160m FT8 RX

Since teatime, I have been on 160m FT8 RX. So far, 94 stations spotted on the band.

UPDATE 2106z: Now 161 stations spotted on 160m FT8 RX this evening on the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.

UPDATE 2207z: Now 213 stations spotted and WU1ITU (4831km)  spotted at 2154z.

UPDATE 2314z: Now 252 stations spotted this evening on 160m FT8 RX with 3 North Americans.

10m FT8

Most of the day I have been monitoring 10m FT8 RX. So far, 5 spots with my best DX F5RD (681km) in central France. Not sure if this was a slight bit of Es or aircraft reflection.

At the moment many users have deserted 10m, although I expect they will be back in the main Es season from April-August. As FT8 seems to show, 10m is actually open (albeit briefly) on many days. It would not surprise me to hear that better equipped stations could work N-S DX paths on many days, although you need activity!

Overnight on 160m FT8

Not a bad night. 10 North Americans and 1 Caribbean stations spotted last night along with 410 Europeans and Asians on 160m FT8 RX with the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.

Sunspots - Friday February 15th 2019

Solar flux is 71 and the SSN 0 yet again. A=13 and K=3.

160m FT8

Using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground for a brief CQ just now (2.5W) resulted in just one spot by M0RTP (116km). On 160m FT8 RX so far 4 stations spotted in 4 countries here, although it is still bright and sunny.

UPDATE 2218z: Loads and loads of Europeans spotted on 160m FT8 RX this evening again. VE3OAT (5359km) was the first North American spotted at 2207z.

UPDATE 2326z: Now 5 North Americans spotted on 160m FT8 RX already! At the last count 299 Europeans and Asians spotted already on 160m FT8 RX.

Statue - NOT amateur radio

On St Pancras Station in London is a statue of Sir John Betjeman. St Pancras is where the Eurostar trains leave from for Brussels and Paris.

Sir John loved trains and without his intervention in the 1960s it is likely this fine building would have been pulled down in the name of "progress".

Javelin trains - NOT amateur radio

The journeys to and from Canterbury were fast due in part to non-stop trains to and from Cambridge to London and the fast Javelin trains from St Pancras deep into Kent. These are fast, clean and spacious. The staff are always very helpful in Kent. Javelins are a bit like Eurostar eating up the miles. You board the train and reach your destination in no time!

We went to Kent to see our son and family and to see one of our grandsons in his school musical, "Mary Poppins", which was very good.

Rally

Sunday 17 FEBRUARY : RADIOACTIVE RALLY

Nantwich Civic Hall, Cheshire, CW5 5DG. The venue has free car parking and the doors open at 10:30am. There will be a Bring & Buy, as well as traders and RSGB book stall. A single raffle ticket is included with the entrance programme with additional tickets available. Catering is provided on site. Contact Stuart Jackson on 07880 732 534.

A list of rallies can be found at http://rsgb.org/main/news/rallies/

Sunspots - Thursday February 14th 2019

Solar flux is 71 today and the sunspot number 0. A=13 and K=3.

New post on earth-electrode antenna coming

Although I have some urgent family matters to attend to first, it is my intention to do a new post about my earth-electrode antenna system for LF/MF, which works well for me, but is dead simple. I'll probably do it at the weekend and add photos and diagrams to make things clearer.