7 Aug 2018
6m FT8 RX
Well. there are so many spots already that I cannot say how many stations have been spotted, but lots! Best DX so far on 6m FT8 RX is A92HK (5058km) in Bahrain. Briefly, before breakfast I was on TX calling CQ and was spotted in southern Italy. No QSOs though.
Good Es today on 10m
My car had to go for an annual service today, so I was up early. I have been on 10m WSPR TX (500mW) since way before breakfast and already there are 65 spots in the log. Today looks promising.
UPDATE 1152z: It was quiet for much of the morning, but there are spots from Germany again now. So far 75 spots on 10m WSPR of my 500mW beacon. 6 different stations spotting me.
UPDATE 1257z: Best DX today is a spot from IZ3LCH (1149km).
UPDATE 1152z: It was quiet for much of the morning, but there are spots from Germany again now. So far 75 spots on 10m WSPR of my 500mW beacon. 6 different stations spotting me.
UPDATE 1257z: Best DX today is a spot from IZ3LCH (1149km).
Eureka moment? - NOT amateur radio
For the last 5 years I have been fighting to get better from my stroke. Now I think this is how I am going to be. It is pointless fighting it and myself. As I am now is probably how I shall always be: giddy, tired and with a poor voice.
See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/stroke
If I make further improvements so well and good, but my energies are better spent trying to cope with the "new me" rather than fighting. This may seem trivial to others, but to me it marks a turning point.
See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/stroke
If I make further improvements so well and good, but my energies are better spent trying to cope with the "new me" rather than fighting. This may seem trivial to others, but to me it marks a turning point.
Empathy - NOT amateur radio
Although not sure how the dictionary defines this, to me it means to see the world as others see it. Each of us is different (we are all quirky in some way!), but some people make the effort to see the world from the perspective of others, whilst some cannot.
In my friends, those who make good, empathetic listeners stand out a mile: some really try to see the world as others see it, whilst some don't even try. I am not sure if this is innate or something one can work on.
It is difficult not to judge others by our standards. We are all unique. In some cases, people have been dealt a poor hand. We can all start by treating everyone the same. As someone once reminded me, even the queen has to go to the toilet!
Whether rich or poor, we are all the same inside.
In my friends, those who make good, empathetic listeners stand out a mile: some really try to see the world as others see it, whilst some don't even try. I am not sure if this is innate or something one can work on.
It is difficult not to judge others by our standards. We are all unique. In some cases, people have been dealt a poor hand. We can all start by treating everyone the same. As someone once reminded me, even the queen has to go to the toilet!
Whether rich or poor, we are all the same inside.
6 Aug 2018
The next few years
We are entering the sunspot minimum. Some expect this to happen in 2020. What is certain is the higher HF bands will seem very quiet as people look to lower frequencies to work DX.
Even at the quietest of times 10m can open on N-S paths, so never give up. With FT8 it is even more probable that openings will be found. Es is good in the spring and summer (northern hemisphere) and often real DX can be spotted. FT8 will be invaluable.
As for the next peak, this is anyone's guess. Some say it will be similar to the last cycle. Earlier predictions talked about a very weak cycle with no real peak. Conditions rapidly improve after the minimum, but just what will happen is hard to know.
My recommendation is stick with 10m FT8 and put out the odd CQ. Someone, somewhere may spot you!
Even at the quietest of times 10m can open on N-S paths, so never give up. With FT8 it is even more probable that openings will be found. Es is good in the spring and summer (northern hemisphere) and often real DX can be spotted. FT8 will be invaluable.
As for the next peak, this is anyone's guess. Some say it will be similar to the last cycle. Earlier predictions talked about a very weak cycle with no real peak. Conditions rapidly improve after the minimum, but just what will happen is hard to know.
My recommendation is stick with 10m FT8 and put out the odd CQ. Someone, somewhere may spot you!
Cape Verde Is worked on 2m from Eire!
It had to happen, but this is a mighty long way! Southgate News reports on this record breaking IARU region 1 contact.
At some point it will happen on 432 and 1296MHz. Even 10GHz would not be out of the question. Hawaii to California has been spanned many times on bands up to 1296MHz, I believe.
See http://southgatearc.org/news/2018/august/ei3kd-sets-new-144-mhz-dx-record.htm#.W2hHq_ZFzIU
At some point it will happen on 432 and 1296MHz. Even 10GHz would not be out of the question. Hawaii to California has been spanned many times on bands up to 1296MHz, I believe.
See http://southgatearc.org/news/2018/august/ei3kd-sets-new-144-mhz-dx-record.htm#.W2hHq_ZFzIU
Es season ending?
Although in the past I have worked 6m Es with QRP SSB way into September, we are reaching the point now when Es openings start be become less frequent. FT8 may be transformative and it is worth using FT8 to probe for those elusive openings. Nonetheless, it is probable that Es openings will become less frequent in the northern hemisphere. For reasons I don't know there is a smaller peak near Christmas.
6m FT8 RX
There seems to be Es about with spots mainly from a south west direction so far. I was on TX very briefly before breakfast on 6m FT8 (2.5W), but only G spots.
UPDATE 1042z: Es seems to have moved with plenty of Balkan stations now being spotted on 6m FT8.
UPDATE 1220z: Best DX today on 6m FT8 RX remains S01WS (3075km) in Western Sahara. Funny, I'd have thought Ukraine was further, but it isn't. Must be the map projection.
UPDATE 1233z: 13 countries spotted so far today on 6m FT8 RX. Too many stations to count!
UPDATE 2100z: QRT. Quite a decent day on 6m FT8 RX although no "real" DX spotted here. I guess Es is going to become less frequent. Also, the level of activity is likely to drop off too.
UPDATE 1042z: Es seems to have moved with plenty of Balkan stations now being spotted on 6m FT8.
UPDATE 1220z: Best DX today on 6m FT8 RX remains S01WS (3075km) in Western Sahara. Funny, I'd have thought Ukraine was further, but it isn't. Must be the map projection.
UPDATE 1233z: 13 countries spotted so far today on 6m FT8 RX. Too many stations to count!
UPDATE 2100z: QRT. Quite a decent day on 6m FT8 RX although no "real" DX spotted here. I guess Es is going to become less frequent. Also, the level of activity is likely to drop off too.
10m WSPR TX (500mW)
Since before breakfast I have been on 10m WSPR TX. No spots so far today.
UPDATE 1731z: Still no spots yet today.
UPDATE 2005z: 10m WSPR sprung into life after tea, with more northerly stations favoured. 7 unique stations spotted with best DX OY1OF (1164km) in the Faroe Is..
UPDATE 2100z: Now QRT. OK in the end, although I had to wait!
UPDATE 1731z: Still no spots yet today.
UPDATE 2005z: 10m WSPR sprung into life after tea, with more northerly stations favoured. 7 unique stations spotted with best DX OY1OF (1164km) in the Faroe Is..
UPDATE 2100z: Now QRT. OK in the end, although I had to wait!
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