Many in the UK will recognise the voice of Peter Alliss, aged 89, who commentated on many golf games over many years. In the UK he was the voice of golf. He has died and will be greatly missed.
7 Dec 2020
Sunspots - Monday December 7th 2020
Solar flux is 91 and the SSN 25. A=6 and K=0. Quite surprised how good the sunspot count is this soon after the minimum.
6 Dec 2020
QSYed to 2m FT8 QRP (Sunday)
As 17m FT8 was fading out, I have QSYed to 2m FT8 using 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna. Just 1 local spot so far from G0LRD (26km). Nothing yet on RX. His grabber is useful.
See http://82.71.9.63:8080/cap/
UPDATE 1846z: So far today 11 stations in 5 countries have spotted me on QRP TX and I have spotted 11 stations in 4 countries on 2m FT8 RX.
UPDATE 2232z: 16 stations spotted on 2m FT8 RX this evening. QRT.
Virtual concert - NOT amateur radio
There we were people from all over the world. My wife had been practicing for weeks. It was set in virtual Vienna.
Amazing what can be done .
17m FT8
As 10m FT8 was poor here, I QSYed to 17m FT8. Immediately stations were spotted. It is now 1328z and 4 stations have spotted my 2.5W to the indoor loop on TX. On 17m FT8 RX 72 stations so far spotted.
Misty - NOT amateur radio
10m FT8 RX
At 1017z I QSYed to 10m FT8 RX with the indoor loop and the FT817ND.
UPDATED 1040z: Nothing spotted yet on 10m FT8. It is interesting how different 15m and 10m are. On 15m FT8 I had no problems spotting loads of stations, whereas, so far, nothing at all spotted on 10m FT8 here today. By now I would have expected to have spotted a few stations.
UPDATE 1217z: Still nothing spotted. Reloaded and briefly on TX. May go to 17m FT8.
Religions - NOT amateur radio
My wife is just off to church. As a youngster I had quite a strong faith. These days I am agnostic.
I find it hard to believe that the Christian faith is the one when there are so many other faiths in the world. If I had been born in India, Iran or Japan for example I would probably believed just as strongly in some other religion.
I have said before that it is almost as if all religions are hints at a greater truth. They are all reflections of a belief that this life is not the whole story.
In all honesty, I just do not know. I try to live a kind life, am fully aware of my imperfections and accept (sort of) that death and endings are painful parts of life.
WSJT-X bug fixed?
Since changing to the latest release candidate version of WSJT-X it has been totally stable on FT8, whereas with V2.2.2 I often had issues with my USB SignaLink with no decodes and smeary waterfalls. I use Windows 10 and I wonder if they did a bug fix? The difference is very noticeable.
15m FT8 RX
At 0915z I switched on 15m FT8 RX using the FT817ND and the indoor loop. It is currently 0937z and so far 37 stations have already been spotted.
UPDATE 1007z: 83 stations spotted today so far on 15m FT8 RX. As 15m is looking so much like yesterday, maybe I should QSY to 10m FT8?
UPDATE 1030z: 99 stations spotted. Now QSYed to 10m.
Christmas cheer - NOT amateur radio
Missed again! - CQWW SSB
Many years ago, I used to really enjoy this contest. Working on 10m SSB it was possible to work many stations. Since my voice was adversely affected by my stroke, it has been harder. It is even harder still if you do as I did and totally forgot it was on!
The last weekend in October should have been in my diary. Mind you, on 10m with an indoor loop at this part of the solar cycle it would have been hard work. Maybe next year?
The rules for the 2020 contests (SSB and CW) are attached, even though these have passed.
5 Dec 2020
2m FT8 QRP (Saturday)
At 1845z, I QSYed to 2m FT8 with 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna. It is now 1852z. Already 5 stations have spotted me.
UPDATE 2245z: 11 stations spotted me this evening with the furthermost being GI6ATZ (479km). Now QRT.
BREXIT brinkmanship - NOT amateur radio
As I write (1030z Saturday) the head of the UK and EU are going to speak on the 'phone and as yet there is no BREXIT trade deal, even though to have one is in everyone's interest.
I suspect there is brinkmanship on both sides. In these last few weeks, I think these children should throw away their toys and behave as grown-ups if this is possible. We all know that is what is best.
Go on, get a mutually good deal that all can sell as a success.
UPDATE 1848z: Talks to continue on Sunday.
OFCOM Spectrum Management Strategy
You will be pleased to know that OFCOM is considering its strategy for the radio spectrum in the years ahead. It is navel gazing about the future. Sorry, "vision". See the OFCOM website.
15m FT8 RX
It is now 0950z. At about 0915z I turned on 15m FT8 RX. So far today, 67 stations in Asia and Europe spotted. Still using the FT817ND and the tiny loop on the shack windowsill.
I find it incredible that some stations are so strong. One Ukrainian station was +2dB S/N even with the tiny loop!
UPDATE 1005z: So far today, 81 stations have been spotted on 15m FT8 RX.
UPDATE 1128z: 134 stations spotted so far today on 15m FT8 RX with the tiny indoor loop and FT817ND in 4 continents.
UPDATE 1838z: 317 stations spotted. Soon QSYing to 2m FT8.
