10m FT8

After a brief CQ call (no spots), I am on 10m FT8 RX for the day. As yet, no spots.

UPDATE 1216z: No Spots.

UPDATE 1352z: Just a single spot so far today. G0KUC (87km) in London is the only station so far spotted today on 10m FT8 RX.  Pretty dire.  No DX at all.

UPDATE 1416z:  2E0MMY (124km) spotted.

UPDATE 1437z: OE6VHF (1217km) spotted. Maybe some winter Es?

UPDATE 1551z:  No further spots on 10m FT8 RX today. I shall probably QSY to 630m WSPR shortly for the evening and switch to 160m FT8 late this evening.

160m FT8 RX

Not a bad night on 160m FT8 RX with 16 North Americans and 1 Caribbean stations spotted. Best DX spotted was N7GP (8479km) in Arizona, USA. As before, using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground, which works well on 160m.

Stations spotted overnight on 160m FT8 RX

70cm UKAC results for the year

The results of the 70cm activity contests for the whole year (2018) have been published.

According to the results I came 109th out of 180 in the AL section. Considering I use 5W to a 2m halo fed via very lossy RG58 coax, I am quite pleased. I usually stay on for about 30 minutes only as my voice is poor.

Sunspots - Friday January 11th 2019

Solar flux is 70 today and the SSN 0. A=4 and K=2.

160m FT8 RX

At about 1825z I switched from 10m to 160m FT8 RX. Immediately, lots of Europeans spotted.

Stations spotted in the first 15 minutes 

with the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.

UPDATE 2205z:  No North Americans so far on 160m FT8 RX this evening.

UPDATE 2225z: First North American spotted on 160m FT8 RX this evening was VA2WA (5115km) in Quebec at 2208z.

Living every day - NOT amateur radio

We are told to enjoy every day and live in the moment. Sometimes we have to think of the future.  Last year Michael Johnson, the America athlete, suffered a transient stroke (TIA), from which he recovered. The cause was not discovered, so he has a shadow hanging over him that it could happen again.

Speaking from experience, strokes can occur out of the blue. Tomorrow is yet to be. One thing is certain: it will not be what you expect.  Enjoy the now.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/athletics/46798931 .

Art - NOT amateur radio

One of our friends is a very good artist. We have one of her paintings in our hall. Yesterday, we visited them for a cup of tea and here she is with her husband by 2 of her pictures. She specialises in plants mainly.

472kHz WSPR RX

Last evening and overnight I was on 472kHz WSPR RX.  In all, 12 stations were copied. In the overnight period just one extra station spotted.

My conclusion is it is not really worth staying on overnight as most stations are spotted in the evening period.

Overnight tonight, I shall probably switch from 630m WSPR RX to 160m FT8 RX.

Stations spotted overnight on 472kHz WSPR 

using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.

10m FT8 RX

Since just before breakfast, I have been on 10m FT8 RX. Unsurprisingly, no spots yet, although I am ever hopeful!

UPDATE 1035z: No spots.

UPDATE 1300z: Winter Es? So far, 6 stations in 3 countries spotted with best DX IU7GRJ(1754km). One Italian was +5dB S/N.

Sunspots - Thursday January 10th 2019

Solar flux is 70 today and the sunspot number 0. A=4 and K=1. Bouncing along the bottom of sunspot minimum.