OFCOM consultation

OFCOM is consulting on short range radar.

See https://www.ofcom.org.uk/consultations-and-statements/category-3/consultation-notice-of-proposal-to-make-the-wireless-telegraphy-automotive-short-range-radar-exemption-regulations-2019

Vote loser? - NOT amateur radio

Jeremy Corbyn, UK opposition leader, has said, allegedly, that Ms Begum should return to the UK to face trial. Whereas he may be legally right, I suspect this stance will lose him votes. This I.S. supporting person left the UK aged 15 to go to Syria. In recent interviews she appears to still support this group. Many in the UK feel she is a threat.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-47319763

UK Rallies on Sunday

Sunday 24 FEBRUARY : RAINHAM RADIO RALLY

The Victory Academy, Magpie Hall Road, Chatham, Kent, ME4 5JB. Doors open 10am to 4pm, £2.50 adult entry, free entry for kids. Local and national Traders, BRATS Kitchen, BRATS Interactive Zone for Kids, BRATS Junk, Talk In Station on 145.550MHz using GB4RRR.


Sunday 24 FEBRUARY : RED ROSE RALLY

St Josephs Hall, Chapel Street, Leigh WN7 2PQ. Doors open 11am. Trade, individual and Club stands including an RSGB bookstall as well as a Bring & Buy. Anyone wishing to hire a table should contact Colin on rally@WMRC.co.uk. Catering will be available on site. Details on www.wmrc.co.uk.


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

Mild - NOT amateur radio

We have had very little snow this winter. Today it seems very mild and already some parts of Scotland reached 16.9 degrees C. For February, this is exceptionally mild. Here in East Anglia it feels spring like. The photo shows "our" windmill with the blue sky behind.

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