Homework Time - NOT amateur radio

One of our grandchildren busy doing maths homework yesterday in our kitchen.

Sunspots - Monday October 15th 2018

Solar flux is 71 today and the sunspot number 22. A=6 and K=2.

472kHz WSPR

After, yet another, great day on 10m FT8 RX, I have QSYed to 472kHz WSPR (10mW ERP). So far, average.

The spots on 472kHz WSPR with the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground up to 2032z this evening are shown below.

Grandchildren - NOT amateur radio

We have had two of our grandchildren here this weekend.

This is one of my granddaughters having a cuddle on the settee in the lounge. It is wet outside.

They are growing up all too fast. In a few years she will not want to do this.

10m FT8

Although I am on 10m FT8 for the day, so far only 1 G spotted, although it is early.

UPDATE  1400z: Several Europeans now plus South America and Newfoundland amazingly!

UPDATE 1458z: No further South Americans spotted yet on 10m FT8 RX. I suppose the reception of VO1HP (3744km) earlier only proves the band was "open" in that direction briefly, perhaps just 15 seconds, but at least this proves there was propagation. Without FT8 this would probably not have been possible. FT8 works with weak signals, is widely monitored and all activity is concentrated in a few kilohertz of the band.

UPDATE 1502z: 4 continents spotted today already on 10m FT8 RX at close to the sunspot minimum. Imagine the next maximum on 10m FT8!

UPDATE 1845z: Lots and lots of South Americans now coming through with LU8XAF (13414km) as the best DX on 10m FT8 RX.

472kHz WSPR overnight

Not a bad night. I was spotted by 8 stations (10mW ERP) and I spotted 10 stations.

Sunspots - Sunday October 14th 2018

Solar flux is 72 and the SSN 22. A=14 and K=2.

Abandoned boat? - NOT amateur radio

This boat was seen at Lakenheath Fen last week. It looks abandoned.  A lot of the lakes there were dried up as we have had little rain this summer.

Khashoggi disappearance - NOT amateur radio

It bothers me that the UK government wants to do business with Saudi Arabia and get them to fight wars on our behalf. In many ways this Middle East state appears out of step with values we hold dear.

The disappearance in Turkey of a critic of the regime makes us all the more suspicious. There may be an innocent explanation, but at the moment it looks murky.

In my view the current government is afraid of losing military contracts, so turns a blind eye on the kingdom's dirt. Moral high ground? We have none. The UK seems as bad as the rest.

472kHz WSPR last night

In the end, 5 stations spotted me and 10 stations were spotted here with best DX EA4GHB (1300km). An average night with my 10mW ERP and earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground on MF.

Unique stations spotted on 630m WSPR in last day

10m FT8 (mostly RX)

There is more activity on 10m FT8 than 10m WSPR. I think the shorter time periods help. So I am trying 10m FT8 today. So far, 3 stations spotted in 3 countries with best DX on 10m FT8 RX F1RAD 867km).

UPDATE 1228z: 6 stations in 4 countries spotted so far today on 10m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1423z: Plenty of South Americans and the Falkland Isles coming through on 10m FT8 RX. It seems every day I try 10m FT8 I get real DX and this is near sunspot minimum! Best DX on 10m FT8 RX is VP8LP (12773km).

UPDATE  1452z: Even more South Americans and Falkland Is stations being spotted here now on 10m FT8. Sadly my 2.5W QRP CQ on 10m FT8 was spotted by no-one just now!

UPDATE 1529z: Currently 13 stations in South America spotted today on 10m FT8 RX.

Cambridge Bikes - NOT amateur radio

Yes, there are lots of bikes in Cambridge.

It is flat and the traffic can be bad, so people often use bikes to get around the city.

Sunspots - Saturday October 13th 2018

Solar flux is 71 today and the SSN 11. A=5 and K=1.

472kHz WSPR

Earlier this evening I swapped to 472kHz WSPR (10mW ERP). Best DX on RX, so far, is EA4GHB(1300km). So far just 3 G spots of me.

FTSE below 7000 and BREXIT - NOT amateur radio

For some time now, the FTSE UK share index has been falling. It may recover or it could be a sign of market jitters. Many big pension funds depend on FTSE listed companies doing well.

I expect once the BREXIT outcome is clearer things will go one way or the other. A good BREXIT deal could result in a rebound in sterling. This depends on the UK parliament agreeing the deal.

