UK pound losing value - NOT amateur radio

Perhaps this is to be expected with all the uncertainty over BREXIT, but the UK pound is losing value against major currencies.

My view is Boris Johnson will be elected leader of the Conservative Party and UK Prime Minister. He will try to get better terms from the EU and fail. There will be a vote of no-confidence in the government, which will be lost. There will be a general election with a coalition between Labour and the Lib-Dems. Another referendum will be held and we will vote to stay in the EU. Of course I could be very wrong!

Garden flowers - NOT amateur radio

From the sound of it, my brother in Devon has had far less rain than us. His lawns are already brown, whereas ours are still largely green. The photo shows the flowers on our patio earlier.

Rant time - NOT amateur radio

Recently my wife bought some granola from a local shop. Despite a good look we could see NOTHING about recycling. There was lots about birds and bees on the pack. In this day and age this is stupid and inexcusable.

In my view all supermarkets should tell their suppliers to make all packages compostable or recyclable or no business. They have the power and should use it.

6m FT8

In the last 3 hours 4 stations spotted on 6m FT8 this morning with best DX being YO7YM (1927km).

UPDATE 1032z: Widespread Es on 6m FT8 RX today with 72 stations spotted right across Europe.

UPDATE 1925z: Now 102 stations spotted on 6m FT8 RX with best DX LA8ORF (2009km).

Sunspots - Tuesday July 16th 2019

Solar flux is 67 and the SSN 0. A=7 and K=1.

In Australia - NOT amateur radio

One of my sons is with his family staying with the Australian grandparents.

The photo shows one of our grandsons with the local birdlife.

I think you will agree that it is a happy, colourful picture.

DXCC countries

According to Southgate News there are 213 active countries. I am not an active DXCC chaser, but I am probably at about 150 DXCC countries worked mostly with QRP.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2019/july/dxcc-report-1507.htm

Giddy, exhausted, fog - NOT amateur radio

Many times I have tried to explain just how I feel.

Outwardly I look fine. Inside it is a constant struggle with near continuous giddiness and exhaustion and living in a kind of fog. What few realise is just appearing "normal" takes vast amounts of energy. My voice is poor and just doing ordinary things is now hard. Eating food and drinking I am desperately trying not to spill things or choke.

Although I still drive, I no longer enjoy it as the mental concentration is immense.

Whereas at one time I felt as if I was getting better, I no longer think this is the case. Many are far worse than me. To use a Yorkshire phrase "mustn't grumble". However, life is tough.

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

Facebook issues? - NOT amateur radio

Now, this could just be me! Recently using Windows 10 Edge I seem to get Facebook notifications at the top of the page, but when I click them, to see what they are, nothing (any longer) happens. In the past  I clicked and could see everything. Intentionally, nothing has been changed. It is possible that accidentally something has been clicked "off" when it should be "on".

Am I alone or have others noticed this? With Android, I see no such issues.

Also, I seem unable to post to Facebook from Windows 10 Edge, but all works fine with Firefox.

Cricket - NOT amateur radio

OK, cricket does not normally "grab" me. Yesterday, the BBC website had over 40 million hits for the final day of the cricket world cup. I was one of them. To say it was the most exciting day in British sports history is perhaps no exaggeration. The last few balls were like nothing else I had ever experienced.  England beat New Zealand, but it was so very close.

I was unaware it was live on terrestrial TV on Channel 4. Next year I believe the BBC is showing live cricket again after a break of many years. I hope the profile of cricket rises as a result of yesterday's game.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/cricket/48986939

2m super DX

Southgate News passes on some news of a blog post by EI7GL about some quite astonishing 2m DX QSOs.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2019/july/144-mhz-cape-verde-islands-to-italy.htm

Cirl buntings - NOT amateur radio

Some of these are seen in the UK, but I saw several in Brittany. They are in the same family as yellow hammers. In the UK they are at their current range limit, although with climate change they will probably spread further north.

See https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/cirl-bunting/

Brittany memories - NOT amateur radio

We have been back home a few days now and our stay in Brittany with our son's in-laws is fast becoming a distant memory.

We had a great time and the weather was so good when we were there.

The collage is a good memory jogger.

6m FT8

At the moment I am on 6m FT8 RX. So far today, 10 stations in 3 countries spotted with best DX on 6m FT8 RX being LB6D (1030km) in Norway. Later I may try TX.

UPDATE 1106z: A brief CQ was widely copied in England, but there was no Es at the time. The map shows where my CQ was spotted on 6m FT8 TX. Using the V2000 vertical omni antenna at 1106z.

UPDATE 1142z: 15 stations in 4 countries spotted so far today on 6m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1255z:  My recent 6m FT8 CQ call was copied by 15 stations with 1 QSO with G4VXE (136km). Earlier I was called by a station in JO00 square.

UPDATE 1827z: Now 24 stations in 4 countries spotted today on 6m FT8 RX here. The impression I get over several Es summers is the openings to the north get better later in the summer. As I say, this is my impression and has no scientific basis. I'd be interested to know if others have the same impression. Openings to the south of Europe still occur.

Sunspots - Monday July 15th 2019

Solar flux is 66 today and the SSN 0. A=6 and K=1.

UPDATE 1430z: Latest figures I have are solar flux 66 and SSN 0. A=5 and K=3.

