Cirl buntings - NOT amateur radio

Some of these are seen in the UK, but I saw several in Brittany. They are in the same family as yellow hammers. In the UK they are at their current range limit, although with climate change they will probably spread further north.

See https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/cirl-bunting/

Brittany memories - NOT amateur radio

We have been back home a few days now and our stay in Brittany with our son's in-laws is fast becoming a distant memory.

We had a great time and the weather was so good when we were there.

The collage is a good memory jogger.

6m FT8

At the moment I am on 6m FT8 RX. So far today, 10 stations in 3 countries spotted with best DX on 6m FT8 RX being LB6D (1030km) in Norway. Later I may try TX.

UPDATE 1106z: A brief CQ was widely copied in England, but there was no Es at the time. The map shows where my CQ was spotted on 6m FT8 TX. Using the V2000 vertical omni antenna at 1106z.

UPDATE 1142z: 15 stations in 4 countries spotted so far today on 6m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1255z:  My recent 6m FT8 CQ call was copied by 15 stations with 1 QSO with G4VXE (136km). Earlier I was called by a station in JO00 square.

UPDATE 1827z: Now 24 stations in 4 countries spotted today on 6m FT8 RX here. The impression I get over several Es summers is the openings to the north get better later in the summer. As I say, this is my impression and has no scientific basis. I'd be interested to know if others have the same impression. Openings to the south of Europe still occur.

Sunspots - Monday July 15th 2019

Solar flux is 66 today and the SSN 0. A=6 and K=1.

UPDATE 1430z: Latest figures I have are solar flux 66 and SSN 0. A=5 and K=3.

6m FT8

For the last few hours I switched to 6m FT8. My CQ was spotted by 19 stations in 3 countries with best DX being a spot by G4RAA (333km) in Devon. On 6m FT8 RX there seems to be no Es evident with MW0CSO (243km) being the best DX spotted here this afternoon.

UPDATE 1715z: Now 30 stations spotted in 10 countries spotted today on 6m FT8 RX with best DX spotted being EA7ARG (1746km).

UPDATE 2010z: Now 39 stations in 14 countries (all EU) spotted on 6m FT8 RX today.

2m and the IARU

Southgate News has a piece today about the IARU and 2m. Several national societies have expressed concern about the French WRC 2023 proposal to reallocate the band to aeronautical mobile services.

2m FT8 RX today

This morning I am on 2m FT8 RX. So far today, 32 stations spotted in 6 countries with the best DX DK1FG in Bavaria (815km). These could be tropo or aircraft reflections. There are probably some of each. Signal levels suggest most are tropo. Still using the big-wheel horizontal omni antenna.

House martin nests - NOT amateur radio

There were several nests over the bakers where we stayed in Brittany.  I am pretty sure these are house martins judging by the tail of the adult.

Our garden in Brittany - NOT amateur radio

This was our host's garden in Brittany. Vast!

Sunspots - Sunday July 14th 2019

Solar flux is just 66 and the sunspot number still 0. A=6 and K=2. Pathetic again.