6m FT8

More in hope than expectation, I have QSYed to 6m FT8. Just a single spot to my 10W CQ by G3VIR (138km) and nothing on 6m FT8 RX so far. At the moment no Es around here.

UPDATE 1235z: Just 2 G spots so far today on 6m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1334z: Just 3 G spots so far today on 6m FT8 RX with best DX G1OJS (189km). Although there will be sporadic Es openings, the main Es season is now over.

UPDATE 1800z: Now 10 stations spotted in 2 countries spotted on 6m FT8 RX today. Best DX on 6m FT8 RX was PA3PM (304km).

Church carvings - NOT amateur radio

Although some parts of our local church are almost 1000 years old, most date from the 1400s. It was designed by the same man who designed the famous Kings College Chapel in Cambridge.

High above, and usually hard to see, are some wooden carvings of animals, some of which the carver had never seen! Some of these carvings are in the photo.

MLS - something for the weekend

As usual, MLS is promoting some products.

See their website for details.

Roses-Expres (sic) - NOT amateur radio

On our recent visit to Catalonia we went on the Roses-Expres. This is actually a road train up some very steep roads. At the top the mountain the views were amazing. The first picture was on several days ago. The brochure is new.

2m FT8

I awoke early and there were no overnight spots here on 2m FT8 RX. Most sensible humans are asleep!

UPDATE 1055z: Now 4 stations in 3 countries spotted on 2m FT8 RX with best DX being DL9DBF (553km).

UPDATE 1110z: A recent 2m FT8 CQ was only spotted by G8TTI (186km).

UPDATE 1855z: I just returned to 2m FT8. A CQ resulted in a local QSO with GB3CAM (13km) and 29 spots in 5 countries with my best DX being GI6ATZ (479km). Not bad for 10W to my big-wheel. On 2m FT8 RX 22 countries in 5 countries spotted just now.

UPDATE 2010z: Now 55 stations in 7 countries spotted on 2m FT8 RX this evening. Best DX on 2m FT8 RX this evening is OZ5NM (754km).

UPDATE 2040z: I just called 2m FT8 CQ with 10W to the big-wheel. 34 spots and 3 QSOs resulted. I noticed that a station in Devon is calling a Polish station. There must be a lift. On RX 69 stations spotted today on 2m FT8 RX in 7 countries. Most of these were this evening.

2m FT8 RX today

UPDATE 2138z: A recent 2m FT8 CQ (10W) resulted in 1 G QSO and 41 spots with my best spot being by OZ5NM (754km) in Denmark. On 2m FT8 RX 83 stations spotted here today with best on 2m FT8 RX being SQ6RMA (1215km) in southern Poland. In all today 58 spots of my 2m FT8 TX (10W to the big-wheel omni).

Sunspots - Saturday September 14th 2019

Solar flux is 68 and the SSN 0. A=8 and K=1.

New neighbours and dahlias - NOT amateur radio

Recently we had new neighbours across the road. They planted some dahlias in their front garden and they look lovely.

Moon - NOT amateur radio

When I came home last night there was a lovely moon. This photo was taken in poor light.

2m FT8 RX FT8

Overnight I stayed on 2m FT8 RX with most of the stations spotted in the last few hours. In all, 12 stations spotted in the last 6 hours. Several  Germans spotted with the best DX being F6DXX (570km).

UPDATE 1115z: In the last 6 hours 49 stations in 7 countries spotted on 2m FT8 RX using the big-wheel omni with best DX spotted being DL1GI (657km). This sort of DX seems to be possible every day, irrespective of tropo conditions. Quite amazing.

UPDATE 2114z:  No less than 94 stations spotted here in the last 12 hours on 2m FT8 RX. Quite remarkable considering I am just using a big-wheel omni.

UPDATE 2118z: A recent 2m FT8 CQ got 1 QSO and 39 spots of my 10W. My best spot was by OZ5NM (754km) in Denmark.

Sunspots - Friday September 13th 2019

Solar flux is 69 and the SSN is still zero. A=7 and K=3.

Late switch to 2m FT8

Quite late (about 2200z) I switched to 2m FT8 from 6m FT8. I shall probably stay on 2m FT8 RX overnight on 144.174MHz USB.

