Autumn is kicking in - NOT amateur radio

Evenings are getting darker, trees are starting to change colour, "Strictly Come Dancing" is on TV. We are entering the gloomy part of the year. 

Luckily we have compensation in the form of beautiful colours, ripe fruit and, later, Christmas (although looking at many shops you could think Christmas is already here!). 

We must not forget the migrant birds who think we are warmer than some places! Included are waxwings from Scandinavia.

Plans for Monday

Currently my plans for Monday are to go on 6m QRP FT8 with the V2000 vertical (2.5W) and 10m 500mW WSPR with my stand-alone TX beacon.

Sunspots - Monday September 23rd

Solar flux is 163 and the SSN 114. A=5 and K=1.

Reach walk - NOT amateur radio

Last week we did a walk around the next village of Reach and picked some blackberries. 

It is a very sleepy village.

Fake news - NOT amateur radio

It is very easy to believe in news that is faked as some fakes are very easy to create. 

I am particularly concerned in the lead up to the presidential elections in the USA this November. There is already a rumour going around that the recent assassination attempts on Donald Trump were faked to gain votes. In the weeks ahead we can expect many more fake news stories.

In my view we have to gather news from multiple sources and treat 1-off stories with a pinch of salt.

8m via my ATU

 Just now, I tried to match my V2000 vertical and 2m big-wheel antennas to 40.680MHz. My ATU is only supposed to work up to 30MHz. My efforts were unsuccessful. 

Hopefully my grandson will help me erect my 8m dipole. This needs a bit of ladder work (not high), but I am too wobbly for ladder work these days.

10m QRP FT8 (Sunday)

Although it is dull outside, the thunderstorms seem to have missed us by several hundred kilometres, so I am again on 10m FT8 with my 2.5W FT8. 

After just a few minutes, I am being spotted by 11 stations.

UPDATE 2014z:  Spotted by 314 stations with the furthermost a station on the USA west coast. When 10m is good (as it is at the moment) just a few watts of FT8 seems quite enough. See map of stations spotting me mid afternoon on 10m QRP FT8. Now QRT.

Wise saying - NOT amateur radio

 Recently, I was told this. I think it is quite profound. 

Before we communicate with anyone, think (1) is it true?, (2) is it necessary?, (3) is it kind? If not, we better saying nothing at all.  TNK: true, necessary, kind.  Cruel words can hurt.

Lightning risk

 Today looks like a dull day with the risk of thunderstorms. At the moment I have heard no thunder but it is probably not a great idea to go on the radio.

8m with 10mW ERP under ISM rules

 In many countries stations may legally operate in the 8m ISM allocation with a limited ERP without a special permit or even a callsign. Several stations have tried this and been amazed. 

In the UK we are limited to 10mW ERP, but this is quite enough to make some great DX spots or even contacts if permitted on FT8. 

It is surprising that more have not tried this. In the end I remain surprised more PTTs have not permitted legal access by radio amateurs. Some enlightened administrations have.

Give it a go!!