Going home - NOT amateur radio

After a busy week with grandchildren, they have all returned home. The last 2 were picked up this afternoon, so our house is quiet (and tidy!) again.

We took down all the Christmas decorations earlier. In many ways we prefer it when they are here, but I was exhausted by the end.  They are harder work than a few years ago.

Amazing tropo DX on 70cm

If I work 200km on 70cm I am amazed. So how about working 4644km? That amazing DX was worked recently by G4KUX according to a piece picked up by Southgate News.

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2020/january/g4kux-extends-432-mhz-tropo-record-to-4-644kms.htm#.XhImC-iTLnE. This has links to EI7GL's blog.

160m FT8 overnight

In terms of the number of DX stations spotted (797), this was perhaps the best session this season. Again, I lost count of the North Americans spotted on 160m FT8 RX with the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.  2 Caribbeans and 2 South Americans also spotted with best DX spotted being LU8DPM (11432km).

Stations spotted on 160m FT8 RX overnight

2m FT8

Recently I QSYed to 2m FT8. My initial CQ (10W to the big-wheel omni) was spotted by 12 stations and 1 QSO). My best spot was by EA1UR (1195km) in northern Spain. On 2m FT8 RX 4 stations in 3 countries so far spotted.

UPDATE 1217z: 42 stations in 9 countries spotted this morning on 2m FT8 RX. On 2m FT8 TX (10W) 17 stations in 3 countries spotted me.

UPDATE 1351z:  Now 60 stations in 9 countries spotted today on 2m FT8 RX.

UPDATE  1807z:  Now 113 stations in 8 countries spotted today on 2m FT8.  A recent 2m FT8 CQ  (10W) was spotted by 35 stations and resulted in 2 G QSOs.

UPDATE 1905z: Now 126 stations in 10 countries spotted today on 2m FT8 RX.

Stations spotted on 2m FT8 today 

UPDATE 2005z:  A recent 2m FT8 10W CQ was spotted by 15 stations in 4 countries. 142 stations spotted today so far on 2m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 2255z: 161 stations in 10 countries spotted today on 2m FT8 RX and 48 stations in 6 countries spotted my 10W FT8 to the omni antenna today on 2m FT8 TX. A good 2m day. Off to bed now, but 2m FT8 RX still running overnight.

Quadrantids meteor shower

This shower, peaking the night before last, was missed. Usually I look on 6m, but I forgot!

Crackers - NOT amateur radio

We have 2 of our grandchildren until later today. Last night we had a late Christmas party with crackers.  After they go home we shall take all the Christmas things down for another year. The photo shows them pulling crackers.

Sunspots - Sunday January 5th 2020

Solar flux is 72 and the SSN 11. A=6 and K=1.

Mildenhall, Suffolk - NOT amateur radio

We went to Mildenhall today, hoping to visit the little museum with our grandchildren. Sadly the museum was closed until  March, but we visited the church and river.

15th century market square in Mildenhall
with our grandchildren

160m FT8 RX this evening

So far 94 stations spotted on 160m FT8 RX with best DX spotted RY9C (3706km) at 1735z.

UPDATE 1855z:  174 stations spotted on 160m FT8 RX this evening.

UPDATE 2007z:  Now 220 stations spotted on 160m FT8 RX. Best DX spotted is RW0AR (5585km).

Stations spotting my 160m
FT8 10W CQ earlier

UPDATE 2116z:  32 stations in Europe spotted my 10W to the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. On RX 322 stations spotted so far.

UPDATE 2210z: The first North Americans appeared at 2129z. The very first was VY2NA (4445km). So far this evening 370 stations copied including 3 North Americans. Now it appears my 160m FT8 CQ was spotted by 36 stations.

Daytime 160m FT8

In the daytime, 160m is a very different band. In the last 3 hours just 1 station spotted in northern France. When dark and the absorption drops, real DX comes through.