6m FT8

All morning I was on 6m FT8, initially calling CQ (2.5W), then RX only. For some reason (probably flaky internet) spots did not upload to PSKreporter. I have now reset things.

UPDATE 1515z: Now 36 stations in 9 countries spotted on 6m FT8 RX today. Recently, I spotted my old friend G3WKW (134km) calling CQ, but no replies sadly, despite calling him for several minutes. My QRP CQ was spotted locally by G4KPX (12km).

UPDATE 1815z: Now 49 stations in 9 countries spotted on 6m FT8 RX today,

Sunspots - Monday June 3rd 2019

Solar flux is 69 today and the SSN 0. A=4 and  K=1.

That state visit - NOT amateur radio

This is my personal view and others are free to hold different views, but I have no desire to see the current US president afforded a state visit at OUR EXPENSE.

Kite - NOT amateur radio

On a walk today at Dalham we saw a kite (bird). At one time these would have been rare over here, but now they are quite common.

Solar minimum update

My usual source of data on the next solar cycle has been updated and still suggests that we have passed the solar minimum.

See http://www.solen.info/solar/

6m FT8

It looks like today was one of best days this season on 6m. As I said, the Internet is off most of the time so I have not been able to access PSKreporter or upload spots. I am now calling CQ.m

UPDATE 1847z: My CQ (2.5W) was spotted by several stations including some by Es.

UPDATE 1923z: PV8DX spotted. This is the first South American copied here this season on 6m.

No solar data again

Yet again we have had no Internet apart from 4G on the phone. As yet I have not been able to access solar data.

160m FT8 RX

This evening and overnight I am on 160m FT8 RX using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground and there are plenty of Europeans to be spotted. At the moment 34 stations spotted with best DX 5B4AIF (3171km).

Electric Cars - NOT amateur radio

Most days now I see 1-2 electric cars. In other words they are not (yet) common. As the years go by I expect there will be far more. It is my view that we will have a "tipping point" when most of us will be driving electric cars and internal combustion care will seem "past it". At least one local amateur has bought an electric car recently, although unless you do mostly local journeys, I think the range is still too low.  The tipping point will come, in my view, when most trips can be done in a day without recharging i.e.the range is over 300 miles. OK, most journey's are far shorter, but the battery technology is still "not there".

6m FT8

Earlier I was on 6m FT8 TX and my QRP was copied by several stations. Although RX most of the day I am unable to upload spots to PSKreporter as the Internet via WiFi is off.

UPDATE 1840z: The Internet has been off much of the day.