2 Oct 2019

2m FT8 again

Overnight I remained on 2m FT8 RX. In the last 6 hours, 11 stations spotted with best DX spotted being GM3NKG (475km). 2 Germans also logged.

UPDATE 1108z: Now 13 stations in 5 countries spotted in the last 6 hours on 2m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1234z: Now 18 stations in 6 countries spotted today on 2m FT8 RX. On 2m FT8 TX my recent CQ was spotted by 11 stations in 6 countries.

UPDATE 1526z: Currently 16 stations have spotted my 2m 10W to the big-wheel CQs on FT8 today. 20 stations so far spotted on 2m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1645z: A recent 2m FT8 CQ was spotted by 9 stations and a QSO with G8EKG (142km).

UPDATE 1732z: A recent 2m FT8 CQ resulted in QSOs with GD and DL.

UPDATE 2129z: 52 stations in 7 countries spotted on 2m FT8 RX in the last day.

Burwell Museum talk - NOT amateur radio

A reminder for those in the area that our local Burwell Museum has a "Tea and Talks" talk tomorrow (Thursday, Oct 3rd) at 2pm on the "History of Newmarket" by Sandra Easom. As usual, this is followed by free tea and biscuits. Normal museum charges apply.

Of course, you can look around the very extensive museum and windmill too! I can honestly say this is one of the best local museums in the whole UK.  Many do not realise quite how extensive it is.

VLF amateur radio

For several years I have tried to maintain a website about VLF amateur radio. Experiments are mainly done by a few keen amateurs. To receive VLF amateurs does not require a big antenna. To radiate a VLF signal to some distance does require a big antenna.

A casual listen at VLF will not result in success with amateur VLF signals. Most require highly stable signals (usually locked with GPS or a VLF MSK commercial signal) and integration over many hours or even days.

See https://sites.google.com/site/sub9khz/

Sunspots - Wednesday October 2nd 2019

Solar flux is 69 and the SSN is 11. A=12 and K=0. Sunspots at last!

1 Oct 2019

2m FT8

After I finished the 2m UKAC, I switched to 2m FT8, calling CQ initially. I was called (after I had finished) by a station in IO70. It's a pity people don't call me when I am actually calling CQ! In all, 9 stations spotted me with best DX EI2FG (565km).

2m activity contest this evening at 1900z

Stations worked this evening 
on 2m QRP SSB
On the first Tuesday of the month, the RSGB organises a 2m activity contest (UKAC). Last month I was on holiday, so I missed it.

Activity on SSB is usually high and the contests are friendly. Although I usually submit an entry (normally far from the top!) there is absolutely no compulsion to do so. I usually stop on less than an hour as my voice is poor, although the contest runs for 2.5 hours.

My range, even with 5W and a big-wheel omni antenna is often 200km.

Personally, I find these sessions great fun. It is more about the fun of working stations and maybe new squares than a contest as such.

Chickens - NOT amateur radio

Our younger grandson loves his chickens and chicks. This is him at the weekend.

As you can tell, the bald one is me.

BREXIT and UK Pound v. Euro - NOT amateur radio

It seems unlikely the UK's latest BREXIT offer will be acceptable to the EU. The UK Pound has continued to fall in value against the Euro.

As I see it, we have several possible outcomes: the UK leaves the EU without a deal (unlikely), there is last minute deal, or there is another extension. The EU wants a deal. Of the 3 options (there may be others) I suspect the last one will be the outcome, although I am frequently wrong!

Personally, I favour staying within the EU until a better trade deal is negotiated. In the end, that is surely what is sought.

Solar forecast update

My favourite resource for solar data usually updates very early in the month. This usually happens on the first or second day of each month.

The last time I looked they were forecasting solar minimum to have occurred earlier in the year.

The next sunspot cluster looks as if it is just coming in to view.

See http://www.solen.info/solar/

UPDATE 1830z: Pages have now been updated. It is still showing that we have now (just) passed the minimum. I do hope they are correct. It will be interesting to see if there are more sunspots this month.

Storm risk passed?

As you know, I look at the risks of storms quite often and disconnect things if they look near. At the moment, the risk locally seems to be decreasing. At the first sign, everything at risk will be disconnected.

See https://www.lightningmaps.org/blitzortung/europe/index.php?bo_page=map&bo_showmap=uk&bo_period=2&lang=en

UPDATE 1348z: Did I speak too soon?  Just heard a loud clap of thunder, so everything in the shack disconnected!