70cm activity contest results

Every month the RSGB organises an activity contest on 70cm on the second Tuesday of the month. Although not a great contester (my scores are always way down!) I usually operate with 5W SSB and my 2m omni antenna of about 30-60 minutes. Surprisingly, my position has improved, although unsurprisingly I am still in the bottom half of the AL (low power) section. As I said before, these contests are good in that activity is usually high. These are friendly contests and operators appreciate the QSOs. There is no compulsion to send in a score. Just enjoy the activity.

10m FT8

Well, no surprises so far here.

Although I have been on 10m FT8 since about 0955z, calling CQ (2.5W) initially, no spots at all so far given or received. If things are like yesterday, I may get a few G spots and not much, if anything, else.

At least I am on 10m FT8 RX, so if there are any decent openings, I have a chance. I know my antenna could be better. 10m often surprises me and others. We live in hope! 😊

UPDATE 1110z: No 10m FT8 spots as yet.

UPDATE 1545z: Just 2 10m FT8 spots today with best DX DO8WA (499km) at lunchtime. Pretty poor here.

Constitutional crisis - NOT amateur radio

One thing the whole of the UK can agree on is we are in a right mess. The UK Government seems to have made a right mess of negotiating BREXIT and the UK parliament has wrestled control of the process. The UK Prime Minister seems powerless now.  I think she will resign this week.

Although another referendum seems unlikely, it would no longer surprise me if a majority would now vote to stay in the EU.  The EU has many faults though.

As someone once said, if you were a turkey would you vote for Christmas?

160m FT8 RX overnight

Another good night with 19 North Americans and 1 Caribbean station spotted among the 448 stations spotted on 160m FT8 using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground in the last day. Best DX was K4MM (7029km) in Florida, USA.

Stations spotted here on 160m FT8 RX with the 

earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground in the last 24 hours

Sunspots - Tuesday March 26th 2019

Solar flux is 72 and the SSN 14. A=2 and K=2.

160m FT8

As 10m was not doing much, on my set-up at least, I have now QSYed to 160m FT8. At first I briefly called CQ (2.5W to the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground), although I am now RX only. The CQ was spotted by M0RTP (116km).

UPDATE 1706z: No spots yet on 160m FT8 RX, although the sun is still well up.

UPDATE 1722z: Just a couple of Europeans spotted so far on 160m FT8 RX.

OFCOM annual plan

OFCOM has published it annual plan. Great. I am so excited. 😆

See https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/141914/statement-ofcom-annual-plan-2019-20.pdf  .

Misunderstanding - NOT amateur radio

In 2013, I suffered a brain bleed that has left me with hidden disabilities. On my feet I am permanently exhausted. My voice is poor. Doing anything physical or mental and I am exhausted after about 20-25 minutes.  I am convinced that no-one, really no-one, really understands how I feel inside.

Outwardly I look well. Many think I am fully recovered. It takes a lot of energy to look and behave "normally", so I have a great deal of sympathy with people who appear well, but are not.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/stroke  .

Fewer shortwave broadcast stations

Today Southgate News reports on more shortwave broadcasters closing, this time in South Africa. I guess more broadcasters are turning to the internet as it is probably cheaper and more reliable.

I guess this means more shortwave spectrum for amateurs potentially, but the nature of the shortwave broadcast bands is changing. In 20 years a casual tune from 3-30MHz will sound quite different, assuming the manmade QRM is low enough!

It would not entirely surprise me if OFCOM released the entire shortwave spectrum at a limited power level on a non-interference basis.  This could happen within 5 years. Increasingly, people are deserting shortwaves as too unreliable, which suits amateurs perfectly. Maybe they will release spectrum on something like the FCC's Part 15 rules.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2019/march/bloemendal-shortwave-station-final-transmission.htm#.XJircfZ2u00  .

See also https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Title_47_CFR_Part_15   .

10m FT8

As of about 0950z I went on 10m FT8. As yet, no spots. I called CQ (2.5W) briefly, but no spots.

UPDATE 1020z: No spots so far today here on 10m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1319z: Still no 10m FT8 spots today.

UPDATE 1558z: Just G0OYQ (177km) is the only 10m FT8 spot so far today.

UPDATE 1622z: G4YBI (83km) also spotted on 10m FT8. I shall soon be QSYing to 160m FT8 RX.