What am I doing wrong?

Up to now, I had not used my FT991A on any HF band because I had no antennas. Then I remembered I had a small loop antenna that can be tuned anywhere from 40m-10m. OK, I was not expecting great results, but I was expecting to spot stations and be spotted by some. I set the power down to 10W just in case the loop antenna had a power limit. It was some years since I last used this, so could not remember.

As far as I was aware all the FT8 settings were as for 6m, but it sounded different. In the end I spotted nothing on 20m or 30m. I am convinced this is "finger trouble". At some point I will say, "Of course! That is what's wrong.". It sounds like the PC is not getting the audio from the rig, but all the settings seem correct. I am using the SignaLink interface I am currently using on 6m and 2m. Odd.

In the meantime I am back on 6m FT8. On 6m FT8 things sound normal.

Patio flowers - NOT amateur radio

The flowers on our patios and in the hanging baskets have been pretty good this year. The picture shows some of these.

Swifts - NOT amateur radio

It is now August 3rd and I have not noticed the swifts (birds). During May, June and July they are a very common summer migrant. They feed and sleep on the wing. During August most fly south. Suddenly we look up and notice they are no longer there. A few stragglers may stay a bit longer, but most will have started their long journey south. They usually return in late April or early May.

To me, their antics on the wing and their screams are part of an English summer. Safe travels and I hope to see you next summer.

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

6m FT8 - no early Es here, but some later

Today, I am again on 6m FT8. On 6m FT8 RX 2 G stations were spotted so far (0855z). On TX 5 stations spotted me, but all were Gs. As yet, no Es seen here.

UPDATE 1037z:  No 6m Es today? As of now, just 4 G stations spotted on 6m FT8 RX today. You get the feeling the main Es season is ending.

UPDATE 1117z: Well there is Es on 6m FT8 today, with Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Scotland on 6m FT8 RX this lunchtime.

UPDATE 1633z: 16 stations spotted today on 6m FT8 RX and my CQ was spotted by 16 stations in 4 countries with best DX a spot by EC1CT (1065km) in northern Spain.

UPDATE 1815z: Now 19 stations spotted on 6m FT8 RX today with EA8AQV (2989km) being the best DXs as the map shows. No "real DX" here today.

UPDATE 2105z: Now going QRT, so check 6m for a massive opening that I am just about to miss!  😒

Sunspots - Saturday August 3rd 2019

Solar flux is 67 today and the SSN 0. A=8 and K=1.

Dahlias - NOT amateur radio

Most months we visit nearby Anglesey Abbey, a National Trust property, to walk around the extensive grounds. Every summer they have a great show of dahlias. At the moment these are not quite at their best, but some are already wonderful, as the photo shows. There was one on the blog yesterday, but I could not resist sharing this one too!

The Tenner 10m CW QRP transceiver

Apart from summer Es, 10m is not the best DX band. Give it a few years, it may be quite different and 10m DX should be easy with QRP.

Perhaps now is the time to get building. Remember that all of Europe can be worked with QRP every May, June and July. Once the F2 openings really get going the USA should be workable with QRP regularly. In both cases, just a low wire dipole is all that is needed - no beams, nothing big in the air.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/10m_tenner

Facebook and Microsoft Edge - NOT amateur radio

For the last few weeks it seems as if my browser (Edge) is blocking all "push" notifications from Facebook. I am also unable to post. With Firefox all works. When I tried to turn "on" Facebook push messages FB would not allow me to turn this "on".  It is almost as if an update to Edge is preventing this. Anyone else seen this?

Giddiness - NOT amateur radio

Since my stroke in 2013 I have felt giddy on my feet. In the last year this has got worse. Not only that, but all car driving has become more stressful. Even a 4 mile trip to Tesco fills me with dread. When I drive I seem to be OK. My wife says I am the same as ever and it is all in the mind. 45 mph feels like 70-80mph to me! I am aware I must drive slowly and this embarrasses  me.

Es this season

There have been some spectacular 6m openings this Es season. These include Europe to North and South America, the Caribbean, Japan and even Australia. However, here this season, 6m Es has been less good than last year.

This summer, I have copied North America and the Caribbean but not South America or the Far East. The last time I spotted Japan on 6m was in 2017 with JT65. For 2018 and 2019 I have concentrated on FT8, which is less good than JT65 on weak signals. My antenna system is just a V2000 vertical omni. This is probably 10dB down on better equipped stations.

Although better equipped stations are able to copy some of this "real DX" it suggests with my set-up I struggle.