22 Nov 2019

GQRP Club

For more years than I care to remember (!) I have been a member of the GQRP Club. Every quarter they produce an excellent magazine called SPRAT. Many times before I have said that if all other magazines had to go, SPRAT would be the last. It is brilliant with lots of ideas each quarter.

QRP has been a passion of mine ever since I started: QRP DXCC was achieved years ago, I think entirely on 10m. These days I use QRP mainly out of laziness and just enjoy it. If I fail to get a QSO, there is always another day. If I work DX great, but I rarely seek it.

As a member you can buy the entire collection of SPRATs on DVD. This alone is worth joining for.

See http://www.gqrp.com/ .

10m FT8

Today I went on 10m FT8 again.

An early (2.5W) 10m FT8 CQ was spotted by 6 stations with a QSO with OE9TZV (891km). My best DX was a spot of me by 9A7JCY (1424km).

On 10m FT8 RX 5 stations spotted so far.

UPDATE 1114z: So far this morning 12 stations in 9 European countries spotted on 10m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 2005z: I have just gone QRT. In all 19 stations spotted across Europe today on 10m FT8 RX.

6m Region 1 allocation

Good news! 6m has been agreed as an official amateur allocation in Region 1 following an agreement at WRC-19 in Egypt.

See https://www.iaru-r1.org/index.php/174-news/latest-news/1917-wrc-19-approves-region-1-50-mhz-amateur-allocation

Sunspots - Friday November 22nd 2019

Solar flux is 70 and the sunspot number still 0. A=4 and K=0.

21 Nov 2019

Day off

As we were out most of the day, I have been off the air all of the day. There was a slight thunder risk, so everything was disconnected.

"Warhorse" - NOT amateur radio

This afternoon we went, with the village theatre group, to see "Warhorse" at the theatre in Wembley.

Some years ago I saw this at the cinema.  All the time at the film I was moaning about the appalling Devon accents and the appalling Devon village. This time I just pretended the village was in Wiltshire.

The stage production was nothing short of spectacular. I enjoyed the stage play far more than the film.

UK rallies this weekend

Sunday 24 NOVEMBER : BISHOP AUCKLAND RADIO AMATEURS CLUB 2019 RALLY

Oasis Academy Coulsdon, Homefield Road, Old Coulsdon CR5 1ES. Doors open from 10am until 2pm. £1.50 entry that includes a free tea/coffee. There will be second hand equipment, flea market tables, traders and an RSGB bookstall. The CATS Bring & Buy will operate on 10% commission. Refreshments are available on site. Contact Andy G0KZT on 07729 866 600 or www.catsradio.org.

Sunday 24 NOVEMBER : CATS 42nd RADIO & ELECTRONICS BAZAAR

Oasis Academy Coulsdon, Homefield Road, Old Coulsdon CR5 1ES. Doors open from 10am until 2pm. £1.50 entry that includes a free tea/coffee. There will be second hand equipment, flea market tables, traders and an RSGB bookstall. The CATS Bring & Buy will operate on 10% commission. Refreshments are available on site. Contact Andy G0KZT on 07729 866 600 or bazaar@catsradio.org" or www.catsradio.org

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

OFCOM update

OFCOM has announced a change of Chief Technology Officer. See their website.

Groups.io

As Yahoo is effectively closing its groups, like many I have migrated all of my groups to Groups.io. At present I host groups on VHF AM, sub9kHz and miracle antennas.

Sunspots - Thursday November 21st 2019

Solar flux is 70 and the SSN 0. A=2 and K=2.