/P and contests

 According to Southgate News, the RSGB is to accept /P entries in contests from March 29th. They state you have to obey local Covid rules, but the "stay at home" message is to be replaced (we hope) by "stay local" in England. This would mean /P operations would be legal if local.

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2021/march/rsgb-contest-committee-agree-to-accept-portable-entries.htm#.YF3yKiuTLrc

OFCOM plan of work

I am definitely a grumpy old man! 

OFCOM has just posted its plan of work for the next financial year on its website. If I was still working and not retired I would have been told the statement is full of "motherhoods" !

Personally, I would prefer if they concentrated on real enforcement and less on such statements.

It is very easy to criticise, but the impression this gives me is a total lack of RF knowledge and a bunch of children, trying to be "grown ups". Your views may well differ, and these are my impressions only.

As I was always told "don't judge a book by its cover".

See the OFCOM website and make up your own minds.

17m FT8 QRP (Friday)

At 1217z, I turned on the FT8 QRP  with 2.5W and the windowsill tiny loop. It is now 1222z and, so far, 20 stations have been spotted on RX but no spots of me on TX.

UPDATE 1435z:  127 stations spotted on RX with the furthermost YB8ADX (12413km). On QRP TX 2 stations have spotted me so far today.

UPDATE 2212z:  Now QRT.  Altogether, 204 stations spotted on RX and 2 stations spotted my QRP on TX.

Rainbow - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday was typical spring day with a mixture of sunshine and scattered showers. We were treated to a rainbow shortly before dark as the photo shows.

Sunspots - Friday March 26th 2021

 Solar flux is 79 and the SSN 24.  A=18 and K=1.

Perspectives on old age - NOT amateur radio

Next birthday I shall be 73. Both my dad and granddad died in their sixties. I could die tomorrow or live for many years. 

On the balance of probabilities I probably have not got many years left. Certainly I am more aware than ever that the years are passing by.  

Some of the things I could so easily do are now impossible. I am giddy all the time and driving is no longer a pleasure. 

Someone once advised me to enjoy things before it is too late. Maybe they are right. One thing is certain: the future is unknown.

Angry sky - NOT amateur radio

Angry sky

We have just got back from a walk around Anglesey Abbey. It tried to rain! 

Rally cancelled

The Callington Rally in Cornwall has been cancelled. Many years ago I went to this when I lived in Devon. It should have been March 28th, which is this Sunday. Hopefully it will be on again in 2022. 

 Probably many more rallies will be postponed or cancelled this spring and summer.

2m FT8 QRP (Thursday)

Since before breakfast I have been on 2m FT8 with 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna. So far, at 0947z, I have been spotted by 13 stations in 2 countries with the furthermost G7RAU (461km) in Cornwall. On 2m FT8 RX 20 stations in 4 countries spotted with the furthermost DJ9ON (489km).

UPDATE 1025z:  One QSO with a station in IO70.  15 spots of my QRP.

UPDATE 1648z:  3 QSOs today.  My 2.5W FT8 to the big-wheel has been spotted by 25 stations and I have spotted 55 stations in 6 countries.

UPDATE 1830z:   29 stations in 3 countries have spotted my 2m FT8 QRP today on TX. 65 stations spotted on RX in 7 countries.

OFCOM spectrum negotiations

OFCOM has announced that its next stage of auctioning 700MHz and 3.6GHz spectrum has moved to the negotiating stage where bidders can trade spectrum between each other. See the OFCOM website for more details. It makes sense for bidders to have contiguous chunks.