70cm

Activity levels on 70cm are much lower than a few years ago. On my website at www.g3xbm.co.uk is a page about 70cm operation. This was written several years ago and since then activity levels have reduced. Personally I think this is sad as in many ways it is a more interesting band than 2m. Tropo openings seem better than on 2m.

Kitchen view - NOT amateur radio

This photo appeared as a Facebook memory from 6 years ago. Since then the hedge has grown well, but the view is much the same from the breakfast table. We can view the windmill whilst munching our toast. It is also visible from the lounge window.

Sunspots - Wednesday February 12th 2020

Solar flux is 71 and the SSN 0.  A=5 and K=1.

70cm activity contest

Starting at 2000z is the RSGB organised activity contest on 70cm (UKAC). As my voice is poor, I use 10W and I have no suitable antennas (I use my 2m big-wheel omni) my time is usually well below an hour. Activity levels are far better than normal on 70cm SSB and there is no compulsion to submit a log. I usually do even though I rarely work a great many stations.

Overall, it is fun. To me, this is how contests should be.  Scoring is simple and there are multipliers for new grid squares.

UPDATE 2115z: Despite my QRP and 2m omni antenna, I managed 7 QSOs in this contest. No great DX worked, but great fun for about 40 minutes.

70cm SSB stations worked this evening

Fewer Far East visitors? - NOT amateur radio

Trinity College, Cambridge

At any time of the year, Cambridge has plenty of visitors from overseas. They come to see the historic college buildings, some of which date back centuries. It is all too easy to take them for granted. This year there are fewer Far East visitors, for obvious reasons. I suspect this year we will see a big hit in visitor numbers from the Far East.

160m FT8 RX

Using my earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground I have QSYed to 160m FT8 RX. So far, 65 stations have been spotted. Best DX on 160m FT8 RX so far is R6FFB (3236km).

UPDATE  2137z: Been back on 160m FT8 RX for about 30 minutes. 188 stations spotted this evening so far. No North Americans yet.

17m FT8 RX today

As today is my course in Cambridge I decided to leave my tiny indoor loop antenna monitoring 17m FT8. The map shows the stations spotted so far.

Sunspots - Tuesday February 11th 2020

Solar flux is 70 and the sunspot number 0. I think the more active side is facing away from us. A=5 and K=1.

472kHz WSPR RX overnight

As you may remember, the PA in my transverter has been damaged, so I am on 472kHz RX only. Last night was very disappointing with just LA8AV and F1AFJ spotted here.

160m FT8

Since my temporary repair to my earth-electrode "antenna" I have been on 160m FT8 RX. So far 139 stations spotted with best 160m FT8 RX DX being RC9F (3515km) in Perm.

UPDATE 2200z: Earlier I tried looking on 1907kHz for Japanese stations, but none spotted. Now back on 1840kHz FT8. An earlier FT8 CQ (10W) was spotted across western Europe.

UPDATE 2226z: The first North American spotted was K1UO (4973km). 320 stations spotted so far this evening.

160m FT8 RX spots here this evening so far