Sacred and profane - NOT amateur radio

We are all a mixture of the sacred and the profane. As I get older, I am more aware of this than ever. All of us probably strive to live "better lives", yet we carry on much as ever. I think the first thing is to accept ourselves: we are far from perfect and always will be.

At the moment, I am aware of about 10 close people who may not see next Christmas. Knowing "sod's law" these will still be with us (hopefully) and it will be someone quite unexpected who will go first! Life has a funny habit of going along much as it always has and then something dramatic happens and all changes.

I think we all have to accept that change happens all of the time: what we think will be for ever ends. We have to make the best of our situation, however plain.

At this time of year the sacred and profane intersect. Like many, I am glad when Christmas and New Year are over and we can make a start on 2020, however mundane. There is something "holy" in the ordinary. We take our days for granted. Perhaps we should not.

160m FT8 - daytime

Just now , just after noon, I called CQ (10W) on 160m FT8 with the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. No QSOs resulted, but I was spotted by DK1WB (916km) in the daytime!

UPDATE 1500z: My 10W 160m FT8 CQ was spotted by SM0MEM (1326km). As far as I am aware this is the furthermost I have ever got on 160m .... and the sun is still shining brightly! On 160m FT8 RX 13 stations spotted.

Stations that spotted my 160m 10W
FT8 CQ just before 1500z today

UPDATE 1540z:  A very recent FT8 CQ (10W) on 160m was copied by 8 stations in 5 countries, but no QSOs resulted.

UPDATE 1756z: 210 stations spotted on 160m FT8 RX in the last 6 hours.

UPDATE 1900z: 293 stations spotted on 160m FT8 RX in the last 6 hours. Best DX spotted is R8CA (3788km).

UPDATE 2207z:  Now 473 stations spotted on 160m, FT8 RX including 1 USA station.

Shack

This photo was taken today. It shows the shack. Currently I am trying daytime FT8 on 160m.

Daffodil - NOT amateur radio

On the Winter Walk at nearby Anglesey Abbey is usually a small clump of daffodils. Normally these are the first to appear. A few years ago some were out in November. We were quite surprised that this one (the first) is only now appearing. December 29th is quite late for this clump. Even the snowdrops are only now starting to flower.

160m FT8 overnight

With 27 Stateside stations spotted on 160m FT8 overnight, it was not a bad night. Overall 535 stations on 4 continents spotted on 160m FT8 RX in the last day. Amazingly, a pre-breakfast 160m FT8 CQ (10W) was spotted by 31 stations in 7 countries with the best DX being a spot by DK7KUG (885km) in JO64 square.  Still using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground that is invisible to the XYL and neighbours! They don't even know it is there!

160m FT8 RX overnight

Sunspots - Sunday December 29th 2019

Solar flux is 72 and the SSN 0. A=2 and K=0.

160m FT8

Look at all the stations in 2kHz on
160m FT8 RX. I counted 17!

For a change, I am on 160m FT8 with the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. A recent 160m FT8 CQ was copied by 3 stations with best DX PA3CSG (402km).  Power into the earth-electrodes is about 10W, although I expect the ERP is milliwatts.

On 160m FT8 RX within a few minutes I spotted 75 stations with best DX spotted RA6HN (3243km).

UPDATE 1946z:  Now 129 stations spotted tonight on 160m FT8 RX well within an hour.

UPDATE 2240z: UN1L (4097km) is currently the best DX on 160m FT8 RX in Kazakhstan. No stateside DX yet.   237 stations spotted so far on 160m FT8 RX this evening. I think most of these are in Europe.

UPDATE 2250z: WA2TP (5509km) in New York State has just been spotted!

6m FT8

As we sometimes get winter Es, I decided to try 6m FT8 today (50.313MHz). For 6m, I only have the V2000 vertical antenna.

Although nothing so far spotted on 6m FT8 RX, my own 10W signal was copied by G0LGS (171km) quite well. At the moment I am on 6m FT8 RX only.

UPDATE 1255z: 4 stations in 2 countries spotted so far and a couple of stations spotting my 10W FT8 CQ calls.

UPDATE  1603z:  Just caught a winter Es opening to Poland. 3 stations worked with best DX SP3UR (1230km). I was spotted by 8 stations in 4 countries on 6m FT8 RX with 10W and the omni vertical V2000. On 6m FT8 RX 23 stations in 4 countries spotted today.

UPDATE 1646z: Quite amazing!  A string of 6m FT8 QSOs after my CQ calls and widely spotted despite just 10W and the omni antenna. Typical Es with some very strong signals. Best DX on RX is YL2GJX (1613km) in Riga, Latvia. This is a fine city.

Stations spotting my 10W 6m
FT8 in the last few hours

UPDATE 1649z: On 6m FT8 RX 69 stations spotted so far.

Station spotted this afternoon on 6m FT8 RX

6m FT8

UPDATE 1752z:  Now 83 stations spotted today on 6m FT8 RX.

VHF/UHF FT8 activity "contests"

Bas has brought to our attention these sessions which might well appeal to FT8 enthusiasts. Although the first one is on New Year's Day, some may like to take part.

See http://www.ft8activity.eu

Winter sun - NOT amateur radio

On Christmas day we went for a walk around the village. The churchyard looks bare in winter.

Although there were a few snowdrops about to come out, there were no daffodils.