The last day on 2m FT8 using 2.5W

In the last day, 30 stations have spotted me on 2M FT8 using 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna. Irrespective of conditions these ranges are always possible.

2m FT8 QRP (Wednesday)

The 2m FT8 gear was turned on early this morning. I am again running 2.5W to the big-wheel omni antenna.

UPDATE 0925z:  8 spots of my QRP including EI2FG (565km) again.  If this is aircraft scatter (I have my doubts), it is there very often, which is why I wonder if some other form of scatter is involved on some paths.

UPDATE 1001z:  7 stations spotted here so far. At the moment I am RX only on 2m FT8 with the big-wheel omni.

Elephants - NOT amateur radio

My wife took this photo last week when we had plenty of sunshine. It was taken at the entrance to the walled garden at Hare Park, Chippenham near Cambridge.

 

Sunspots - Wednesday February 10th 2021

 Solar flux is 70 and the SSN 0. A=4 and K=0.

15m FT8 yesterday

Stations spotted on
15m FT8 yesterday 

In the end, my 2.5W 15m FT8 was spotted by 3 stations. in Europe and Africa.

All over the world was spotted on RX. 

This was just with the tiny indoor loop antenna. 

Alexa - NOT amateur radio

A few months ago we bought an Amazon Dot at half price from Amazon. I bought it as it was so inexpensive: if it was no good, I would not have wasted that much.

What has surprised me is how effective the voice recognition is.  Even with my poor voice, it seems to understand me most times. When not in use we turn it off at the mains to prevent it picking up unintentional conversations. 

When it arrived it was much smaller than I expected. At first I wondered if they had only sent the PSU.  At a guess I reckon it is about 10cm across. Sound quality is much better than expected. It is very good.

You can say things like, "play BBC Radio 4" or "play a 1930s mix".

I am impressed. It is much better than I expected. My wife enjoys it even more!

New museum shed - NOT amateur radio

Funny how being locked down you get excited by silly things! Years ago we would go on overseas holidays, but I guess we just have to wait....

Today, we had major excitement when a new shed was delivered to our local village museum. Imagine that! A new shed!!! 😄 Gosh! 

A lorry drove up and lots of helpers were on hand to help erect it. A year ago this would have been ignored!

70cm activity contest this evening

70cm 10W SSB QSOs
this evening

Being the second Tuesday in the month, this evening is the February leg of the RSGB organised activity contest on 70cm (UKAC). These start at 2000z and last for up to 2.5 hours. Usually I am on for far less than 1 hour with my 10W and 2m antenna (I use a 2m (144MHz) big-wheel omni that seems to match OK at 70cm).

Activity levels on 70cm SSB are better than most times, although with a lack of /P stations is a pity. Unlike many contests, these don't feel like contests and are very friendly. Despite my poor set-up on the band, I seem to be able to work over 100km most times. It is a good chance to work a few new squares.

UPDATE 2102z: 5 QSOs this evening.

Ads I hate - NOT amateur radio

There are some adverts in particular that I just hate! Those that say something like, "taking the UK by storm" or "seniors are missing out". These are obviously designed to draw us in. Sorry, here these are just deleted, unread.

Dust cloud "moons"? - NOT amateur radio

Southgate News has a piece on the dust clouds that appear to be circulating the Earth at about the same distance as the Moon. 

I do not think this is fake news! If it is please tell me.

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2021/january/science-confirms-earth-has-more-than-one-moon.htm#.YCJWwiuTLrc .