24 May 2019

Talk - NOT amateur radio

We are fortunate to live right next door to a 200 year old windmill and local museum, which is one of the best in the UK.

Every spring and autumn they hold talks of local interest. The photo shows the presenter in free flow. It was a good, interesting and well attended talk.

Sunspots - Friday May 24th 2019

Solar flux is 66 (I think this is the lowest I have seen this minimum) and the SSN 0. A=5 and K=2.

OpenStreetMaps contributors and OpenMapTiles

Most of my maps showing FT8 results are cut down copies of PSKreporter maps. It goes without saying that the copyright is theirs.

23 May 2019

EU elections - NOT amateur radio

Because of our delayed departure, the UK has had to take part in EU elections, The results will be known on Sunday when all EU member countries have voted.

In the UK these elections are quite odd. Unless by some late change of circumstances we vote to stay EU members, those elected will only sit for a few months.

It seem likely that the 2 major UK parties will do badly to either right wing or parties favouring staying members of the EU community. In the UK, this will be more of a protest vote. My wife and I have already voted Lib-Dem which is the party wishing to stay members. If I am honest none of the main UK political parties have policies which totally reflect my views, although the Lib-Dems are closest.

As a result of these elections, it would not surprise me if the EU made changes. With right wing parties on the rise, I suspect we will hear more about nations and less about a federal Europe in future. Assuming we do leave, I suspect the EU we leave will be much different within 5 years and we will wish we'd stayed.

Who is looking? - NOT amateur radio

For some time now, the map on my monitoring page for this blog has not been working, at least not on this browser. It now seems to be working again, although the number of visits shown on the map seems to bare no resemblance to the number of visits shown elsewhere.

160m FT8

At about 2012z I QSYed to 160m FT8. My 2.5W CQ was spotted by no-one at all and on 160m FT8 RX 8 stations in 7 countries spotted so far, all EU. As before, using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. This seems to match and work well at 160m. In the "DX season" plenty of transatlantic DX has been spotted on 160m FT8. Best DX this evening, so far, is UT9EZ (2471km).

UPDATE 2149z: Now 38 stations in 12 countries spotted tonight on 160m FT8 RX. All EU. Best DX remains the UT9.

6m FT8

Just before lunch, I QSYed to 6m FT8. My 2.5W CQ was spotted by 4 Gs, although no QSOs resulted. So far, 106 stations spotted this afternoon on 6 FT8 RX, many by Es.

6m FT8 spots today to 1523z
UPDATE 1523z: Now 125 stations spotted this afternoon on 6m FT8 RX with the best DX being SV2JL (2150km). Clearly lots of Es.

UPDATE 1952z: Now 179 spots on 6m FT8 RX with best DX EA8ZT (2983km) in the Canary Is.

Chelsea Flower Show - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday I mentioned how brilliant the flowers were. This is another photo taken yesterday.

BREXIT - NOT amateur radio

Whatever your views on BREXIT are we can all agree on one thing: we have made a right mess of it!  The UK people and main parties are deeply divided over this and the UK is more "broken" now than for years. The Prime Minister is going soon, but I cannot see a good replacement.

I have the feeling that we are on the verge of a new time in UK politics as both the Conservative and Labour parties are deeply divided over BREXIT.

What is needed is something to unite the UK. Short of war, I do not know would fit the bill - maybe we will all "get real" about climate change. Remember how public opinion suddenly changed on plastics?

Rally

Sunday 26 MAY : DURHAM DISTRICT ARS RADIO RALLY

Bowburn Community Association, Durham Road, Bowburn, Co. Durham DH6 5AT. Doors open 10.10am to 2.30am with disabled visitors gaining access at 10am. Admittance is £2. There will be traders, a Bring & Buy as well as an RSGB bookstall and Special Interest Groups. Catering and a licensed bar is on site. Contact Michael Wright, G7TWX, 07826 924 1192, g7twx@mickwright.f9.co.uk.

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