UK Pound against the Euro - NOT amateur radio

In recent weeks the UK Pound has been weak against the Euro. It has not been helped by BREXIT uncertainty and poor GDP figures. Once the BREXIT deal becomes clearer, I expect the UK Pound to strengthen against the Euro. It is entirely possible I am totally wrong. After all, I was last year!

Mills on the air weekend

May 12/13th will see activations from several mills around the UK.

We live right next door to a windmill, so I may get on sometime over the weekend. Years ago, I got a QSL from a group that activated our local windmill here in Burwell.

I know the Cambridge Club is on from a mill in nearby Willingham.

See http://www.mills-on-the-air.net/

Irish VHF spectrum - big allocations

From John's blog comes news of huge chunks of VHF spectrum being made available to EI amateurs. In my view, this is very enlightened.

I guess it would be too much to expect OFCOM to do similar, even with a very low ERP limit and stations operating on a "strictly no interference to primary users" basis. Of course, this would involve OFCOM staff thinking, so no, no, no.  Silly me for even suggesting this! Personally even 100mW at 40MHz would do me. With FT8 or WSPR we could do some serious radio science.

See https://ei7gl.blogspot.co.uk/2018/04/irish-radio-amateurs-gain-access-to.html

Sunspots - Monday April 30th 2018

Solar flux is 71 today and the sunspot number has returned to zero. A=4 and K=3.

Tan House - NOT amateur radio

This is probably one of the largest and loveliest homes in our village. Many years ago it was the home of Sir Francis Pym who was British Foreign Secretary. The house has big grounds. I have no idea who lives there now.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Pym

6m FT8

For the last few days I have concentrated on 10m. 10m has opened to South America on several recent evenings on 10m FT8. Already there are signs of Es with quite a few stations from France, Spain and Italy.

Today, I am looking on 6m FT8. After a few early CQ calls at 2.5W (no spots), I am now 6m FT8 RX only. So far, nothing!

UPDATE 1647z: Currently 13 different stations spotted in 3 countries on 6m FT8 RX with best DX SM3LBN (1361km).

UPDATE 1725z: Now 14 stations in 4 countries spotted on 6m FT8 RX with best DX IK6CWQ (1512km).

UPDATE 2102z: 16 stations in 5 countries spotted today on 6m FT8 RX. Soon be time to go QRT.

"Our" windmill - NOT amateur radio

This is "our" windmill next door. Our garden is just visible in the bottom left of the photo. The windmill is about 200 years old.

Should she go? - NOT amateur radio

Amber Rudd, the UK Home Secretary, is under fire for her ignorance of targets for getting rid of illegal immigrants. As Home Secretary she should have known. She was sent a memo and has no excuse! Either she lied or does not read what she is sent.  Mind you, the Prime Minister of the UK is not exactly faultless either.

Personally I think Amber Rudd should fall on her sword and leave her post. One of the downsides of high office is you have to take responsibility.

If Theresa May goes as PM I have no idea who would replace her as we lack decent leaders in all parties. Sadly, can you think of even one charismatic leader in the western world? I can't.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-43925749

Smart Meters - NOT amateur radio

Several years ago my energy provider contacted me to arrange a smart meter fitting. We agreed a date and a time. We emptied cupboards to ease access. We waited and waited, but no-one came!

It seems the supplier only communicates with others in its own company by computer and they failed in this instance. You could say they, "couldn't organise a piss up in a brewery" as my old dad would have said. I certainly get very fed up with communicating with computers! All their letters seem to be generated by a computer and, one day, it will be very hard to find a real human being to speak with.

Ever since then, I have told them to go away when I get emails offering me fittings.  Now, I have little doubt that, used intelligently, these could save money, but I shall wait.

My bank is similar - a while back it took 3 different people 33 minutes to explain something that should have been made clear in a letter I had already received. 2 of these calls were with an Indian call centre. Now I have no problems with India - indeed these people tried very hard - but I do object to being a faceless number. Years ago I could walk in to my local branch and speak with the manager who actually knew me and cared! I'd better stop as I sound like a grumpy old man!!

So, I read with interest some links copied to me by Steve G1KQH which are below.

http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/comment/article-5601051/DAN-HYDE-End-smart-meter-madness.html

http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/news/article-5626839/Why-target-smart-meter-hard-sell.html

http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/bills/article-5653137/A-111-penalty-refuse-smart-meter.html

10m FT8 again

Yet again, I am on 10m FT8.

Just before breakfast I was on TX with 2.5W (no spots) and since I have been RX only, so far spotting no-one.

Yesterday and the day before 10m FT8 allowed me to spot loads of South American stations. The Es season is nearing, so soon there will be lots of EU stations.

UPDATE 0919z: Now a couple of stations spotted with best DX on 10m FT8 RX F5RRS (818km).

UPDATE 1118z: Europeans from Italy and Spain now spotted on 10m FT8. 7 stations in 4 countries.  Best DX on 10m FT8 RX is currently EA4DAU (1375km).

UPDATE 1735z: Now 20 different Europeans spotted today on 10m FT8 in 5 countries. Best DX is EA7DT (1781km). Some of these spots (time and distance) look like Es.

UPDATE 2120z: PU5SVE (9900km) spotted on 10m FT8 this evening. That's 3 evenings in a row with 10m FT8 DX spotted. In all, 25 different stations spotted today on 10m FT8 RX in 7 countries. Soon be time to go QRT. Went QRT at 2140z.