8m QRP FT8 (Thursday)

We spent the day in Norwich, but I turned on 8m FT8 QRP shortly after we got back at about 1630z.  At 1827z no spots.

HF conditions

We can all agree that HF conditions are good on the whole. The higher HF bands are suitable for worldwide contacts and conditions are likely to get better still as we run up to the next solar maximum. At the moment this is forecast to be over a year away still. Bands like 15m, 12m and 10m are good again.

You may get some ideas from my Pipit 15m rig that dates from about 30 years ago.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/15m-qrp-cw-pipit .

Sunspots - Thursday October 6th 2022

Solar flux is 161 and the SSN 151. A=14 and K=3. 

2m FT8

A few minutes ago, (about 1715z) I turned to 2m FT8 RX.  

There is an RSGB FT8 activity contest starting at 1900z, but I think there is a European contest earlier.

UPDATE 2021z:  86 stations spotted on 2m FT8 this evening (see map). I was spotted by 5 stations with the furthermost G7RAU in Cornwall.

2m RX this evening

After the rain - NOT amateur radio

We have just had a rain shower passing through. This is the windmill after the shower. The windmill is right next door. This photo was taken from the kitchen window. 

The case for a small 8m amateur band

In my view, the case for a tiny 5 kHz wide amateur band at 8m is overwhelming. Such a narrow allocation has many, many merits:

These are my proposals:

• 40.680-40.685 MHz (just 5 kHz in total)
• 50W maximum (even less would be OK, personally I would settle for 10W)
• Only narrow, digital modes (no speech)
• Only allocated by notice of variation or equivalent
• Strictly non-interference (any trouble, reduced power or be closed down)

Please try to persuade your licencing authority to support this, even by individuals seeking permission in the early years. 

8m is on the very boundary between HF and VHF and radio amateurs could contribute so very much and gain self training.

Seagulls - NOT amateur radio

Seagulls are everywhere now. They even go well away from the sea, with rubbish dumps being favourite places. 

They also like to flock behind tractors on farms after seeds as in this photo that was posted on 365project earlier by one of my friends, Susan Wakely. 

I like the clever use of black and white with just a pop of colour.

Southgate amateur radio news

One of the places I look at from time to time is the Southgate News. This often has amateur radio news of interest.

See http://www.southgatearc.org/ .

Alstroemeria - NOT amateur radio

My wife loves these flowers, which last a long time and are colourful. We have some in the garden, but these are in our hall.

See https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/alstroemeria .

2m activity contest last evening

As usual, I entered the low power section of this contest last evening. I get the impression that there are fewer people taking part. 

I only stayed on for under an hour (poor voice), but there seemed fewer people on even though conditions were better than normal. 

Perhaps more people prefer FT8 for contests than SSB? I think the 2m FT8 activity contest is this evening. I often come on, but do not submit a result.

Next Tuesday evening is the 70cm activity contest. Most use SSB.