2m FT8 RX yesterday

2m FT8 never fails to amaze me.

Even with just a big-wheel omni antenna (about 3dB gain horizontal) I was able to copy 64 stations on 2m FT8 RX yesterday in 7 countries with best DX over 800km. Some are aircraft reflections, but many are tropo.

Even calling CQ with 2.5W I get spotted every time at great range. Most of these are tropo. What was once impossible is possible.

Even this morning I am spotting a station in Germany!

Sunspots - Tuesday February 5th 2019

Solar flux is 70 today and the sunspot number 0. A=7 and K=3.

Dalham - NOT amateur radio

At the weekend we did a short walk at Dalham, a village not too far from us. It is a delightful village with many fine cottages. Years ago, many would have been poor hovels for farm workers. These days they are probably very well equipped and very expensive.

New radio?

My Christmas present was a new radio, although I have still not bought one! Main candidates are the IC7300, the FT991A or the FT450D. In my mind the FT818 is suitable, but is really only an FT817 dressed up a bit.  As my voice is poor most of the use would be on FT8. The FT450D is far less expensive. I could almost certainly buy an SDR with this as well.

In my operating, it is unlikely to be run at more than 10W. Sadly, the IC7300S, which is the low power version, in not available outside of Japan. People tell me the IC7300 is a great radio, but I am in no great hurry. For my sort of operating any of those listed would probably do.

If you want to offer any suggestions please feel free. BTW, I have already seen the eHam reviews.

BREXIT - NOT amateur radio

Whatever your views on BREXIT are, we can all agree on one thing. We are entering uncharted waters and the water is rough. The rest of the world must look on us as plain stupid. Only time will tell how things pan out. In the short-term at least, signs are not good.

MLS Yaesu cashback

Every week I get an email from MLS as part of their "Something for the weekend" promotion. This weekend they are telling us about the cashback on certain Yaesu products. I expect other UK dealers are offering similar.

OFCOM latest

OFCOM today told us of a rule change affecting digital broadcasters and that current 700MHz users can apply for financial help to move to different frequencies as this band is being vacated and reallocated here in the UK.

See https://www.ofcom.org.uk/consultations-and-statements/category-1/support-pmse-equipment-owners

"Our" windmill - NOT amateur radio

As this is right next door to us, we get rather possessive! At this time of year when the museum and mill are closed, volunteers are busy with maintenance work. That is why there is filler on the mill side. I expect before the season starts at Easter, the windmill will get a coat of paint.

See http://www.burwellmuseum.org.uk/

2m FT8

For a change, I am on 2m FT8 (2.5W to the big wheel omni antenna). I called CQ but was spotted only by GW4BVE (237km).

Maybe there are fewer stations on 2m FT8 and the bubble has burst? On RX no stations yet spotted. OK, it is a weekday and many will be at work. However, the last time I checked there was plenty of 2m FT8 activity.

UPDATE 1135z: Perhaps I spoke too soon about 2m FT8! Already 11 stations spotted with best DX on 2m FT8 RX DL6BF (479km).

UPDATE 2012z: 52 stations in 6 countries so far spotted today on 2m FT8 RX with best DX DK1FG (815km). A recent call to another station (I was using 2.5W) was unanswered but was spotted by 7 stations including GI6ATZ (479km) near Belfast.

Stations spotted so far today on 2m FT8 RX

472kHz WSPR overnight

An average night with best DX on TX (10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground was PA0O (440km). A couple of other PAs copied me too. On RX best DX was LA2XPA (1310km). In all, 8 stations spotted me and I spotted 9.

Stations that spotted me overnight

Stations that I spotted overnight