At our local museum - NOT amateur radio

Our granddaughter earlier today at our local museum playing with a hoola hoop. Years ago, these were all the rage.

Sunspots - Sunday May 20th 2018

Solar flux is 70 today and the sunspot number 0. A=3 and K=2.

6m FT8 RX today

So far today, 19 different stations in 9 countries with best DX LZ2FP (1995km).

UPDATE 1609z: 35 uniques in 13 countries so far today on 6m FT8.

UPDATE 2115z: Time to go QRT. 38 different stations in 13 countries today on 6m FT8.

Es and thunderstorms

Some say there is a correlation between thunderstorms and sporadic-E, possibly sprites going upwards from thunderclouds. A good source of data on spaceweather is http://spaceweather.com/

Dunstable Downs Boot Sale Sunday

This came in by a different route from my usual rally alerts.

http://www.dunstabledownsradioclub.org/

Summer migrant birds - NOT amateur radio

Here in East Anglia, UK, summer migrant bird numbers are definitely down. Although I have seen swallows and swifts up here, there appear to be fewer. In S.Devon there seemed to be quite a few.

Dayton disapointment

So it looks like, better late than never, Yaesu and Kenwood are joining the SDR club.

However, what I see looks like a couple of expensive transceivers aimed at those with deep pockets rather than those with more modest budgets to spend on the hobby.

Will we ever see the Japanese produce a low cost SDR (portable?) transceiver? The Chinese are coming up fast and will soon have truly competitive products in terms of performance and build quality at much lower prices. Unless they are very careful, the Japanese will be too late to the party.

6m FT8

Yet again, after a very brief TX period before breakfast (2.5W, 1 local spot), I have been RX only ever since. So far, 12 different stations in 3 countries spotted with best DX spotted F5NBQ (746km).

UPDATE 1000z: Now 17 different stations spotted in 3 countries.

UPDATE  1840z: Countless stations in 14 countries and 2 continents on 6m FT8 RX so far today.

Royal wedding - NOT amateur radio

OK, I am not a great royalist and I hate the wall to wall coverage of this event, especially the hats people will be wearing and the food to be eaten at some remote street party. This is especially galling when "real" news is relegated to insignificance.

However, the last 12 months (and more) have been difficult and people are looking for light relief. The royal wedding is a good distraction and generally makes people feel better. This I do understand.

Sunspots - Saturday May 19th 2018

Solar flux is 68 today. The sunspot number remains zero. A=4 and K=2.

USA and Climate Change - NOT amateur radio

It appears that the US House Committee on Appropriations may have re-instated NASA funding for climate change research that the US president quietly withdrew.

See https://thinkprogress.org/nasa-vote-house-climate-science-97ad7bc62c01/

Scottish Rally (Glasgow)

20 MAY 2018 : SARCOM BRAEHEAD RADIO ELECTRONICS RALLY

Kings Inch Road, Glasgow G51 4BN. Doors open from10am to 5pm and entry is £4.50. There will be trade stands, a Bring & Buy, flea market, special interest groups and an RSGB bookstall. There will be lectures on the day. Catering and a licensed bar are on site. There will be a raffle. More from Andrew Hood, GM7GDE, 07825 932 488, radiorally@scotlandmail.com.

A list of rallies can be found at http://rsgb.org/main/news/rallies/

UK retail - NOT amateur radio

For some reason, my wife likes shopping at Waitrose, a  major UK food retailer, part of the John Lewis Partnership.

In recent years, like most high street retailers, they have found the going tough. John Lewis tends to have loyal customers, but I feel even these are going elsewhere for some of their shopping. Take our Newmarket Waitrose. I feel sure that when a local Aldi opens up they will suffer as some people will buy some of the same brands there at lower cost.

It was even reported in the newspapers that Amazon approached Waitrose last year, informally, as they want to buy a major UK food retailer.

No, the retail market is a very tough business. The companies that will survive will be those that have an attractive high street shop and an online business. Those that do not are likely to fail. Sadly, many of us now buy online. This is the reality of the 21st century. Adapt or die.

Dayton Hamvention - Ohio, USA

This weekend is the biggest event in the amateur community across the world. All the big amateur vendors are there as well as a huge flea market (I expect you could even buy fleas!).

As I have never been, I depend on press releases and individuals to provide me with news.

So far, I have heard that Yaesu will be joining the SDR club with a new HF/50MHz transceiver. From what I have seen they continue to follow rather than lead. This is not the mark of a successful company. These days they seem to have forgotten how to innovate. Yaesu, are you short of cash?

See http://hamvention.org/

6m FT8

After a very brief period calling CQ before breakfast (2 local spots with 2.5W TX), I have been RX only since. So far (0840z) 10 different stations spotted in 2 countries with best DX F6FUZ (791km).

