FT8 RX with non-resonant antennas

In the last day, I have been amazed at the results with non-resonant antennas on FT8 RX. May be I shouldn't be. 

On 160m FT8 RX one often has to add attenuation and, as long as the S/N is fine, it will still get results. 

On 15m FT8 RX, I guess my 10m antenna is a few dBs down, but as long as the S/N is sufficient I will still get decodes.

Fungus - NOT amateur radio

 

This was seen growing on a tree some years ago. I cannot remember the month.

15m FT8 RX

At the moment, I am monitoring 15m FT8 RX with the 10m antenna. I have been on for about 10 minutes. At 1010z, 43 stations spotted.

UPDATE 1502z:  684 stations spotted today on 15m FT8  RX.

Cambridge Street - NOT amateur radio

Cambridge has lots of bikes. 

New roof - NOT amateur radio

This thatched cottage is having a new roof. Quite expensive. It is in the nearby village of Wicken.

Sunspots - Thursday January 27th 2022

Solar flux is 102 and the SSN 71. A=10 and K=1. 

160m FT8 RX

This was a good session on 160m FT8 RX. In all, 546 stations were spotted including many in the USA.  Much to my surprise, I had left the 10m antenna plugged in, so this was on a very short, non-resonant antenna!

10m FT8

We returned home about 1440z. I am now on 10m FT8, initially on 2.5W TX, now RX only. On TX I was spotted by G0FWX (160km) and a couple of stations have been spotted on RX. These could be Es, tropo or aircraft.

UPDATE 2210z:  8 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX with the furthermost  LU1DVH (11217km).

160m FT8 later?

For the last few days I have been in Sheffield for a funeral. We return home shortly. I hope to be on 160m FT8 RX later.

UPDATE 2211z: 222 stations spotted this evening with the furthermost RW9JZ (4318km).

Old postbox - NOT amateur radio

In the UK, most postboxes are red. Some are very old. The photo shows the one outside Sheffield cathedral. It looks very old.