8m NoV - STILL no response from OFCOM

Five days ago I chased OFCOM. Since then I have heard absolutely nothing. What a shower!! If this is how they treat all customers there is no hope....

70cm FT8 QRP (Thursday)

For a change, I am on 70cm FT8, outside of a contest. It is now 1630z and I have been on the band for about 30 minutes. Already I have spotted PA3EOU (337km) and my 2.5W to the vertical V2000 omni has been spotted by G0KTN (211km). I must try 70cm FT8 more often.

UPDATE 1827z:  6 stations in 3 countries spotted.

UPDATE 2235z:  24 stations spotted on RX. My brief transmission resulted in 1 QSO and 5 people spotting me.

St Ives (Cambs) - NOT amateur radio

We went on the guided bus to St Ives today. This is a good run and St Ives is a very attractive place. 

10m FT8 RX (Thursday)

Since about 0850z, I have been on 10m FT8 RX. So far today (at 0908z) 2 stations have been spotted with the furthermost OZ5JLH (865km).

UPDATE 1535z: 45 stations spotted with the furthermost VK6EI (14494km).

Where I come from in South Devon - NOT amateur radio

The photo shows where I come from in South Devon in January. Most of the visitors are not here. 

Last evening on 70cm FT8

As reported yesterday, last evening was the FT8 activity session on 70cm. Activity levels were good. 

Sunspots - Thursday January 13th 2022

Solar flux is 103 and the SSN is 68.  A=4 and K=0. 

Windmill - NOT amateur radio

As mentioned many times, we live next door to a fully restored windmill that is 200 years old. 

Every single day someone comes to take a photo! This is not surprising. 

This is the view from the lounge window.

I am looking forward to making some bread rolls this summer with flour milled here.

Amaryllis - NOT amateur radio

Every winter, we plant amaryllis bulbs. Most come out, although occasionally we just get leaves. This year, we have a very tall one. In a few days it will be past its best, but it has been fun to watch. They shoot up very fast!

70cm FT8 activity contest this evening

At 1900z, for 2 hours, is the RSGB organised 70cm FT8 contest. 

I shall be on with the V2000 vertical and 2.5W TX. On 70cm the FT8 frequency in Europe is 432.174MHz USB. 

There are often quite a few stations in the Netherlands on vertical FT8. 

Rules may be found on the RSGB site. This is designed to coincide with contests in continental Europe. Activity should be good. If you enjoy FT8, give it a go this evening. Standard FT8 exchanges are expected (no serial numbers required). ADIF files may be uploaded.

UPDATE 1918z:  29 stations spotted including 5 in the Netherlands. 1 QSO. Not bad with a vertical omni!

UPDATE 2100z:  58 stations spotted on RX with the V2000 vertical omni on 70cm FT8. Several stations have spotted me on 2.5W FT8 TX and I have had a couple of QSOs although I was mostly RX. The FT8 activity was great. I think several of these must have been scatter. It would not surprise me if scatter was better on 70cm than on 2m.