80m FT8 with the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground

Just for a change I am trying 80m FT8.

At this frequency some may argue that as much energy is radiated by the wire running along the garden fence as is radiated by the "loop in the ground". I cannot be sure.

Anyway, it certainly works. I had to use my FT991A auto-ATU to get a low SWR and I am still limiting power to 10W so my PSU is well within its ratings (20A max).

So far this afternoon, my CQs have been spotted across Europe and I have spotted 77 stations on FT8 RX with best DX R4IK (3218km).

UPDATE 1938z: So far this evening plenty of EU stations spotting my 10W. On 80m FT8 RX 298 stations spotted so far.

Stations spotting my 10W FT8 TX so far

UPDATE 2047z: Now 359 stations spotted today on 80m FT8 RX.

80m FT8 RX so far today

How to call kingfishers in Assam - NOT amateur radio

You may enjoy this video. In the UK just seeing a kingfisher is a treat these days!

House plants - NOT amateur radio

My wife is very keen on house plants and we usually have several out at one time. We have had some cyclamen out for months (see photo).

10m operation

10m is one of my favourite HF bands. At the moment it not too good (mind you Es in the spring/summer months is good at any part of the sunspot cycle) but in a few years it will again be one of our very best HF bands. I suspect 10m FT8 will be transformative.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/10m_op

6m FT8

At about 1300z, I QSYed to 6m FT8. Although I called CQ at first (10W to the V2000 vertical) no spots yet on TX or RX.

UPDATE 1420z: Best DX on 6m FT8 RX today is IZ8IBB (1677km).

Good night on 160m FT8 RX

Overnight with the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground 602 stations spotted on 160m FT8 RX with plenty of North Americans.

160m FT8 RX overnight 

Sunspots - Tuesday January 28th 2020

Solar flux is 73 and the SSN 12. A=3 and K=1.

160m FT8

This evening (with a break at 2000z for the East Cambridgeshire 2m net) I am on 160m FT8. My 10W CQ was spotted by 72 stations right across Europe (see photo).

6m FT8

I recently changed to 6m FT8 from 160m. As yet, just G3XDV (45km) spotting me and no spots of others apart from G3XDV.

Cookies warnings - NOT amateur radio

Recent EU laws have made it necessary to ask users permission before installing cookies. Personally I could not care less, but get very annoyed with all the pop-up messages asking my permission.  Like many, I rarely read these and just click "OK". In my view, this stupidity gone mad. You may like to think about these Chrome and Firefox extensions:

https://www.i-dont-care-about-cookies.eu/

I think it is fine, but caveat emptor.