Stars in the visible universe - NOT amateur radio

According to Google there are a huge number of stars in the visible universe. Estimates vary widely, but the number is extremely large. In our own galaxy the estimate is 100-400 billion stars! In the visible universe the estimate is 1 billion trillion! That is a huge, huge number!

And we are born at this moment on this little planet and after looking for nearly 60 years we have not found one single civilisation "out there". What happens when we die? Goodness only knows. What I do know is our brains are far too small to comprehend. Religions try to explain things, but their world views seem far too small.

The universe and life are real puzzles for mere humans.

Topband FT8 RX

A return to 160m FT8 RX was made at 2005z this evening. Yet again, the band was filled with Europeans. The best DX is currently UK9AA (5171km) in Uzbekistan. Within 15 minutes, no less than 45 stations spotted! As before, using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.

Stations spotted in the first 30 minutes this evening.

472kHz WSPR RX

Although I am monitoring 472kHz WSPR RX, I have to QSY to 2m FM for the East Cambs net at 2000z. I shall go back on 472kHz afterwards.

At the moment (1922z) WSPRnet cannot be reached.

UPDATE 1949z: WSPRnet is still unreachable.

UPDATE 2005z: As WSPRnet is still unreachable, I have decided to go on 160m FT8 RX instead. LA3EQ, PA0A, and F1AFJ were all good 472kHz signals on my screen, but not on WSPRnet.

New houses - NOT amateur radio

For some time now (actually about a year!) I have been watching the progress of these houses being built in the grounds of an old pub in our village that closed years ago. The old pub is now a private house and is on the market at last. The other houses are still being built.

D-Star from Android tablets and phones

Until this was mentioned on Southgate News I was unaware of this app. Apparently you can use an Android device to connect into D-star networks using some software called "Peanut". This may be useful to some, especially if your nearest D-star repeater is out of range. You can also use Peanut on a Windows machine with an Android emulator.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2019/january/android-peanut-app.htm#.XEXNcfZ2u00

Super blood moon - NOT amateur radio

At about 0315z, I awoke very briefly. I said to myself that if I awoke again at 0400-0500z I would take a photo of the moon. What happened? I slept until about 0730z. So, no photos of the moon. The next time it is this good is in 10 years' time. Of course, then it will be cloudy! There are lots of photos on the linked page.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-46943592

10m FT8 RX - ever hopeful?

As usual in the daytime, I am looking on 10m FT8 RX for some activity. Not unexpectedly, no spots yet. If I am lucky, there might be a few UK stations and maybe the odd European via aircraft reflection. If I spot any further, it would be a good day. However, I am watching! I suspect many more are watching too. As a band of surprises, anything is possible! With FT8, the impossible can be possible.

UPDATE 1340z: 5 spots so far including 3 Germans - aircraft?

UPDATE 1500z: No further spots. Best DX spotted remains DL3GD (714km).

UPDATE 1613z: Looks like there is a brief 10m opening to northern Spain. In all, 10 different stations spotted today on 10m FT8 in 4 EU countries. Best DX spotted is EB3DKE (1198km).

UPDATE 1910z: In the end 14 stations spotted. All EU. Time to QSY to topband or 472kHz.

Snow - NOT amateur radio

Michael Rainey posted a photo of the snow outside his house earlier on Facebook. We complain if we get a few inches as if it was a major disaster. By comparison, this snow in the NE USA was huge. I expect they just brush it off and carry on.

We really are a load of wimps over here!

Sunspots - Monday January 21st 2019

Solar flux is 68 and the SSN still zero. A=4 and K=1. The pits!

160m pirate?

Overnight I was again on 160m FT8 RX. In all, 7 North Americans spotted as well as tons of Europeans. Supposedly, I copied D7XY (8876km) in South Korea, although the fact he was widely spotted in Europe, but not in Japan or other places in East Asia, makes me highly suspicious. I think this is a pirate. If not, this was my best DX last night. Otherwise KI5BLU (7656km) in Texas is the best DX spotted on 160m FT8 RX overnight.

Topband FT8 RX

At 1743z I QSYed down to 160m FT8 RX using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. Immediately, all over Europe was spotted as usual. Best DX so far, within just a few minutes, is OH3NFD (1778km). 20 stations in 12 countries spotted almost immediately.

