21 Jan 2020
20 Jan 2020
Aircraft scatter?
Martin G8OFA thinks that most random DX over 200km on VHF and UHF is due to aircraft scatter. I am unsure, but he points to the very high number of planes in the air. Certainly on the approach to the USAF airbases here and to Stansted, there will be lots of planes in the air nearly always.
I guess, without an SDR to help look at Doppler, my best bet would be to compare my vertical against my big-wheel. If many of the DX stations are coming though off aircraft, I assume the polarisation would be random. I seem to remember trying this some years ago and being surprised by the number of DX stations still being copied.
UPDATE 2046z: Maybe he is correct. I just connected the vertical omni V2000 and worked PD4HW (294km). Maybe I am consistently seeing aircraft reflections and there is always a very good chance of reflecting off aircraft. If I had a beam, I might expect better results then if I was beaming south towards the stack over Stansted Airport?
I guess, without an SDR to help look at Doppler, my best bet would be to compare my vertical against my big-wheel. If many of the DX stations are coming though off aircraft, I assume the polarisation would be random. I seem to remember trying this some years ago and being surprised by the number of DX stations still being copied.
UPDATE 2046z: Maybe he is correct. I just connected the vertical omni V2000 and worked PD4HW (294km). Maybe I am consistently seeing aircraft reflections and there is always a very good chance of reflecting off aircraft. If I had a beam, I might expect better results then if I was beaming south towards the stack over Stansted Airport?
Monday evening 2m FT8
A few moments ago I called CQ on 2m FT8 (10W to the big wheel omni). 33 stations spotted me with one QSO. I shall have to go QRT for about 30 minutes as I join a 2m FM net (if people remember!).
UPDATE 2015z: A very recent FT8 CQ was spotted by 34 stations (1 QSO with G0JEI at 142km) with the best DX spot being by F6DBI (501km) in Brittany.
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| Spots in response to a recent 2m FT8 CQ (10W) |
1950s UK TV - NOT amateur radio
Quite a few readers were children in the UK in the 1950s and may like a dose of nostalgia! You may well enjoy this link.
See http://www.whirligig-tv.co.uk/
See http://www.whirligig-tv.co.uk/
Monday morning on 2m FT8 TX
A short while ago I transmitted a CQ (10W to the big-wheel) on 2m FT8. Although no QSOs resulted, I was spotted by 14 stations in 3 countries with the best DX being a spot by EI3KD (583km).
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| Stations spotting my 10W 2m FT8 CQ this morning |
2m FT8 RX overnight
Overnight (mostly last evening) 85 stations in 9 countries spotted on 2m FT8 RX with the FT817ND and big-wheel omni antenna. This is pretty typical.
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| 2m FT8 RX here - mostly last evening |
Our village yesterday - NOT amateur radio
High Street shops - NOT amateur radio
This is probably the same in most countries.
Our High Street "physical" shops are losing customers as more and more of us shop "on-line". It is often cheaper and more convenient. My trips to banks are very infrequent apart from "holes in the wall" (cash machines) to draw out cash. We even use less cash these days!
In 20 years time the high streets will be very different. I guess they have always evolved, but few retailers will survive unless they radically alter their business models. We could see more big names disappearing. Independents are trying to plug gaps, but I cannot see many of the coffee shops remaining for more than 5-10 years.
It is hard to look into the future. All we can definitely say is that things will be very different in years to come. If you ask me, I would say we may go to some places to look, then ordering on-line for home delivery. What is certain is the retail trade is changing.
We are all guilty of making this happen. Whilst I like to support local, independent shops, it is hard to resist on-line when the local shops don't have stocks, don't intend to stock and are more expensive than online retailers who deliver to your door the next day for less than you pay in "physical" shops. Oh, to place the order from the comfort of your armchair takes 30 seconds!
Our High Street "physical" shops are losing customers as more and more of us shop "on-line". It is often cheaper and more convenient. My trips to banks are very infrequent apart from "holes in the wall" (cash machines) to draw out cash. We even use less cash these days!
In 20 years time the high streets will be very different. I guess they have always evolved, but few retailers will survive unless they radically alter their business models. We could see more big names disappearing. Independents are trying to plug gaps, but I cannot see many of the coffee shops remaining for more than 5-10 years.
It is hard to look into the future. All we can definitely say is that things will be very different in years to come. If you ask me, I would say we may go to some places to look, then ordering on-line for home delivery. What is certain is the retail trade is changing.
We are all guilty of making this happen. Whilst I like to support local, independent shops, it is hard to resist on-line when the local shops don't have stocks, don't intend to stock and are more expensive than online retailers who deliver to your door the next day for less than you pay in "physical" shops. Oh, to place the order from the comfort of your armchair takes 30 seconds!
19 Jan 2020
2m FT8
This evening I am on 2m FT8 using 10W to the big-wheel omni antenna. A recent CQ was spotted by 15 stations in 4 countries with best DX a spot by GI6ATZ (479km). On RX, 20 stations in 4 countries spotted so far.
UPDATE 1935z: So far this evening, 24 stations in 5 countries have spotted me on 2m FT8 TX. On 2m FT8, RX 52 stations in 7 countries spotted.
UPDATE 2004z: 37 stations in 7 countries have so far spotted my 10W 2m FT8 TX to the big-wheel omni antenna this evening.
UPDATE 2107z: 68 stations in 9 countries spotted this evening on 2m FT8 RX. Isn't FT8 amazing?
UPDATE 1015z: 78 stations in 9 countries spotted on 2m FT8 RX this evening.
UPDATE 1935z: So far this evening, 24 stations in 5 countries have spotted me on 2m FT8 TX. On 2m FT8, RX 52 stations in 7 countries spotted.
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| Stations spotting my 2m FT8 (10W) so far this evening |
UPDATE 1015z: 78 stations in 9 countries spotted on 2m FT8 RX this evening.
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