4 Nov 2017

Mr President in Asia - NOT amateur radio

So the president of the USA is on an official visit to Japan, South Korea and China. I am not sure if anywhere else is on his agenda. I hope he is presidential and not the butt of more jokes. Maybe he can stop tweeting and actually listen?

Allegedly his views on the causes of climate change are at odds with scientists who have access to facts and evidence. Oh silly me - this is all rubbish and a Chinese plot. I quite forgot. Fake news.

UPDATE 2308z:  Apparently he is also visiting Vietnam and the Philippines.  See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-41773310

What made this? - NOT amateur radio

A few days ago we went to Anglesey Abbey which is about 4 miles away. We saw this hole, but I am not sure what creature made it. Moles usually leave a pile of earth. This hole had none. My guess is a mouse or a shrew? The hole was about 3cms (just over an inch) across.

630m WSPR

Quite early for me, I have already QSYed to 630m WSPR (10mW ERP, 20%). Already I am being spotted and spotting others. Although activity is quite high, there are only a few in Europe on TX.

Rain! - NOT amateur radio

Today we have real rain. It looks to be here for the day, perhaps easing off later. Tomorrow looks more promising. The grass needs cutting, but that can wait until next week.

630m WSPR last evening and overnight.

In all, 9 unique stations spotted my 10mW ERP 630m WSPR in the last day and I spotted 11 uniques.  Not the best of nights.

10m FT8 RX

I have been on 10m FT8 RX since breakfast. Only one station spotted so far 4X1QQ (3551km). I assume this is F2 propagation. Yesterday I had spotted several Europeans including several Russians by this time.

UPDATE 1026z:  Now spotted an Italian and one UK station on 10m FT8.

UPDATE 1230z: 13 10m FT8 spots so far. Mainly Europeans.

UPDATE 1528z:  So far, nothing from Australasia, South Africa or South America but one spot from the USA N2GHR (5521km) in New York late this morning.

UPDATE 1624z: Apart from the single spot of the station in the USA, today has been a bit disappointing on 10m FT8. I'll give it a bit longer, then QSY to 630m WSPR. It would be good to try 137kHz WSPR RX, but the FT817 is very deaf on that band.

Sunspots - Saturday November 4th 2017

Solar flux is 72 and the sunspot number still zero. A=9 and K=1.

3 Nov 2017

QSY to 630m WSPR

After a great day on 10m FT8 RX again, I have QSYed to 630m WSPR transceive. I made the switch at 1910z (10mW ERP, 20%).
First 50 minutes on 630m WSPR tonight

Up a tree - NOT amateur radio

These days I am very poor on ladders, so I was grateful that my son cut a few tall branches from the tree in our lawn earlier this afternoon.

Parliamentary Sex Scandal - NOT amateur radio

Times have changed.

When I was younger, girls were wolf-whistled at often. Putting ones hand on a knee was commonplace. Now, I am not saying this was right, just that it happened.

These politically correct days you can no longer do these things or you face the sack. In many ways, things are fairer nowadays, but personally I think the pendulum has swung too far. Open your mouth and say the wrong words and you are in jail!

When a real crime has been committed,  let the full force of the law be felt. When it was meant as innocent fun, let it go.

Also, I am a great believer in a trial in a court of law. A person is innocent until found guilty in law. It is wrong for the press and TV to besmirch a person beforehand. As they say, "mud sticks" and many an innocent person has a reputation for life. If guilty then a court of law will prove this.