70cm FT8

It is almost a year since I tried (successfully) 432MHz FT8. In many ways, 432MHz might be better for scatter modes than 144MHz. 

There are activity periods once a month (2nd Wednesdays) that I should try. 432.174MHz is where to look. The next is February 10th 1700-2100z.

See http://www.ft8activity.eu/index.php/en/ .

Salcombe - NOT amateur radio

As a child I grew up in Salcombe. 

It was years before I realised that the dappling on the schoolroom ceiling was the sun on the water. We took it all for granted. 

2m FT8 QRP (Saturday)

At 1457z, I QSYed to 2m FT8 QRP using 2.5W and the big-wheel. 2m rarely disappoints whereas 10m FT8 here was dreadful today. Just a couple of local spots of me so far on TX and no spots yet on RX.

UPDATE 1835z: 1 QSO so far. 12 stations have spotted me on TX and I have spotted 28 stations on RX.

UPDATE 1947z: 17 stations have so far spotted me on QRP TX and 30 stations on RX. I am still puzzled by some of the very long paths: every day I seem to be copied in EI at great range: this seems far too random to be aircraft reflection, so I wonder if FT8 allows some other sort of scatter to be possible even with QRP.

UK cranes (birds) - NOT amateur radio

At one time, centuries ago, these large birds were quite common in the UK. Then there were none. 

In the last 40 years some were re-introduced and numbers have steadily climbed, especially on wetland reserves. 

A few years ago we saw about 10 from a train window in the fens.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crane_(bird)

See https://community.rspb.org.uk/ourwork/b/biodiversity/posts/wetland-success?utm_source=notes_on_nature_210206&utm_medium=email&utm_term=&utm_content=13&utm_campaign=notes_on_nature

Anglesey Abbey yesterday - NOT amateur radio

 

This photo shows part of nearby Anglesey Abbey yesterday. We go for walks there most weeks.

10m FT8 QRP (Saturday)

At 0919z, I turned on my 10m FT8 QRP using 2.5W and the tiny indoor loop. No spots yet. 

UPDATE 1020z:  No spots.

UPDATE 1405z:  Just a single spot on RX of EA1SA (1025km) on RX and no spots on TX. So far today, pretty pathetic.

Sub 9kHz amateur DX

One of my Facebook memories today was this photo of my sub-9kHz reception of a station in Germany. In all I spotted 5 European amateur stations sub-9kHz before my health got in the way. 

UK Covid-19 vaccinations - NOT amateur radio

In many ways, the UK can (rightly) be castigated for it handling of the pandemic doing too little, too late. 

On vaccinations it is a different story and thanks to a national effort the vaccination target could well be met. The graph shows the cumulative first doses.

Sunspots - Saturday February 6th 2021

 Solar flux is 73 and the SSN 0. A=6 and K=0.

2m FT8 QRP (Friday)

As 10m FT8 today here was awful, I QSYed to 2m FT8 with 2.5W and big-wheel omni antenna at 1824z It is now 1847z, I have been spotted by 11 stations with the furthermost being EI2FG (565km) again.  On 2m FT8 RX, 2 stations (both G) have been spotted.

UPDATE 2122z:  22 spots of me on 2m FT8 TX this evening. 24 stations spotted on RX with the furthermost DF9YF (559km). I must remember to turn things off when I go to bed! 1 QSO.