6m 5W FT8 (Friday)

 My gear was turned on at 1340z.

UPDATE 1729z: So far, spotted by 28 stations in the British Isles. No continental stations have spotted me yet today.

8m operation

Although I did not renew my UK 8m TX permit, there is still activity with stations in the Caribbean getting licences and Spain getting permits for another 18 months.

Instead, I have QSYed to 6m FT8 and been surprised to find real continental DX stations spotting my 5W FT8 to the omni vertical antenna on every day I have been operating. The moral is do not give up on 6m.

In my view, 8m deserved special permits in very many countries around solar maximum to allow real propagation research. Instead, very very few bothered. I was disgusted.

Friday plans

As I am out this morning, I cannot be on until after lunch. As we may get some thunder, I may not go on today. 

Albert Einstein on God

This is a long YouTube video in which Albert Einstein talks about God.  In essence, he argues that we see through the perspective of space and time, whereas the essence of "God" is outside of these.

Sunspots - Friday October 31st

 Solar flux is 120 and the SSN 68. A=38 and K=4.

10m 500mW WSPR (Thursday)

 

My beacon was turned on at about 1200z.

UPDATE  1825:  So far spotted by 24 stations. See table.

UPDATE 2219z:   QRT.

6m 5W FT8 (Thursday)

 

Yet again, what looks like Es to the Balkans.

UPDATE 1222z: 10 stations have spotted me  today. My gear was turned on at about 1200z.

UPDATE 1820x: 75 stations have spotted me. See map.

UPDATE 2220z: QRT.

YouTube videos

There are huge numbers of videos on YouTube. Many people now watch YouTube on TV which is a recent change. 

Whatever your interest, you are almost certain to find a video. If you do a search I can almost guarantee you will find something. 

Last night we watched a video about transport in the time of Queen Victoria in the UK. This was on the TV.

If you want videos about Russia I have found TimesRadio and Joe Blogs videos informative.

2m and 70cm antenna

Many years ago a local amateur G0LRD very kindly erected my big-wheel omni antenna which I use on 70cm SSB/FT8 and 2m SSB/FT8. Although a 2m antenna it seems to work really well on 70cm although I have no idea about polar plot on 70cm,

The big-wheel is a horizontally polarised antenna with some gain. It is an array of half-waves, suitably matched.

It is ideal for this and regularly gets a long way even with my QRP.

Sunspots - Thursday October 30th

 Solar flux is 118 and the SSN 80. A=20 and K=3.