Love is in the air? - NOT amateur radio

As I put food on the birdtable this morning, I saw these collared doves together on the tree in the orchard next door. Until 1955, these were rare in the UK. Their range spread west and now they are very common here.

Sunspots - Saturday February 9th 2019

Solar flux is 70 and the SSN still zero. A=8 and K=2.

Vegan lunch - NOT amateur radio

Our elder son is a real carnivore, but he decided to "go vegan" for January. Much to our surprise, he is still vegan. He is a good cook and enjoys making tasty meals, so I guess this is a new challenge.

Joining the dots - NOT amateur radio

I am not sure if this is just old age or yet another after effect of my 2013 stroke. A few moments ago my wife said "carnations last for a long time". I thought she said "car engines last a long time". Clearly I misheard!

Return to 2m FT8

Yet again, I have returned to 2m FT8. G7RAU (461km) in Cornwall once more copied my 2.5W call to my big-wheel omni antenna. This happens nearly every time I go on, so must be tropo. Yes, he has a good site, but this is a very long way!

UPDATE 1301z: 6 stations in 4 countries so far spotted today on 2m FT8 RX with best DX DO7JVK (421km).

UPDATE 1440z: Now 18 stations in 4 countries with best DX DK1FG (815km) in Bavaria.

UPDATE 1545z: Now 23 stations in 4 countries spotted today on 2m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 2208z:  Now 32 stations spotted today on 2m FT8 RX.

160m FT8 RX

Quite a disappointing period with only 8 North Americans spotted on 160m FT8 RX (am I really saying this? In the past the thought of just one USA station on 160m would have been amazing!) and nothing from the Caribbean. 2 South Americans were spotted. Best DX spotted last night was PY2IU (9573km) in Brazil.

Also of interest on 160m was S01WS (3043km) in Western Sahara, Africa.

Sunspots - Friday February 8th 2019

Solar flux is 70 and the sunspot number still 0. A=4 and K=2.

Raspberry PI shop in Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

The first Raspberry Pi shop in the world is opening in Cambridge, where it was invented. It is the UK's best computer, selling 55 million units. I have never played with one (yet).

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-47143411

See also https://www.trustedreviews.com/news/raspberry-pi-retail-store-cambridge-3654743?fbclid=IwAR1-n2S5FImPSvQGXNBuvgeIhfNwLCVH-QDpNlch3GpOCK0pXTqa08ygG-M

Visit - NOT amateur radio

Earlier this week we had a visit from one of our nephews who was on a course nearby.

In the background, you can just see "our" windmill.

160m FT8 later?

As 10m seems so dire here today, I shall probably give 160m FT8 a try later. Even with the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground, I am sure 160m RX results are as good as I can expect and even my 2.5W on TX gets spotted over 1000km away on FT8.

Every night that I try, I spot many North Americans on 160m FT8 RX as well as bags of Europeans. Most nights I seem to spot several hundred unique stations on topband. On RX with this "antenna" I have an S0 noise floor, which must help. How much longer?

UPDATE 1606z: I QSYed to 160m about 30 minutes ago. At first I called CQ (2.5W), but got no spots. After a period RX only, best DX DL7CX (868km), I am now calling CQ again. It is still quite sunny here.

UPDATE 1616z: Just M0RTP (116km) spotting me so far.

UPDATE 1715z: Lots of Europeans now being spotted.

UPDATE 1950z: A period of CQ calls resulted in lots of spots with best DX being LB7ZG (1058km) despite just using 2.5W to the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.

Stations that spotted my 2.5W 

160m FT8 CQ calls this evening.