UPDATE 1403z: So far today on 6m FT8 RX 73 different stations in 12 countries, all European. Best DX is SV9CVY (2675km) on Crete.

UPDATE 1705z: I have lost count of the number of stations spotted on 6m FT8 RX but 18 different countries spotted so far today.

UPDATE 2137z: Time to go QRT. 21 countries spotted today on 6m FT8.

UPDATE 2155z: Now QRT.

Cheese course - NOT amateur radio

We had B&B at the "Saracen's Head" in Southwell as we had to attend a funeral in Nottingham. Everyone in Southwell was great: friendly, warm and welcoming. We ate dinner at the "Saracen's Head" which was fine and served by a young local girl who really made us feel welcome and wanted. I went into a place a few months back and the service was appalling.

Sunspots - Friday May 18th 2018

Solar flux is 71 today and the sunspot number still zero. A=10 and K=2.

13th Century Book - NOT amateur radio

As this book is so old and so rare it is usually rarely on show. Yesterday we were fortunate to see it on display at Southwell Minster Chapter House.

Southwell Minster is a Norman building and very peaceful. Southwell is about 12 miles east of Nottingham and was a delightful place.

6m FT8 RX

Although I have only been on 6m FT8 RX since late afternoon, 7 Gs spotted so far. No Es in evidence.

Sunspots - Thurdsday May 17th 2018

Solar flux is 68 today and the sunspot number 0. A=4 and 3.

Japanese amateur allocations

Southgate News has a piece today linking the Japanese amateur allocations in English. I could see no mention of the WRC 60m allocation in Japan, although I may have missed this.

Incidentally Southgate News is taking a 4 day break. I wonder if the complier is off to Dayton? 😊

See www.tele.soumu.go.jp/resource/e/search/share/2013/t1.pdf

6m FT8

Today, I don't have a great deal of time, but I went on 6m FT8 from before breakfast. After a very brief period on TX, with spots from a couple of Gs, I have been RX only with 7 unique stations in 2 countries spotted.

UPDATE 1025z: 8 stations in 2 countries spotted today, so far, on 6m FT8.

Dayton reminder

17-20 MAY 2018 : DAYTON HAMVENTION®

Greene County Fair & Exposition Center, Xenia, Dayton, Ohio, USA. Doors open at 8am. There will be trade stands and a huge flea market as well as special interest groups and an RSGB bookstall. A lecture programme will take place each day. There are multiple catering outlets and family attractions on site. US exams are available and there is a raffle. Details by email to international@hamvention.org. www.hamvention.org.

A list of rallies can be found at http://rsgb.org/main/news/rallies/

Sunspots - Wednesday May 16th 2018

Solar flux is 69 and the sunspot number 0. A=4 and K=0.

Migrant bird numbers down - NOT amateur radio

Although we saw plenty of swallows, house martins and a few swifts in S. Devon last week, I feel numbers are lower. By now, up here in East Anglia, swifts should be everywhere and they are usually one of the most common birds seen in late spring and summer. I have only seen a handful of swallows and not one swift or house martin up here yet! I have heard quite a few chiffchaffs in Devon. I hope numbers of migrants recover.

UPDATE 2154z: As it was warm and pleasant, we enjoyed a cup of tea in the garden. In the time we were there we saw 3 swifts overhead.

6m FT8 RX again

As this is the Es season, I am sticking with 6m FT8 again today. The number of stations on FT8 is staggering.  Very early on I went on TX (2.5W) calling CQ. I was spotted by a couple of Gs. Since before breakfast I have been RX only.

Although Europe and North Africa on 6m Es are "easy", I am keeping a watchful eye for more distant E layer DX on 6m. With FT8 I am sure it is just a matter of time before the USA, Caribbean and South America are spotted on 6m FT8 even with my basic V2000 vertical antenna.

For Es, I find polarisation is unimportant. All my 6m JT65 "real" DX (well outside Europe) last spring/summer was using the V2000 omni antenna. With FT8 this year I expect results at least as good. With 15 second overs, even the briefest of openings should be copied.

So far, just 10 UK stations spotted on 6m FT8 with the best DX GS3PYE/P (576km) on Islay, Scotland.

UPDATE 0925z: More stations being spotted now. Currently 14 uniques in 3 countries with best DX CT1EKD (1644km).

UPDATE 1247z: Now 58 unique stations in 10 countries spotted on 6m FT8 today, so far. Best DX is currently IW8PQU (1940km).

Dayton Ohio Hamvention

This is the biggest amateur radio event on the planet and is often where new products are showcased. I have never been, but it is worth following to hear what new rigs are coming up. Often these are very early models.

Dandelions - NOT amateur radio

These are often considered weeds, but the yellow flowers and dandelion clocks (seeds) are actually quite beautiful.

Yaesu

Several times recently, I have expressed my doubts about Yaesu. Over the years I have owned many different Yaesu transceivers and they have all been good.

