70cm FT8

 

Last evening 34 stations were spotted in the activity contest on 70cm FT8. See map. This is typical . Amazing. 

Sunspots - Thursday November 13th

 Solar flux is 163 and the SSN 150. A=127 and K=6.

70cm FT8 activity contest (Wednesday)

This evening is the 70cm FT8 activity contest organised by the RSGB. I think the contest in Europe starts earlier.

UPDATE 1813z: Already spotted 8 stations with the furthest PA2WDR (280km). My antenna is just the 144MHz big-wheel omni.

UPDATE  1946z:  29 stations spotted with the most distant EI8KD (518km). See map,

UPDATE 2047z: 9 stations spotted my 10W 70cm FT8 with the furthest PI4VPO (337km). Not bad for a 144MHz omni antenna!

More on solid state batteries for electric cars

Last week I mentioned solid state batteries. 

For years, we have heard a lot of hype about these that promise lower costs, greater range and no rare earths. 

It would appear we are now getting closer. I saw this video which compares various approaches.

IC-705 Portable?

If I was ICOM develepment now I would be working on a true handheld version of the IC-705. They have the electronics, so just need to re-develop the mechanics. There has never been a decent replacement of the FT817 by Yaesu.

Should such a product come to market, ICOM could make a killing.

New DX Explorer video

 

There is new video on the PY2OHH inspired Pititico transceiver on the DX Explorer YouTube channel.

The Pititico is a really simple 1 transistor transceiver.

See https://yo6dxe.com .

Christmas cactus

 

This always starts to flower about now. We put it in our hallway yesterday.

Sunspots - Wednesday November 12th

 Solar flux is 168 and the SSN 131. A=7 and K=8.

6m 5W FT8 (Tuesday)

To finish today, I went on 6m 5W FT8  with the V2000 vertical omni antenna.

UPDATE 1904z:   Just the usual English spots.

2m 10mW FT8 (Tuesday)

After going QRT on 10m I went to 2m 10mW FT8  using to big-wheel omni antenna. Although barely visible on the grabber at G0LRD (25km) the other side of Cambridge, it was decoded.