OFCOM updates

Every month, OFCOM updates its "Communications Monthly" which shows the statistics it holds. See the OFCOM website for the July edition.

Sunspots - Wednesday July 7th 2021

 Solar flux is 83 and the SSN 52. A=8 and K=1.

Out pedestrian portable

Before I had a stroke, I quite enjoyed operating pedestrian portable. That is with a rig with a whip antenna on the set, not out portable with large antennas such as SOTA or POTA operations.

When the weather is good (it is raining here at the moment!) it is great fun. Seaside operation with good take-offs can be surprisingly good. If you have high noise levels at home, you can choose quiet places.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/other-amateur-radio/pedestrian-portable .

Wild flowers - NOT amateur radio

The ground next to the path near "our" windmill next door has been left so wild flowers can grow. It looks great.  

It was such a good idea. It encourages bees and looks good. I was amazed how quickly they grew.

10m WSPR TX (500mW)

 As the antenna was free, I decided to go on 10m WSPR TX again. Nobody has spotted me yet today.

UPDATE 1026z:  No spots yet today.

UPDATE 1152z:  So far today, spots from 2 stations with the furthermost EA8BFK (2880km).

6m FT8 today (Tuesday)

It is much quieter so far today. 

I have been on for about 30 minutes with 2.5W and the V2000, but only 3 stations spotted on RX and 4 stations spotting me on TX. 

Yesterday the FT8 slot at 50.313MHz was busy with plenty of Far East stations on 6m FT8.

UPDATE 0958z:  9 stations have spotted me on TX and I have spotted 12 stations on RX.

UPDATE 1155z:  18 stations have spotted me on TX and 22 stations spotted on RX. No super DX here today.

Homebrew 70cm antenna

This appeared as a FB memory today. It shows the antenna made from an old coat hanger for 70cm 8 years ago. The map shows the contacts with it. 

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

Yesterday on 6m FT8

For the first time since 2017, I spotted Japan on 6m. This time it was  FT8 with the V2000 vertical omni antenna.  Last time, with the same antenna, it was JT65.

With a beam at a decent height, I would expect to spot stations some 10dB weaker. I suspect I would copy Japanese stations every year on 6m FT8. 

Nonetheless, I was very pleased to spot Japanese stations on 6m FT8 yesterday with the V2000 omni antenna.

Sunspots - Tuesday July 6th 2021

 Solar flux is 89 and the SSN 43. A=7 and K=2. 

Afghanistan - NOT amateur radio

Why? 

We have been fighting wars in Afghanistan since the first half of the 19th century when Victoria was queen. Countless people have been killed or maimed. 

What will happen now the western troops leave? Most likely it will descend into civil war again and the Taliban will again fight for control. In many ways things will be as bad as when we arrived.

In my view, we should stop interfering. Yes, we wish to support democracy and freedom, but we do not exactly a good track record. Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan to name a few. 

We have a great record in soldiers and civilians being killed or maimed and wasting billions. Instead we could spend the money on fighting climate change.