At about 1945z, I QSYed to 472kHz WSPR using 10mW ERP (20% TX, 80% RX) from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. So far, a couple of spots of my signal and the best DX on RX being DL4DCL (561km). At the moment it looks like there are only 2 Gs active on this band on TX.
UPDATE 2251z: GW3UCJ (286km) is the best report, so far, of my 10mW ERP this evening. I shall remain on overnight, but doubt many more stations will spot me.
16 Mar 2019
Shower bacterium - NOT amateur radio
For years we were puzzled by a red deposit near our shower. At first we thought it was from the bricks behind the tiles. A chance internet discovery points to this being a bacterium. Apparently this bacterium likes damp moist conditions. My wife is trying the recommended treatment.
New Zealand - NOT amateur radio
My wife and I were lucky enough to go there in 2009, shortly after we retired. Without any doubt, it is the most beautiful place we have ever been to. The shootings yesterday must have been a real shock. In the past it always seemed immune from terrorism and safe.
Even today it is probably still one of the safest places on the planet, but NZ seems somehow to have been violated. The actions of a madman could happen anywhere. I hope the good people of NZ brush this off as a sad day and are able to move onwards.
If you get a chance to visit New Zealand, do so. I would be amazed if you are not blown away. Someone once said that around every corner of NZ it just gets better and better. With a population just a fifteenth of that of the UK, this is perhaps no surprise. Imagine Scotland, Wales, England and France with few people all in one beautiful place. Throw in a few tree ferns too. No, NZ takes some beating.
Another place we went to was Iceland. I was expecting it to be barren and desolate, but it was beautiful with green hills and lots of lupins growing wild. Another surprise was South Africa, which truly had everywhere in one country. Some parts were like Scotland, others the Mediterranean, others scrub. It was very different from how we imagined it. But, of all the places we have been fortunate to visit, NZ was the best.
See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand.
If you get a chance to visit New Zealand, do so. I would be amazed if you are not blown away. Someone once said that around every corner of NZ it just gets better and better. With a population just a fifteenth of that of the UK, this is perhaps no surprise. Imagine Scotland, Wales, England and France with few people all in one beautiful place. Throw in a few tree ferns too. No, NZ takes some beating.
Another place we went to was Iceland. I was expecting it to be barren and desolate, but it was beautiful with green hills and lots of lupins growing wild. Another surprise was South Africa, which truly had everywhere in one country. Some parts were like Scotland, others the Mediterranean, others scrub. It was very different from how we imagined it. But, of all the places we have been fortunate to visit, NZ was the best.
See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand.
Above 95GHz in the USA
To most of us, the mm wave spectrum above 95GHz (to 3THz) is definitely too hard, but Southgate News reports that the FCC is introducing new experimental licences that may lead to this part of the spectrum being exploited in future. Although there might be some amateur interest, I suspect most take-up will come from commercial interests.
See http://southgatearc.org/news/2019/march/fcc-moves-to-open-95-ghz-to-3-thz.htm#.XIzE_fZ2u00
See http://southgatearc.org/news/2019/march/fcc-moves-to-open-95-ghz-to-3-thz.htm#.XIzE_fZ2u00
Narcissus - NOT amateur radio
To me, they are spring.
10m FT8
At about 0918z, I put out a brief CQ (2.5W) on 10m FT8 which was copied just by local G4WSZ. Now I am RX only again.
Yesterday was better than it has been here on 10m with 8 stations spotted in 4 countries, albeit all Europeans.
UPDATE 1124z: No spots so far today on 10m FT8 RX here. As this is the weekend, I would have expected more activity than in the week.
UPDATE 1306z: M0NPT (125km) and 2E0XXO (121km) spotted.
UPDATE 1617z: 4 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX today. All are Gs.
Yesterday was better than it has been here on 10m with 8 stations spotted in 4 countries, albeit all Europeans.
UPDATE 1124z: No spots so far today on 10m FT8 RX here. As this is the weekend, I would have expected more activity than in the week.
UPDATE 1306z: M0NPT (125km) and 2E0XXO (121km) spotted.
UPDATE 1617z: 4 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX today. All are Gs.
160m conditions changing
Overnight, I was again on 160m FT8 RX. Just one North American spotted which is very poor. I am more convinced than ever that conditions are getting worse on 160m.
In all, even though I was late getting on the band last evening, just 183 stations spotted. This is far worse than I have seen earlier in the winter. As I said, I am not a 160m expert, but with fewer North Americans each night, there looks like a trend.
In all, even though I was late getting on the band last evening, just 183 stations spotted. This is far worse than I have seen earlier in the winter. As I said, I am not a 160m expert, but with fewer North Americans each night, there looks like a trend.
 |
| Spots here overnight on 160m FT8 RX |
ARE we at the solar minimum?
Opinions vary.
In the last few weeks we have seen a few sunspots (now gone out of view again), but as they say, "one swallow does not make a summer". Indeed, it could be the year-end before we know if this was just a blip or the start of an upward trend. Last month was dire.
See http://www.solen.info/solar/
In the last few weeks we have seen a few sunspots (now gone out of view again), but as they say, "one swallow does not make a summer". Indeed, it could be the year-end before we know if this was just a blip or the start of an upward trend. Last month was dire.
See http://www.solen.info/solar/
15 Mar 2019
Wine tasting - NOT amateur radio
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