Political dirty tricks (fake news) - NOT amateur radio

At the moment I have still to make my mind up when voting in the next UK general election on December 12th.

Recently, in my view, the Conservative party has scored a couple of "own goals" by changing the name of their Twitter account to Factchecker or similar. They also, allegedly, modified a video to show an opposition cabinet minister stumbling over an answer, when he actually clearly answered the question.

In my view these were examples of false news and shame on whoever allowed them to be released. These sort of dirty tricks put UK politics in a very poor light and have no place whatsoever. If I was ever to vote for the Conservatives this alone would prevent me. How could anyone support this sort of childish behaviour?

10m FT8

Since about 0945z, I have been on 10m FT8 calling CQ (2.5W) initially. No spots yet (at 1025z).

UPDATE 1547z: Still no spots on 10m FT8 RX here. At the moment, today seems really dreadful on 10m FT8.  Not even any locals spotted!

UPDATE 2048z: About an hour ago I went QRT on what was my worst session on 10m FT8 this autumn.

Road not taken - NOT amateur radio

This is a famous poem by Robert Frost. Many times we reach forks in our road of life be it girlfriends, marriage, work, college or whatever. We take a certain path and not others. Looking back we wonder what would have happened if we had taken the other paths. Perhaps we can never know.

See https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44272/the-road-not-taken .

Broadcast listener resources

It is some years since I did some BC DXing. A useful list of BC related resources is at DXzone.

For a serious window on radio around the world these days an internet radio seems the answer: my XYL is listening to a classical ABC station in Perth, Australia. It is perfect copy.

See https://www.dxzone.com/catalog/Shortwave_Radio/BCL_Resources/

Brennan BB1 - NOT amateur radio

For my birthday and Christmas my wife bought me a Brennan BB1. This is also known as the "baby Brennan". To say I am impressed is an understatement. It plays ripped CDs, 40000 internet radio stations and plays YouTube videos on its TFT screen.

Also you can use your PC or phone as a remote control. Not only that, but it is tiny. It was meant to be put away until late December, but it is in full use every day. Oh, the sound quality is great.

Sunspots - Saturday November 23rd 2019

Solar flux is 70 and the SSN 0.  A=4 and K=0.

Wembley - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday we went to a theatre in Wembley to see Warhorse on stage. Before the performance we ate lunch. This is a view towards Wembley stadium from outside the place where we ate.

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