160m FT8 - Japan hunting

This evening, I am monitoring 1.908MHz FT8 in the hope of spotting some Japanese stations who do not have full access to the 160m band. According to Bas, the best chances are 2000-2200z. Later in the evening, I'll probably  revert to 1.84MHz FT8 in the hope of spotting some North Americans.

UPDATE 2308z: Although quite a few Europeans spotted up on 1.908MHz, sadly no Japanese.  It is now light there  so I think that is it for tonight.

XBS Telecom

Apart from the hassle of buying from overseas, XBS telecom seem to have the best prices inclusive of VAT and a 2 year warranty in Europe. As an example, the Yaesu FT991A retails at 1136.70 Euros. Additionally you can get a 100 Euros cash back from Yaesu.

See https://www.xbstelecom.eu/shop/en/fusion-digital-c4fm/148-yaesu-ft-991a-base-hf50144430mhz-analogiquec4fm.html

Oh, by the way the Yaesu FT991A is packed with a Yaesu 3 year warranty card!

Still not too busy on Oscar100

Today at about 1520z I took a listen on the geosynchronous satellite Oscar100. At the moment, activity still seems low, at least on the narrowband transponder, When I listened there were just 2 QSOs going on using USB. There has been some SSTV, but I have heard, so far, just one station on CW. I am not sure what is happening on the TV transponder. I shall have to see if there is anyone doing a TV webSDR.

UPDATE 1538z: Anyone know of a webSDR that relays TV from Oscar100? I haven't found one. So far I have only seen a power density view which shows how active the TV transponder is but not actual TV signals.

Distant windmill - NOT amateur radio

This morning, we did a walk at nearby Landwade and saw no-one at all! My wife took this picture of "our" windmill at a distance of about 3.5km. It is right next to our home.

10m FT8

Most of the day I have been on 10m FT8 RX. So far, only 3 spots with best DX LA3WJA (1155km).

UPDATE 1500z: Now 5 spots. No great DX.

160m FT8 RX

With 22 North Americans spotted on 160m FT8 RX, last night was pretty good. On the advice of Bas, I shall try listening for the Japanese stations tonight on 1908kHz between 2000-2200z.

Sunspots - Tuesday February 19th 2019

Solar flux is 70 again and the sunspot number 0. A=6 and K=1.

160m FT8 RX

From about 2015z, I have been on 160m FT8 RX using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. As usual, there were lots of Europeans spotted, plus a few Asians and Africans, 128 stations in total. WU1ITU (4831km) was the first North American spotted at 2151z.

Stations spotted so far on 160m FT8 RX this evening

UK politics - NOT amateur radio

So, 7 people have left the UK Labour party. As my politics is fairly centralist, I support them and hope they are soon joined by others from whatever party. I hope they form a new centralist party. Come the next election, I expect another coalition which, I hope, is more on the centre than the extremes of both Conservative and Labour parties.

DX on Oscar 100

Just heard PY2GN in Sao Paulo calling CQ. It seems odd to hear South Americans as easily as Europeans. Of course, as long as these stations can see the geosynchronous satellite and run similar gear there is no reason at all why they should not be equally strong.

UPDATE 1206z: Just heard F0JBN JN08 running 100mW.

UPDATE 1547z: Excuse my ignorance, but on the Oscar100 webSDR there are coloured lines above the frequency marks. What are these?