East Cambs net

Last night, Monday, at 1900z (8pm), we had the 2m FM East Cambridgeshire net on 144.575MHz.

Not sure if this is a result of the lockdown, but we are regularly getting more people now. We are a friendly bunch and we are usually finished after about 30 minutes. If you are in the area feel free to join us.

We get joined by people that I would not expect i.e. they are some way away.

New SSTV software

Southgate News has a piece on some new improved software for slow scan TV. It is based on MMSSTV.

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2020/may/new-sstv-software-yoniq.htm#.XrBf1WjYq00

Sunspots - Tuesday May 5th 2020

Solar flux is 69 and the SSN 0. A=6 and K=2.

Dodgy marketing - NOT amateur radio

This sickens me.

About 10 days ago I spotted an advert on Facebook that I reported for abuse. It is still there. Their clever tricks are (a) to pray on Covid-19 fears, and (b) by saying there are only so many left in stock encouraging people to place an order immediately. Magically, the stock level suddenly goes up again. Every time I look this happens.

Do NOT do business with people like this!! 

I could name them, but I do not want to give them free publicity. They are selling a clip-on device to measure oxygen levels in the blood. Look up oxymetre . The company name starts with "oxy".

Swifts - NOT amateur radio

Amazingly, although I have not yet seen a swallow, a solitary swift flew over just now. This is the first time I have ever seen a swift before a swallow.

UPDATE 2015z:  Quite a few in the sky tonight. When they return, my heart rejoices.

Swallows (migrant birds) - NOT amateur radio

Normally I see my first swallows by mid April.  It is now May 4th and I have still seen none!! Last year there were not as many, but this year is appalling. Usually swifts start to arrive about now. There are some swallows in Devon, but I get the feeling fewer.

Woodland walk - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday, we did a nice walk partly through woodland at Landwade, near Newmarket.  It was very quiet - in fact we met no-one at all!

40MHz (8m)

It is some time since I caught up on who has access to the 8m band (40MHz). Southgate News reports on an FT8 QSO between EI and LY. I did not realise LY had access to the band!

Apparently LY does not have general access and this station had special permission to use certain spot frequencies. Others might like to try for similar access permits.

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2020/may/first-contact-made-on-40-mhz-between-ireland-and-lithuania.htm#.XrALqmjYq00

6m FT8

V2000

As yesterday, I am on 6m FT8 with 10W and the V2000 omni vertical. At 0828z no RX spots yet, but 3 Gs have spotted me so far.

UPDATE 1036z:  45 stations have spotted me so far this morning. Most of the time I was running about 6W only to the V2000 omni vertical. With Es you don't need much power most of the time and simple antennas work well. This may well not be so for long paths when ERP can be critical to success.

Stations spotting me on
6m FT8 today to  1230z

UPDATE 1252z:  Now 79 stations have spotted me today on 6m FT8. Es is easy!

UPDATE 1337z:  Now 81 stations spotting me today on 6m FT8.

UPDATE 1758z:  Now 98 stations have spotted my 6m FT8 today.

UPDATE 1843z: I have to go QRT on 6m shortly, but today has been the most successful this Es season.

2m FT8

After finishing on 6m FT8 yesterday, I went on to 2m FT8 with my 10W and the big-wheel omni. As usual, stations spotted in England, Netherlands, Channel Islands and Germany. My own signal was spotted by 10 stations in England and Wales. I was not on that long.