BREXIT blues - NOT amateur radio

If you live in the UK I expect, like me, you are sick and tired of BREXIT and the apparent inability of our elected MPs to agree on anything. A petition on the UK Government website calling for Article 50 to be scrapped is reported to have over 3 million signatures already. Experts think it very unlikely this is due to bots. Most votes are genuine.

No, most people in the UK and EU are appalled by our apparent lack of ability to agree on anything. There is no doubt that leaving the EU has terminally affected UK politics. A radical re-alignment of UK political parties seems highly likely in the next 10-20 years. I have little doubt that the EU will miss us, assuming we do leave.

BREXIT is going to have far reaching consequences. In the end, I am sure the UK will be fine, whether inside or outside the EU, but these next few years could be difficult as things change.

Cambridge Market - NOT amateur radio

These flowers were on sale in Cambridge Market on Wednesday. Next door was a stall selling sweets.

10m FT8

With the better solar numbers today, just maybe we'll see more promising conditions on 10m, maybe. At about 0945z, I QSYed to 10m FT8 RX. After 30 minutes, no spots.

UPDATE 1320z: Just local G4AWP (19km) spotted on 10m FT8 so far today.

UPDATE 1405z: So far today just a couple of local  UK stations G4AWP and M0PWL (25km) spotted. No DX, not even a European! A brief CQ (2.5W) a short while ago resulted in no spots.

UPDATE  1430z: IZ4GWE (1224km) spotted.

UPDATE 1511z: G0OYQ (177km) now spotted.

UPDATE 1626z: A total of 5 stations spotted today on 10m FT8 RX. 4 were English with 1 Italian.

472kHz WSPR overnight

Poor to average.

In all, I spotted just 8 stations and 6 stations spotted my 10mW ERP. It is going "off the boil".

472kHz WSPR overnight here

Sunspots - Friday March 22nd 2019

Are we through the minimum? It looks like it!

Solar flux is 79 and the sunspot number 49 (yes 49!!!). A=2 and K=0. These are the best figures for a very long time!

Let the big climb begin. Please.

472kHz WSPR

Since just after 1900z I have been on 472kHz WSPR with my usual 10mW ERP (20% TX, 80% RX) from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. So far 3 stations have spotted me with best spot being by PA0O (440km). So far, not a bad evening.

10m FT8

Although I called CQ (2.5W) late this morning, I got no 10m FT8 TX reports. On 10m FT8 RX, just one G spot. So far, dire!

160m FT8 RX overnight

160m FT8 RX was monitored overnight. It was a good night.  In all, 22 North Americans and 1 Caribbean station were copied with best DX spotted being KI5BLU (7636km).

160m FT8 RX overnight

Sunspots - Thursday March 21st 2019

Solar flux is 73 and the sunspot number 28. A=5 and K=1. This is the best solar flux and SSN for some time. Fingers crossed!

Rallies

Sunday 24 MARCH : HAMZILLA RADIO FEST AND ELECTRONICS FAIR - hosted by Dover Amateur Radio Club

Discovery Science Park, Gateway House, Ramsgate Road, Sandwich, Kent, CT13 9FF. Open 10am to 4pm. Online ticket entrance £3.00; Limited early bird tickets £5.00. Tables £10.00. Online purchase/bookings now available. Attractions: Bring-and-Buy Sale, Catering, Lectures/Seminars, RSGB Bookstall, Special Interest Groups, Trade Stands, Guest speakers, Digital village, Demos. Icom, SDRPlay and many more exhibitors. RSGB examinations will be held at event - visit website for more details, or email: club@darc.online. Disabled Facilities. 1000s free parking. Contact Aaron Coote, M0IER on 0771 465 4267, M0IERDX@gmail.com www.hamzilla.uk.


Sunday 24 MARCH : CALLINGTON RADIO RALLY

Callington Town Hall, Callington, Cornwall PL17 7BD. Doors open 10am - 1pm and admittance is £2. There will be a Bring & Buy (10% commission) and trade stands. Catering available on site. Ample free parking in the adjacent carpark. Rally organised jointly by the Devon & Cornwall Repeater Group and Callington Amateur Radio Society (CARS). More information and bookings from Roger 2E0RPH on 07854 088882 or email 2e0rph@gmail.com.



Sunday 24 MARCH : CAUSEWAY COAST GLENS ARC RADIO RALLY

Bushmills Community Centre, 14 Dunluce Road, Bushmills, Co. Antrim BT57 8QG. Doors open from 11am. Admittance is £3. More details from stephen769@talktalk.net.


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