If we leave without a deal, goodness knows what will happen. My gut feel is there will be some last minute bargaining, as no-one really want a bad deal.

Another royal wedding

Apparently the queen paid for the wedding, but we, Joe Public, paid for all the security. I am not sure where I stand on royalty. I guess as a brand it earns a few million, but I am against wealth and privilege when not earned. On the other hand I can't think of a suitable candidate for UK president! Most in public life are a shower.

Goodness only knows what will happen when the queen dies. No doubt this event has been rehearsed and rehearsed on the TV and radio channels. I guess it is bound to happen sometime soon, although her mum lived to a ripe old age.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-45827183 .

Park and Ride - NOT amateur radio

One advantage of being old is a free bus pass.

My University of the Third Age course has restarted (Italian Cities) and I drive to the outskirts of Cambridge, then get the Park and Ride bus. For me it is free. I enjoy the bus ride and the course. The photo shows the inside of the bus yesterday.

10m WSPR

I have been on 10m WSPR for about 30 minutes and, as expected, no spots yet.

Yesterday I was spotted in the Canary Is, although that was a bit later. Days with E layer propagation seen few and far between.

Also, I think there is a lot more activity on 10m FT8 these days than 10m WSPR.


UPDATE 1818z:  No spots. Bad day.

Today on 2m FT8

My earlier CQ (2.5W to the omni antenna) was spotted by 3 stations. So far today 3 UK stations spotted on RX.

UPDATE 1017z: 12 stations in 3 countries spotted today so far on 2m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1548z: now 18 stations spotted in 6 countries on 2m FT8 RX with best DX, so far, DD3SF(576km). A comparatively poor day! To think, before FT8, this would have been remarkable for me!

UPDATE 1815z: Now 30 stations in 7 countries spotted on 2m FT8 RX today.

Sunspots - Thursday October 12th 2018

Solar flux is 70 today and the sunspot number still zero. A=9 and K=2.

2m FT8 RX yesterday

Stations spotted here yesterday on 2m FT8 RX

It seems impossible to realise this is 2m!

Every single day it seems these results are possible even with my big-wheel omni and no beams and no lifts. There is no doubt that FT8 has transformed DX on this band.

In the past if I worked Germany on 2m I would have popped the champagne. Yesterday morning my 2.5W FT8 CQ was copied in Germany and I did not even tell the XYL.

Rallies this Sunday

Sunday 14 OCTOBER : HORNSEA AMATEUR RADIO RALLY

The Floral Hall, Hornsea HU18 1NQ. Doors open 10am, admission £2, under 14 free. There will be trade stands, a Bring & Buy run by the Hornsea ARC and RSGB book stall. Hot and cold food available in the cafe. Les, 2E0LBJ, 01377 252 393, lbjpinkney1@hotmail.co.uk www.hornseaarc.co.uk.


Sunday 14 OCTOBER : HOLSWORTHY RADIO RALLY 2018

Holsworthy Community College, Victoria Hill Holsworthy, Devon EX22 6JD. There will be traders, a Bring & Buy and catering. The venue also has disabled access. Doors open at 10am. Howard, M0MYB, holsworthyarc@gmail.com www.qsl.net/m0omc/holsrally.html.


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

10m WSPR

As the antenna was free, I went on 10m WSPR TX (500mW) today. Just EA8BFK (2880km) spotting me. I think this was F2.

Parker's Piece, Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

Back in the early 1800s this was the place where a huge party was held to celebrate the coronation of Queen Victoria. 1838 I think. I walk across this park on my way to my U3A course.

Sunspots - Thursday October 11th 2018

Solar flux is 70 today and the SSN is zero. A=18 and K=3.

So far on 2m FT8

A before breakfast 2m FT8 CQ (2.5W to the omni) was spotted by several stations including DK1VC (503km).

2m FT8

As 10m FT8 seems to have closed now, I have QSYed to 2m FT8. A recent CQ (2.5W) was spotted by 10 stations with best DX on TX being G4RRA (334km) in Devon. PA2M (311km) also spotted me. Still using the big-wheel omni antenna. No beams here.

Gay cake - NOT amateur radio

I am pretty liberal in matters gay and transsexual. At work one day someone who was a man came to work as a woman. As I recall no-one batted an eyelid. It just did not matter. What was important was this person was happy. Quite a few of my friends just happen to be gay. Again, it just does not matter as long as they are happy.

