Getting older - NOT amateur radio

Whilst clearing boxes in the loft we came upon this photo, which is about 35 years old. We have aged! This is my wife with her brothers.

Farm shop lunch - NOT amateur radio

As we have one of our grandsons with us at the moment we went out for lunch at our local farm shop. As might be expected, they had lots of Halloween stuff on sale. Here is our elder grandson with a toy spider on his arm.

Old magazines online

In an email received earlier today an old colleague reminded me of this amazing online resource. It contains pdf versions of many magazines and publications of interest to amateurs. I can highly recommend it. If you are looking for it, it is probably here. Despite its title there are magazines from across the world here.

See https://www.americanradiohistory.com/index.htm

2m FT8

Yet again, laziness meant I remained on 2m FT8 RX overnight. As before, most spots were after breakfast. At the moment (0852z) 13 stations in 3 countries spotted on 2m FT8 RX today so far.

UPDATE 1425z: Now 27 stations in 7 countries spotted on 2m FT8 RX today.

Stations spotted on 2m 

FT8 RX today to 2007z.

UPDATE 1756z:  Now 39 stations in 9 countries spotted on 2m FT8 RX today. An FT8 CQ (2.5W) earlier this afternoon was spotted by 6 stations in 4 countries with best DX spot being by GI6ATZ (479km).

UPDATE 2007z: Now  46 stations in 9 countries spotted on 2m FT8 RX today.

Sunspots - Friday October 25th 2019

Solar flux is 65 and the SSN 0. A=18 and K=4.

Pumpkins - NOT amateur radio

It is Halloween season. As our elder grandson is with us before Halloween night we are celebrating it early. He still wants a party!

Poppy Day - NOT amateur radio

This morning on Breakfast Television was a piece on the making of poppy badges. These are sold about now to support the work of the British Legion. I came in late so missed most of the piece. At first I thought "how odd to be featuring poppies at this time of year". Then it dawned on me that this is the time of year when poppies are sold. Doh! Time certainly flies as in my mind it was still summer.

Active RX loop kit

Southgate News has a piece about a new active RX loop kit that retails in the UK for £44.66 inclusive of shipping.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2019/october/loop-antenna-amplifier-released.htm

2m FT8

Overnight I remained on 2m FT8 RX. As on previous occasions, most stations were spotted around breakfast time or later. Little was copied overnight. In fact there is little point remaining on 2m overnight.

By 0925z 16 stations in 7 countries were spotted.

UPDATE 1555z: Now 34 stations in 10 countries spotted on 2m FT8 RX today. Best DX on 2m FT8 RX is EA2BFM (1030km) in northern Spain. This station was strong, suggesting aircraft reflection perhaps?

Self Importance - NOT amateur radio

Several times recently I have travelled by train and observed people in work talking with their colleagues. Usually there is a more senior person with someone more junior. Often the older person has to impress the younger member of staff or look "cool". The younger person looks in awe of the senior person and has to set a good impression as future advancement may depend on what his impressions of you are.

Having been retired now for 11 years it is amazing how silly all this looks. Work matters seem so important at the time, when really they are not.

I guess this is how we all behave or have behaved in the past. I am not saying it is wrong, but when you can stand back, it does look posed.