70cm FT8 yesterday

70cm FT8 has the potential to be a game changer. 

For a long time I have suspected that scatter modes might be better on 70cm than on 2m.  Last night there was a sort of contest.

Last evening 29 stations were spotted in 6 countries (see map) with just a 2m (144MHz) big-wheel omni antenna. 2 of these were 479km away! Imagine what would have been possible with even a small beam.

If there was regular 70cm FT8 activity I think surprising distances would be worked at any time. 

Devon - NOT amateur radio

The photo shows another view of where I come from in South Devon. For those that know it, Bowcombe Creek, near Kingsbridge.

This spot is good for birds. 

Sunspots - Thursday May 13th 2021

 Solar flux is 75 and the SSN 31. A=41 and K=2. 

70cm FT8 RX

I think there is a 70cm FT8 activity session this evening. So, I am on 70cm FT8 RX with the 2m big-wheel omni antenna.

UPDATE 1712z:  6 stations spotted so far.  Furthermost is ON7ZJ (302km) in Belgium.

UPDATE 1828z:  Now 16 stations spotted on RX with the furthermost DL5EBS (479km). Nobody has spotted my 1W on TX. I have had one QSO with G4NBS (22km). Now GI6ATZ (479km) spotted.

UPDATE 1856z:  20 stations in 6 countries spotted on 70cm FT8 RX this evening.

Stations spotted on 70cm
FT8 RX this evening

UPDATE 1954z:  26 stations spotted this evening on 70cm FT8 RX.

Am I being thick?

Before turning on my new webapages, I want to take a backup copy of my old pages. The old pages are in Google Classic Sites. 

When I looked I could not see how to do this. I shall look again, but if you know how, please let me know.

UPDATE 1222z: I think you go to Classic sites and download to your Google drive as a zip file in "takeout". Haven't tried yet. This must have changed as I am sure this wasn't the case a few years ago.

UPDATE 1256z: I tried it. When I unzipped I could see the images but only some of the webpages! Now, this may just be me being thick, but.....  So far, I am still trying to find a way. All I really wanted to do was make a backup copy just in case.

New website - not quite ready

Last weekend I was hoping to "go live" on the revised web pages. There are still omissions and I want to find a way to have clearer schematics for those that want them.

My best estimate is in about a weeks' time.

See www.g3xbm.co.uk  . At the moment this still points to the old pages. I shall say when it is done on the blog.

DX Summit

If you are a keen DXer , I guess this site could be of use. I think people post stations they spot so you know where to look. 

It has not been used here as I have not been DX hunting actively for many years.

See http://www.dxsummit.fi/#/ .

10m FT8 RX

In the last few days I have started to have an S8 noise level on the higher HF bands on AM. Up to now, these bands have been fairly quiet. I guess someone locally has a new gadget with a noisy PSU. 

I don't think it is a problem with FT8. Maybe the noise is on specific, narrow, frequencies? At the moment I am on 10m FT8 RX with the FT817ND and the tiny indoor loop. It is now 0715z and no spots yet.

UPDATE 1510z:  No spots yet.

Sunspots - Wednesday May 12th 2021

 Solar flux is 76 and the SSN 31. A=3 and K=1.

70cm UKAC

This evening was the May leg of the 70cm activity contest organised by the RSGB. With my QRP and poor voice, 4 QSOs were had using the 2m big-wheel omni. I only stayed on for 37 minutes.