OFCOM chief executive to stand down

No, I did not know who she was either.

Apparently the current chief executive of OFCOM is to leave for a job with John Lewis and Partners. I am sure she will be greatly missed.

See https://ofcom.cmail20.com/t/ViewEmail/i/E4E859444D2787B12540EF23F30FEDED/952AB8F022CBFC94BA4AF9908B8D85ED

6m FT8

At the moment there is good Es on 6m, even though it is only 0832z. In all, 22 stations have been spotted already and even my 2.5W CQ call was spotted by a couple of stations with M0CGL (107km) being the best so far. On RX, the best DX is Portugal.

UPDATE 0930z: Already 47 stations spotted today on 6m FT8 RX with best DX EA8DBM (3016km).

UPDATE 1458z: Now 133 stations spotted today on 6m FT8 RX with best DX being 9K2HS (4634km) in Kuwait.

UPDATE 1905z: Now 167 stations spotted today on 6m FT8 RX.

Kite (bird) - NOT amateur radio

Over breakfast I spotted an unusual bird overhead, so I grabbed my glasses. It was a kite, the second seen from our home. Years ago, this would have been exceedingly rare, but not so any longer. If I had been quicker I could have got a great picture with the blue sky and windmill. I was too slow!

472kHz overnight

We are definitely seeing summertime activity and conditions. Only 2 stations spotted here on 472kHz WSPR overnight, and these were actually spotted first in the early evening yesterday. Until the autumn, I suspect I am rather wasting my time.

472kHz WSPR here overnight - disappointing

Sunspots - Thursday June 6th 2019

Solar flux is 70 and the SSN still 0. As the more active side swings into view I hope we see some spots. A=4 and K=1

472kHz WSPR

The last time I was on 472kHz WSPR, not a single station spotted me, despite being on overnight. At about 1810z, I went back on 472kHz WSPR (20% TX, 10mW ERP, remainder on RX) hoping for better luck!

I guess the summer QRN is higher now and there are far fewer active stations on the band. Both factors make copying a weak QRPP signal much harder. Using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground, I still have a low noise floor.

Amazingly, I have already been spotted today on 472kHz WSPR by G4GIR (53km) who was also spotted here.

My new radio

Still thinking....

At the moment these are under consideration:

• FT991A - probably not the best, but with a thermally controlled fan, 2m and 70cm and ATU.
• IC7300 - SDR based. Probably the best radio and with 4m, but no 2m and 70cm and (possibly) noisy fan. Good ATU with wide range.
• FT891 - much cheaper but with no 2m or 70cm. Gets good reviews.
• FT450D - older and without 2m and 70cm. Inexpensive.

Or nothing!

At the moment the FT991A is probably the best for me. If I am buying, it will be this month.

Cooking - NOT amateur radio

Our elder granddaughter loves cooking and completely makes herself at home in the kitchen. This is how we like it.

We hope, in years to come, all our grandchildren look back on these days with fondness.

D-Day anniversary - NOT amateur radio

My father was a Pathfinder. He flew night raids over Germany in WW2 in Lancaster bombers. He rarely spoke of these days. I am sure my dad , and many others, was badly affected by the horrors of war.

With the anniversary this week of the D-Day landings I think the fear these brave people had must have been truly, almost unimaginably, horrific. As they landed on those beaches they must have known there was a high chance of being killed or wounded. No, these were very brave people and it is little surprise these horrors were too much for many to talk about.

Every night that my dad flew over Germany, my mother and grandmother must have been terrified. No wonder he loved his golf on the Devon clifftops.

OFCOM to share some spectrum at 8GHz and 26GHz

I am so thrilled. Said with a good dose of sarcasm. OFCOM is to make available some microwave frequencies.