eHam

Whenever I think of buying something (OK, not often!) I check the reviews on this site.

It is a good idea to ignore the very bad and very good reviews and look to see what most people think. Often very bad reviews are written by someone with a very bad experience. Likewise very good reviews are sometimes written for the wrong reasons. If there are pages of reviews and most of these are good, it is a fairly safe bet that most users are happy.

In the end it comes down to personal tastes though.

See https://www.eham.net/

At home - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday we had a party for some of our neighbours. We did this last year too and it was a great success. Here is our next door neighbour showing some of her needlework. She is very good.

2m FT8

OK, it is sheer laziness!

This morning I am again on 2m FT8. As usual, my 2.5W CQ was copied widely with the best being Eire. On 2m FT RX (at 1214z) 27 stations in 7 countries spotted. These sort of ranges are always possible on 2m FT8 RX with the big-wheel omni antenna.

UPDATE 1412z: Now 42 stations in 10 countries spotted today on 2m FT8 RX with the omni antenna. Best DX spotted so far is OK2WO (1165km). RX nis still the FT817ND.

UPDATE 1755z:  Now 65 stations in 19 countries spotted on 2m FT8 RX with the omni antenna.

Sunspots - Sunday December 22nd 2019

Solar flux is 71 and the SSN 0. A=4 and K=0.

Prolonged quiet period on the Sun

We have already exceeded the previous record for the number of days without sunspots and the period continues. The sun has been spotless for what seems like ages. If I recall correctly, the sunspot number briefly touched 11 early last month. Since then nothing!

Rainbow - NOT amateur radio

There was a great rainbow over our close yesterday.  It was very bright. The photo hardly does it justice.

Christmas bikes - NOT amateur radio

Our local bike club decided to meet in our close earlier, all dressed for Christmas. Santa came later - in a car. I am not quite sure about this! The day felt really Christmassy.

2m FT8 again

Most of the daylight hours, I have been on 2m FT8.

On 2m FT8 RX with the big-wheel omni antenna so far,  43 stations in 7 countries spotted. With 2.5W 2m FT8 my CQ was spotted by 6 stations in 2 countries with best DX EI2FG (565km).

UPDATE 1752z: So far today, 51 stations spotted with best DX spotted DL1FDH (634km).

UPDATE 2035z: 68 stations in 8 countries spotted on 2m FT8 RX in the last day with the big-wheel omni antenna. QRT.

Sunspots - Saturday December 21st 2019

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

UK opposition leadership - NOT amateur radio

It is now a week since the UK General Election in which the opposition Labour party was heavily defeated.

Although I am not a great political animal, I can see that the Labour party has a difficult time ahead. In my view the party has moved too far to the left, and many people are fearful of this.

They are currently electing a new leader. If they vote in a real left winger, I suspect they will not be in government for years and years.

In my view, a new centralist party is needed. If Labour elects a real left winger, I can see this happening in the next 5 years.

With a big majority the UK Conservative government will push through its BREXIT withdrawal bill. Getting a fair trade deal will be much harder.