So, perhaps you will be surprised to learn that I am pleased that a bakery in Northern Ireland has won its appeal about baking a gay cake. In my view, this shop and any business is free to abide by morals it feels are right. We may not agree with these morals, but this is right for them. You may not agree!

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-45789759

10m FT8

At this time of the year and at this part of the solar cycle, 10m is likely to be erratic. A few days ago, it was wide open to Europe and DX parts, whereas today here nothing as yet.

I called CQ on FT8 but got no spots at all. As yet - been on 10m FT8 for about 30 minutes - nothing spotted. Things may change or this may be another day without spots.

At least with FT8 we are all in the same spot of the band (within a 2kHz or so window) and FT8 will winkle out anything if it is there.

UPDATE 1128z:  Just a couple of Gs spotted so far on 10m FT8. A CQ (2.5W) a few moments ago was not spotted by anyone.

UPDATE 1800z: Now plenty of South Americans (and others) coming through on 10m FT8 RX. A recent CQ (2.5W) was spotted in Uruguay although no QSOs resulted. CX3DDO (11122km) was my best DX on 10m FT8 TX, and we are close to sunspot minimum!

10m FT8 TX (2.5W CQ)

10m FT8 RX (to 1810z)

UPDATE 1840z: The band seems to have closed now.

UPDATE 1912z: PY and VP8 still being copied at 1852/3z.

Fewer young people drinking in the UK - NOT amateur radio

Official figures out today suggest fewer young people are now drinking in the UK. This is a good thing.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-45807152

Sunspots - Wednesday October 10th 2018

Solar flux is 69 today and the sunspot number zero. A=21 and K=4.

RSGB Convention

12-14 OCTOBER : RSGB CONVENTION

Kent's Hill Park Training and Conference Centre, Swallow House, Timbold Drive, Kent's Hill Park, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire MK7 6BZ. The Convention programme of lectures for all interests will be available on the website. Principal sponsor Martin Lynch & Sons. www.rsgbevents.org.

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

Night off

After the excitement today on 2m FT8 and the 70cm activity contest this evening, I am now QRT on all bands. At this moment I am unsure what I'll try tomorrow.

70cm activity contest (UKAC)

Tonight is the 70cm leg of the RSGB's activity contest starting at 1900z. It lasts for 2.5 hours. As usual, I shall be on briefly using 5W SSB to my 2m halo. Despite this being a poor 70cm antenna, it matches well and I usually make a few contacts. My voice usually asks me to stop after about 30-45 minutes, HI.

UPDATE 2002z: Just a single QSO with G4CLA (105km). Heard a few others but I could not hang around.

472kHz WSPR overnight

Last night was very average for me. In all, I spotted 7 unique stations and my 10mW ERP was spotted by 4 unique stations. I have seen much better!

Conkers - NOT amateur radio

Do kids collect fewer conkers these days? There were loads on the ground in our churchyard at the weekend.

Debuginnovations - NOT amateur radio (mostly)

My rally information comes via a member of the Cambridge Radio Club. I am not a member these days as I detest night driving.  I post on (and read) their Facebook page most weeks. At one time I was on the CDARC committee.

I think the member must work at  http://www.debuginnovations.com/company_info.htm 
which is in Swavesey, near Cambridge, UK. I think this must be a start-up company, but I have no connections.

USA Microwave Meeting

11-14 OCTOBER : MICROWAVE UPDATE 2018

Holiday Inn Dayton, Fairborn, Ohio (near Dayton), USA. 

An international conference dedicated to microwave equipment design, construction, and operation. Hosted by The Midwest VHF/UHF Society, go to www.microwaveupdate.org/ for more information.

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

2m FT8

Yes, this is 2m!! It seems hard to believe that this is 2m. Already 9 countries spotted on 2m FT8 RX this morning and dozens and dozens of stations spotted. Best DX is DF5VAE (902km).

Yet again my 2.5W CQ on FT8 to an omni was spotted in Cornwall as well as in lots of other places.

2m FT8 works!

Stations spotted on 2m FT8 RX today at 1622z

Sunspots - Tuesday October 9th 2018

Solar flux is 68 and the SSN is zero. A=21 and K=3