10m FT8 RX (Wednesday)

Since about 1005z, I have been on 10m FT8 RX. So far today (it is now 1018z) already 46 stations have been spotted. Very encouraging.

UPDATE 1206z:   215 stations spotted.

UPDATE 1336z:   347 stations spotted.

UPDATE 1843z:   717 stations spotted.

Geosynchronous Oscar 100

Every few weeks I give an update on the activity levels on the narrowband transponder of this geosynchronous satellite. 

My last peek was at 0910z on a weekday. Activity levels were lower than I have ever seen. No doubt activity levels would be higher at a weekend or in the evenings in Europe where most of the activity comes from.

If I was a satellite manufacturer, launcher or AMSAT, I would spend money some other way.

160m FT8 RX overnight

In all, 141 stations spotted on RX in the last day on 160m FT8 RX with the 10m antenna. 

No transatlantic signals. Is this just a blip or is it the end of the season for me? 

Sunspots - Wednesday March 16th 2022

 Solar flux is 110 and the SSN 71.  A=6 and K=0.

Says it all? - NOT amateur radio

This waste bin expresses what many feel probably.

I can't understand how so much suffering can be inflicted on fellow Slavs who share so much history. 

It is hard to see how in the future there will be warm relations between the Ukraine and Russia.

Linkedin and contacts I do not know - NOT amateur radio

Every week I get asked if I would like to connect someone I do not know! I am not sure why these people ask. 

I only use Linkedin rarely and when I do it is usually to keep in touch with old work colleagues . 

If I don't know you I will not connect with you ever.

OFCOM and space spectrum

OFCOM is consulting on the use of spectrum in support of new space technology. See the OFCOM website for details.

St Edmundsbury Cathedral, Bury St Edmunds, UK - NOT amateur radio

The abbey here is centuries old (it is now in ruins), but the cathedral was only quite recently finished. 

We visited the Abbey Gardens earlier today. 

The photo shows the cathedral.

160m FT8 RX

About 5 minutes ago, I QSYed to 160m FT8  RX using the untuned 10m antenna. So far, 6 stations already spotted.

UPDATE 1925z: 15 stations spotted on 160m FT8 RX so far.

UPDATE 2240z:   93 stations spotted.

Tame Robin - NOT amateur radio

When we were in the Abbey Gardens at Bury St Edmunds, we had a very friendly robin nearby.  If I had had some food, I am sure it would have taken it from my hand. 

As always, the Abbey Gardens looked a picture.

Bury St Edmunds - NOT amateur radio

As our car was in for a service and MOT, we went on the bus to Bury St Edmunds, about 17 miles away. 

It was a great, free (with our bus passes) trip with an excellent tapas lunch. It was a good trip out. On the way there we sat at the top front so we had a very good view. You can see so much more from the top of a double decker bus.

15m FT8 RX with the tiny indoor loop

Again I am on 15m FT8 RX with the tiny indoor loop antenna. This just sits on the shack windowsill and is about 50cm diameter. For the size, it is remarkable. 

UPDATE 1635z: 409 stations spotted on RX today. Unlike yesterday, there were plenty of stations from the USA.  Perhaps conditions were disturbed yesterday?

UPDATE 1840z:  473 stations spotted today. With very few additional ones, I may soon go QRT and QSY to a lower band.

UPDATE 1850z:  Although I am unsure when this happened, my tiny loop had fallen over. There was still plenty of DX coming through just now when I QSYed to 160m FT8 RX.

Really long distance 6m QSOs

In the last few days the EI7GL blog has been reporting some extremely long distance QSOs on 6m. 

These are eye watering distances and although TEP may explain some of this, it makes you wonder what propagation mechanisms were involved. 

No wonder they call it "the magic band". 

Sad day - NOT amateur radio

With people in Ukraine dying or being made homeless needlessly, it seems selfish to grieve for a pet. 

However, pets become members of the family.

My son's cat was run over and killed last week sadly. We buried him yesterday. All of us were upset. 

Sunspots - Tuesday March 15th 2022

Solar flux is 115 and the SSN 82. A=14 and K=2.

Suddenly spring - NOT amateur radio

A few weeks ago we had snowdrops everywhere. Now it is the turn of the daffodils. They seem to be everywhere!! Spring has arrived. 

2m activity contest results

 A few weeks ago I entered this 2m activity contest organised by the RSGB. After just 1 QSO I gave up with my low power and omni antenna. My poor voice is not really any good in contests these days!

These activity "contests" are more about activity than contesting. In the past, I have always found them friendly.

The results are now available.

See https://www.rsgbcc.org/cgi-bin/vhfresults.pl?Contest=144MHz%20UKAC&Date=&year=2022 .

OFCOM and limited range broadcasts

OFCOM is looking to change the rules governing broadcasting for events and similar where the range is limited. See the OFCOM website for details. 

This makes sense when the intended range is very limited, such as hospital radio.  Hopefully, this will lead to better use of the spectrum and more reuse. Some broadcasts are for a limited time too.

15m FT8 RX with the tiny indoor loop

From about 1000z, I have been on 15m FT8 RX with the tiny loop on the shack windowsill. So far today, 35 stations already spotted.

UPDATE 1135z: 120 stations spotted so far today on 15m FT8 RX with the tiny indoor loop antenna. Furthermost is BD6RN (8841km) in Hubei, China.

UPDATE 1245z:  174 stations spotted so far.

UPDATE 1554z:  295 stations spotted so far, with nothing at all from South America. I guess that could be conditions, time of day, or antenna directionality. I find it surprising that not a single South American has been spotted so far. Come to think of it, just 1 Florida station in the USA spotted.