Initially, I called CQ. No QSOs resulted, but my 10W to the big-wheel omni was spotted all over the UK from Cornwall to Northern Ireland with 7 stations spotting me so far.

Interestingly, no stations spotted here yet on RX. I get the feeling that quite a few leave RXs on uploading spots to PSKreporter , but do not TX.

Rallies this weekend in Great Britain

14 SEPTEMBER 2019 (new date) : FOG ON THE TYNE RALLY

Whitehall Road Methodist Church Hall, Bensham, Gateshead NE8 4LH (at the corner of Whitehall Road and Coatsworth Road). Doors open 10.30am. Entrance is £1.50 and includes an entry for the raffle. There will be a Bring & Buy, Junk stall, RSGB book stand and many Traders. Car parking is now available. Enrolment for Foundation, Intermediate and Advanced Examination courses and Morse class. Nancy Bone, G7UUR on 07990 760920 or Email nancybone2001@yahoo.co.uk.


Sunday 15 SEPTEMBER : WEST TYRONE ARC RALLY

Omagh Rugby Club, 7 Mellon Park Drive, Omagh BT78 5NE. Doors open at 11am and admittance is £3. There will be a talk in station, trade stands, special interest groups, a Bring & Buy and an RSGB bookstall. Catering and a licensed bar are available on site. A prize draw/raffle will take place. More information from Philip Hosey, MI0MSO, 07849025760, or by email to info@wtarc.org.uk.


A list of rallies can be found at http://rsgb.org/main/news/rallies/

6m FT8

A short while ago, I QSYed to 6m FT8. Initially I called CQ, but was only spotted locally. On 6m FT8 RX 3 stations spotted with best DX F6BTP (323km). At the moment no Es is evident. This late in the season we are dependent on random Es openings, but FT8 increases chances.  As before running about 10W and the antenna is the V2000 vertical omni.

UPDATE  1445z: A recent 6m FT8 CQ was spotted by 2 Gs only. At this time of year 2m FT8 seems to give consistently better results now the main Es season is over.

UPDATE 2138z: 23 stations in 6 countries spotted on 6m FT8 RX with late Es to Denmark, Norway and Finland. Best DX spotted on 6m FT8 RX is OH2FNR (1741km).

Magnetic Loops

Some years ago, and again recently, I have been using a magnetic loop antenna. These are narrow band and sharp tuning, but can be remarkably effective.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/antennas/magloop

Tomatoes - NOT amateur radio

Earlier in the summer a friend gave us two tomato plants that we put in a trough in the sun. Apart from watering we have done nothing to them. We had already collected quite a few ripe tomatoes and given some away, but we had a lot more when we got back from our holiday. Perhaps we would have had even more had we done the right things! Anyway, for the effort put in (zero) we did pretty well.

Spider in the bath - NOT amateur radio

Some people are very scared of spiders. Like most phobias, they are irrational, but for the sufferers very real.

Having been away for 8 days I am sure the big one in our bath last night must have had a field day. I put it outside. At this time of year we get plenty. As far as I know most UK spiders are harmless.

Sagrada Familia, Barcelona - NOT amateur radio

Last week we visited Gaudi's famous basilica in Barcelona which was started in 1882 and supposedly has another 30 years of work still to do. Perhaps they have very long tea breaks or siestas!

When we last visited in 2003 it was a dusty building site. Now it is a wonderful place bathed in coloured light via the stained glass windows.

We bought tickets in advance to avoid the long queues.

The photo shows part of the internal roof. If you are in Barcelona it is well worth a visit.

2m FT8 RX

Overnight I stayed on 2m FT8 RX. In the last few hours 2 stations spotted with the best DX being DL6YBF (471km).

UPDATE 0853z: Now 9 stations spotted so far in 4 countries on 2m FT8 RX this morning.

UPDATE 1312z: When I QSYed to 6m FT8 38 stations in 6 countries logged on 2m FT8 RX with best DX being F6APE (551km).

Sunspots - NOT amateur radio

Solar flux is 68 and the SSN is still zero. A=5 and K=1.

Cadaques - NOT amateur radio

One of our trips was a boat ride around the coast from our base in Roses, Catalonia to Cadaques. The sea was quite rough with the boat making heavy weather at times. As you can tell from the photo Cadaques is great place.

