The skies have turned dark and it is windy and rainy. Thunder storms are about 30 kilometres away, so I have disconnected all antennas and plugs. I am QRT.
If the threat passes I may reconnect things later.
See https://www.lightningmaps.org/blitzortung/europe/index.php?lang=en
UPDATE 1452z: The storm seems to have bypassed us for now, so everything reconnected for now.
UPDATE 1504z: Well I got that wrong! Lightning, hail, rain - the lot! QRT again. After about 30 minutes I reconnected things.
5 Jun 2020
English weather - NOT amateur radio
April and May have been very pleasant here with lots of sunshine. In fact this was the best spring (sunniest) on record. In the last day, the weather has changed: it is much cooler and more showery.
This good weather coincided with our lockdown. We have done some lovely local walks, in fact more than usual. We have paid more attention to nature this spring. Now the weather is more changeable, it makes walks less attractive. The ideal weather would be rain at night but dry, bright days!
This good weather coincided with our lockdown. We have done some lovely local walks, in fact more than usual. We have paid more attention to nature this spring. Now the weather is more changeable, it makes walks less attractive. The ideal weather would be rain at night but dry, bright days!
10m WSPR TX (500mW to the indoor loop)
At about 0800z, the 10m WSPR beacon was turned on and already spots from Germany by Es as well as local G4KPX (14km). DJ9PC (825km) has spotted me a couple of times already by 0824z).
Yesterday, I got 4 different stations spotting me all day. Today looks more promising.
UPDATE 1112z: Altogether a much better day with spots of me by 9 different stations so far.
UPDATE 1445z : QRT as thunderstorm risk.
UPDATE 2120z: After about 30 minutes everything was reconnected. Now QRT.
Yesterday, I got 4 different stations spotting me all day. Today looks more promising.
UPDATE 1112z: Altogether a much better day with spots of me by 9 different stations so far.
 |
| 10m WSPR unique station spots of me today |
UPDATE 2120z: After about 30 minutes everything was reconnected. Now QRT.
6m FT8
As of about 0800z, the FT8 gear was switched on. So far (0829z) 31 spots of my 10W to the omni vertical on TX and 25 stations spotted on RX. So far, all EU.
UPDATE 1138z: So far today, 123 stations have spotted me, but no QSOs yet. I am auto sequencing and answering whoever calls me first, which is my normal operating style. I monitor things very regularly on another PC and can be in the shack in just a few seconds. 110 stations spotted here so far. Most stations are in Europe with a handful of near Asians.
UPDATE 1445z: QRT as thunderstorm risk. About minutes later everything was reconnected.
UPDATE 2125z: In all, 145 spots of my 10W to the vertical omni. This is quite poor for recent days.
UPDATE 1138z: So far today, 123 stations have spotted me, but no QSOs yet. I am auto sequencing and answering whoever calls me first, which is my normal operating style. I monitor things very regularly on another PC and can be in the shack in just a few seconds. 110 stations spotted here so far. Most stations are in Europe with a handful of near Asians.
UPDATE 1445z: QRT as thunderstorm risk. About minutes later everything was reconnected.
UPDATE 2125z: In all, 145 spots of my 10W to the vertical omni. This is quite poor for recent days.
More rally news
The following rallies have been cancelled or postponed. The precis is the Rochdale and District ARS rally is cancelled, but it may be rescheduled to November. The Spaldng DARS is cancelled. The Lough Erne rally has been postponed.
Again, if the background makes this hard to read, I apologise. This is how I receive this.
Saturday 6 JUNE : CANCELLED but hopefully rescheduled to November
ROCHDALE & DISTRICT ARS SUMMER RALLY. St Vincent de Paul's, Caldershaw Road, off Edenfield Road, Norden, Rochdale, OL12 7QR. Doors open to the public at 10.15am, with disabled visitors gaining access 15 minutes earlier. Admission is £2.50, under 12s free. Pitches are £5 if you have your own table or £10 with a table provided. Refreshments are available including bacon and sausage butties. Details from Robert, M0NVQ, on 0777 811 3333 or m0nvq@outlook.com.
