Where did it go? - NOT amateur radio

It seems only yesterday I was a teenager. Now I am in my autumn days.

As we get older (I mean old in my case!) it is natural to look back and wonder where those care-free days went. We become more aware of our finality and how short life really is: we blink and we are old.

Advice? Make the most of every moment. We could be dead tomorrow or live to more than 100. Milk life.

6m FT8

Since about 0900z today I have been on 6m FT8 using the V2000 vertical omni antenna. I called CQ initially (10W) but no spots given or received. Now 6m FT8 RX only. In the early morning I guess only Gs are likely to be spotted, unless I get a rare burst of winter Es.

UPDATE 1316z: Still no spots. A recent FT8 CQ call was again spotted by no-one!

UPDATE 1324z: Just a single spot of G8BHX (208km) so far today.

UPDATE 1435z: 3 spots on 6m FT8 RX today with the best being IK6DTB (1529km). The strength (+12dB) makes me wonder of this was aircraft reflection? A 6m FT8 CQ by me shortly after was spotted by no-one.

UPDATE 1617z: And then there was Es.... 8 spots of my CQ calls (10W FT8) with the best being by LY3BRA (1573km). On 6m FT8 RX 19 stations so far spotted with the best DX bing IK6DTB (1539km).

UPDATE 1802z:  At this point 32 stations spotted today on 6m FT8 RX with best DX OH8JGG (1898km).

160m FT8 overnight - poorest yet

Stations spotted on 160m FT8 RX overnight 

Overnight I was on 160m FT8 although fewer North American stations were spotted than on previous occasions this season. In all, just 10 North Americans, 4 Caribbeans and 3 South Americans spotted on 160m FT8 RX. Although South America and Caribbean totals were not too bad, I was disappointed so few North Americans spotted. Not being a 160m expert I have no idea if this is just conditions or normal. Again I am using my earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.

UPDATE  0950z: It is interesting to see how things change in the daytime. Only 1 station (an OZ) spotted here in the last hour.

Sunspots - Sunday January 12th 2020

Solar flux is 74 and the SSN 0. A=6 and K=2.

160m FT8

For a couple of hours I have been on 160m FT8 RX. So far 145 stations spotted.

UPDATE 2200z: The first North American was spotted at 2132z.

The future of amateur radio

Many times I have expressed concern that our hobby could just die out as existing amateurs get older and younger generations fail to be interested. I see on Southgate News that the Japanese Amateur Radio League President has used this in his New Year's address.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2020/january/jarl-focus-is-on-younger-generations-and-women.htm

Betelgeuse - NOT amateur radio

Southgate News reports that the famous star Betalgeuse is less intense than it was. At some point in the next million years it could turn into a supernova, although I don't expect to see it!

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2020/january/the-fainting-of-betelgeuse.htm

Reflections - NOT amateur radio

On our walk yesterday we saw the fine sight in the photo. It was a bright, sunny day.

160m FT8 RX overnight

Fewer "real DX" stations copied, but still 628 stations spotted on 160m FT8 RX in the last day. In all, just 10 North Americans and 3 Caribbeans spotted. Still using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground which XYL and neighbours do not even realise is there!

Stations spotted in last day on 160m FT8 RX

6m FT8

At the moment I am on 6m FT8 with the V2000 omni vertical. My earlier 10W CQ call was spotted by no-one and just G4GIR (53km) spotted so far on RX.

UPDATE 1527z: Now 14 stations so far spotted on 6m FT8 RX. Although recent CQs (10W) on 6m FT8 went unanswered, I was copied in northern Italy by IV3VFR (1201km). Perhaps a little winter Es?

UPDATE 1740z: A recent 6m FT8 CQ (10W) resulted in a full QSO with OM5XX and being called by an OE, although he faded before a QSO could be completed.