Nearly the last holiday photo - NOT amateur radio

Pretty sure I posted a photo of our hotel buffet a few days ago. This was a  small part of the dinner buffet in our hotel last night. The food and choice was very good for a 3 star hotel in a great location.

We were very lucky with the weather that was warm and sunny most days. There was quite a wind on some days, although this was generally warm.

2m FT8

Since arriving home, I have been on 2m FT8 RX. So far, 18 stations spotted in 6 countries with best DX spotted on 2m FT8 RX being  GI6ATZ (479km).

UPDATE 2016z: Currently 20 stations spotted this evening.

UPDATE 2045z: A brief CQ resulted in a couple of QSOs and 12 spots with best DX GI6ATZ (479km). Not bad for 10W and an omni-antenna.

Going home - NOT amateur radio

Later today we should be home after our holiday in Catalonia.

UPDATE 1932z: Safely home again.

Sunspots - Wednesday September 11th 2019

Solar flux is 70 and the SSN 0. A=4 and K=1.

BREXIT - NOT amateur radio

So the UK Parliament has been prorogued (suspended) for 5 weeks. My own view has always been to remain and reform the EU from the inside. It badly needs to be reformed. If a General Election comes like many I shall vote Lib Dem. They are far from perfect but they are closest to my values. To say we are in a mess is an understatement.

2m SSB handheld

Many years ago I used an MX2 handheld on 2m and worked some impressive DX handheld. This small rig was also used with several transverters. It is several years now since I used it.

See my website for more details.

Barcelona tall ship - NOT amateur radio

On our 1.5 hour harbour trip yesterday we passed this ship.

Huge buffet - NOT amateur radio

At our hotel in Catalonia they provide huge buffets with a wide choice both at breakfast and dinner with free wine and water.

The photo shows part of the buffet at dinner.

DXpedition to Nauru

As you may know I rarely chase DX although others may. There is a DXpedition to Nauru reported on Southgate News.

Anholt Island, Denmark - NOT amateur radio

It is odd how you look at a map and discover places you did not know existed. One such place is Anholt Island, midway between Denmark and Sweden. It is only about 22 square kilometres in area. The linked website is in Danish. There may be an English version, but I did not seek it out.

Sunspots - Tuesday September 10th 2019

Solar flux is 69 and the SSN 0. A=14 and K=2.

Hidden disabilities - NOT amateur radio

Since my stroke in 2013 I have been even more aware than ever that many people suffer in silence and many people are totally unaware of the hidden disabilities these people have to live with daily.

I bet many we meet in the street have some sort of inner pain: it could be a physical or mental illness, a family breakup, death or whatever. As the saying goes "never ever judge a book by its cover".

Often the people we come across are suffering inside. Never judge by what you see. Everyone has their story and what you see on the outside may very well not be the whole story.

Litter - NOT amateur radio

In Spain one thing you notice is there is no litter. They have civic pride, despite the unemployment rate being very high. When they come to the UK they must think what a scruffy lot we are. I don't understand how we can be so lacking. It was the same last year in the Baltic states. Despite being poor compared with the UK they seem to be litter free. It is as if they do not drop litter ever. What is wrong with us?

Besalu - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday we went to a delightful medieval village in Catalonia called Besalu. Most of the centre is very old. It is quite close to the Pyrenees.

Sunspots - Monday September 9th 2019

Solar flux is 68 and the SSN 0. A=10 and K=3.

Medieval fair - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday we went to a Medieval Fair in the next village. It was very good.

IC-705 website

As there is quite some interest in this new QRP radio from ICOM, I have created a webpage that I intend to update over time as more details emerge. Already there are some useful links to bookmark.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/ic705

Old Renaults - NOT amateur radio

Last weekend several old Renault cars visited our local museum. They were quite a sight.

Sunspots - Sunday September 8th 2019

Solar flux is 74 and the SSN 0. A=7 and K=2.

Hair raising - NOT amateur radio

Today we went on a 2 hour "train ride" high above the town of Roses on the eastern edge of the Pyrenees. It was hairy raising with jaw dropping sides of the road. The views were amazing. As you can see, the train was on roads. In places these were narrow dusty tracks up steep hills.