QSY to 160m FT8 RX

Just a few moments ago, I QSYed from 10m to 160m FT8 RX. Already, plenty of EU stations coming through.

Online Tax Return - NOT amateur radio

Rather later than usual, this has been completed online. Last tax year, they already gave you the interest on savings, but I did not see this on the online form in this tax year (2017-18). Also, last year you could see how complete the form was, which I found useful.

Next year I must put all relevant forms in one box marked "Tax Return 2018-19". I had great intentions this year!

Anyway, it is now done until the next one.

BREXIT. What a fine mess! - NOT amateur radio

Whether you voted "remain" or "leave" in the EU referendum, we can all agree we are in a right mess!

At the moment the UK parliament is likely to reject the latest proposal and we are due to leave the EU in March this year. If I was a betting man, I would expect our departure to be delayed and some compromise deal agreed afterwards.

Most in the UK are bored with BREXIT and can't believe the mess. All we ever wanted was some control over those who live and work in the UK and tariff free trade with the EU. We never wanted a common currency and taxes, I think. Deep down, I expect most EU nations want this, along with peace in Europe. If this means an EU defence force instead of NATO, so be it.

Back to the drawing board...

10m FT8

For a little while, I have been on 10m FT8 RX. So far just 2E0XXO (121km) spotted, although it is early still.

UPDATE 1127z: No further stations yet spotted on 10m FT8 today.

UPDATE 1306z: PD1DL (328km) spotted.

UPDATE 1606z: 4 stations in 3 countries spotted on 10m FT8 RX. Best DX is MM0KOS (468km). Time to QSY to 160m.

Sunspots - Sunday January 6th 2019

Solar flux is 72 today and the sunspot number 13.  A=15 and K=3.

It looks like things are slightly improving. Is this the real start of the climb to the next maximum? We will know later this year, but for now the signs are promising.

GPS and Anglesey Abbey - NOT amateur radio

Until yesterday, I had not tried my Android tablet (not a phone, just wi-fi) to plot my routes using GPS.

Yesterday, I put my tablet in my pocket as I walked to and from the bakers in the village. It plotted my path perfectly.

Later, I tried it in the car going to Anglesey Abbey some 5 miles away. The plot looks very accurate. I must try it again. I was surprised how well it did in the car.

Earth-mode VLF

Yesterday, I mentioned amateur VLF experiments below 9kHz. A very accessible introduction is earth-mode communications, especially utilities assisted earth mode. Using the latter mode, 6km has been spanned,  with just 5W, although much further should be possible. With much higher power and larger baselines at the TX end, I expect the small radiated power will be detectable hundreds of km away, although this is not going to be earth-mode.

An example of a typical earth-mode VLF transmitter is shown at the link.

Last night on 160m FT8 RX

Last night on 160m FT8 RX just 6 North Americans were spotted.

160m FT8 RX

After having some fun earlier on 630m (472kHz) WSPR, I have QSYed again to 160m FT8 RX. As yet (2246z) no North Americans spotted, although lots of Europeans spotted again.

As no expert on 160m, I presume stations in North America come through later in the night as the days lengthen?

UPDATE 2250z: Best DX so far tonight on 160m FT8 RX using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground is UW6PA (3462km) in Chechnya.

472kHz WSPR RX

After about 30 minutes, just G1GKN (99km) spotted so far this evening.

UPDATE 1832z:  Now 9 different stations spotted including 2 Norwegians. As before, using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.

Warm up time - NOT amateur radio

Half way around the winter walk at nearby Anglesey Abbey (just over 5 miles away by car) is a small stall selling coffee. I bet they do good business in January! There were some hellebores out, some snowdrops out and a very few daffodils out.

Flaky internet and 10m FT8

Much of the morning I have been on 10m FT8. Although 2E0XXO has been spotted many times, these spots have not been reported to PSKreporter, presumably as the internet here has been off and on. Usually it is fast and reliable, so I guess they are trying to do maintenance at a quiet time.

UPDATE 1625z: 3 stations (best DX DL) spotted today, but not one reported on PSKreporter.

Overnight on 160m FT8 RX

An average night here. In all, 7 North Americans and 1 Caribbean station spotted on 160m FT8 RX with best DX being KV4FZ (6765km) in the US Virgin Islands.

Sunspots - Saturday January 5th 2019

Solar flux is 72 today and the SSN 13. A=9 and K=2.

