FT8 popularity

Southgate News has a piece asking how long it takes to get DXCC using FT8.

In the piece they say that 80% of contacts are now on FT8. If true, and I do not know if this is, it means there is a huge drop in SSB use and far less chatting.

Although I enjoy FT8 as my voice is poor, I hope people still want to use other modes and chat. Without this, our hobby is much poorer.

Years ago people often chanced on amateur radio. Operators heard amateur AM transmissions and they were curious. FT8 needs special free software, so newcomers are very unlikely to chance upon it.

Britbox: crap? - NOT amateur radio

A few days ago I signed up to this streaming service set up by ITV and the BBC.

Since then, I have found the website mostly unavailable. Not only that, but I cannot find out how to access it on my TV which I get via Virgin Media. Amazon Prime and Netflix are apps, which I can easily access.

So far, my impressions are not good. This should be easy and painless. It is not!

As soon as the website is accessible I am going to cancel.

20m FT8 on the tiny indoor loop

A few moments ago I turned on 20m FT8 using the only 20m antenna I have: the tiny indoor loop.

Plenty of stations coming in on RX including lots of Japanese stations with the best DX so far on 20m FT8 RX being JQ2QHQ (9526km).

On TX (10W) just one spot so far EU1SW (1799km).

UPDATE 1202z: 227 stations spotted so far on 20m FT8 RX with 5 spots of my 10W 20m FT8 TX with best being WW1WW (3255 miles).

Stations spotting my 10W FT8
TX to the tiny indoor loop today

UPDATE 1643z: Now 28 stations have spotted my 10W 20m FT8 TX to the tiny indoor loop. On 20m FT8 RX 541 stations spotted.  Absolutely amazing!

UPDATE 1953z: 39 spots of my 10W to the tiny indoor loop antenna. On 20m FT8 RX 668 stations spotted. Now QRT on 20m.

Stations spotted on 20m FT8
RX with the tiny indoor loop

Cambridge colleges - NOT amateur radio

Cambridge is famous for the university colleges. Generally they have loads of money!

Red-legged partridges - NOT amateur radio

Red-legged partridges are quite common now near here. They can be quite tame. We often see them around.

Sunspots - Friday March 6th 2020

Solar flux is 70 and the SSN 0. A=4 and K=1.

Rallies

Saturday 7 MARCH : LAGAN VALLEY ARS RALLY

Hillsborough Village Centre, 7 Ballynahinch Road, Hillsborough, Co Down BT26 6AR. Doors open at 11am and entrance is £4. Dave Wilson, MOOBW, the RSGB President and Examination Quality Assurance Manager, will be in attendance to meet attendees and give a demonstration of the online exam system to anyone who wishes to see how it works. The RSGB Awards Manager, Bobby, MI0RYL will be there as will representatives from the RABIC.


Sunday 8 MARCH : CANCELLED

PENCOED ARC TABLE TOP SALE

Pencoed Rugby Club The Verlands, Felindre Road Pencoed CF35 5PB Due to unforseen circumstances the table-top sale has been cancelled.

Christening Font at Norwich Cathedral - NOT amateur radio

The Christening font here is unusual being a copper vessel that was at one time in a chocolate factory.

It is shown in the photo.

2m FT8

A few minutes ago I went QRT on 10m FT8 RX (no spots) and QSYed to 2m FT8. So far (2010z) 13 spots of my 8-10W the big-wheel omni in 3 countries  (G, GI and EI).

On 2m FT8 RX only 2 G spots so far.

UPDATE 2233z: 18 stations have spotted my 10W, but I have spotted only 3 Gs.

Norwich - NOT amateur radio

Today we went by train to Norwich to meet with my wife's brother and his wife. We met in the cathedral.

The photo shows Pull's Ferry where stone from France used to build the cathedral came in. They built a special canal up to the cathedral (now not there) to move the stones to the cathedral from the River Wensom.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Wensum