6m FT8 (Tuesday)

Apart from a very brief period on TX (with the V2000 omni vertical and 2.5W) - furthermost northern Sweden, I have been on RX only. So far (at 0748z) I have spotted 9 stations across Europe, presumably by Es.

UPDATE 0812z:  20 stations so far spotted here on 6m FT8 RX with the furthermost EB8AC (2930km).

UPDATE 1029z:  53 spots on RX so far with furthermost 4Z1UF (3580km). The latter looks like 2 hop Es.

UPDATE 1046z:  58 stations in 3 continents spotted so far today on 6m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 2047z:  293 stations spotted on 6m in the last day including the USA and the Caribbean.

Church path - NOT amateur radio

We have 5 paths up to the church. This is one of them. I see that I am on the photo too! Only just noticed. 

Windmill 2018 - NOT amateur radio

This photo was taken in 2018. It shows the windmill next door in July at 10.10pm. The evenings have already started to get darker.

Lightning danger

Ever since a friend's very ordinary house was struck by lightning many years ago, I have taken no chances. If a storm is nearby, I disconnect everything. If a storm is near you may want to check the lightning maps.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/other-amateur-radio/lightning-maps .

70cm activity contest tonight

The 70cm activity contest (UKAC) organised by the RSGB starts at 1900z this evening. I shall be on using the 2m big-wheel omni and 10W SSB. I usually stay on for less than 1 hour. Activity levels are usually good. Even with this poor set-up, I usually manage over 100km. Great fun.

Sunspots - Tuesday July 13th 2021

 Solar flux is 72 and the SSN 22. A=7 and K=2.

Pye PF8

Many years ago I had the privilege of working on the design of the Pye PF8. My bits were mainly the TX audio and the skeleton antenna. The PF8 is rare now. Some were converted to 70cms use. I created a webpage with some useful links.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/vhfuhfmicrowaves/vhfuhf-commercial-rigs/pye-pf8

2m FT8

At the moment I am on 2m FT8 with 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna. 7 stations have spotted me so far this evening.

UPDATE 2020z:  11 stations spotted me this evening. Now RX only. Furthermost with 2.5W TX to the big-wheel was GI4NSA (491km).

UPDATE 2050z:  8 stations spotted on RX including G5ART (132km). I was not aware G5*** calls were now being issued.

Finiteness - NOT amateur radio

Today, my son and 2 of our grandchildren from Kent visited the place where I grew up, Salcombe in Devon, UK. My father and his father lived there over 100 years ago. It was almost like handing over a baton. 

It is now their turn to enjoy it, not mine.

6m FT8 (Monday)

 Apart from a very brief TX period at 2.5W, I am on 6m FT8 RX with the V2000 vertical omni antenna. Even my brief TX period was spotted by 2 Gs and I have spotted 3 stations on RX. It is now only 0655z.

UPDATE 0710z:  7 spots already on 6m FT8 RX today.

UPDATE 1015z: 73 stations spotted on RX with the furthermost HZ1SK (4759km).