New houses - NOT amateur radio

For some time now (actually about a year!) I have been watching the progress of these houses being built in the grounds of an old pub in our village that closed years ago. The old pub is now a private house and is on the market at last. The other houses are still being built.

D-Star from Android tablets and phones

Until this was mentioned on Southgate News I was unaware of this app. Apparently you can use an Android device to connect into D-star networks using some software called "Peanut". This may be useful to some, especially if your nearest D-star repeater is out of range. You can also use Peanut on a Windows machine with an Android emulator.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2019/january/android-peanut-app.htm#.XEXNcfZ2u00

Super blood moon - NOT amateur radio

At about 0315z, I awoke very briefly. I said to myself that if I awoke again at 0400-0500z I would take a photo of the moon. What happened? I slept until about 0730z. So, no photos of the moon. The next time it is this good is in 10 years' time. Of course, then it will be cloudy! There are lots of photos on the linked page.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-46943592

10m FT8 RX - ever hopeful?

As usual in the daytime, I am looking on 10m FT8 RX for some activity. Not unexpectedly, no spots yet. If I am lucky, there might be a few UK stations and maybe the odd European via aircraft reflection. If I spot any further, it would be a good day. However, I am watching! I suspect many more are watching too. As a band of surprises, anything is possible! With FT8, the impossible can be possible.

UPDATE 1340z: 5 spots so far including 3 Germans - aircraft?

UPDATE 1500z: No further spots. Best DX spotted remains DL3GD (714km).

UPDATE 1613z: Looks like there is a brief 10m opening to northern Spain. In all, 10 different stations spotted today on 10m FT8 in 4 EU countries. Best DX spotted is EB3DKE (1198km).

UPDATE 1910z: In the end 14 stations spotted. All EU. Time to QSY to topband or 472kHz.

Snow - NOT amateur radio

Michael Rainey posted a photo of the snow outside his house earlier on Facebook. We complain if we get a few inches as if it was a major disaster. By comparison, this snow in the NE USA was huge. I expect they just brush it off and carry on.

We really are a load of wimps over here!

Sunspots - Monday January 21st 2019

Solar flux is 68 and the SSN still zero. A=4 and K=1. The pits!

160m pirate?

Overnight I was again on 160m FT8 RX. In all, 7 North Americans spotted as well as tons of Europeans. Supposedly, I copied D7XY (8876km) in South Korea, although the fact he was widely spotted in Europe, but not in Japan or other places in East Asia, makes me highly suspicious. I think this is a pirate. If not, this was my best DX last night. Otherwise KI5BLU (7656km) in Texas is the best DX spotted on 160m FT8 RX overnight.

Topband FT8 RX

At 1743z I QSYed down to 160m FT8 RX using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. Immediately, all over Europe was spotted as usual. Best DX so far, within just a few minutes, is OH3NFD (1778km). 20 stations in 12 countries spotted almost immediately.

UPDATE 1812z: 40 stations in 15 countries spotted on 160m FT8 RX today. Best DX (so far this evening) is RU8W (3643km). So far, just Europe.

UPDATE 1913z: Now 136 stations spotted this evening on 160m FT8 RX this evening.

UPDATE 2216z: Now 292 stations spotted on 160m FT8 RX. As yet, no North Americans spotted.

UPDATE 2237z: Still no North Americans spotted here on 160m FT8 RX this evening. I am not experienced on 160m, so this may be normal. On past days I would have spotted a few stations by now.

Anglesey Abbey walk - NOT amateur radio

This afternoon in the winter sunshine we did a walk at nearby Anglesey Abbey. Even this afternoon, it was still frosty, so it must have been very cold last night. Although there are now plenty of snowdrops in flower, we saw no daffodils in flower.

Today's walk - 1.1 miles

Moulton, Suffolk - NOT amateur radio

A few days ago we went for a walk around the village of Moulton. It is a drive of about 8 miles there. It has an old clapper bridge, a stream, lots of thatched cottages and a fine old church (see photo). We ate afterwards in the Packhorse Inn.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moulton,_Suffolk