Wicken Fen - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday we went for a walk around Wicken Fen. This windmill used to pump water.

This has been replaced by a modern wind pump.

Sunspots - Wednesday March 18th 2020

Solar flux is 72 and the SSN 0. A=5 and K=1.

QSY to 2m FT8

As it is getting quite late, I have decided to QSY to 2m FT8 (10W to the big-wheel omni antenna). Within the first few minutes 17 stations in 2 countries spotted me. So far, just 1 station spotted on 2m FT8 RX.

This is typical with this set-up on 2m FT8 TX. I am thinking this is some sort of scatter. As mentioned recently I do not think this is aircraft scatter. Polarisation seems not to matter that much but DX ranges seem always possible. If this was flat band tropo, I would have expected polarisation to make much more difference.

UPDATE 2052z: Now spotted by 23 stations in 3 countries with the best being G7RAU (461km) on the Lizard in Cornwall.

UPDATE 2310z:  QRT.

VHF QSO Party

Southgate News reports on a VERON QSO Party on March 21 and 22nd.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2020/march/veron-vhf-qso-party.htm

Societal changes - NOT amateur radio

The recent Covid-19 outbreak has brought out the best and the worst in people. Overall, when this is behind us (whenever this is!) I hope we are all kinder to each other.

Certainly we have had a couple of offers of help already. In difficult times people are coming up trumps.

20m FT8 (again!)

As usual, I have gone on 20m FT8 again with the tiny indoor loop and 10W. At 1545z 34 reports of my 10W, all from Europe with best DX being a spot be OH60KSA (1862km). I guess this must be a special prefix. No QSOs yet, but I was late getting on today. Nothing from the USA yet today.

UPDATE 1734z: Now 63 stations spotting me with best DX a spot by OH6GZD (1998km).today

UPDATE 1950z:  67 stations have spotted my 10W 20m FT8 today so far.

Where I come from in South Devon - NOT amateur radio

This is where I come from in South Devon.

Village tragedy - NOT amateur radio

Almost 300 years ago there was a tragedy in our village. A puppet show was being put on in a barn. Someone locked the door. There was a fire and 78 people were killed. At the time, when the village population must have been much smaller, this must have been a real tragedy. The dead are commemorated in our churchyard.

Sunspots - Tuesday March 17th 2020

Solar flux is 70 and the SSN 0. A=7 and K=1.

Adverts I HATE - NOT amateur radio

If there is one sort of advert I absolutely hate it is one like this designed to whet our curiosity with words like:

"Seniors born before 1969 are snapping up this new benefit" 

In my view this is click bate. Without clicking, we feel we might just be missing out, so many will click.