1 Nov 2019
Sunspots - Friday November 1st 2019
Solar flux is 72 and the SSN 0. A=8 and K=3. Are we seeing the start of a slight improvement?
31 Oct 2019
472kHz WSPR TX for the evening and overnight
Having turned on WSJT-X again and resynced the PC to internet time, I am back on 472kHz WSPR TX.
So far, 4 stations have spotted me so far with my 10mW ERP from my earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground with best DX being a spot by 2E0ILY (209km).
So far, 4 stations have spotted me so far with my 10mW ERP from my earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground with best DX being a spot by 2E0ILY (209km).
Electric cars - NOT amateur radio
This has been discussed here before, but I was reminded yesterday by an old friend who is hanging on to his petrol car until he expects to buy an electric car in about 3 years' time. His comment was "electric cars are not there yet". I agree with this. Both the range needs to increase and the price has to fall.
Most days I see maybe 2 electric cars on the roads. I suspect these are early adopters or maybe eco warriors. In 10 years' time I expect we will all be driving these, but as my friend said, "they are not there yet".
I want to buy and use an electric car. Maybe in a few years? In the meantime let us stop subsidising fossil fuels and subsidise renewables instead so we are encouraged to switch.
Most days I see maybe 2 electric cars on the roads. I suspect these are early adopters or maybe eco warriors. In 10 years' time I expect we will all be driving these, but as my friend said, "they are not there yet".
I want to buy and use an electric car. Maybe in a few years? In the meantime let us stop subsidising fossil fuels and subsidise renewables instead so we are encouraged to switch.
OFCOM updates
OFCOM is consulting on spectrum trading and sharing. See their website for more details.
Northern Ireland Rally
Sunday 3 NOVEMBER : BUSHVALLEY ARC RALLY
Limavady Football Club, Rathmore Road, Limavady BT49 0DF. Doors open 11am and admission is £3.
A list of rallies can be found at http://rsgb.org/main/news/rall
Limavady Football Club, Rathmore Road, Limavady BT49 0DF. Doors open 11am and admission is £3.
A list of rallies can be found at http://rsgb.org/main/news/rall
Online shopping - NOT amateur radio
Is it any wonder that many of us shop online?
As an example, I recently ordered 10 CR2032 cell batteries online from the comfort of my arm chair. They will be here tomorrow. I got 10, whereas on the High Street I might have got 2 for the same price.
Over time, this will become more and more the norm. In my mind the High Streets are changing: if they adapt they may survive. If they do not adapt many will fail.
A few months ago my wife wanted some new nail scissors. She walked to our local chemists who had none and thought they would be getting no more. She went online, had plenty of choice, and bought them cheaper, within a few seconds!
No, High Street shops are in for a very hard time. Adapt or go under.
As an example, I recently ordered 10 CR2032 cell batteries online from the comfort of my arm chair. They will be here tomorrow. I got 10, whereas on the High Street I might have got 2 for the same price.
Over time, this will become more and more the norm. In my mind the High Streets are changing: if they adapt they may survive. If they do not adapt many will fail.
A few months ago my wife wanted some new nail scissors. She walked to our local chemists who had none and thought they would be getting no more. She went online, had plenty of choice, and bought them cheaper, within a few seconds!
No, High Street shops are in for a very hard time. Adapt or go under.
Halloween - NOT amateur radio
When younger we hardly celebrated Halloween. Sadly, in recent years, the shops have seen another opportunity to take our money and Halloween has become commercialised. The new god is profit.
I have little problem with youngsters having fun (my grandchildren love it), but I do object to the commercialisation. I know some object on religious grounds, but to me it is just an excuse for youngsters to dress up and have fun.
I have little problem with youngsters having fun (my grandchildren love it), but I do object to the commercialisation. I know some object on religious grounds, but to me it is just an excuse for youngsters to dress up and have fun.
10m FT8
On John EI7GL's advice I am giving 10m FT8 a go. An initial 2.5W FT8 CQ at about 0900z was spotted by no-one and now I am RX only on 10m FT8.
UPDATE 1216z: EA4IL (1370km) spotted on 10m FT8 RX. There is life on 10m!
UPDATE 1413z: 3 stations spotted today on 10m FT8. 2 were Spanish and 1 was a local. A recent 10m FT8 CQ (2.5W) was spotted by no-one. I can run more power. Perhaps I should? I can increase the power about 8dB.
UPDATE 1640z: A recent 10m FT8 CQ was again spotted by no-one and no further stations have been spotted here today on 10m FT8 RX.
UPDATE 1840z: Sometime in the last 2 hours my Windows 10 PC decided to turn off WSJT-X. I really am heartily fed up with Microsoft.
UPDATE 1216z: EA4IL (1370km) spotted on 10m FT8 RX. There is life on 10m!
UPDATE 1413z: 3 stations spotted today on 10m FT8. 2 were Spanish and 1 was a local. A recent 10m FT8 CQ (2.5W) was spotted by no-one. I can run more power. Perhaps I should? I can increase the power about 8dB.
UPDATE 1640z: A recent 10m FT8 CQ was again spotted by no-one and no further stations have been spotted here today on 10m FT8 RX.
UPDATE 1840z: Sometime in the last 2 hours my Windows 10 PC decided to turn off WSJT-X. I really am heartily fed up with Microsoft.
472kHz WSPR overnight
Overnight, my 10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground on 472kHz WSPR was spotted by 14 stations. This time I did not reach Norway, but was spotted by several stations in the Netherlands.
Sunspots - Thursday October 31st 2019
Solar flux is 70 (highest for some time) and the SSN 0. A=9 and K=1.
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