This morning, I walked to the local Post Office to post a birthday card and took my tablet with me so I could record the walk using the built-in GPS. It tells me the average speed was 3 mph and the total distance 0.5 miles total.
7 Jan 2019
Like a small kid - NOT amateur radio
This morning, I walked to the local Post Office to post a birthday card and took my tablet with me so I could record the walk using the built-in GPS. It tells me the average speed was 3 mph and the total distance 0.5 miles total.
80m FT8 RX overnight
Last evening and overnight, I went on 80m FT8 RX using the FT817 with my earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground expecting, at best, mediocre results. The "antenna" was not even well matched and I made no attempt to improve this. To my surprise, it worked remarkably well. Best DX spotted was PY2KP (9578km).
UPDATE 1435z: I remained on 80m FT8 RX all day today. I see that 9 stations in 5 countries have been spotted in just the last 30 minutes!
 |
Stations spotted last night on 80m FT8 with
the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. |
Sunspots - Monday January 7th 2019
Solar flux is 72 and the SSN 12. A=9 and K=2.
At the moment, it looks like we are moving just past the solar minimum - time will tell.
At first I had the date as Monday January 6th - since corrected!!
At the moment, it looks like we are moving just past the solar minimum - time will tell.
At first I had the date as Monday January 6th - since corrected!!
6 Jan 2019
80m FT8 RX with the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground
This is an experiment as I do not expect great things of this antenna at so high a frequency. Indeed the match is not as good as on 160m and I have made no attempt to optimise this. On the screen I am seeing lots of EU stations, and these are now appearing on PSKreporter.
Best DX so far tonight is RL9L (4017km) after just 15 minutes!
UPDATE 2104z: At the moment 80m FT8 RX is behaving much like 160m FT8 with all over Europe being spotted. As yet, no DX spotted outside Europe apart from the Canary Islands.
UPDATE 2215z: N4DB (6131km) spotted at 2149z. This is the first North American station spotted on 80m FT8 RX this evening.
Best DX so far tonight is RL9L (4017km) after just 15 minutes!
UPDATE 2104z: At the moment 80m FT8 RX is behaving much like 160m FT8 with all over Europe being spotted. As yet, no DX spotted outside Europe apart from the Canary Islands.
QSY to 160m FT8 RX
Just a few moments ago, I QSYed from 10m to 160m FT8 RX. Already, plenty of EU stations coming through.
Online Tax Return - NOT amateur radio
Rather later than usual, this has been completed online. Last tax year, they already gave you the interest on savings, but I did not see this on the online form in this tax year (2017-18). Also, last year you could see how complete the form was, which I found useful.
Next year I must put all relevant forms in one box marked "Tax Return 2018-19". I had great intentions this year!
Anyway, it is now done until the next one.
Next year I must put all relevant forms in one box marked "Tax Return 2018-19". I had great intentions this year!
Anyway, it is now done until the next one.
BREXIT. What a fine mess! - NOT amateur radio
Whether you voted "remain" or "leave" in the EU referendum, we can all agree we are in a right mess!
At the moment the UK parliament is likely to reject the latest proposal and we are due to leave the EU in March this year. If I was a betting man, I would expect our departure to be delayed and some compromise deal agreed afterwards.
Most in the UK are bored with BREXIT and can't believe the mess. All we ever wanted was some control over those who live and work in the UK and tariff free trade with the EU. We never wanted a common currency and taxes, I think. Deep down, I expect most EU nations want this, along with peace in Europe. If this means an EU defence force instead of NATO, so be it.
Back to the drawing board...
At the moment the UK parliament is likely to reject the latest proposal and we are due to leave the EU in March this year. If I was a betting man, I would expect our departure to be delayed and some compromise deal agreed afterwards.
Most in the UK are bored with BREXIT and can't believe the mess. All we ever wanted was some control over those who live and work in the UK and tariff free trade with the EU. We never wanted a common currency and taxes, I think. Deep down, I expect most EU nations want this, along with peace in Europe. If this means an EU defence force instead of NATO, so be it.
Back to the drawing board...
10m FT8
For a little while, I have been on 10m FT8 RX. So far just 2E0XXO (121km) spotted, although it is early still.
UPDATE 1127z: No further stations yet spotted on 10m FT8 today.
UPDATE 1306z: PD1DL (328km) spotted.
UPDATE 1606z: 4 stations in 3 countries spotted on 10m FT8 RX. Best DX is MM0KOS (468km). Time to QSY to 160m.
UPDATE 1127z: No further stations yet spotted on 10m FT8 today.
UPDATE 1306z: PD1DL (328km) spotted.
UPDATE 1606z: 4 stations in 3 countries spotted on 10m FT8 RX. Best DX is MM0KOS (468km). Time to QSY to 160m.
Sunspots - Sunday January 6th 2019
Solar flux is 72 today and the sunspot number 13. A=15 and K=3.
It looks like things are slightly improving. Is this the real start of the climb to the next maximum? We will know later this year, but for now the signs are promising.
It looks like things are slightly improving. Is this the real start of the climb to the next maximum? We will know later this year, but for now the signs are promising.
GPS and Anglesey Abbey - NOT amateur radio
Yesterday, I put my tablet in my pocket as I walked to and from the bakers in the village. It plotted my path perfectly.
Later, I tried it in the car going to Anglesey Abbey some 5 miles away. The plot looks very accurate. I must try it again. I was surprised how well it did in the car.
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