Quieter day on 6m FT8?

OK it is only 0945z, but so far 6m is far quieter than yesterday. There is some European Es, but only 8 stations spotted so far today.

UPDATE 1600z:  Now 82 stations spotted today on 6m FT8 RX.

Some amazing transatlantic 2m DX

This has been a remarkable week on 2m with some amazing contacts across the Atlantic. See this blog:

https://ei7gl.blogspot.com/2019/06/historic-trans-atlantic-contact-made-on.html

The question now is when transatlantic 2m QSOs will take place further north. Certainly modes like FT8 are improving chances.

Sunspots - Friday June 21st 2019

Solar flux is 66 and the SSN 0. A=7 and K=1.

Still firmly at sunspot minimum. Basically crap!

"All in one" instrument

This afternoon I got the XBS Telecom newsletter and noticed this Rigol instrument. If I was still fit and doing a fair bit of design work, I could be seriously tempted. This is a very useful piece of kit.

See https://www.xbstelecom.eu/shop/en/rigol/1068-rigol-mso-5072-oscilloscope-2x70mhz-8gss-16-voies.html?utm_source=sendinblue&utm_campaign=en_Newsletter_ham-radio_-_May_2019&utm_medium=email

See also https://www.telonic.co.uk/Rigol-s/1831.htm?_vsrefdom=p.17432&gclid=CjwKCAjw3azoBRAXEiwA-_64OnE25XJW9zSOI9bvFhv8fgxSfqrWBHNUtoI2DBF0kOuOEtyKEshGCRoCUCkQAvD_BwE

The future of UK politics - NOT amateur radio

OK, I have a crystal ball and this is my look at the next 6 months:

• Boris Johnson will be elected Conservative leader in the UK.
• He will also become UK Prime Minister
• He will try to get a better deal for BREXIT
• The EU will not play ball.
• There will be a no confidence vote in the UK parliament. 
• This will be lost by the Conservative government.
• There will be a General Election in the UK.
• A coalition government of Labour (now pro EU remaining) and Lib-Dems would become the governing party.
• A second national referendum on leaving the EU will be held.
• We vote to remain in the EU.
• The EU will reform or eventually fall apart. The ascendency of right wing parties forces reforms.

In June 2020 it will be interesting to see how right (or wrong!) I am.

Rallies

Saturday 22 JUNE : BANGOR & DISTRICT ARS RALLY

The Hub, Hamilton Road, Bangor. There's a nearby Council pay car park. Doors open 11am. Entrance fee is £3 inclusive of a raffle ticket. There will be traders, a Bring & Buy and a Book stall. More from 02890422762 or by e-mail to samanumi11@gmail.com.


Sunday 23 JUNE : NEWBURY RADIO RALLY AND BOOT SALE

Newbury Showground, next to M4 J13. A talk-in station will be on S22 (V44). There is free car parking. Traders can gain access at 8am and visitors at 9am. Admissions will be £2.50. Car boot sale pitches are £12.50. The show will have a huge radio, electronics & computing boot sale, plus demonstration marquee with display of amateur radio on air, plus clubs and national society stands. Catering is available on site. Contact Phill, G6EES on 07771 504738 or by email to NewburyRally@nadars.org.uk www.nadars.org.uk.


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

Funerals - NOT amateur radio

Going into the butchers today in a suit and tie felt quite odd!  The only time I seem to wear a suit and tie is going to a funeral.

Today was the funeral of our old neighbour for 37 years. She and her husband, who died some years ago, were good "salt of the earth" sort of people. We liked them a lot. She was very talented and we still have one of her sculptures and her Christmas decorations come out every year.

For about 6 years she has been in a home suffering with Alzheimers disease. This is a cruel condition that can affect any of us. Gradually minds go and in the end people cannot remember even their loved ones. Over time I hope her daughter can remember her as she was most of her life.

We shall remember them as they were - good, simple, people with hearts of gold.

USA and Iran - NOT amateur radio

There is no love lost between the USA and Iran. Iran could well be the aggressor in the recent conflict in the Gulf. What bothers me is dirty tricks. It is just feasible that the whole thing is a CIA plot, unlikely I know.

In times of heightened tension and war it is extremely hard to get independent, verifiable proof. All I caution is caveat emptor. What you see may not be what it seems.

Nocilucent clouds and DX

According to Southgate News this has been a good year for noctilucent clouds (NLCs). The path from western Europe to Japan (a very long way!) seems to open up for a short-time in June each year on 6m. This is just the time NLCs form in the mesosphere. There seems to be a direct correlation. 2 years ago, despite using a V2000 omni vertical fed with lossy CB coax I copied 13 Japanese stations on 6m JT65. For the last 2 summers I have been monitoring 6m FT8. As yet, I have not copied Japan on 6m FT8, which is a bit less sensitive.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2019/june/mysterious-moisture-in-the-mesosphere.htm#.XQtBAvZFy00

See also https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/vuhf/noctilucent

6m FT8 RX

So far today, 17 Europeans spotted on 6m FT8 RX, although no "real DX". Mind you, it is only 0815z.

UPDATE 0854z: So far, 76 stations spotted this morning on 6m FT8 RX with the best DX being EK7DX (3590km).

UPDATE 0914z: Now 114 stations spotted so far on 6m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1313z: Now 443 stations spotted on 6m FT8 RX today including 5 Caribbeans and 1 in the USA. Best DX on 6m FT8 RX so far is J69DS (6840km) on St Lucia.

UPDATE 1424z: With 14 USA and Canadian stations and 5 Caribbean stations out of a total of 498 stations already on 6m FT8 RX, today is almost certainly the best day this season so far on 6m. Best DX is currently N4WW (6988km). Interesting that WU1ITU (4831km) is in the log as the last time I logged this station was on 160m last winter.

6m FT8 RX spots 

here to 1630z today

UPDATE 1630z: Now 520 stations spotted today on 6m FT8 RX.