5 Apr 2019

Hackers back - NOT amateur radio

Usually early in the month visits to my blogs suddenly shoot up. It would be good to think people were suddenly interested in my blogs and this accounts for why I have already had more visitors than all day yesterday.

Sadly this not the case, and, like many bloggers, I get the occasional "probe" by hackers looking for vulnerabilities so some malicious code can be installed to steal bank details or similar from vulnerable people who click the links. Hopefully they will decide to look elsewhere soon.

I change passwords regularly to avoid these issues, but if you suddenly see odd things, you know why. As a rule never ever click links if you are unsure where it takes you. Hover over the link to see what the URL is. If it is odd, go away.

Sunspots - Friday April 5th 2019

Solar flux is 70 and the SSN 0. A=10 and K=3.

4 Apr 2019

Return to 472kHz WSPR (10mW ERP)

As usual, I am on 472kHz WSPR with the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. Within a few minutes of switch-on a couple of stations were spotting me. I have not spotted anyone else as yet.

UPDATE 2120z: So far this evening I have been spotted by 5 stations with best DX a spot by PA0O (440km). I have spotted 3 stations with best DX LA8AV (1035km).

BREXIT - NOT amateur radio

However you voted in the 2016 referendum on leaving the EU we can all agree on something. The last few years have been very badly handled by the UK and EU politicians.

In the UK, surely we should have agreed our position (across all shades of opinion) before triggering Article 50 to signal our intention to leave the EU. In my view, the UK Prime Minister has lost a great deal of credibility over BREXIT. Yes, she has a hard job, but she should learn to listen!

Surely the EU would realise the Irish border would be a sticking point and they should have done far more to assuage fears over being trapped in the EU for years and years. Clearly there is an element of sour grapes and punishment involved. Mind you, I can well understand that the EU is frustrated with the UK.

No, overall I am not at all impressed.

Rallies

Saturday 6 APRIL : GMDX CONVENTION

Afternoon lectures on DX and technical subjects, in the evening the DX Dinner. www.gmdx.org.uk.


Sunday 7 APRIL : CAMBRIDGE REPEATER GROUP RALLY


Foxton Village Hall, Hardman Road, Foxton, Cambridge CB22 6RN. Car parking is free. Doors open 9.30am for public entry and 7.30am for traders. Entry is £2. There will be a talk in station. You will see traders a Bring & Buy and an RSGB bookstall. Catering is available on site - the burger van has been booked. Contact Lawrence M0LCM on 07941 972 724, email rally2019@cambridgerepeaters.net www.cambridgerepeaters.net.


Sunday 7 APRIL : YEOVIL ARC 35th QRP CONVENTION


Digby Hall, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3AA. Doors open 9.30am to 3pm, admission is £3. The event is supported by the RSGB, RAFARSand BYLARA. There will be club stands as well as new and 2nd hand stalls. Two talks are scheduled during the day; A Remarkable Very Young Lady Radio Amateur and An Introduction of Mag Loops. Regrettably only Guide Dogs can be admitted. Refreshments will be available on site. Bob Harris, G8UED wjh069@gmail.com or secretary@yeovil-arc.com [http:// Yeovil-arc.com].


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

160m FT8 RX overnight

When I went to bed the internet was off. I have no idea how long it was off in the night, so what follows will not include stations spotted that were not uploaded to PSKreporter maps.

In all, 180 stations spotted here (and reported to PSKreporter) which included 5 North Americans with best DX KC5FFV (7612km) in Texas. No doubt there would have been others too. The Texan was spotted in the middle of the night.
Stations spotted here on 160m FT8 overnight with 
the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.

10m FT8

Shortly, I shall QSY to 10m FT8.

In the end yesterday on 10m FT8 I spotted 4 stations in 3 countries. Interestingly, the CT and EA were working "real" DX (VP8 and ZS) that I could not copy here. This is obviously some F2 propagation further south. OK, my 10m antenna could be better, so I could probably spot more with a better antenna.

UPDATE 0906z: Have been on 10m FT8 for about 15 minutes. Guess what? No spots!

UPDATE 0937z: Real DX (not)! G1NHG (5km) spotted. Well, I am grateful to spot anyone.

UPDATE 1115z: IU0MBJ (1471km) spotted. Es?

UPDATE 1306z: F5OHM (631km) spotted.

UPDATE 1450z: DL5XL (563km) spotted.

Sunspots - Thursday April 4th 2019

Solar flux is 69 and the sunspot number 17. A=12 and K=2.

3 Apr 2019

160m FT8 RX

For about the last 25 minutes I have been on 160m FT8 RX. Yet again, there are loads of Europeans. It will be interesting to see what comes in from "over the pond" tonight on the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. The last time I tried a few nights ago, a surprising number were spotted.

UPDATE 2131z: So far, 136 stations spotted this evening with best DX on 160m FT8 RX being R8CA (3788km) in Asiatic Russia.

Brunei - NOT amateur radio

When it comes to relationships all I think that matters is that the partners are happy in the relationship, so I was shocked that Brunei has introduced seemingly medieval laws that take us back many centuries. Perhaps in the 1300s, but in the 21st century? Barbaric comes to mind. Brunei - bad press? Their fault.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-47769964