All change

Marshalls was at one time one of the biggest employers in Cambridge, UK. 

In recent years they have lost a big contract maintaining military aircraft. It is closing the airport in the next few years. 

They clearly think there is more money selling the land for houses. There was once a car dealership here (12 dealerships?), but now all bulldozed for houses.

10m 1W FT8 (Thursday)

My gear was turned on just after breakfast.

UPDATE 1706z:  151 stations have spotted me today. See map.

Ukraine

From my reading, the US government is trying to make Ukraine give in to Russia. Personally I find this sad.

The Knowledge this morning said that allegedly President Zelensky feels betrayed by the USA; it halted attacks on Russian oil refineries just as the USA had wanted. Now these attacks are being restarted and the war goes on.

In my view, the world is changing: for now, those with power and wealth rule the world, sadly.  I think the world is due for a big shock. Maybe then we will wake up.  Assuming we are not wiped out, I can see the world changing markedly in the next 20 years.

160m FT8 overnight

 Once again I was on 160m FT8 RX using my earth electrode “antenna“ in the ground. 132 stations were spotted with the best Asiatic Russia at 5588km.

Sunspots - Thursday October 15th

Solar flux is 123 and the SSN 124. A=9 and K=2.

10m 1W FT8 (Wednesday)

 

My gear was turned on at about 0810z.

UPDATE 0822z:  4 stations have spotted me with the best a station in Armenia.

UPDATE  1600z:  116 stations have spotted me. See map.

160m FT8 overnight

 Last evening and overnight I went on FT8 RX again. 128 stations were spotted but nothing yet from across the Atlantic. 

Sunspots - Wednesday October 14th

 Solar flux is 136 and the SSN 102. A=13 and K=2.

Yemen and Iran

The war in the Middle East is spreading and my personal view is President Trump is like a rabbit in the headlights, not knowing what to do next. 

If he escalates does he have the munitions? Putting more soldiers in harms way would be deeply unpopular at home.

He is looking for a way out without losing face.

10m 1W FT8 (Tuesday)

Stations spotting me

As it was very quiet on 10m WSPR, I decided to switch to 10m 1W FT8.  Immediately my screen was filled with stations from the USA.

UPDATE 1534z:  Spotted by 61 stations with most in the USA. I can only assume that, although WSPR is popular on some bands, most 10m users prefer FT8 to WSPR. It looks like 10m FT8 beckons tomorrow! See map of stations spotting me. 

UPDATE 1548z:  70 stations have spotted me.

Stations spotted here on 10m FT8 RX

UPDATE 1609z:   162 stations spotted on RX. See map.