OFCOM appoints new Chief Technology Officer

Apparently OFCOM is appointing a new Chief Technology Officer who used to work at Amazon. This person seems well qualified in business. Let's hope this person really understands technology too.

See the OFCOM website for details.

6m FT8 RX (Thursday)

Since about 0830z, I have been on 6m FT8 RX. It is now 1104z and 41 stations spotted so far. Surprising number of UK stations, suggesting some tropo?UPDATE 1132z: 55 stations spotted on 6m FT8 RX today so far.

UPDATE 1538z:  256 stations spotted so far.

UPDATE 1755z: 427 stations spotted on 6m FT8 RX with the furthermost WP4G (6803km) in Puerto Rico.

UPDATE 1936z: 646 stations spotted today on RX with the furthermost PV8DX (7830km) in northern Brazil. Not bad for a VHF band with an omni antenna with a poor SWR!

UPDATE 2116z: 815 stations spotted today on 6m FT8 RX today (see map)

Fault finding my Par endfed 102040 antenna

Since taking it down I have realised I can check if the coax was faulty by connecting a 10m dipole (endfed at the shack) and running the wire down the garden. If it is the coax I can replace it and get on 10m, 20m and 40m.  

With this antenna I had 10m spots from all over the world (including Australia and Antarctica) with 500mW WSPR.

Flag iris - NOT amateur radio

These flag iris were seen earlier in the week. 

Sunspots - Thursday June 10th 2021

 Solar flux is 79 and the SSN 27. A=4 and K=1. 

70cm 4el yagi on website

Last evening I had to use my homebrew 4el 70cm yagi in the activity contest. This was mounted on a PVC "mast" in the shack and turned by hand.

Even with this "Heath-Robinson" antenna and 10W, I was able to make over 100km QSOs on SSB.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/antennas/70cm-4el-yagi .

Garden in Early Summer - NOT amateur radio

This is a photo of our garden in early summer. 

Sadly the frost has killed the pear blossom and I doubt we will see many this year. 

OFCOM updates

As usually happens early in the month, OFCOM has updated its Communications Monthly with the latest information it has. See the OFCOM website for more information. 

6m FT8 RX (Wednesday)

Since mid morning I have been on 6m FT8 RX with the V2000 vertical with the poor SWR. At 1225z 35 stations spotted on RX so far. 

UPDATE 1555z:   75 stations spotted..

UPDATE 1639z:  121 stations spotted.

UPDATE 1941z:  201 stations spotted so far on 6m FT8 RX today.

UPDATE 2147z:  QRT. 

Orchids yesterday - NOT amateur radio

 Seen on our walk yesterday.