10m FT8 RX

As of about 0930z, I QSYed to 10m FT8. With solar conditions not looking too great, this is more in hope than anything. I expect to be monitoring 10m FT8 RX until dark.

Comparing my results with John in southern Eire, I think my 10m results could be significantly improved with a change of antenna. Another job!

UPDATE 1121z: Just one station spotted so far on 10m FT8 RX. This was G4HZW (212km).

UPDATE 1200z: 2E0YSO (33km) also spotted.

UPDATE 1155z: G3ZSE (71km) also spotted. No DX here currently.

UPDATE 1711z: No further 10m FT8 RX spots here. I'll stay on a bit longer, then QSY to 630m WSPR (10mW ERP).

Sunspots - Monday March 11th 2019

Solar flux is 70 and the sunspot number 11. A=5 and K=1.

What hope?

Earlier I was in Bury St Edmunds so I popped in to W.H.Smith which is one of the bigger UK stationers. They carry a selection of hundreds of different magazines in this store. I looked and looked, but failed to see even 1 radio related magazine. If you want magazines on PCs, tattoos, trains, etc, no problem. Casually find a radio mag? No way! Without the casual interest caused by someone browsing a radio magazine, there is little hope for the future of our hobby.

There is little hope for RF engineering too. Over 11 years ago I recall interviewing someone for an radio design job. This person had a good honours degree in a communications related subject, but I knew more at 14 than this person. Needless to say this person did not get offered a job. Frankly, I was appalled. Hundreds of CVs were read, but a tiny handful had any idea.

No, RF engineering is in crisis. In general the magic is no longer there for young people today. People who had good RF design skills are retiring or have already retired. People can no longer chance upon radio magazines or amateur AM QSOs as we once did as youngsters. Yes, times change. However, the future of RF design is in deep trouble, in my view.

Still on 2m FT8

So I stayed on 2m FT8 RX overnight and am still using 2m FT8 RX. Since turning 2m FT8 RX on late yesterday afternoon a total of 36 stations spotted. In just the last few hours 11 stations in 4 countries already spotted. At the moment, the best DX spotted on 2m FT8 RX is GI6ATZ (479km).

UPDATE 1700z: Now 46 stations in 7 countries in the last 12 hours on 2m FT8 RX with best DX DL2AKT (761km).

Stations so far spotted today on 

2m FT8 RX with the omni antenna

UPDATE 1906z:  Now 54 stations in 7 countries spotted in last 12 hours on 2m FT8 RX.

Elder son now 43 - NOT amateur radio

Our elder son is now 43, which seems scarcely believable. Where did those years go? The photo shows him with his children and my wife singing "happy birthday to you". We did not have 43 candles, so 1 had to do!

Sunspots - Sunday March 10th 2019

Solar flux is 71 today and the SSN 11. A=5 and K=1.

2m FT8

After the total failure on 70cm FT8, I have QSYed to 2m (144.174MHz) where at the moment I am calling CQ (2.5W to the big-wheel omni antenna). I see my CQ is being spotted by G8TTI (186km). So far, 8 stations are spotting me with best DX GI6ATZ (479km).  My 2.5W to the omni is being spotted in 3 countries already! The sad thing is 70cms could be as good on FT8.

UPDATE 1630z: Now RX only on 2m FT8. 4 stations in 3 countries spotted so far today on the big-wheel 2m omni antenna.

UPDATE 2132z: Now 21 stations in 5 countries spotted since early evening. Best DX spotted is DL3TW (655km).

UPDATE 2225z: Now 29 stations spotted on 2m FT8 this evening.

Stations spotted here this evening on 2m FT8 

with the big-wheel omni antenna.

Returning summer migrants - NOT amateur radio

Slowly, the summer bird migrants are returning. Already in Devon there are wheatears, sand martins and swallows. At first just the odd one, whereas by mid April, many will be commonplace once again.

Tree trunk - NOT amateur radio

This was seen on a walk a few days ago. I love the patterning.

Overnight on 160m FT8 RX

Not a bad night with 7 North Americans and 7 Caribbean stations spotted on 160m FT8. Best DX spotted was AA7A (8369km) in New Mexico. In total, 332 stations spotted on 160m FT8 RX in the last day.

Stations spotted on the earth-electrode "antenna"

 in the ground on 160m FT8 here overnight.