8 Mar 2019
Sunspots - Friday March 8th 2019
Solar flux is 70 today and the sunspot number 14. A=8 and K=2. So far this month the SSN has been better than last month which was dire.
7 Mar 2019
160m FT8 RX
For about an hour, I have been on 160m FT8 RX. As usual loads of Europeans already spotted.
UPDATE 2158z: Absolutely loads of Europeans on 160m FT8 RX this evening. Best DX spotted is 4F6FO (3964km) in Azerbaijan.
UPDATE 2218z: 215 stations spotted so far this evening on 160m FT8 RX.
UPDATE 2158z: Absolutely loads of Europeans on 160m FT8 RX this evening. Best DX spotted is 4F6FO (3964km) in Azerbaijan.
UPDATE 2218z: 215 stations spotted so far this evening on 160m FT8 RX.
10m FT8
For the last hour or so I have been on 10m FT8. After a brief CQ (2.5W) I have been RX only, but only G4XYT (93km) spotted. No spots of my CQ call.
Grumpy old man - NOT amateur radio
As I read somewhere that the UK food chain Greggs was doing very well, I thought I'd check out their menus and prices.
Wouldn't you have thought that their menus would include prices? I looked and looked and was unable to find any prices!! Lots of stuff about contents, but I was totally unable to find prices. If this is obvious please accept my apologies. In the meantime, they will not be getting my business.
See https://www.greggs.co.uk/
UPDATE 1517z: I have looked again, but still cannot find any information on their prices. If it is there, it is far from obvious. Surely this is stupid.
Wouldn't you have thought that their menus would include prices? I looked and looked and was unable to find any prices!! Lots of stuff about contents, but I was totally unable to find prices. If this is obvious please accept my apologies. In the meantime, they will not be getting my business.
See https://www.greggs.co.uk/
UPDATE 1517z: I have looked again, but still cannot find any information on their prices. If it is there, it is far from obvious. Surely this is stupid.
Successful amateur VLF TX tests from Poland
Transmissions from Poland at 8.27kHz VLF have been received in the UK. The antenna used was a long baseline earth-electrode "antenna". From my own experiments with far shorter baselines, I know such structures work.
See https://klubnl.pl/wpr/en/index.php/2019/03/03/nadawcze-proby-z-dipolem-ziemnym-w-zakresie-vlf/
See https://klubnl.pl/wpr/en/index.php/2019/03/03/nadawcze-proby-z-dipolem-ziemnym-w-zakresie-vlf/
Rally
Sunday 10 MARCH : GRANTHAM ARC RADIO AND ELECTRONICS RALLY
Grantham West Community Centre, Trent Road , Grantham, Lincs NG31 7XW. Doors open 9.30am to 3pm, admittance £3. There will be trade stands, and RSGB bookstall and Special Interest Groups. Catering is available on site. Contact Kevin Burton, G6SSN, 07793 142 483, rallyinfo@garc.org.uk.
A list of rallies can be found at http://rsgb.org/main/news/rall
Grantham West Community Centre, Trent Road , Grantham, Lincs NG31 7XW. Doors open 9.30am to 3pm, admittance £3. There will be trade stands, and RSGB bookstall and Special Interest Groups. Catering is available on site. Contact Kevin Burton, G6SSN, 07793 142 483, rallyinfo@garc.org.uk.
A list of rallies can be found at http://rsgb.org/main/news/rall
BREXIT - NOT amateur radio
The deadline for the UK to leave the EU is very, very, near. The EU is clearly (for now) tabling "take it or leave it" options, but the current deal has little chance of getting through parliament.
What many (most?) in the UK want is control over who lives and works here and the UK elected parliament having the final say over our laws. It is in the EU's interest to strike a good deal that works for the EU and the UK. If they don't strike a deal both sides will be hurt.
In my view the EU wants to punish the UK. No, both sides need to grow up and compromise. Mrs May, UK Prime Minister, seems to be impotent and lacking the will to come to a deal that will meet the goals of both sides.
What many (most?) in the UK want is control over who lives and works here and the UK elected parliament having the final say over our laws. It is in the EU's interest to strike a good deal that works for the EU and the UK. If they don't strike a deal both sides will be hurt.
In my view the EU wants to punish the UK. No, both sides need to grow up and compromise. Mrs May, UK Prime Minister, seems to be impotent and lacking the will to come to a deal that will meet the goals of both sides.
Overnight on 472kHz WSPR
In a word - disappointing.
In all, my 10mW ERP WSPR from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground was spotted by 4 stations with best DX DK2DB (685km). On RX, I spotted 10 stations with best DX LA2XPA (1310km).
In all, my 10mW ERP WSPR from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground was spotted by 4 stations with best DX DK2DB (685km). On RX, I spotted 10 stations with best DX LA2XPA (1310km).
 |
| 472kHz WSPR TX (10mW ERP) overnight |
 |
| 472kHz WSPR RX here overnight |
6 Mar 2019
472kHz WSPR (10mW ERP)
For over an hour now, I have been on 472kHz WSPR (20% TX, 80% RX, 10mW ERP). What surprises me is how few UK stations appear to be active on 472kHz WSPR TX. At the moment it appears there are only two of us!
Surely my ultra-simple system proves that with WSPR you do not need big antennas or high power. Several spots already on RX and TX. I shall be on overnight. As usual, I am using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.
Surely my ultra-simple system proves that with WSPR you do not need big antennas or high power. Several spots already on RX and TX. I shall be on overnight. As usual, I am using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