UPDATE 1812z: 40 stations in 15 countries spotted on 160m FT8 RX today. Best DX (so far this evening) is RU8W (3643km). So far, just Europe.

UPDATE 1913z: Now 136 stations spotted this evening on 160m FT8 RX this evening.

UPDATE 2216z: Now 292 stations spotted on 160m FT8 RX. As yet, no North Americans spotted.

UPDATE 2237z: Still no North Americans spotted here on 160m FT8 RX this evening. I am not experienced on 160m, so this may be normal. On past days I would have spotted a few stations by now.

Anglesey Abbey walk - NOT amateur radio

This afternoon in the winter sunshine we did a walk at nearby Anglesey Abbey. Even this afternoon, it was still frosty, so it must have been very cold last night. Although there are now plenty of snowdrops in flower, we saw no daffodils in flower.

Today's walk - 1.1 miles

Moulton, Suffolk - NOT amateur radio

A few days ago we went for a walk around the village of Moulton. It is a drive of about 8 miles there. It has an old clapper bridge, a stream, lots of thatched cottages and a fine old church (see photo). We ate afterwards in the Packhorse Inn.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moulton,_Suffolk

2m FT8 RX

Amazing!! I remained on 2m FT8  RX overnight and have spotted loads of stations in the last 6 hours alone (see photo). I shall stay on 2m FT8 RX all day. Best DX is OM6DC (1360km). Seeing I just use a big-wheel omni antenna, I find this mind boggling.

Stations spotted here on 2m FT8 in the 

last 6 hours using just the omni antenna!

UPDATE 1330z: 52 stations in 9 countries spotted on 2m FT8 in just the last 6 hours! Quite incredible. Who said no activity on 2m?

UPDATE 1603z: Now 74 different stations in 10 countries spotted today on 2m FT8 in the last 12 hours.

Sunspots - Sunday January 20th 2019

Solar flux is 68 and the SSN zero. A=4 and K=1.

Cinema - NOT amateur radio

This afternoon we went to the cinema in Ely to see "The Favourite".  It was a good film about Queen Anne in the early 18th century. Actually, not a film I expected to enjoy, but I did.

2m FT8 with the big-wheel omni antenna

For about 10 minutes now, I have been on 2m FT8 with 2.5W. At first I called CQ (best spot was by G7RAU at 461km in Cornwall IN79 with 8 people spotting me). Since then I have been RX only with best DX spotted DL6YBF (471km) in JO31. 2m FT8 certainly works!

Stations spotting my 2.5W 2m FT8 CQ earlier

UPDATE 1115z: 2m FT8 never fails to amaze me. All the stations below were spotted with just a big-wheel omni antenna this morning!

UPDATE 2054z: Amazing! Most of the day I have been on 2m FT8 RX with the big-wheel omni. I am still on 2m FT8 RX.  So many stations spotted with best DX spotted IK3VZO (1172km) as the photo below shows.

2m FT8 spots here today with just the omni antenna!

UPDATE  2111z: Although the 2m RX will run overnight, I do not expect to spot much unless there is some aircraft reflection or random MS.

472kHz WSPR RX last night with the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground

Overnight, 15 different stations spotted here with best DX LA8AV (1035km) who was spotted 97 times!  Not a bad night on 472kHz WSPR. Six countries spotted.

WSPR spots here on 472kHz overnight

Sunspots - Saturday January 19th 2019

Solar flux today is 69 and the sunspot number 0.  A=6 and K=1.

Return to 472kHz WSPR RX

At teatime I QSYed back to 472kHz WSPR RX. So far, DC0DX is the best DX.WSPRnet is showing the wrong QTH locator; I think the actual distance is 467km.   In all, 8 different stations spotted this evening so far.

Stations spotted this evening on the earth-electrode 

"antenna" in the ground on 472kHz WSPR

UPDATE 2155z:  Now 12 different stations spotted so far on 472kHz WSPR this evening.

Shop in Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

My wife took this photo a few days ago in Cambridge. I think it is in the Grand Arcade, which is in the middle of the city.

ICOM IC9700

Out of my budget is the IC9700 from ICOM. This is a 2m,70cm and 23cm multi-mode SDR VHF/UHF rig.  If you are a keen VHF/UHF person, this rig may appeal to you. According to Southgate News, ICOM UK has an engineering sample.

