2m FT8

At the moment I am on 2m FT8 RX with the big-wheel omni antenna. 
So far today, 21 stations in 6 countries spotted (to 1108z).

Anglesey Abbey tree - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday we did a walk at nearby Anglesey Abbey.

Autumn is coming, although many trees are still green. This one looks autumnal (see photo).

CQWW SSB contest - doh!

Last weekend was the CQWW SSB contest. I forgot! Although I do not enter a log, the bands are usually busy, so this is usually a good chance to work a few stations. Of course it helps to remember the contest is on! It is surprising how bands like 10m spring into life proving it is often low activity rather than conditions that is the problem.

In past CQWW SSB contests it is often possible to fill pages in the log with 10m QRP SSB QSOs.

472kHz WSPR

At the moment "split" is not working on my FT817ND. I suspect this is software and will be a fixable issue.

What I had forgotten is I can still TX on 472kHz WSPR and still RX on 472kHz WSPR, but not at the same time. So, tonight, all being well, I shall be on 472kHz WSPR TX for about 25% of the time with the usual 10mW ERP. On another occasion I shall concentrate on 472kHz WSPR RX.

10m QRP

Whilst rummaging through some old photos I came across this one. It dates from the late 1980s I think and shows me (still with some hair!) operating 10m SSB from my parents back garden. The rig would have been my 2m MX2, with my homebrew transverter producing about 1W pep SSB on 10m. The antenna was a mag-mounted base loaded whip on the grass lawn. As I remember, several USA stations were worked. On another occasion I recall copying a 6m Canadian beacon indoors from my parents house with a whip on the FT817.

Sunspots - Tuesday October 29th 2019

Solar flux is 69 and the SSN 0. A=11 and K=3.

Primroses - NOT amateur radio

Every autumn we plant primroses in our front garden (see photo).

These provide colour all through the autumn and winter.

Normally they get replaced in the spring with flowers that last until the first frosts. Incidentally, we had our first frost of the autumn last night.

2m FT8

As I am (for now) unable to operate the FT817ND in "split" mode I am again on 2m FT8 (2.5W to the big-wheel omni antenna).

An initial FT8 CQ was spotted by 8 stations in 3 countries with the best again being GI6ATZ (479km). This never seems to fail. If he is active, irrespective of conditions, he spots me! On 2m FT8 RX 4 stations in 3 countries spotted with best DX spotted being DJ9IE (515km).

UPDATE 1710z:  15 stations in 6 countries spotted this afternoon on 2m FT8.

OFCOM and 5G spectrum

Today OFCOM announced that it was freeing up spectrum for 5G at 700MHz and around 3.6GHz.

It still insists on using the term "airwaves", suggesting to me that this quango is being run by a bunch of school kids who actually know very little about RF and spectrum. Perhaps I am being a grumpy old man. For this I apologise.

South Devon - NOT amateur radio

 

When I was young I lived in South Devon. The photo shows where I lived. We owned some land near here in 1427! Many of my ancestors lived at Hope Cove and we have a direct line back to William of  Hope in the mid 1500s.