160m FT8

Using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground for a brief CQ just now (2.5W) resulted in just one spot by M0RTP (116km). On 160m FT8 RX so far 4 stations spotted in 4 countries here, although it is still bright and sunny.

UPDATE 2218z: Loads and loads of Europeans spotted on 160m FT8 RX this evening again. VE3OAT (5359km) was the first North American spotted at 2207z.

UPDATE 2326z: Now 5 North Americans spotted on 160m FT8 RX already! At the last count 299 Europeans and Asians spotted already on 160m FT8 RX.

Statue - NOT amateur radio

On St Pancras Station in London is a statue of Sir John Betjeman. St Pancras is where the Eurostar trains leave from for Brussels and Paris.

Sir John loved trains and without his intervention in the 1960s it is likely this fine building would have been pulled down in the name of "progress".

Javelin trains - NOT amateur radio

The journeys to and from Canterbury were fast due in part to non-stop trains to and from Cambridge to London and the fast Javelin trains from St Pancras deep into Kent. These are fast, clean and spacious. The staff are always very helpful in Kent. Javelins are a bit like Eurostar eating up the miles. You board the train and reach your destination in no time!

We went to Kent to see our son and family and to see one of our grandsons in his school musical, "Mary Poppins", which was very good.

Rally

Sunday 17 FEBRUARY : RADIOACTIVE RALLY

Nantwich Civic Hall, Cheshire, CW5 5DG. The venue has free car parking and the doors open at 10:30am. There will be a Bring & Buy, as well as traders and RSGB book stall. A single raffle ticket is included with the entrance programme with additional tickets available. Catering is provided on site. Contact Stuart Jackson on 07880 732 534.

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

Sunspots - Thursday February 14th 2019

Solar flux is 71 today and the sunspot number 0. A=13 and K=3.

New post on earth-electrode antenna coming

Although I have some urgent family matters to attend to first, it is my intention to do a new post about my earth-electrode antenna system for LF/MF, which works well for me, but is dead simple. I'll probably do it at the weekend and add photos and diagrams to make things clearer.

70cm activity contest (UKAC)

This contest is held every month, although I resorted, as usual, to my 2m big-wheel omni last night as my antenna and I use 5W. In all, 4 stations worked with best DX G3MEH in IO91QS.Usually I work G4CLA (105km) , but my voice said, "go QRT".

Sunspots - Wednesday February 13th 2019

Solar flux is 69 and the SSN still zero. The active side of the sun is still pointing away from Earth I think. A=6 and K=2.

Es'hail2 geosynchronous satellite operational

Ahead of the official opening users can now experimentally unload to this satellite and it is already busy! Most users I have heard are using 5-6W and getting solid access. So far, so good.

Not sure if it is just me, but everything goes dead on the web SDR after about a minute or two. When I reload the page all is fine again for a limited time. I am using MS Edge with Windows 10.

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/

QSY to 160m FT8 RX

At about 1615z, I QSYed from 10m to 160m FT8 RX. Already there are Europeans coming through. 5 stations spotted in 3 countries within 10 minutes. Best DX on 160m FT8 RX is UT4XU (1963km).