East Cambs 2m FM net

At 8pm local time on Mondays we hold a net on 144.575MHz FM vertical. We normally stay on for less than 30 minutes and the technical discussions are pretty basic. Anyone in the area is free to call in.

Later, I might try 630m (472kHz) WSPR TX.

Roses - NOT amateur radio

This photo was taken last April when the roses at nearby Anglesey Abbey had not quite come out. Now they have just about all gone. Come next summer, these beds will be a mass of colour.

OFCOM and shared spectrum licences

OFCOM is inviting applications from professional users for shared spectrum at microwave frequencies.  These are shared shortish range services, ideal for local area networks in, for example, farms and factories.

See their website for details.

2m FT8

It would appear there are few stations on 2m FT8 this morning. A recent 10W FT8 2m CQ has been widely spotted with best DX DF6PW (562km). On RX nothing yet spotted.

UPDATE 1114z: Although just 2 stations spotted on 2m FT8 RX, I have been spotted by 11 stations in 4 countries with best DX spot being by EI2FG (565km).  One G QSO as a result of the CQ.

UPDATE 1435z: A recent 2m FT8 10W CQ was spotted by 10 stations in 5 countries.

UPDATE  1633z: A 2m FT8 CQ (10W to the big wheel) just now was spotted by 9 stations in 4 countries. In the last day 36 stations in 7 countries spotted on 2m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1851z: Now 38 stations in 8 countries spotted today on 2m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1938z: A recent 10W FT8 2m CQ was spotted by 11 stations in 6 countries.

Sunspots - Monday December 9th 2019

Solar flux is 72 and and the SSN still 0.  A=3 and K=1.

Sunspots often return for a few days as the more active side of the sun faces us. As we have had a considerable period with no sunspots, I wonder if we are really at the very bottom of the cycle? If so, we can wait for the climb to soon start.  It may a while, but as they say, "the only way is up".  It certainly cannot get any worse!

South Devon - NOT amateur radio

As a child until university days, I lived in South Devon in an area called "The South Hams".  Arguably this is one of the best parts of England.  Even now, I still feel drawn. The photo shows Soar Mill Cove, which is a few miles from where I lived.

UK General Election, December 12th - NOT amateur radio

On December 12th 2019, the UK has a General Election.

The ruling government is campaigning mostly on BREXIT. The outcome is anyone's guess. The opinion polls show the ruling Conservatives consistently in front, but whether they get a clear majority is far from certain. A hung parliament might get us a softer EU exit eventually,  but many in the UK are now sick and tired of delay, with many wanting this over and done with. The trouble is all major parties promise a lot, but rarely deliver. The UK Prime Minister is not trusted by many.

With just a few days to go, I have no idea who to vote for and I am sure very many others are also confused.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-49798197

IC-705

Many people are following the European and USA release of this new radio from ICOM with great interest. At the moment the price and availability are not known. The release date in Japan was April 2020 I believe.  I try to update my website as I get new data. Personally, I think they would be stupid to release this without at least the option of an internal auto-ATU.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/ic705

Austalian super-DX on 70cm

EI7GL reports that the 70cm record has been extended (2806km) in Australia. The contact was using FT8.

See https://ei7gl.blogspot.com/2019/12/australian-70cms-digital-record.html

2m FT8

In the last few hours 7 stations spotted in 3 countries on 2m FT8 RX with best DX being EI3KD (583km). Antenna is the big-wheel omni.

UPDATE 1219z:  21 stations in 6 countries spotted so far today on 2m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1415z:  29 stations in 6 countries spotted so far today.

UPDATE 1455z: A recent 2m FT8 CQ was spotted by 9 stations in 2 ires.countries (no QSOs) with the best DX being G8WXV (277km).

UPDATE 1642z: Now 34 stations in 6 countries spotted.

UPDATE  1820z: A recent 10W 2m FT8 CQ was spotted by 9 stations in 4 countries including Eire and Germany. Again, the antenna was the big-wheel omni.  No QSOs resulted though. On 2m FT8 RX 40 stations in 9 countries so far spotted today.

UPDATE 1950z: A recent CQ was spotted by 8 stations in 4 countries.

UPDATE 2038z: The map shows the stations spotted so far on 2m FT8 RX today.