70cm activity contest this evening

Although I use my 2m big-wheel omni on 70cm and just 5W, I usually try this friendly, once a month, contest. I often work over 100km. This is in the UKAC contest series organised by the RSGB. Although the contest runs for 2.5 hours, I am rarely on for even as much as an hour. If you are in the UK or other parts of western Europe, you may want to give it a try, even if you don't send a log in.

As I have said before, these UKAC contests are friendly and good fun. Even if you don't usually "do" contests they are, in my view, worth entering.

UPDATE 2150z: Just 2 QSOs but one was G4CLA (105km), which is a respectable distance on 70cms with 5W to a 2m omni antenna!

New Sepura products adopted by Met Police - NOT amateur radio

In a previous life (well it feels like that, having been retired for almost 11 years!) I worked for Sepura. Their latest products have been adopted by the Met Police, which must be good news.

Sepura specialises in TETRA terminals with an emphasis on public safety users.

See

https://www.sepura.com/news/metropolitan-police-service-invests-in-sepura-tetra-terminals-in-force-wide-refresh

10m FT8

After a few minutes calling CQ (2.5W) I am now on 10m FT8 RX only. I have been active on 10m for about an hour. So far, no 10m spots here today.

I see John EI7GL has spotted a couple of Europeans on 10m FT8 today.

UPDATE 1600z: Still no 10m FT8 spots here today. Soon be time to QSY. I think I'll try 160m FT8 RX (1.840MHz USB) this evening and overnight.

472kHz WSPR

Disappointing.

472kHz WSPR overnight

In all, I copied 7 stations with my best spot (again) being LA2XPA (1310km). My best distance on TX (10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground was just G4ZFQ (203km). In all just 5 stations spotted me. As I said, disappointing.

XBS Telecom discounts IC7300

Every month, I get an email from XBS Telecom in France (I think). At the moment they have discounted the ICOM IC7300 to 1079 Euros until the end of March. This is with VAT and warranty.

See https://www.xbstelecom.eu/shop/en/

Sunspots - Tuesday March 12th 2019

Solar flux is 69 and the SSN 11. A=3 and K=2.

472kHz WSPR

Apart from about 20 minutes on the East Cambs 2m FM net at 2000z on 144.575MHz, I have been on 472kHz WSPR (10mW ERP, 20% TX, 80% RX) most of the evening. My best spot this evening (10mW ERP from here) is G4ZFQ (203km). As usual, I am on the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.

Underwhelmed - NOT amateur radio

For a few weeks my wife has wanted to see the daffodils at Hare Park, Chippenham, Cambs. Today we went.

A few weeks ago there was a splendid carpet of snowdrops. The daffodils were disappointing; several clumps had no buds. Although there were daffodils in flower, there were far fewer than we expected.

2m FT8

Somehow, I suspect I lost internet connection to PSKreporter maps as there were quite a few 2m FT8 stations spotted in the last few hours that did not get uploaded.

10m FT8 RX

As of about 0930z, I QSYed to 10m FT8. With solar conditions not looking too great, this is more in hope than anything. I expect to be monitoring 10m FT8 RX until dark.

Comparing my results with John in southern Eire, I think my 10m results could be significantly improved with a change of antenna. Another job!

UPDATE 1121z: Just one station spotted so far on 10m FT8 RX. This was G4HZW (212km).

UPDATE 1200z: 2E0YSO (33km) also spotted.

UPDATE 1155z: G3ZSE (71km) also spotted. No DX here currently.

UPDATE 1711z: No further 10m FT8 RX spots here. I'll stay on a bit longer, then QSY to 630m WSPR (10mW ERP).