6m FT8

For the last few hours I switched to 6m FT8. My CQ was spotted by 19 stations in 3 countries with best DX being a spot by G4RAA (333km) in Devon. On 6m FT8 RX there seems to be no Es evident with MW0CSO (243km) being the best DX spotted here this afternoon.

UPDATE 1715z: Now 30 stations spotted in 10 countries spotted today on 6m FT8 RX with best DX spotted being EA7ARG (1746km).

UPDATE 2010z: Now 39 stations in 14 countries (all EU) spotted on 6m FT8 RX today.

2m and the IARU

Southgate News has a piece today about the IARU and 2m. Several national societies have expressed concern about the French WRC 2023 proposal to reallocate the band to aeronautical mobile services.

2m FT8 RX today

This morning I am on 2m FT8 RX. So far today, 32 stations spotted in 6 countries with the best DX DK1FG in Bavaria (815km). These could be tropo or aircraft reflections. There are probably some of each. Signal levels suggest most are tropo. Still using the big-wheel horizontal omni antenna.

House martin nests - NOT amateur radio

There were several nests over the bakers where we stayed in Brittany.  I am pretty sure these are house martins judging by the tail of the adult.

Our garden in Brittany - NOT amateur radio

This was our host's garden in Brittany. Vast!

Sunspots - Sunday July 14th 2019

Solar flux is just 66 and the sunspot number still 0. A=6 and K=2. Pathetic again.

Dinard airport - NOT amateur radio

We flew back from Brittany yesterday from Dinard. This is a very small airport. Getting through it was easy unlike London Stansted! Despite having only cabin bags we faced a HUGE queue for passport control. At one time years ago Stansted was a small and intimate airport.

OFCOM consulting on mobile repeaters

OFCOM is consulting on mobile phone repeaters.  Please see their website.

With our Brittany hosts - NOT amateur radio

We are now back home after a great few days in Brittany with our son's French mother and father-in-law. They live at Le Vivier-sur-Mer not far from Concale and St Malo.

The photo shows us with them a few days ago in St Malo.

2m FT8

Stations spotting me on 2m 

FT8 since I got home.

As I have just returned from Brittany, I have gone on 2m FT8. My initial CQ call was widely copied as far as Germany. Now I am RX only.

Sunspots - Saturday July 13th 2019

Solar flux is 66 and the SSN 0. A=8 and K =1.

Tiny snails - NOT amateur radio

We saw these snails near the sea on the north coast of Brittany today.

Brittany yesterday - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday we went for a walk with our hosts. This is the view. The coast is pretty good.

Rallies this Sunday

The following rallies are on this Sunday:

Sunday 14 JULY : CORNISH RADIO AMATEUR CLUB RALLY
Penair School, St Clements, Truro TR1 1TN. Doors open 10.30am until 4pm. There will be trade stands and a Bring & Buy. Catering is available on site. Contact Mike Halloway on ‪01209 211 069‬, email mike.g1nrf@hotmail.com.

Sunday 14 JULY : McMICHAEL RADIO RALLY AND BOOT SALE
Reading Rugby Football Club, Sonning Lane, Sonning on Thames. RG4 6ST. Doors open 9.30am to 3.30pm, admission £3. Car boot sale pitches £10 (setup from 7:30). There will be trade stands and exhibition displays. Catering is available on site as well as a bar. More from Min, G0JMS on ‪07917 830 410‬ or by email to G0JMS@RADARC.ORG. www.mcmichaelrally.org.uk

Sunday 14 JULY : 23rd RED ROSE QRP FESTIVAL
St Joseph's Hall, Mather Lane, Leigh, WN7 2PR. Free car parking, all on one level halls. Doors open 10.30am (traders 8am). Bring and Buy, RSGB bookstall, refreshments, bar. Details from Colin M0IQY on ‪07419363131‬ or on manchesterradiorally@gmail.com.

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

Sunspots - Friday July 12th 2019

Solar flux is 67 today and the SSN 0. A=4 and K=0.

OFCOM Annual Report and Accounts

No doubt you will join me in being extatic over the OFCOM Annual Report and Accounts for last year now available on their website. I cannot contain my joy 😂!!

Sunspots - Thursday July 11th 2019

Solar flux is 67 today and the SSN 0.  A=4 and K=0.

St Malo, Brittany - NOT amateur radio

The picture shows some of the boats in the harbour this morning.

Sunspots - Wednesday July 10th 2019

Solar flux is 67 and the SSN 0. A=4 and K =0.

Brittany - NOT amateur radio

This is the house where we are staying for a few days with our son's in-laws.

70cm UKAC

A reminder that the 70cm UKAC activity contest is on now.

Sunspots - Tuesday July 9th 2019

Solar flux is 67 and the SSN 0.  A=9 and K=3.

6m FT8 today

Yet again, I am on 6m FT8 RX at the moment. There are lots of EU stations being spotted by Es. As yet, no "real DX"  being spotted here. At the moment, my small system is not copying as much (30 stations) as I did with JT65. My antenna is just the V2000 omni vertical fed with CB coax.

UPDATE 1709z: Now 101 stations spotted on 6m FT8 RX today.

Micronations - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday I discovered the Savage Islands.  Today I have discovered that there is a Wiki about small nations. Some appear to have been created by cranks. Fun to read!

See https://micronations/wiki

Sunspots - Monday July 8th 2019

Solar flux is 67 and the SSN 12.  A=5 and K=3.