UPDATE 1725z:  331 stations spotted, but very very few from the Americas.

UPDATE 1855z:  341 stations spotted today.

UPDATE 2210z: 343 stations spotted today (see map). Now QRT. Not sure when the loop fell over, but I think it must have been quite late!

Lichen - NOT amateur radio

This tree with lichen was seen on our walk on Saturday.

Sunspots - Monday March 14th 2022

Solar flux is 125 and the SSN 64.  A=13 and K=6.

King's College Chapel in Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

People come to Cambridge from across the world to see sights like this.  This is King's College Chapel.

WSJT-X on a Chromebook?

My shack PC runs Windows 10.  Currently it is almost exclusively used for WSJT-X.

My main PC in the lounge is an Asus Chromebook that I have used for about 2.5 years. It has been excellent: fast, the battery lasts for hours and it does nearly everything I want. It is also far less expensive than a Windows machine. My wife was also impressed and bought one. I would never go back to Windows. At first I was uncertain I had made the correct choice: I had.

At some point I may want to upgrade the Chromebook. If I do this, this current Chromebook might end up in the shack. Although the Chromebook will run Linux apps, I have never bothered.

Does anyone know how to install WSJT-X on a Chromebook please?

I am definitely NOT a computer nerd, so would need very simple instructions!

8m SSB QSO between South Africa and Europe

There was an 8m SSB QSO between ZS6WAB in South Africa and S50B in Europe this weekend. The South African was widely heard. He was also calling for 6m crossband QSOs.

Momentous times - NOT amateur radio

Just occasionally, we seem to live in very important times.

I hope, in the end, there is (soon) a peaceful resolution to the tragedy in Ukraine. Sadly, for the ordinary people, food and energy costs are bound to be higher. Inflation is bound to go up.

My personal feeling is we will avoid WW3, although this is the closest we have ever been in my view. 1962 was scary.

Hopefully, this will be a wake-up call for the world. There are some ruthless people about. Our food and energy sources cannot be taken for granted. There are some very kind people around.

London Crossrail - NOT amateur radio

For several years now they have been building a new railway line across London. It is called the Elizabeth Line, presumably after the queen. It is close to being opened. 

The first section will link Paddington and Liverpool Street mainline rail stations. The trains actually go much further although this is probably the bit I would use visiting my brother in Devon.

I am a bit surprised that this does not go to St Pancras (where the Eurostar trains terminate) or Kings Cross.

See https://tfl.gov.uk/travel-information/improvements-and-projects/elizabeth-line .

10m FT8 RX

It is now 1000z. For about 10 minutes, I have been on 10m FT8 RX. So far, 8 stations have been spotted.

UPDATE 1212z:  148 stations spotted with the furthermost VK6AS (14459km).

UPDATE 1935z:   569 stations spotted. Both North and South America are coming through. Today has been excellent on 10m FT8. 

UPDATE 1955z:   570 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX today. 

UPDATE 2230z:  630 stations spotted. QRT soon.

Reach walk yesterday - NOT amateur radio

The photo shows some of the views on our walk yesterday around the village of Reach. 

Overnight on 160m FT8 RX

Yet again I was on 160m FT8 RX overnight. 283 stations were spotted. See map. As the night before, plenty of stations spotted in the USA.  Antenna was the 10m end fed untuned. 

9 years ago on 481THz

9 years ago I was busy with experiments on 481THz over the horizon. 

Sunspots - Sunday March 13th 2022

 Solar flux is 125 and the SSN 93. A=13 and K=1. 

The South Hams Coast - NOT amateur radio

Many years ago, I bought this book of paintings. It is a wonderful collection and ideally suited to a local who is living away and has done for years. I have lived away from the South Hams of Devon for far more years than I lived there, yet I still feel that pull.

It is still available on Amazon.uk.

160m FT8 RX

As it is now dark, I have QSYed to 160m FT8 RX with the 10m antenna untuned. So far, at 1835z, 16 stations spotted.

UPDATE 1920z:  58 stations spotted with the furthermost RV0AR (5577km).

UPDATE 2037z:  117 stations spotted.

UPDATE  2049z: 121 stations spotted including the first USA station - KD2UHD (5377km).

10m FT8

My 10m FT8 RX was turned on at 1240z. It is now 1252z, and, so far,  6 stations have been spotted. on RX.

UPDATE 1448z:  59 stations spotted today on 10m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1825z:  Now QRT. 103 stations spotted today. Not great.

Walk yesterday - NOT amateur radio

 

Yesterday, we did a walk around the village. 

Spring is in the air.

5.17kHz loading coil

This was a photo from 5 years ago of the 5.17kHz loading coil at DF6NM. Some remarkable distances have been spanned by amateurs at these VLF frequencies. 

160m FT8 RX overnight

Overnight I was on 160m FT8 RX. In all 233 stations were spotted including many in the east of the USA.  The antenna was the 10m end fed untuned. 

Sunspots - Saturday March 12th 2022

Solar flux is 127 and the SSN 81.  A=20 and K=4.

160m FT8 RX

At the moment I am on 160m FT8 RX using the untuned 10m antenna. So far, 67 stations spotted.

UPDATE 2232z: 89 stations spotted with the furthermost EX0QR (5642km) in Kyrgystan.

Logbook of the world

This is something I really should get into. 

It can take ADIF files and simple upload them so that you can check quite quickly if the station you worked was genuine. 

Not that it interests me, but some use it for awards like DXCC. I think it is organised by the ARRL. It saves QSL cards, wasted paper and postage. I am way behind with eQSLs too!

See https://lotw.arrl.org/lotwuser/default .