Cinema - NOT amateur radio

This afternoon we went to the cinema in Ely to see "The Favourite".  It was a good film about Queen Anne in the early 18th century. Actually, not a film I expected to enjoy, but I did.

2m FT8 with the big-wheel omni antenna

For about 10 minutes now, I have been on 2m FT8 with 2.5W. At first I called CQ (best spot was by G7RAU at 461km in Cornwall IN79 with 8 people spotting me). Since then I have been RX only with best DX spotted DL6YBF (471km) in JO31. 2m FT8 certainly works!

Stations spotting my 2.5W 2m FT8 CQ earlier

UPDATE 1115z: 2m FT8 never fails to amaze me. All the stations below were spotted with just a big-wheel omni antenna this morning!

UPDATE 2054z: Amazing! Most of the day I have been on 2m FT8 RX with the big-wheel omni. I am still on 2m FT8 RX.  So many stations spotted with best DX spotted IK3VZO (1172km) as the photo below shows.

2m FT8 spots here today with just the omni antenna!

UPDATE  2111z: Although the 2m RX will run overnight, I do not expect to spot much unless there is some aircraft reflection or random MS.

472kHz WSPR RX last night with the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground

Overnight, 15 different stations spotted here with best DX LA8AV (1035km) who was spotted 97 times!  Not a bad night on 472kHz WSPR. Six countries spotted.

WSPR spots here on 472kHz overnight

Sunspots - Saturday January 19th 2019

Solar flux today is 69 and the sunspot number 0.  A=6 and K=1.

Return to 472kHz WSPR RX

At teatime I QSYed back to 472kHz WSPR RX. So far, DC0DX is the best DX.WSPRnet is showing the wrong QTH locator; I think the actual distance is 467km.   In all, 8 different stations spotted this evening so far.

Stations spotted this evening on the earth-electrode 

"antenna" in the ground on 472kHz WSPR

UPDATE 2155z:  Now 12 different stations spotted so far on 472kHz WSPR this evening.

Shop in Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

My wife took this photo a few days ago in Cambridge. I think it is in the Grand Arcade, which is in the middle of the city.

ICOM IC9700

Out of my budget is the IC9700 from ICOM. This is a 2m,70cm and 23cm multi-mode SDR VHF/UHF rig.  If you are a keen VHF/UHF person, this rig may appeal to you. According to Southgate News, ICOM UK has an engineering sample.

I wanted to link the photo of the rig on the Southgate News site, but was unable to so. So this is a reduced size copy. For a better view, check out the link below.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2019/january/ic-9700-uk-launch-update.htm#.XEGf7PZ2u00

Overnight on 160m FT8 RX with the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground

Quite a decent night, with 10 North Americans and 1 Caribbean station spotted. Best DX spotted overnight was KI5BLU (7636km) in Texas.

Stations spotted here on 160m FT8 overnight.

10m FT8 RX

For about 20 minutes, I have been on 10m FT8 RX, but no spots yet.

UPDATE 1611z: Just 3 10m FT8 spots today with best DX HB9GXK (802km). Not a great 10m day here.

Sunspots - Friday January 18th 2019

Solar flux is 68 and the SSN 0.  A=7 and K=2.