Car insurance fiasco - NOT amateur radio

Well, I  have been with my current car insurer for ages. Most years I have to ring up to tell them it is too much and get a better quote. This morning I did this again and they dropped a very little. So I told them to let their policy lapse and I'd look around. I have got the same cover for very much less, even allowing for introductory offers.

Now, wouldn't you think they would want to keep a loyal customer who has never made a claim? No, they have lost me now, probably for ever. Crass stupidity!! Their loss - not being able to see this.

In my view, the insurance industry is mad. Surely, they should give loyal, good customers a good deal to prevent them going elsewhere. Instead I get an idiot in a call-centre who couldn't care a jot. As I said, their loss, not mine. They deserve to lose all my business in future years, and they probably will now.

Storm threat?

The Met Office has put out a yellow warning of thunderstorms in East Anglia after 11am today. Looking at the storm maps, it looks like the risk is decreasing. Nonetheless, I shall keep looking (and listening!) ready to disconnect gear if the risk is too high.

See https://www.lightningmaps.org/#m=oss;t=2;s=200;o=0;b=0.00;ts=0;d=2;dl=2;dc=0;

See https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/warnings#?date=2018-08-13&lat=52.27453&lon=0.32891

2m FT8

When the Es season is finally over (today there are still Es spots on 10m and 6m), I shall probably return to 2m FT8, which seems to be the mode of the moment. Unheard of DX (for me) seems to be spotted here almost every day, even with my simple omni antenna! Many of these signals come in via aircraft reflections. The 15 second periods help. FT8 works with signals much weaker than SSB or CW.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/vuhf/2m-ft8

Norwegien amateur radio rules

There are rule changes in Norway according to Southgate News. It looks like they can use 1000W on their primary allocations.

See https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&ie=UTF8&rurl=translate.google.co.uk&sl=no&sp=nmt4&tl=en&u=https://lovdata.no/dokument/SF/forskrift/2009-11-05-1340&xid=17259,15700023,15700124,15700149,15700168,15700186,15700190,15700201&usg=ALkJrhhYzEJKBi_urMj2QBqeNoGzZxIShA

10m WSPR TX (500mW)

Yet again my only spot today so far has come from EA8BFK (2880km) in the Canary Islands. As yet, no signs of Es spots from Europe.

UPDATE 2000z: Just 4 spots in 3 countries all day. I get the impression there is far more 10m FT8 activity than 10m WSPR.

Sunspots - Monday August 13th 2018

Solar flux is 67 today and the SSN still firmly zero. A=5 and K=2.

6m FT8

Well, no Es on 6m here today yet. So far, just 1 GW and 1MM spotted. sadly my own 2.5w CQ call was not copied by anyone.

UPDATE 0837z: I spoke too soon! EA1SI (1071km) spotted.

UPDATE 1645z: Plenty of Es on 6m FT8 RX today.

UPDATE 2017z: The Es on 6m FT8 RX today made it appear like 20m! Now QRT.

QRT

The big plug has been pulled and everything disconnected until the morning. Yet again I am "blown away " by what can be spotted on 2m by FT8.

Local museum and windmill - NOT amateur radio

About once a month, my wife and I volunteer across the road at our local museum. We live directly opposite.

It is open Easter-October on Thursdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays 11am-5pm. It really is splendid. It is open at other times for special visits  e.g. school trips and visiting groups.

We normally help in the tearoom or kiosk. In the kiosk a wide variety of gifts such as these books are stocked.

10m WSPR TX (500mW)

A few moments ago, I switched on my 10m WSPR beacon. Even on a good day, it usually takes 20 minutes  before spots appear.

UPDATE  1247z: IZ3LCH (1149km) has spotted me 18 times so far over lunch.

UPDATE 1332z: Another Italian is also spotting me in N.Italy.