New digital mode coming?

Southgate News reports that a new digital mode may be coming later this year called Q65 as part of WSJT-X suite.  I have just downloaded the latest release candidate for WSJT-X (2.3.0-rc3), but I have not checked if it is there. 

See https://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/k1jt/Q65_Quick_Start.pdf

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2021/january/new-digital-protocol-q65.htm#.YAbrz_GTLrc

Lunch out - NOT amateur radio

Two years ago we went to the old wool town (village?) of Lavenham. We ate out at a small cafe. Do you remember those days when we could travel?? 😊  The photo shows our lunch.

Funny how a trip to the local bakers is now exciting! I expect when this pandemic is largely over we will value the small things denied us all.

USA future - NOT amateur radio

Tomorrow the new USA president is sworn in. I hope that President Trump is magnanimous and his followers respect democracy.

Me in 1959 - NOT amateur radio

One of my FaceBook memories today was this photo of me taken at a junior school sports day in 1959, when I still had hair! I am on the left. Some changes since!

6m FT8 QRP (Tuesday)

It is now 1042z. For the last few minutes I have been on 6m FT8 with 2.5W and the V2000 omni vertical. 2 spots of me so far with the furthermost M0AGP (122km).

UPDATE 1102z: Now spotted strongly by OL7M (1128km). Winter Es or aircraft? Probably aircraft.

UPDATE 1112z: 5 stations have spotted me so far. Amazing. No spots on 6m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1152z: Just one station spotted on 6m FT8 RX so far today: G4FKA (206km).The photo shows the stations spotting me today so far. 

UPDATE 1424z:  Now 4 stations spotted on RX with furthermost being G8EEM (208km).

Sunspots Tuesday January 19th 2021

 Solar flux is 75 and the SSN 13.  A=4 and K=2.

2m FT8 (QRP) Monday

I am mainly on 2m FT8 RX using the FT817ND and big wheel. When briefly on TX at 2.5W the report on G0LRD's (26km) grabber was poor, suggesting something is wrong either with the rig or antenna. On RX things seem to be as expected. Odd. The output power seemed low as if the SWR was poor.

The SWR looks fine, so this might be another fault in the FT817ND. Tomorrow I might try with a dummy load, and then the FT991A.

Village collage - NOT amateur radio

 

This is a collage of village scenes seen yesterday on our walk. It was cold, but sunny.

20m FT8 RX

 It is now 1205z. For about an hour I have been on 20m FT8 RX with the FT817ND and the indoor loop. So far, 188 stations spotted on RX.

UPDATE 1434z:   Now on 2.5W TX too. So far today, 424 stations spotted on 20m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1900z:   2 stations have spotted me on TX and 503 stations spotted on 20m FT8 RX today.

Sunspots - Monday January 18th 2021

Solar flux is 77 and the SSN 23.  A=2 and K=0.