JS8Call V2

Earlier, I was sent an email by G3WKW (an old work friend) about the latest version of JS8Call which supports faster speeds. JS8Call is like FT8, but allows free-form text, so allows chatting and is more like RTTY and PSK31. I have to confess that I have never tried this mode.

See http://files.js8call.com/latest.html

Better day on 10m FT8

Promising. Although no-one copied my 2.5W FT8 CQ earlier, 8 stations have already been copied already by 0930z on 10m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1019z: Already 38 stations spotted this morning on 10m FT8 RX. All Europeans.

UPDATE 1056z: 87 Europeans spotted so far this morning on 10m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1504z: Now 262 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX with best DX spotted being 4Z5AV (3633km).

UPDATE 1756z: 280 European stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX today. Nothing in the last hour, so soon be time to go QRT.

UPDATE 2246z: Now QRT.  287 different stations spotted in the last day on 10m FT8 RX. Not bad considering this is sunspot minimum and well outside the Es season.

Sunspots - Saturday November 30th 2019

Solar flux is 70 and the SSN 0. A =5 and K=1.

VDSL interference

Some people suffer horrendous interference that make operating HF and 6m virtually impossible. At the moment I am not one of these, but will I soon be affected too?

Southgate News has links to a recent RSGB survey published by OFCOM.

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2019/november/spectrum-assurance-analysis-of-bt-openreach-vdsl.htm#.XeGKQOiTLnE

Black Friday - NOT amateur radio

In the UK this American import arrived a few years ago. As far as I can see, it serves no real purpose other than trying to get us to part with our cash for even longer over the Thanksgiving/Christmas/New Year period. It is about profits and greed. As far as I am concerned the good people of the USA can take it back. I for one have no interest at all. If I see an email with the words "Black Friday" it gets deleted right away.

Yes, our shops are struggling in the age of online sales, but from what I read Black Friday bargains are often not the bargains they appear.

Pure commercialism.

2m FT8

Today, I have remained on 2m FT8. An earlier CQ (2.5W to the big-wheel omni antenna) was spotted by no-one. So far this morning, 9 stations have been spotted in 5 countries with best DX spotted on 2m FT8 RX being DF6PW (562km).

UPDATE 2230z:  I am about to go QRT as the overnight period is rarely productive.  Today, 52 stations in 8 countries spotted on 2m FT8 RX.

UK General Election 2019 - NOT amateur radio

In the UK, there is a General Election on December 12th. I quite like some Labour Party policies but they have swung too far left for me. I want BREXIT done, but I prefer a softer BREXIT than the Conservatives want. I think the Conservatives have moved to the right, which I do not like.

In the 2016 EU referendum I voted (narrowly) to remain in the EU. The Lib Dems are openly "remain", but I don't want yet more delay and indecision caused by a hung parliament. My brother-in-law who voted leave may spoil his ballot paper. I should vote Labour, but in this constituency they have little chance.

I really do not know how to vote.

Sunspots - Friday November 29th 2019

Solar flux is 70 and the SSN 0. A=4 and K=1.

2m FT8 this evening

About 20 minutes ago, I QSYed to 2m FT8. A couple of stations have spotted my 2.5W to the bigwheel with best DX spot being by G1BHM (365km) in IO70. On 2m FT8 RX just 2 spots so far (F and PA).

Clover-leaf 2m antenna

This has been on before, but I am very pleased with my big-wheel 2m antenna.

Some people call them "clover leaf" antennas as that is what they look like. These are horizontally polarised omni-directional antennas for 2m (in my case). Although I am not sure of the radiation pattern, it is quite a good match on 70cm too.

Mine has been up for several years now and I am very pleased with it. Only today my 2.5W FT8 TX signal was copied (again) in Eire and Germany. It has a few dB of gain in all directions. For my sort of operating it is ideal and it gets used for UKAC sessions on 2m and 70cm SSB as well as for FT8. Some may want the extra gain and directionality afforded by a beam, but beams need rotators.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/antennas/bigwheel