6m FT8 RX

Although the better UK stations on 6m FT8 are working Japan, none spotted here today again on my modest set-up. I guess signals are weak and a big, high beam helps. So far today,16 stations spotted with best DX EA8BEV (3126km) in the Canary Is. It would be good to spot just one!

UPDATE 0943z: Now 35 stations spotted this morning on 6m FT8 RX. Still no Japanese! 😢

UPDATE 1115z:  70 stations spotted this morning on 6m FT8 RX with best DX 4X4DK (3580km). My own CQ was widely spotted across Europe.

UPDATE 1525z: My 6m FT8 signal has been spotted by 61 stations today, so far. There was some Es 4 hours ago, but most reports are from the UK and nearer Europe.

Sunspots - Thursday July 4th 2019

Solar flux is 66 and the SSN still 0. A=4 and K=1.

Still looks like we are bouncing along the bottom of sunspot minimum.

Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

Several times I have mentioned that we are lucky to live so close to Cambridge. We went shopping there after lunch in the sunny summer weather.

The BBC outside broadcast van was parked outside Kings. I guess they were recording a service.

The photo shows the university church, Great St Mary's, which is about 200m from Kings.

New radio

It is not often I get new radios. When I get these, they usually do me for years.

I bought a Yaesu FT991A, which seems to do my sort of operating and covers 160m to 70cm (no 4m) with all modes and an auto ATU. It is supposed to have a 3 year warranty, although I could not find this in the paperwork. I shall have to get MLS to make this explicitly clear. There is also a cashback offer from Yaesu. At the moment, I am still finding my way around. For example, I have still to figure out how to add speech processing in SSB. I need to read the manual in bed!

This evening it was used for a 2m FM net with locals and to work an Italian by Es on 6m SSB. Good reports so far at well below the maximum powers on these bands.

At some point I shall try FT8, which is my favourite mode with my poor voice.

It is smaller than the IC7300, although not SDR based and probably not as high spec. The fan only come on when the rig is hot. Covering 2m and 70cm suits me more. I can turn it down to 5W.

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.