Storm Eunice - NOT amateur radio

We had some very strong winds in the UK yesterday. A wall not far from us was blown over. I think the wind gust caught the lattice fence that put force on the brick wall.

Sunspots - Saturday February 19th 2022

 Solar flux is 93 and the SSN 92.  A=6 and K=3. 

That wind - NOT amateur radio

We have wind gusting to 80 miles per hour here with Storm Eunice. It is even stronger in the west of the UK. The daffodils under the tree in our close are struggling. 

10m FT8 QRP (Friday)

After a very brief TX period at 2.5W, I am RX only.  At 0915z, 14 stations have been spotted. On TX just a single local spot.

UPDATE 1130z:  75 stations spotted.

UPDATE 1842z: 482 stations spotted on  FT8 RX. 

Thank you

Thanks to the kindness of people I don't even know, I shall apply for that 8m permit this weekend. Obviously, I know the permit, if granted, will be at least £50. If it is more, I shall not go ahead. 

"Windbag" need not bother sending me nasty anonymous comments as these will be rejected as SPAM unless he offers his name. He might want to reflect on the fact he is traceable and IP addresses used are known.

Once again, thank you.

2m operation

 "Guilty as charged me lud".

When I first went on 2m back in the 1970s, most people were on AM. Then came FM and repeaters and 2m SSB.

These days, 2m seems very quiet. However, appearances can be deceptive as many are now using FT8 . This can give the impression of a dead band, although actually it is possible to work stations at great range irrespective of conditions with very modest antennas and power. Very little spectrum is needed.

Activity sessions can be quite busy, but people have found other ways simply to chat using the Internet.

Apart from local nets, the band can appear quiet. I am as guilty as anyone rarely coming on SSB or FM unless there is an activity session or local net. I often use FT8 instead these days.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/vhfuhfmicrowaves/2m-operation.

Sunspots - Friday February 18th 2022

Solar flux is 97 and the SSN 103. A=5 and K=1. 

Eddystone EC10 RX

We have moved on a lot.   Back in the 1960s, the Eddystone EC10 RX costing £48 was my dream machine. Many years later I managed to get a pre-production unit from someone at work whose dad worked for Eddystone. I remember the day he put it on my bench!

Mechanically, it was superb with its flywheel drive. On the lower bands it was just adequate. On the higher HF bands like 10m, it was terrible with its low IF and almost zero image rejection.

You used to be able to pick these up on Internet auction sites at inflated prices.  I have not looked recently.  They used germanium transistors (OC171s) that probably were leaky and wanted replacing. As an historic RX, you are welcome to bid, but as a serious 21st century RX? Forget it!

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/commercial-rigs/eddystone-ec10.

UPDATE 2215z:  eBay still has people listing them.

Crocuses - NOT amateur radio

Today we visited Hare Park, Chippenham near Cambridge mainly to see the snowdrops. These crocuses are out now too. 

Rally

The following rally is on this Sunday (February 20th) as far as I know. Check with the organisers before travelling.

Radioactive Fair, Nantwich Civic Hall, Cheshire, CW5 5DG.