Trump: please read the facts!!! - NOT amateur radio

"The scientists are "virtually certain" that the global ocean has now warmed without pause since 1970."

The BBC reports on the latest news from climate scientists at the UN. Oh, sorry, this is all rubbish and just a Chinese hoax, says Trump allegedly. The world needs the USA and China fully engaged for the good of our children and grandchildren. For some nations, rising sea levels are a threat to their very existence.

Reading means you stop watching soaps on TV, tweet less, forget lobbyists from the gun and oil people and actually read reports. A true statesman does this and listens to knowledgeable and wise advisers.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-49817804 .

National Hamfest

This weekend is the UK's National Hamfest in Newark.

27-28 SEPTEMBER : NATIONAL HAMFEST

Newark & Nottinghamshire Showground, Lincoln Road, Winthorpe, Newark, Nottinghamshire NG24 2NY.

A list of rallies can be found at http://rsgb.org/main/news/rallies/

2m FT8

Although I have been on 2m FT8 RX overnight, just 2 spots (1G and one DL).

I may try a 10W FT8 CQ call shortly. It seems few transmit overnight. Some start at breakfast time. I think these were both normal "flat band" conditions with the DL (who is regularly on FT8) via flat band tropo judging by the signal level.

UPDATE 1242z: So far today 13 stations in 7 countries spotted with best DX on 2m FT8 RX being EB1DJ (1279km) in northern Spain. On TX (10W to the big-wheel omni) an earlier CQ on 2m FT8 was spotted by 7 stations in 3 countries with my best DX DF6PW (562km).

UPDATE 1917z: A recent 10W FT8 2m CQ was copied by 11 stations in 4 countries. One QSO with PA1BVM (367km) resulted. On 2m FT8 RX 32 stations in 9 countries spotted in the last day.

Sunspots - Tuesday September 25th 2019

Solar flux is 67 and the SSN 0. A=13 and K=1 .

CME triggered auroras?

Southgate News reports that there is a risk of a coronal mass ejection causing auroras this week. In the past I have worked stations via auroras with QRP on 6m CW and 10m SSB. A geomagnetic storm is likely even if the CME debris misses Earth.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2019/september/minor-cme-impact-could-spark-auroras-this-week.htm

Rybakov antennas

The basic idea of Rybakov antennas is to feed these at the high impedance end via a transformer so the impedance is brought down to the range (usually VSWR better than 3:1) that can be matched with the auto ATUs in many modern HF rigs.

Somewhere in the garage I have an x80 antenna which was a commercial version. I think this antenna is no longer available, but I guess similar antennas are available. The one I have was criticised for blowing wildly in winds. If I can erect it on our bungalow, it should give me access to several bands.

If you buy the toroid formers and wind the transformers, Rybakovs are quite easy to make. There are several examples on YouTube and elsewhere on the internet.

Back on air

The storm risk seems to have passed with both the BBC and Met Office weather forecasts showing no thunder and lightning this evening, so I have reconnected the rig, PC, PSU and antenna and have returned to 2m FT8.

Distant thunder

OK, I only heard this twice but I have gone QRT and disconnected everything once again. At the moment they are not forecasting storms here, but I have done this "just in case".

RSGB's RadCom Basics

This is, as its name implies, a more basic version of RadCom that is available for members online. The latest version is now available. This is more aimed at beginners.

See https://rsgb.org/main/publications-archives/radcom-basics/

Prorogation of parliament is illegal Supreme Court rules - NOT amateur radio

The highest court in the UK has unanimously voted that the Prime Minister acted illegally by suspending the UK parliament. These are historic days. It is anyone's guess what happens next.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news