10m FT8 - best yet?

Today is bound to be brilliant on 10m. How do I know? Because I am not on!

As the forecast was poor, I decided to give 10m a miss. This always proves fatal with others telling me what I'd missed! Ho hum. That's life. There will be other days.

Overnight on 160m FT8 RX

Although I failed (again) to copy any Japanese stations on 1908kHz, it was a good night on 1840kHz FT8 with 49 North Americans and 1 Caribbean station spotted in the 309 spotted last night. Even though I was on 1840kHz FT8 RX for less time than usual, this was my best night so far. Best DX spotted was WB2REM (7018km) in Florida.

Stations spotted on 160m FT8 RX with the earth-electrode 

"antenna" in the ground since late last night.

Monkey business? - NOT amateur radio

Today, we went to Chippenham Park, near Cambridge and after to La Hogue farm shop for lunch with 2 of our grandchildren. Here is the younger one climbing a tree (above).

Sunspots - Thursday February 21st 2019

Solar flux is 70 and the sunspot number 0 still. A=3 and K=2.

Independent Group - NOT amateur radio

So far, 11 UK MPs have left their political parties to sit as independents in the House of Commons. To me, it looks like UK politics is in trouble with deep fissures in both main parties. By any analysis, the UK Prime Minister is making a mess of BREXIT, the UK leaving the EU.

In my view, a new grouping uniting moderate ex-Conservatives and moderate ex-Labour MPs is needed with a leader who is well respected as a fair and moderate person, forging policies by consensus rather than confrontation. Only time will tell how this will pan out.

Return to 160m FT8 RX

As 10m seems to be dire, I shall shortly QSY to 160m. Initially I shall be looking on 1.840MHz FT8 although I may move to 1.908MHz later hunting Japanese stations.

UPDATE 1707z:  Now 39 stations in 15 countries spotted so far on 160m FT8 RX today. Best DX is RW4PU (3362km).

UPDATE 1809z: As we are due to have grandchildren shortly for a few days, I have already moved to 1.908MHz FT8 RX in the hope of spotting some Japanese stations this evening. If I remember, I shall return to 1.840MHz FT8 RX before bed time.

UPDATE 2156z: No Japanese on 1.908MHz FT8 here tonight. I think there are fewer Europeans copied this evening around the Japanese "watering hole".  Shortly, I shall switch back to 1.84MHz FT8 RX

Landwade Church - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday, on our walk, we went past Landwade Church. This is a very isolated church which, at this time of year, is surrounded by snowdrops. There were only a very few daffodils in flower.

Return to 10m FT8

A few minutes ago, I returned to 10m FT8. After a few CQs (2.5W) I am now RX only. As yet, no spots.

UPDATE 1550z:  Just G4CJC (74km) spotted. He was very strong (+6dB S/N), so probably aircraft reflection.

Geese - NOT amateur radio

Back in the late spring, I recall seeing young Barnacle geese in Finland. These birds usually come here in the winter to avoid the cold.

Yesterday, we did a local walk and saw these Greylag geese in a field with some Canada geese. The latter were introduced in the UK (1800s I think) and are well established now. If you see a goose in the UK it is most likely to be a Canada goose. Most farmyard geese originated from Greylags.

No Japanese here on 160m FT8

So, the evening passed and not a single Japanese station spotted on 1.908MHz FT8. Seeing how every time I go on 160m FT8 I spot North Americans this surprised me, as I expected to see at least one. What surprised me was the high number of Europeans on FT8 in that part of the band.

Later, more in hope than expectation, I shall probably revert to 10m FT8 RX on 28.074MHz.