Yesterday with 500mW 6m FT8

Even with just 500mW FT8 from the rig, cheap CB coax and a V2000 omni antenna I was spotted deep in the USA on 6m. 

There were lots of USA stations spotted on RX and 80 stations spotted overall after a mid-afternoon start.

500mW seems quite enough!

FIFA Football World Cup 2026

Although not a great football fan, I watched some of the matches. The best team, Spain, won.

Overall, I do not think this will go down in history as a great set of games: some venues were hot and humid, tickets were very expensive and the fans had lots of travel. 

President Trump, allegedly, knew little about the game and overall FIFA appeared grovelling. I am not saying they were, but that was how it appeared to me.

I was glad President Trump did not make a speech at the end.

Sunspots - Monday July 20th

 Solar flux is 119 and the SSN 44. A+4 and K=0.

6m 500mW FT8 (Sunday)

My gear was turned on at about 1415z.

UPDATE 1428z:  Spotted by F6BNX (1099km) and EA8JF (2831km).

Next door’s plums

We have just been around to our neighbour who is now 80. It seems many of my friends are now 80!! This was one of his plum trees.

At one time it was weddings, then Christenings. Soon it will be funerals! 

It seems many of my friends are now starting to show the signs of old age. 

6m 500mW FT8 (Sunday) - not yet!

My shack PC is playing up again. 

When I try to enter my PIN, it thinks I am offline. Apparently this is a common issue with Windows.  Last time it just fixed itself, so I shall try again later with fingers crossed.

My intention was to try 500mW FT8 today on 6m.

Darker evenings

In the Northern Hemisphere, after the summer solstice, evenings start to get darker earlier. At first, this is slow, but by September it becomes obvious. This year, rather than long for the return of brighter evenings, I intend to just accept them and enjoy them.

Every season has something good.

At present we have summer to be enjoyed.

10m 200mW WSPR (Sunday)

My beacon was turned on at about 0730z.

UPDATE 1351z:  31 stations have spotted me.

Søren Kierkegaard

 Kierkegaard was a famous Danish philosopher. One of his famous sayings (been on before) was:

"Life can only be understood backwards. But must be lived forwards".

Getting ready for the football last night

This was our local pub yesterday getting ready for the football. 

Despite England being out of the FIFA World Cup final they were clearly hoping plenty would turn out for the third place match which they won 6:4.

I hope that Spain win in the final and President Trump says nothing.