More on 2m FT8

This mode continues to "blow me away". On 2m FT8 if I call CQ with 2.5W to the big-wheel I frequently (probably every time they are on) get copied at great range, irrespective of conditions. Some DX is copied every day as a result of aircraft reflections, but most DX is there all the time, so is what I call "flat band tropo". As a example (at 0952z) 22 stations in 5 countries spotted today on 2m FT8 RX including Eire, Germany and Scotland.

UPDATE 1121:  Now 41 stations in 7 countries spotted this morning on 2m FT8 RX. 2m!

UPDATE 1206z: The map shows the stations spotted here on 2m FT8 RX this morning.

UPDATE 1328z:  Now 55 stations in 8 countries spotted today on 2m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1457z:  In the last day, 93 stations in 9 countries spotted on 2m FT8 RX with best DX being DF7IW (612km).

UPDATE 1632z: A recent 2.5W CQ with the big-wheel omni antenna was spotted by 5 stations in 3 countries (no QSOs) with the best DX being GI6ATZ (479km).

UPDATE 2100z: In the last 12 hours 75 stations in 9 countries spotted on 2m FT8 RX. A recent 2.5W CQ was spotted just by a couple of Gs.  Soon be time to go QRT on 2m FT8.

New uBITX

Steve G1KQH reports on his blog about the new version of the Indian uBITX HF transceiver.

See https://g1kqh.blogspot.com/2019/12/ubitx-v6-turns-up-heat.html?spref=fb&m=1

Find OPS-SAT

Southgate News has a piece on finding this satellite due to be launched December 17th.

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2019/december/calling-radio-amateurs-help-find-ops-sat.htm#.XfUraOiTLnE

Sunspots - Sunday December 15th 2019

Solar flux is 70 and the sunspot number 0.  A=3 and K=2. Numbers suggest we are right at the bottom of the solar cycle.

Yaesu prices

Steve G1KQH informs me that some Yaesu prices are increasing.

Winter sun - NOT amateur radio

As we often do and as the sun was shining, we went for a walk at Anglesey Abbey.

As the photo shows, a lovely winter day. Cold and a bit windy, but great.

More IC-705 pictures

A few pictures I had not seen before are on this blog. This link is already on my IC-705 page.

See https://qrpblog.com/2019/08/icom-ic-705-hf-vhf-uhf-portable-transceiver-announced/

IARU Newsletter

Southgate News has a piece on the IARU newsletter with the outcomes from WRC-19 in Egypt as it effects amateur radio.

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2019/december/iaru-r1-vhf-uhf-microwave-newsletter.htm#.XfS9aeiTLnE

Old friends - NOT amateur radio

We have old friends who moved from our village to the Cotswolds about 10 years ago.

They go home today and left us a lovely set of plants that they potted.

As old friends, we just pick up as if they had never left.

2m FT8 Saturday

Being a weekend, there may be a little more activity today than in the week when many are working.  As of 1010z 8 stations in 3 countries spotted today on 2m FT8 RX with best DX IK2OLD (976km) near Milan. Again using the big-wheel omni.

UPDATE 1233z:  So far today 13 stations in 5 countries spotted on 2 FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1819z: Now 59 stations spotted on 2m FT8 RX today.