the years have gone! Enjoy every precious moment. Inside, we both still feel young.

Sunspots - Saturday November 24th 2018

Solar flux is 68 and the sunspot number 0. A=3 and K=0. Sunspot minimum.

Best DX yet on 630m WSPR

Overnight, my 10mW ERP MF signal from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground was spotted by 16 unique stations with the best being a spot by SM4GOJ (1246km) in Sweden. Although I am not sure, I think this is the most distant spot I have ever received on 630m at this QTH.

On 630m WSPR RX I was able to spot 19 stations here.

Back on MF WSPR

This evening, I decided to try 630m (472kHz) WSPR again (10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground). Best DX, so far, on TX is PA3ABK (306km).

UPDATE 2218z: So far 14 unique stations spotted on 472kHz WSPR RX and 11 spots of my 10mW ERP on TX.

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.