G3XBM history

I have been involved with amateur radio since the early 1960s and it still gives me a buzz. Things are very different today, but it is still a hobby with many facets. Looks like I was a great fan of wood effect Fablon!

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

UK royalty in crisis? - NOT amateur radio

When it comes to the royal family I am conflicted. There is little doubt that our history, linked with our king and queens, is a big tourist draw. It probably earns us millions each year. Also, there is little doubt that our queen has done a good job during her long reign.

At the same time, I hate privilege with certain people having too much wealth and power. I have my doubts about royalty continuing in the same way once the queen dies.

There is much evidence of minor royals getting too easy a ride at the expense of the public purse. My wife makes a good suggestion: sell off some royal palaces as hotels and charge huge fees for visitors to stay where royalty once slept. The Americans would love this. Give any revenue generated to the NHS. If some royals want to live abroad let them, but not at our expense. Likewise, cut down on payments to minor royals.

It cannot be easy being a senior royal. The only thing that stops me being a republican is I cannot think of a single person who would make a good president!

Ely Cathedral - NOT amateur radio

We are about 12 miles by road from Ely. Some call the cathedral "the ship of the fens". Ely is a small city built on a hill. The cathedral, like Chartres in France, can be seen for miles around. We have to admit to it being one of our favourites.

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