Coronavirus good news - NOT amateur radio

The BBC reports that the Oxford vaccine to fight Covid-19 is showing promise. Early days but promising. There is also some good news about a drug treatment. We deserve a break.

6m FT8

A few moments ago I turned on the 6m FT8 kit. As usual running 10W to the V2000 vertical omni antenna. It is now 0955z and 10 stations have spotted me today so far.

UPDATE 1100z: So far today 33 spots of me.

UPDATE 1816z: 60 spots of me so far today.

8m band

It was reported that the Eire 40MHz beacon has been copied in Austria. I have no idea if a crossband QSO followed. Some stations have been granted special permission to operate on 8m.

Garden tea again - NOT amateur radio

For the second time we managed tea in the garden. Weather was fine on the whole as the photo shows. This is some of our family.

Sunspots - Monday July 20th 2020

Solar flux is 69 and the SSN 0. A=4 and K=1.

Bird count - NOT amateur radio

Every month my brother does part of the bird count on the Kingsbridge Estuary in Devon. This photo shows Blanksmill Creek earlier. Looks a bit overcast.

6m FT8 today

Since about 1025z I have been on 6m FT8 with 10W and the V2000 vertical omni.

UPDATE 1045z:  Spotted by 20 stations so far today.

Stations spotted
so far today

UPDATE 1707z: The map shows the stations spotted by me so far today - 77. All within Europe apart from the Canary Islands.

UPDATE 2005z:  QRT. I expect the main Es season will be ending soon, although with FT8 I am sure we will see some Es until much later. I recall on SSB QRP 6m working SMs way into September, so with FT8 we can expect this at least. If people stick with 6m FT8, it would not surprise me if we see some Es every day at some point. OK, I suspect the days with widespread openings will end, but some brief openings are still likely.

Breakfast chat - NOT amateur radio

The was one of our grandchildren chatting to my wife at the breakfast table earlier.

Yesterday's party - NOT amateur radio

The collage shows more views of our party on the green near us yesterday.

6m FT8 yesterday

On TX 142 stations in Europe spotted me and 303 stations spotted here.