Today on 2m FT8

My earlier CQ (2.5W to the omni antenna) was spotted by 3 stations. So far today 3 UK stations spotted on RX.

UPDATE 1017z: 12 stations in 3 countries spotted today so far on 2m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1548z: now 18 stations spotted in 6 countries on 2m FT8 RX with best DX, so far, DD3SF(576km). A comparatively poor day! To think, before FT8, this would have been remarkable for me!

UPDATE 1815z: Now 30 stations in 7 countries spotted on 2m FT8 RX today.

Sunspots - Thursday October 12th 2018

Solar flux is 70 today and the sunspot number still zero. A=9 and K=2.

2m FT8 RX yesterday

Stations spotted here yesterday on 2m FT8 RX

It seems impossible to realise this is 2m!

Every single day it seems these results are possible even with my big-wheel omni and no beams and no lifts. There is no doubt that FT8 has transformed DX on this band.

In the past if I worked Germany on 2m I would have popped the champagne. Yesterday morning my 2.5W FT8 CQ was copied in Germany and I did not even tell the XYL.

Rallies this Sunday

Sunday 14 OCTOBER : HORNSEA AMATEUR RADIO RALLY

The Floral Hall, Hornsea HU18 1NQ. Doors open 10am, admission £2, under 14 free. There will be trade stands, a Bring & Buy run by the Hornsea ARC and RSGB book stall. Hot and cold food available in the cafe. Les, 2E0LBJ, 01377 252 393, lbjpinkney1@hotmail.co.uk www.hornseaarc.co.uk.


Sunday 14 OCTOBER : HOLSWORTHY RADIO RALLY 2018

Holsworthy Community College, Victoria Hill Holsworthy, Devon EX22 6JD. There will be traders, a Bring & Buy and catering. The venue also has disabled access. Doors open at 10am. Howard, M0MYB, holsworthyarc@gmail.com www.qsl.net/m0omc/holsrally.html.


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

10m WSPR

As the antenna was free, I went on 10m WSPR TX (500mW) today. Just EA8BFK (2880km) spotting me. I think this was F2.

Parker's Piece, Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

Back in the early 1800s this was the place where a huge party was held to celebrate the coronation of Queen Victoria. 1838 I think. I walk across this park on my way to my U3A course.

Sunspots - Thursday October 11th 2018

Solar flux is 70 today and the SSN is zero. A=18 and K=3.

So far on 2m FT8

A before breakfast 2m FT8 CQ (2.5W to the omni) was spotted by several stations including DK1VC (503km).

2m FT8

As 10m FT8 seems to have closed now, I have QSYed to 2m FT8. A recent CQ (2.5W) was spotted by 10 stations with best DX on TX being G4RRA (334km) in Devon. PA2M (311km) also spotted me. Still using the big-wheel omni antenna. No beams here.

Gay cake - NOT amateur radio

I am pretty liberal in matters gay and transsexual. At work one day someone who was a man came to work as a woman. As I recall no-one batted an eyelid. It just did not matter. What was important was this person was happy. Quite a few of my friends just happen to be gay. Again, it just does not matter as long as they are happy.

So, perhaps you will be surprised to learn that I am pleased that a bakery in Northern Ireland has won its appeal about baking a gay cake. In my view, this shop and any business is free to abide by morals it feels are right. We may not agree with these morals, but this is right for them. You may not agree!

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-45789759