I wanted to link the photo of the rig on the Southgate News site, but was unable to so. So this is a reduced size copy. For a better view, check out the link below.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2019/january/ic-9700-uk-launch-update.htm#.XEGf7PZ2u00

Overnight on 160m FT8 RX with the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground

Quite a decent night, with 10 North Americans and 1 Caribbean station spotted. Best DX spotted overnight was KI5BLU (7636km) in Texas.

Stations spotted here on 160m FT8 overnight.

10m FT8 RX

For about 20 minutes, I have been on 10m FT8 RX, but no spots yet.

UPDATE 1611z: Just 3 10m FT8 spots today with best DX HB9GXK (802km). Not a great 10m day here.

Sunspots - Friday January 18th 2019

Solar flux is 68 and the SSN 0.  A=7 and K=2.

160m FT8 RX

Things are encouraging this evening with 3 North Americans spotted already along with loads of Europeans. I shall be staying on 160m FT8 RX overnight.

Amaryllis - NOT amateur radio

This year all our amaryllis flowers are white. Two were bought by our sons.

They all give us great pleasure.

Overnight on 472kHz WSPR RX

Again, not a bad night with 16 different stations spotted in the 12 hours of the evening and overnight period.

Stations spotted here overnight on 472kHz WSPR 

using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.

10m FT8 - dire!

For the last couple of hours I have been on 10m FT8. Initially I called CQ (2.5W) and since then I have been RX only. No spots.

UPDATE 1304z:  Just one spot so far. G4CJC (74km) spotted.

UPDATE 1542z: No further spots today.

Sunspots - Thursday January 17th 2019

Solar flux is 69 and the sunspot number 0.  A=6 and K=2.

Return to 472kHz WSPR RX

About an hour ago, I returned to 472kHz WSPR RX. So far this evening, again using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground, 7 stations spotted with best DX being LA2XPA (1310km).

Stations spotted so far this evening.

Scary? - NOT amateur radio

I don't think this has been on before. If it has, sorry. At night, our local church is illuminated. Some think it looks scary, although I quite like it.

Microwave tropo

As amateurs, we are usually pleased when tropo ducting affects microwave frequencies.  As Southgate News reports, to commercial users it can be bad news, as happened recently in Australia.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2019/january/tropospheric-ducting-event-hits-nbn--fixed-wireless-services.htm#.XD8_GfZ2u00

BREXIT, what next? - NOT amateur radio

As Laurel and Hardy would have said, "we are in a fine mess".

The UK Prime minister's  BREXIT plan was comprehensively rejected in a House of Commons vote last night. The only sensible, and likely, outcome is for her to sound out what most people really want. This should have happened 2 years ago.  But will she do this?

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-46393399

136kHz

Although I tried 136kHz OPERA RX last winter, I have never, yet, transmitted on this band from this QTH. Somewhere, goodness knows where, I have a small beacon I built for the band years ago. I really should try to find it and put it on my earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. If I can find the beacon, getting active on 136kHz should be easy.

10m FT8

About 15 minutes ago I QSYed to 10m FT8. As yet, no spots.

UPDATE 1543z: No 10m FT8 spots here so far today. Unless things change, today may be the worst day yet at this QTH on 10m. Soon be time to QSY probably to 630m (472kHz) WSPR.

UPDATE 1710z: No spots at all on 10m FT8 RX. Going QRT on 10m very shortly.

Little Egrets - NOT amateur radio

Before 1989 these would have been rare in the UK, but now they are everywhere. I am pretty sure this is due to climate change and their range extending.

Soon cattle egrets and great white egrets will be common in the UK too. Already cranes are back in decent numbers. In the next 50 years we can expect more bird ranges to move northwards.

472kHz WSPR RX overnight

Quite a decent night with 17 different stations spotted with best DX EA7HPM (1726km). All were received on the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.

Stations spotted here in last 24 hours on 472kHz WSPR

Sunspots - Wednesday January 16th 2019

Solar flux is 69 and the SSN 0.  A=5 and K=1.

BREXIT - NOT amateur radio

My dad did not mince words. If he was still alive he would say, "they couldn't organise a piss up in a brewery". How right he would be!

