80m FT8 RX this evening

Already in the last 30 minutes alone, stations all over Europe are again being spotted using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. At present the best DX spotted is A45XR (5794km) in the Middle East.

UPDATE 2218z: The first North American spotted on 80m FT8 RX this evening was K1CP (4997km).

My ancestors - NOT amateur radio

Many times on this blog I have mentioned that I come from the South Hams in Devon. Today on Facebook it mentioned that ancient trees, not seen since the last Ice Age had been exposed at Hallsands. There were a few photos of these. The last Ice Age was about 10000 years ago.

What amazes me is that probably some of my distant ancestors hunted in these very trees thousands of years ago when this was still woodland and before the seas rose. Humbling.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_age

OFCOM bla bla

Bla, bla, bla, bla.  Motherhood, motherhood, and yet more motherhood...

More OFCOM rubbish in my view. This time it is to remind us about public meetings on their annual plan for 2019.

Sorry, but I would rather they enforced what is there rather than waste money on these meetings. Bring back the GPO and adults who were keen to enforce laws!!

These are my views and others are welcome to theirs.

See https://www.ofcom.org.uk/consultations-and-statements/category-1/annual-plan-2019-20

Like a small kid - NOT amateur radio

OK, I admit it - I am like a small kid with a new toy, even though I have had this Android tablet for over a year now!

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).

Stations spotted last night on 80m FT8 with 
the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.

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!

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!!

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.

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.

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...