Sunday 7 JUNE : CANCELLED
SPALDING DARS ANNUAL RALLY. It is with regret, and following extensive talks, taking advice, that we announce that this years Spalding Rally in June is unfortunately cancelled...We look forward to seeing traders and visitors again in 2021... Holbeach Community Sports Academy, Pennyhill Lane, Holbeach PE12 7PR Doors open at 9.30am and admittance is £3. The venue offers easy access from the A17, large area for boot traders and modern hall for indoor traders. There will be a Car Boot Sale, RSGB Book Stall, Special Interest Groups and trade stands. Catering is available on site and there will be a prize draw/raffle. Contact Graham Boor, G8NWC, 07754 619 701, rallysecretary@sdars.org.uk.
Sunday 7 JUNE : POSTPONED
LOUGH ERNE RALLY. SHARE Centre, Lisnaskea, Co. Fermanagh BT92 0EQ Doors are open at 11.30am and there is free parking. Entry is £5.00 or €5.00 on the door. Free tables for trade and special interest groups. There will be a bar and café with cooked lunch available. The RSGB will be in attendance. The raffle is included in the door entry price. Bring & Buy is free. For updates visit website www.learc.eu.
A list of rallies can be found at http://rsgb.org/main/news/rall
Again, if the background makes this hard to read, I apologise. This is how I receive this.
Saturday 6 JUNE : CANCELLED but hopefully rescheduled to November
ROCHDALE & DISTRICT ARS SUMMER RALLY. St Vincent de Paul's, Caldershaw Road, off Edenfield Road, Norden, Rochdale, OL12 7QR. Doors open to the public at 10.15am, with disabled visitors gaining access 15 minutes earlier. Admission is £2.50, under 12s free. Pitches are £5 if you have your own table or £10 with a table provided. Refreshments are available including bacon and sausage butties. Details from Robert, M0NVQ, on 0777 811 3333 or m0nvq@outlook.com.
Sunday 7 JUNE : CANCELLED
SPALDING DARS ANNUAL RALLY. It is with regret, and following extensive talks, taking advice, that we announce that this years Spalding Rally in June is unfortunately cancelled...We look forward to seeing traders and visitors again in 2021... Holbeach Community Sports Academy, Pennyhill Lane, Holbeach PE12 7PR Doors open at 9.30am and admittance is £3. The venue offers easy access from the A17, large area for boot traders and modern hall for indoor traders. There will be a Car Boot Sale, RSGB Book Stall, Special Interest Groups and trade stands. Catering is available on site and there will be a prize draw/raffle. Contact Graham Boor, G8NWC, 07754 619 701, rallysecretary@sdars.org.uk.
Sunday 7 JUNE : POSTPONED
LOUGH ERNE RALLY. SHARE Centre, Lisnaskea, Co. Fermanagh BT92 0EQ Doors are open at 11.30am and there is free parking. Entry is £5.00 or €5.00 on the door. Free tables for trade and special interest groups. There will be a bar and café with cooked lunch available. The RSGB will be in attendance. The raffle is included in the door entry price. Bring & Buy is free. For updates visit website www.learc.eu.
A list of rallies can be found at http://rsgb.org/main/news/rall
4 Jun 2020
RF interference levels
At the moment, I am quite rare in having a quiet RF noise level. Others are not so lucky and HF operating is all but impossible. Southgate News reports on an IARU submission to CISPR on this.
See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2020/june/rising-rf-noise-levels-iaru-submits-paper-to-cispr.htm#.XtkLr4jYrrc
See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2020/june/rising-rf-noise-levels-iaru-submits-paper-to-cispr.htm#.XtkLr4jYrrc
70cm yagi
I still have this antenna in the back of the garage. It has not been used in recent years. The mast is just a PVC tube trapped in the car door.
Zoom jazz gig - NOT amateur radio
Currently, with venues closed, he is unable to play live gigs. Last night he did a Zoom performance with people buying tickets. It was a great success.
Not so modern technology
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