In the last few years Yaesu seems to have "dropped the baton" and become a follower rather than a leader. Yaesu also seems to be slow to develop new models and when it does it seriously disappoints like the rushed FT991A and the really disappointing FT818, that probably cost 2 cups of coffee to develop! Even I could have done a better job with my eyes closed! Market research? Rubbish.

Yaesu, do a lot better or fail. I, for one, want you to do well. Please, prove me wrong.

DXCC List

Many years ago I stopped chasing DXCC countries. I will not shout and shout to be heard in a rare place, although I fully understand this is important to some.

When I sort of stopped many years ago I had worked well over 100 countries with QRP SSB. If I work a new country, so well and good, although I refuse to buy expensive rigs, linears, towers and beams to enable this. If it happens, it happens!

Southgate News had a piece on DXCC yesterday.
See http://southgatearc.org/news/2018/may/dxcc-report-1405.htm#.WvmovUxFzIU

Sunspots - Tuesday May 15th 2018

Solar flux is 70 today and the sunspot number 0. A=5 and K=1.

Alibris book hunt - NOT amateur radio

After a week in South Devon, I wanted to buy a book on the village where we were staying. I read the book at our holiday place. It was printed in 1993 and is now out of print. I tried Alibris, but they could not point me to a second hand copy. I'll keep checking back.  Alibris keep telling me about special deals and can usually locate most books. I was surprised not to be able to find it.

Many years ago my uncle walked to school, rain or shine, a round-trip of about 14 miles every day. What looks like his father or grandfather is in the book cutting hair with sheep shears! There is also a photo (very old) of where we stayed when it was still a farm barn.

New QRPclub member

This just came from Oleg:

"Dear Club 72 members and friends,

new Club member SV7CUD op. Panagiotis (Panos)
certificate # 108

72! Oleg RX3G / KH6OB "Mr. 72"

This is a periodic Newsletter of the Club 72. Don't reply to Newsletter address! Send any requests or news to mr72@club72.su please."

Unknown flower - NOT amateur radio

This flower self-seeded in our front garden. We did not plant it. The flowers are about 3cms across. It is probably quite a common sort, but this is the first year we have seen it. We have been here almost 5 years now. It is May flowering. Some have died and just this one is in flower.

UPDATE 1340z: Someone told me it is "Star of Bethlehem".

Small world - NOT amateur radio

This old photo shows the Crowder Café in Salcombe, Devon many years ago. It replaced a cottage in which lived a chimney sweep who apparently could not tell the time. I was told he would sometimes arrive at an ungodly hour in the early morning!

Back in WW2 Montgomery and Eisenhower came to Salcombe to inspect D-day troops. My aunt served Eisenhower (later US president) at this café. Small world.

Thurlestone,Devon - NOT amateur radio

At the weekend, we returned from a period in South Devon, where I come from. We met my brother and some of his family, but stayed in Thurlestone, not far from the cliffs. This is a very unspoilt part with stunning views (see photo and video).

6m FT8

After a brief period 3 hours ago calling others with 2.5W FT8 (2 reports with best DX 181km), I am now RX only. So far (0916z), 23 unique stations spotted in 6 countries, mostly by Es on 6m FT8.

UPDATE 1335z: So far today, 13 countries spotted on 6m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1756z: Currently 22 countries spotted on 6m FT8 today. As for unique stations, I have lost count! Best DX SV9CVY (2675km) on Crete.

Stations spotted on
6m FT8 to 1915z

UPDATE 1918z: Lots of Es on 6m FT8 today. I briefly called CQ on 6m FT8 and my 2.5W was spotted all over including southern Spain.

UPDATE 2104: QRT at 2045z.

Blown finals?

Here I have two FT817s. The first was bought (I think) in 2001. I was wondering why I was getting no reports of my 2.5W FT8 CQs on 6m, so I checked the power out - nothing. On the other FT817 (an ND) bought about 3 years ago - plenty. So, after about 17 years, my first failure! I guess the finals have gone. This old FT817 is mainly used on RX, so the PAs probably won't be mended in a hurry. After all this time I can hardly complain. The FT817 is a great radio.

Sunspots - Monday May 14th 2018

Solar flux is 70 and the sunspot number 12. A=8 and K=2.

6m REAL DX

Today has been brilliant on 6m FT8. Stations from all over western Europe, North Africa and the Canaries have been spotted, some very strongly. This looks like Es. What I am now looking for is some real DX.

Last year, in June, Japan was spotted on 6m JT65 as well as the USA, South America, Africa and the Carribean. With so many stations active on 6m FT8 this season, this is clearly the mode to try.

My 6m system is pretty basic! Just a V2000 vertical omni and the FT817.

I see that EA8YV has been copied today in Michigan, USA on 6m FT8.