BREXIT - what a mess! - NOT amateur radio

Whatever your viewpoint we are in a right mess.

We are due to leave the EU at the end of October and, as far as I can tell, we are no nearer an agreement. The election of Boris Johnson or Jeremy Hunt as UK Prime Minister solves nothing.

Assuming the turkeys vote for Christmas and there is a vote of no confidence in the UK government that is passed, I guess we'll have a general election. Most see the Labour leader as a left wing "loose cannon". Perhaps the best outcome would be a Labour-Lib-dem coalition,  but this does not exactly fill me with confidence either.

In my view we face rough times ahead and perhaps the biggest constitutional crisis since the 1600s.

Shack - 1992?

This picture shows my radio gear in about 1992. These days I have far less! Looking back, I had quite a bit of gear. It was all on a "spare" table in our main bedroom. These days I have a dedicated shack, and less gear! As I recall, all the Standard gear was free. This was obtained from work as we were considering a tie-up at one time when they were part of Philips if I remember correctly.

6m FT8

Plenty of 6m Es this morning early with 142 spots already at 0818z. All Europeans so far.

UPDATE 1139z: Now 204 stations spotted today on 6m F88 RX. All were European, mostly Es.

UPDATE 2020z: In the end before I went QRT on 6m FT8 RX 314 stations spotted.

Sunspots - Wednesday July 3rd 2019

Solar flux is 67 and the SSN still 0. A=5 and K=0.

2m UKAC July

In all 9 stations worked with my best DX being over near the Welsh borders. I managed to hear a couple of Italians by 2m Es, but these were not worked.

Not bad for 5W and a big-wheel omni antenna.

Little things please little minds - NOT amateur radio

These signs appeared recently in our village. I am sure to some they must be meaningful, but I had to laugh. There is a road closed not far away, but this is plain stupid.

OFCOM update

Every month, OFCOM updates its Communications Update.

See https://ofcom.cmail20.com/t/ViewEmail/i/10EC7DAD498055A92540EF23F30FEDED/952AB8F022CBFC94BA4AF9908B8D85ED

6m FT8

Although I have been on 6m FT8 for a while, only Gs copied so far. A brief CQ (2.5W) was spotted by 5 stations with the best being G8VR (76km).

UPDATE 1238z: So far, this has been a very poor day with no Es and no "real DX".

UPDATE 1515z: Possible small Es opening mid afternoon, although it could have been aircraft.

UPDATE 1526z: Now widespread Es. This is definitely Es!

UPDATE 1817z:  There is now very widespread Es on 6m FT8 with 245 6m FT8 RX spots. Best DX is a single North American spot of WU1ITU (4831km).

6m FT8 RX today here

UPDATE 2118z: So in the end 6m came good with plenty of Es. In the end 355 stations spotted on 6m FT8 RX today.

Updated solar data

My favourite solar data source has been updated. As far as I can see it still shows that we have passed the solar minimum.

If we see another month like last month maybe the predictions will change. If things improve this could mean last month was just a blip. Time will tell.

Sunspots - Tuesday July 2nd 2019

Solar flux is 67 and the SSN is 0. A=9 and K=2.