Our village - NOT amateur radio

This is a house in our village. We nearly bought the house next door many years ago. Instead we stayed put in the same house for 38 years!

160m FT8 RX overnight

A good period. In all, 21 North Americans, 2 Caribbeans and 1 South American spotted with best DX on 160m FT8 a spot of HK3W (8507km).

Stations spotted overnight on 160m FT8 with 

the earth-electrode "antenna2" in the ground

UPDATE 1254z: DL7AU (927km) was recently spotted in broad daylight on 160m FT8 RX.

Cat - NOT amateur radio

One of the reasons we visited our and family in London yesterday was to see their cat, bought as a kitten a few months ago.

She is now growing fast and is very playful as the photo shows.

Sunspots - Sunday February 3rd 2019

Solar flux is 71 and the sunspot number 0. A=17 and K=3.

160m FT8

After the afternoon with our son and family in London, I am now on 160m FT8 RX for the evening and overnight periods. Even in just a few minutes, all over Europe spotted.

UPDATE  2235z:  Best DX so far n 160m FT8 RX is RU9F (3511km).

Overnight on 472kHz WSPR

In all, 6 stations spotted my 10mW ERP with the best being a spot by PA0O (440km). I spotted 12 stations in 5 countries including 5 Germans and a couple of Norwegians .

Past the worst?

The latest solar data has been published. This source seems to think we are moving beyond the solar minimum.

Sunspots - Saturday February 2nd 2019

Solar flux is 71 today and the SSN 0. A=17 and K=3. Bouncing along the solar minimum?

472kHz WSPR

For a change, I have gone back on 472kHz WSPR (10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground). Already a couple of spots with best DX on TX G0MRF (139km) even though the transverter has not yet settled fully.

UPDATE 2125z: Still just a couple of spots of me, but 10 spots, so far, of others with best DX being LA2XPA (1310km).

UPDATE 2225z: Now 4 stations have spotted my QRPP with best DX a spot by PA3ABK (306km).

China-USA trade war - NOT amateur radio

Reports indicate that a trade war between the USA and China may be ending. At least that is one less mess for President Trump to clear up. What about Israel, Russia, Syria, Afghanistan, Iran, Mexico to name just a few? Midas touch? Hardly.

My advice (which I am certain will be ignored!) is engage brain, listen to experts, then tweet if you really think this adds value. Otherwise, please, just shut up. Most in the world look on in wonder.