Yet more houses - NOT amateur radio

It seems that every spare space in our village is used to build new homes. There are very few homes that "ordinary" folks can afford. This is a common story in many parts of the UK. Most being built are "executive" homes i.e. those that give the highest profits for the developers.

"Our" windmill - NOT amateur radio

This video was taken from our lounge window earlier.

6m FT8 Es DX

At the moment (simply as it is convenient) I continue to monitor 6m FT8 RX. Already at 0800z there is plenty of Es DX coming through from southern Europe. So far, in the last 6 hours, 15 stations spotted.

UPDATE 0840z: A single 15 second CQ brought 8 spots with the best being CT1ILT (1436km).

UPDATE 1043z: Now 45 stations spotted on 6m FT8 RX in the last 6 hours, many by Es. All Europeans.

UPDATE 1525z: Supposedly TU2EZ (5209km) spotted. This could be genuine, but most of his spots were in the UK, so I am suspicious.

6m FT8 RX 

spots here today

UPDATE 1852z: A recent CQ resulted in spots from all over southern Europe. My best spot was by CU2GI (2575km) in the Azores. So far today, 193 stations spotted, mostly Europeans by Es. Now QRT as we may have lightning later.

Es (sporadic E) propagation

Although in the northern hemisphere this tends to be best around May-August, it can occur at any time of the year bringing huge ranges on the VHF bands.  There tends to be a smaller peak around December-January.

Southgate News has a link to a piece on Es. In my view, despite having experience of Es since (at least) the 1930s, the world still has much to learn about it.

See https://www.electronics-notes.com/articles/antennas-propagation/ionospheric/sporadic-e-es.php

Sunspots - Tuesday July 23rd 2019

Solar flux is 67 and the SSN 11. A=8 and K=1.

Swifts - NOT amateur radio

Swifts are gathering in great numbers. This evening there must have been 50 or more on the wing eating insects on the wing over our heads. Many must be this year's youngsters. In about a month most will be gone. The screaming will stop one day and we will realise the great migration has happened. It amazes me that these birds fly so far every year. Then we will have to wait until next April to see them again.

French animal deaths - NOT amateur radio

It seems (according to the BBC) that animals in France are dying in numbers far higher than expected for unknown reasons. Some of these deaths are near wind farms and mobile phone masts. Research has so far been inconclusive. It is odd and unexplained.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/video_and_audio/headlines/49045742/mystery-surrounds-animal-deaths-on-france-s-farms

The next US president? - NOT amateur radio

Here is a puzzle. Enough people in the USA loved President Trump to get him elected whereas almost everywhere outside the USA he is viewed as a fool and incompetent.

It is honestly true that I have interacted with not a single person outside the USA that has a good word for him. Truly. Perhaps his "make America great again" mantra finds favour in the USA. Perhaps he will even get a second term in office.

There seems a great lack of real leaders in the world currently. Most seem to seek power for their own good rather than because they seek a greater good and are great statesmen. Given time, I hope this will change.

We need leaders with vision to see beyond their own self interest to the greater good of their nations and the world.

Great Es on 6m

Currently I am on 6m FT8 RX and there is a great Es opening, if not the best this summer. Although it is only 0853z 113 stations from all over Europe already copied.

Sunspots - Monday July 22nd 2019

Solar flux remains stubbornly at 67 and the sunspot number still 0. A=8 and K=2.

This feels, very much like sunspot minimum. At least we can look forward to better times, if not the great times of 60-70 years ago.

New friend? - NOT amateur radio

My daughter-in-law and 2 of our grandchildren are staying with friends in Suffolk.

Our granddaughter seems to have made a new friend that comes every time she calls it! Earlier in a video chat it sat on her shoulder then the phone!

Es' Hail satellite

As many will recall, I occasionally look at the activity on this geosynchronous satellite using the Goonhilly web SDR. As far as I can tell, activity levels are much the same as a few months ago. Some new people have come and some have gone. Most times there are around 6-8 active stations. At the moment I am not inclined to assemble gear for Oscar 100.

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/

Surprise visitor - NOT amateur radio

We had a surprise visitor on our washing line. It was a large dragonfly.

As soon as my wife went for the better camera it flew off!  😖

Another 50th wedding photo - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday, I mentioned that we had been to the 50th wedding anniversary celebrations of our delightful neighbours. Here is another photo.

Sunspots - Sunday July 21st 2019

Solar flux is still 67 and the SSN 0. A=3 and K=1.

6m FT8

Good Es this morning on 6m. My brief CQ was spotted by 16 stations (no QSOs) as far away as Sardinia. On 6m FT8 RX 19 stations from all over Europe copied so far in the last few minutes.

UPDATE 0848z: 36 stations so far spotted this morning on 6m FT8 RX. My theory about most Es openings late in the season being to northern Europe is being tested! 😕

UPDATE 1400z: Now 158 stations spotted today on 6m FT8 RX with best DX being N4BP (7118km) in Florida, USA. A good day on 6m.

UPDATE 1614z: Now 206 stations spotted today on 6m FT8 RX. Just recently, Israel spotted.

UPDATE 1802z: Now 280 stations spotted on 6m FT8 RX today in 4 continents.

Es (sporadic E) super DX

OK, I may be wrong, but to me multi-hop (lots of hops) Es does not seem to fit with some of the "real DX" being worked on 10m and 6m.

Some of the paths being worked would need 5-6 hops or more. To me, it seems far more probable these very long paths depend on some sort of chordal hop between patches of E layer ionisation without the intermediate hops. Of course, multi-hops are possible in some cases, but I am sure these are the exceptions. For European DX on 10m and 6m I am sure 1 and 2 hop Es is likely in the summer months.

Neighbours 50th wedding anniversary celebrations - NOT amateur radio

This lunchtime we joined about 70 other people at a local garden centre for food and drinks to celebrate the 50th wedding anniversary of our next door neighbour. It was a happy, unfussy occasion.

2m AM rig

Many years ago I used a homebrew 2m AM rig. It was about 500mW out from memory. When I bought a second-hand Liner-2 SSB rig it was abandoned. I think it was scrapped for parts. I think the meter is still being used today as part of an antenna current meter on 630m! I can see an old Pye Telecom PF2AMB speaker/mic.

For several months I had a regular sked on CW with G5UM who was about 80km away. As I recall I used an external 455kHz "gimmick" BFO to resolve him. On RX the oscillator drifted! On AM it mattered little. He always gave me 559.

The rig was crystal controlled on TX.  It had a metal case covered in wood effect fablon. For its time, it was a decent rig and got me to France in a lift. Happy days!

2m FT8 RX

Until just now I have been on 2m FT8 RX with the big-wheel omni antenna. I am at the moment QRT, but 9 stations spotted here in the last hour on 2m FT8 RX with best DX spotted being DL6YBF (471km).

UPDATE 1524z: Back on 2m FT8. A recent CQ call resulted in no QSOs, but I was spotted in Devon by G4RRA (333km) and Cornwall  by G7RAU (461km). In all, 12 stations spotted me.

UPDATE 1642z: 13 stations in 4 countries spotted in the last few hours on 2m FT8 RX with best DX being DF6PW (562km).

UPDATE 1825z: 38 stations spotted on 2m FT8 RX in the last half day including 5 Germans.

UPDATE  2040z: Soon be time to go QRT. In all today 48 different stations spotted on 2m FT8 RX.