4m FT8

 At the moment I am again on 70.154 MHz FT8 with my big-wheel 2m omni and coax tuned via the auto-ATU in the FT-710.  At 1029z, no spots. I have yet to be spotted on 4m, although my "antenna" does not help!

UPDATE 1226z: Well, my 4m "antenna" is working with 3 stations spotted and one spotting me - G4HGI (244km). 

UPDATE  1241z: I would imagine that most propagation is one of the following: flat-band propagation, tropo enhancement, MS or scatter. As Bas says in the comments, the Es season is probably some months away still.

UPDATE 1515z:  G3SHK (200km) has been spotted, and has spotted me, on 4m FT8 (see map).  M0RJV (91km) has spotted me.  Still to have my first FT8 QSO on 4m. The impression I am left with is this band is very under-used apart from (maybe?) during the Es season.

UPDATE 1630z:   My first ever 4m FT8 QSO has happened. GW8ASA (301km) was worked this afternoon using the 8m dipole and the internal auto ATU.

Stations spotting me
today on 4m FT8 TX

UPDATE 1907z:   No further stations spotted.

UPDATE 2115z:   QRT.

Devon cliffs - NOT amateur radio

This photo was taken in 2012 and shows me in Bolberry Down in Devon.

Sunspots - Thursday March 23rd 2023

Solar flux is 159 and the SSN 81. A=17 and K=1.

630m WSPR RX

At 2005z, I went on to 630m WSPR RX using the 2m big-wheel and coax via a ferrite rod ATU. So far this evening, a couple of German stations spotted.

UPDATE 2119z:  G6AVK (78km) also spotted. 

UPDATE 2218z: Now QRT. 

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Ely Cathedral - NOT amateur radio

This photo was taken yesterday at Ely Cathedral. There has been Christian worship on this site for 1350 years. 

Electric cars - NOT amateur radio

In a few years, as mentioned recently, I am expecting a "tipping point" when most use electric cars rather than cars fuelled by fossil fuels. My prediction is this will happen about 2028. 

For this to happen, range has to be considerably improved and prices have to fall dramatically. Electric cars today appeal mainly to early adopters, those who feel strongly against fossil fuels and those who only make very short journeys like shopping trips and who can charge at home.  I think the breakthrough will come with solid state batteries.

Usually on my trips to Cambridge I see about 2 electric cars. Today I saw 10!! There must be a lot of early adopters!

10m FT8 QRP (Wednesday)

As I am back from Cambridge, I am on 10m QRP FT8 with 5W.  After about 10 minutes,  13 stations have spotted me and I have spotted 99.

UPDATE 1540z:  28 stations have spotted my QRP 10m FT8 and I have spotted 257.

Stations that have spotted my
5W 10m FT8 today at 1800z

UPDATE 1945z:   572 stations have been spotted and 80 stations have spotted my 5W 10m FT8 TX.

AI search engines - NOT amateur radio

There has been a lot recently about artificial intelligence and search engines. First there was ChatGPT followed by GPT-4 and now BARD which is Google's experimental version.

I can see great danger with these as people believe what these bots create as truth, when it may be full of errors. I tried BARD out and most was correct, but some things were totally wrong!! 

Sunspots - Wednesday March 22nd 2023

 Solar flux is 152 and the SSN 70. A=8 and K=3  

Thatched cottage - NOT amateur radio

 

The photo was taken in 2013. It shows a thatched cottage in a village not far from here.