Sunspots - Friday February 1st 2019

Solar flux is 72 and the SSN 0. A=14 and K=3.

Kings Lawn - NOT amateur radio

This probably has a real name, but it is the lawn separating Kings College from the River Cam in Cambridge, UK. In the summer, there are lots of tourists taking photos of punts or Kings College Chapel, but this is a cold January morning. Memories of John Betjeman's famous poem "Sunday Morning, King's Cambridge"

"...The white of windy Cambridge courts, the cobbles brown and dry,..."

Telling Lies? - NOT amateur radio

A Member of Parliament in the UK has been found guilty of telling lies over who was driving her car when it was caught speeding and both her brother and her have been imprisoned. I have no facts, so cannot comment on this specific case. However, it is wrong for any MP to tell lies to save his or her career.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-46596588

Homelessness - NOT amateur radio

One thing you notice in Cambridge is there are more homeless people on the streets than a few years ago.

Now, many of these people are on drugs and/or have a mental illness. Some beg as it is quite lucrative in a popular tourist destination like Cambridge. Whatever the reason, it should not happen in this day and age. In Helsinki, they have tackled the issue another way, with a lot of success.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-46891392

OFCOM Consultations

OFCOM is consulting on 700MHz and 3.2GHz spectrum.

See https://www.ofcom.org.uk/consultations-and-statements/category-1/award-700mhz-3.6-3.8ghz-spectrum

10m FT8 RX

In recent days 10m has not been good here.  As of a few minutes ago I went on 10m FT8 RX, although my hopes are not high! As yet, no spots, although I am not surprised. At least I am looking.

UPDATE 1200z: No 10m FT8 spots yet.

UPDATE 1315z: Just a couple of UK spots so far. I think these are either tropo or aircraft reflections.

UPDATE 1440z: Now 3 UK spots. No EU and no "real DX".

UPDATE 1542z: Now 4 UK spots on 10m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1834z: More by accident than design I am still on 10m FT8 RX. About an hour ago EA1JAZ (1197km) was spotted.

160m FT8 RX

A good night with 21 North Americans and 1 Caribbean station spotted overnight on 160m FT8 RX.  Best DX was V31YN (8346km) in Belize. This station was widely spotted, so I think is genuine.

160m FT8 RX spots here overnight

Sunspots - Thursday January 31st 2019

Solar flux is 75 and the sunspot number 15. A=2 and K=0.

Cambridge in the snow - NOT amateur radio

As the photo shows, there was a thin covering of snow in Cambridge earlier. This photo was taken at about 1000z today.

How to lose £39 billion? - NOT amateur radio

According to Michel Barnier, the EU will not re-negotiate the so-called "backstop". Me thinks this is brinkmanship as, on the face of it, the EU stands to lose out on £39 billion in funding, and lots of trade, if we leave without a deal. It is as much to the EUs benefit as the UKs to reach a deal.

As a "remainer" I can quite understand why so many voted to leave this "club".

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-47061650