Sunspots - Wednesday September 4th 2019

Solar flux is 69 and the SSN 0. A=10 and K=3.

Secondary School - NOT amateur radio

It seems just a blink of an eye since our elder grandson was born, yet today he starts secondary school. Amazing.

I guess we'll bink and he'll be driving and blink again and he'll be married!

The moral seems to be that they are only little for a short while, so enjoy them as much as you can. We certainly have.

I guess they turn into stroppy teenagers next and won't want to see us. Ho hum.

2m FT8

Even though it is very early already one French and one German station spotted on 2m FT8 RX in the last few hours. By 0755z there were 6 stations logged, most at good range.

East Cambs net - 144.575MHz FM 8pm Mondays

Mark G7LEU's FM signal 

last night 59+60dB

After some deliberation, we decided to go back to our old time and day. It seems to have worked, as there was quite a good turnout last night. Feel free to call in, as we rarely talk for more than 30 minutes and our technical discussion rarely gets, well, technical. A small friendly group.

• Monday nights
• 144.575MHz FM (yes, one four four) vertical
• 8pm UK clock time

Sunspots - Tuesday September 3rd 2019

Solar flux is 69 and the SSN 12. A=21 and K=3.

Another IC-705 video

As you can tell, I have been looking for good, informative, videos.

2m FT8

Although it is very early I have already spotted 5 stations in 3 countries on 2m FT8 this morning.  Not sure if these are via flat band tropo or aircraft scatter. Probably some of each?

UPDATE 1255z: Now 21 stations spotted in 5 countries so far today on 2m FT8 RX. My best DX today on 2m FT8 RX is GI0OTC (561km) in Northern Ireland.

UPDATE 1354z: A brief 2m FT8 CQ just now resulted in no QSOs. However, it was widely spotted with my best DX being a spot (again) by EI2FG (565km) in southern Eire.

UPDATE 1600z: Now 34 stations in 5 countries spotted today on 2m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1626z: Amazing! A brief 2m FT8 CQ (10W to the big-wheel omni) was widely spotted and I was called by DO8SAS (601km). On 2m FT8 RX I have spotted 35 stations so far today.

2m FT8 RX stations spotted today

UPDATE 2035z: 36 stations spotted so far today on 2m FT8 RX using the big-wheel omni antenna.

UPDATE 2052z: 53 stations in 8 countries spotted in the last day on 2m FT8 RX, even with my pathetic antenna!

BREXIT - NOT amateur radio

Whatever else one says one thing is certain. The UK has become a very divided nation with chasms between those that want to leave the EU and those who wish to remain . These divisions exist in our politicians and people. There seems little will to compromise on both sides. 

More on the ICOM IC-705

There is a video which shows more of the ICOM prototype IC-705 QRP transceiver at the Tokyo Ham Fair.

Fewer older hams in Japan?

Looking at recent videos of the Tokyo Ham Fair, there look to be fewer old amateurs wandering around. Certainly in the UK amateur radio seems to be an old man's hobby, although I am not sure how commonplace this is.