160m FT8 RX

Just now I moved from 10m to 160m FT8. When I left 10m, it was very busy with Europeans. Right at the start, 160m FT8 was busy with Europeans such as UB5 and OH.  Still using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.

UPDATE 1824z: So far 22 European spots.

UPDATE 2154z: Too many Europeans to count! First North American copied on 160m FT8 RX was VA2WA (5115km).

BREXIT - NOT amateur radio

One thing everyone in the UK can agree on about BREXIT is, "this is a fine mess". The world must be looking at the UK and thinking how stupid we must be!  I am sure there is brinkmanship going on on the part of the EU and UK government, but at the moment we are heading (by mistake) for a no-deal BREXIT that no-one wants.

The EU does a lot of trade with the UK and we need EU low skilled workers in our fields, care homes and hospitals. The EU will miss our money going into the pot. The EU is desperate for other nations not to leave. Time will tell how this will pan out.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-46617152 .

MW broadcasters going?

Several broadcasters are leaving MW, instead concentrating on FM, DAB or the internet. The latest reported via Southgate News is a Belgian broadcaster on 621kHz.

This will eventually free up spectrum, perhaps for amateurs (?), but it also means the end of reception on extremely simple receivers like crystal sets.

I well remember falling asleep listening on my crystal set.

10m FT8 for the day

A few moments ago I QSYed to 10m FT8 for the day. No spots yet.  We'll see if there is any activity! Maybe a few Gs?

UPDATE 1123z: No spots yet.

UPDATE 1448z: 5 spots so far on 10m FT8 RX with best DX VP8LP (12773km) in the Falkland Is. Oh, by the way this is sunspot minimum!!

UPDATE 1758z: Loads of Europeans as well. The photo shows the 10m FT8 RX spots so far today. Soon be time to QSY to 160m FT8 RX.

Roses - NOT amateur radio

These roses on our kitchen table were bought a week ago by one of our sons for my wife. They are still going strong.

Santas - NOT amateur radio

My wife spotted these yesterday. Soon be Christmas. Bah humbug!

Overnight on 160m FT8 RX

Overnight, 20 North American stations (best yet this season) were spotted on 160m FT8 RX with the best DX being KC6AWX (8553km) in California.

Stations spotted on 160m FT8 RX overnight

Yet again, I was using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. I think this behaves like a loop with best pickup E-W i.e. off the ends of the loop.

Sunspots - Wednesday December 19th 2018

Solar flux is 70 and the SSN zero. A=7 and K=1.

Clunch outhouse - NOT amateur radio

My mind is confused and I don't think this has been posted before. If it has been on before, my apologies!

Close to our house is an out-house, or maybe dove-cote, made of clunch (a sort of chalk) that was badly damaged by our hot summer. Big cracks appeared and now it is being rebuild using the same stones. The photo shows before rebuilding started.

1.8MHz FT8 RX

For the evening and overnight, I am monitoring topband FT8 RX using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.  So far, I have been on 160m for about 30 minutes. Most stations spotted so far are northern Europeans.  Best DX so far is OH3FM (1777km).

UPDATE 2200z: First North American spotted on 160m FT8 RX tonight was VO1IDX (3752km) at 2139z. Lots of Europeans.

Stations spotted on 160m FT8 RX until 2200z.