UPDATE 1930z: Clearly we are in historic times. The UK government is likely to be defeated in the motion on Theresa May's EU leaving agreement. What comes next is anyone's guess. I voted "remain" in the EU referendum 2 years ago, even though there is a lot wrong with the EU. All we really want is free trade with whichever countries we like and control over who lives and works here. Why is this so hard? As I see it, the EU gets not a penny until this is agreed, and I speak as someone who voted "remain"!

UPDATE 2019z: A huge defeat for Theresa May's "deal" with the EU. Now what?

QSYed to 472kHz WSPR RX

After the daylight hours on 10m FT8 RX with just UK spots, I have now returned to 472kHz (630m) WSPR RX. 2 spots already with G1GKN (99km) the best DX so far. After dark the best DX will go up considerably. No DX outside of Europe here this season on the earth-electrode "antenna"  in the ground.

UPDATE 1550z: Best DX now PA3ABK (306km).

UPDATE 1920z: Now 6 different stations spotted with best DX DC0DX (467km).

UPDATE 2016z: LA8AV (1035km) is the best DX spotted this evening. In all, 9 different stations spotted.

UPDATE 2132z: On 472kHz WSPR, 12 different stations spotted this evening, but only 3 were from England sadly. Perhaps they are on other modes? More likely, there is a lack of interest in this country. This is sad as my own transverter is easy to build and an earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground is small and simple and capable of good results. No need of huge antennas and extensive ground systems!

Moulton, near Newmarket - NOT amateur radio

After a walk around the village we ate at the Packhorse Inn. The last time we ate here was March 2017 and it seems to have gone downhill. At one time it was the best in the area, but I would now say it was only average.

The village is delightful (see photo). In the field in the middle of the village was a little egret. If this was 1980 we would have been amazed.

472kHz (630m) WSPR RX

Until reminded by Facebook yesterday, I had forgotten that N1BUG was spotted here on this band last year on the earth-electrode "antenna". I may give 472kHz WSPR RX a go this evening and overnight.

Overnight on 160m FT8 with the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground

Overnight, I was on 160m FT8 RX. Quite a reasonable night with best DX HK3PJ (8482km) in South America. In all, 7 North Americans, 1 Caribbean and 1 South American spotted.

Stations spotted here on 160m FT8 RX last night

Sunspots - Tuesday January 15th 2019

Solar flux is 69 today and the sunspot number 0. A=6 and K=2.

On 10m FT8 RX

About 10 minutes ago I QSYed from 160m to 10m FT8 RX. As yet, no spots.

UPDATE 1015z: One station spotted so far: G4HZW (212km).

UPDATE 1430z: Just UK stations spotted so far today on 10m with best DX MM0ULL (714km). This may have been aircraft reflection?

Gave 10m FT8 a miss today

For a change, I decided NOT to venture on to 10m today. No doubt I will have missed the best day for months! My normal pattern is 10m FT8 in the day and 630m or 160m in the evening and overnight. Usually 10m yields a few spots and a few countries. As the sunspot cycle gathers pace we can expect some juicy DX. Even now, better equipped stations are spotting some great stuff. Clearly at sunspot minimum it is now much harder, but 10m is a band of surprises. Expect the unexpected on 10m!

Amaryllis - NOT amateur radio

Every winter we enjoy seeing amaryllis plants growing. You pop the bulb in some soil and compost and watch it grow at a phenomenal rate. Each morning it seems to have grown even bigger! Once it starts you can practically see it grow. The flowers are very large.

Usually they are over in about 6 weeks. Sometimes they flower again later in the year. This year, most of ours are white, a colour we have not had before.

Return to 160m FT8

A few moments ago I returned to 160m FT8. My 2.5W CQ was spotted by M0BEW (194km). As before, I am using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. No doubt the EU DX will appear after dark.

UPDATE 1530z:  Best DX so far is RW3LL (2049km).

UPDATE 2212z: WU1ITU (4831km) is currently the best DX. This station was first copied at 2124z.

Club 72

Just got this from Oleg:

"Dear Club 72 members and friends,
today Club 72 is 9'th Birthday! Club was born in January 14, 2010.
Thanks ALL for gathering and friendship! The best wishes for ALL you!"