4 Dec 2020
2m FT8 RX
15m seems quiet now, so I have QSYed. Since about 1815z I have been on 2m FT8 RX. So far this evening, just 1 station in Belgium spotted.
UPDATE 1938z: So far today, 4 stations spotted with furthermost spotted being G7RAU (461km).
UPDATE 1944z: TX (2.5W to the big-wheel omni antenna) turned on. 2 stations have spotted me so far.
Winter, definitely - NOT amateur radio
Just now, I had to go to the local post office to do 3 things (1) post a card, (2) post a parcel, (3) buy some stamps.
It was cold and wet and there was a big queue outside because of Covid-19. Stamps are expensive these days!
It is definitely winter.
uBITX V6
To those unfamiliar with this, the main PCB is supplied assembled and tested. This is assembled by a women's co-operative in India. The kit consists of putting the assembled PCB in the case and the various wiring harnesses that connect the things up. It was designed by Ashhar Farhan VU2ESE and is a model of a simple but effective design. It is available for $200. I am unsure what happens about VAT and duty.
Surprise - NOT amateur radio
I expect it will have gone by lunchtime. It looks good at the moment.
15m FT8 RX
It is now 0921z. I am on 15m FT8 RX. So far, 13 stations spotted on RX.
UPDATE 0954z: 49 stations so far spotted on 15m FT8 RX.
UPDATE 1122z: 126 stations so far spotted with the furthermost being ZS6LKF (9089km).
8m amateur band in Croatia
Southgate News reports that Croatia has given a 1 year permit to 9A6W to operate on the 8m band. Others may follow. It would be great to see others in other countries get permission.
See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2020/december/croatia-gets-new-40-mhz-band.htm#.X8lXBmiTLrc
3 Dec 2020
2m FT8 QRP (Thursday)
Since 1845z, I have been on 2m FT8 RX with the FT817ND and the big-wheel omni antenna. So far, just one station spotted - G8GXP (201km).
UPDATE 2118z: I have just turned on my 2.5W TX. 3 stations in 2 countries have spotted me on TX and I have spotted 11 stations on 2m FT8 RX.
UPDATE 2201z: Now 8 stations have spotted me with the best DX EI2FG (565km).
UPDATE 2230z: QRT.
WSJT-X v2.3.0-rc2
For the last 12 hours or so, I have been using the latest "release candidate" version of WSJT-X, which is 2.3.0-rc2. Certainly on FT8 it appears stable and works well. The only thing I have found is an annoying pop-up box saying I do not have logbook of the world on my PC. I seem to recall this on an earlier version.
Winter - NOT amateur radio wife took this
We have had some very wet days this year. There have been far more wet days in this part of England than I ever remember. It is very dull. November and December are among the dullest of months. At least in January the days are getting longer and there is new hope around with snowdrops, daffodils and buds starting.
My wife took the photos in the collage yesterday.
Winter!
15m FT8 RX
At about 0900z, I turned on 15m FT8 RX using the FT817ND and the tiny indoor loop. It is now 0915z and already 28 stations spotted including the Middle East and Asiatic Russia spotted.
UPDATE 1115z: 136 stations spotted on 15m FT8 RX today so far. The furthermost is UA9Y (5055km).
2 Dec 2020
2m FT8 QRP (Wednesday)
At about 2020z, I QSYed to 2m FT8 QRP with 2.5W to the big-wheel omni. 7 stations spotted on 2m FT8 RX with best DX DL6YBF (471km). On TX, my 2.5W has been spotted by 8 stations with the furthermost being EI2FG (565km).
15m FT8 QRP (Wednesday)
As 10m FT8 was looking rather quiet, I have QSYed down to 15m FT8 with 2.5W and the indoor loop. So far (at 1520z) 22 stations have been spotted on RX and 1 local station has spotted me on TX.
UPDATE 1803z: 35 stations spotted on RX. Just 1 local has spotted me on TX.
More Trump stuff - NOT amateur radio
It is still true that I have met not one person outside the USA, online or in person, who has a good word to say about President Trump. I appreciate this is not so in the USA where nearly half the people voted for him.
The more time passes the deeper hole he seems to dig at least for those of us outside of the USA.
Perverse? - NOT amateur radio
On the day a vaccine for Covid-19 was approved for UK rollout, the value of the UK pound against the major currencies such as the euro, yen and US dollar has fallen! OK I appreciate a BREXIT deal has still to be done, but I was expecting the pound to have a good day.
2m TEP
Southgate News has a piece relayed from EI7GL's blog about the 6000km trans equatorial propagation from Argentina to the Dominican Republic.
See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2020/december/6000km-tep-path-on-144-mhz.htm#.X8di32iTLrc
10m FT8 QRP (Wednesday)
At about 0900z my 10m FT8 QRP gear was turned on (2.5W and the indoor loop). So far, no-one has spotted me on TX and I have spotted 2 stations on 10m FT8 RX.
UPDATE 1427z: 4 stations spotted.
SPAM emails - NOT amateur radio
Every day I must get about 20 SPAM emails. My gmail SPAM filter is very good, so I rarely see these in my inbox. It is always worth checking as just occasionally (1 in 1000?) genuine posts end up in the spam folder.
It was good to know that my account has just been credited with over £200k. That should help in retirement.😆
Never ever click links you are unsure about. My passwords are regularly changed.
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