Amateur VLF website

Quite a bit of activity is happening below 9kHz for amateurs. Although I sometimes fail, I try to report what is happening on the Sub-9kHz Amateur Radio website. If you are interested, take a look. For RX and earth-mode you do not need complicated equipment or big antennas. This is one of the real frontiers and great fun.

160m FT8 RX

As on previous recent evenings, 160m FT8 RX is buzzing with European stations. Lots have been spotted already. Based on this, I am sure there will be quite a few North Americans spotted later.

Stations spotted on 160m 

FT8 RX so far this evening

UPDATE 2155z: WU1ITU (4831km) first spotted at 2055z.

Stations spotted on 160m 

FT8 RX to 2230z this evening

Our house - NOT amateur radio

This panoramic photo shows our house in front of "our" windmill. As you can see, the windmill is right next to our house - a great view at breakfast!

That wall - NOT amateur radio

OK, no-one in the USA (I think) wants illegal migrants crossing from Mexico. But a wall? In this case, I think the American president is playing politics.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-46755084

10m FT8 RX again

Although monitoring since before breakfast, no spots as yet on 10m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1213z: Now 11 spots with best DX OK8DCC (1060km).

UPDATE 1722z: 16 stations in 9 countries when I QSYed to 160m.

Sunspots - Thursday January 4th 2019

Solar flux is 72 today and the SSN 16. A=2 and K=1.

Average night on 160m FT8 RX

Last night was average on 160m FT8 RX with 12 North Americans and 1 Caribbean stations spotted.

Stations spotted on 160m FT8 overnight 

with the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground

More OFCOM crappery

OFCOM has many times appeared to me to be a toothless quango. Southgate News reports on a Freedom of Information enquiry into the number of prosecutions for unlicenced radio microphones. It turns out that they have procecuted no-one at all!

Quango? Toothless? Enforcement?

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2019/january/ofcom-quizzed-about-enforcement.htm#.XC4xcfZ2u00

QSY to topband

As 10m was so dire, I have already QSYed to 160m FT8 RX using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. Although there was an immediate spot of a German calling CQ, activity usually ramps up after dark.

UPDATE 1751z: As on previous evenings, lots of Europeans again spotted on 160m FT8 RX.

Stations so far spotted this evening on 160m FT8 RX

10m FT8 RX

Although I have been on 10m FT8 RX most of the morning, so far not a single station copied! Sunspot minimum. Conditions on 10m seem dire here!

UPDATE 1512z: Just a single G spot on 10m FT8 all day. G0LFF (148km). The pits!

Longer days - NOT amateur radio

Although the winter solstice is before Christmas, it is early January before the mornings start to get lighter here. Evenings are already about 5 minutes later.

Although at first the changes are slow, by the end of the month things start to speed up. At least we have "turned the corner".

Christmas and New Year over - NOT amateur radio

By tradition, decorations are taken down on January 6th, but we have just put things away until next year. The Christmas tree is on the patio. It looks very green and may see us OK next Christmas. At the moment it looks bare everywhere, but we just want to get on with 2019 now. For the last couple of years we have recorded all the cards received. One last check on these before the cards get recycled.

Overnight on 160m FT8 RX

Quite a decent night with 14 North Americans and 1 South American spotted. Best DX spotted was KC9FFV (7612km) in Texas. I hate these newer FCC rules which mean you cannot tell which area a station is located in.

Stations spotted overnight on 160m FT8

Sunspots - Thursday January 3rd 2019

Unless I am mistaken, we are seeing solar flux values at their highest for some time. This could be the start of the climb to solar cycle 25's peak or just a blip. Solar flux is 74 and the sunspot number 16. A=2 and K=1.

MS shower

According to Southgate News the Quadrantid meteor shower peaks on January 4th 2019. I have no idea how this acts as an MS propagation mechanism by which I mean I have no idea how much MS conditions are improved during this shower. Of course I understand the way MS signals propagate.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2019/january/quadrantid-meteor-shower.htm#.XC0TX_Z2u00

Quite a collection

A few hours ago there was a Facebook posting about W9EVT's huge collection of radios.  Personally, I was not impressed, but fully accept that some are.

See https://www.qrz.com/db/w9evt .

Knackered! - NOT amateur radio

We have had a busy period over Christmas and New Year with people around for about 2 weeks. Today, the last of the grandchildren went home. We are exhausted!

Although we love seeing our children and grandchildren, we are also pleased when the house is again tidy and quiet. We are both over 70 years old now and it is now over 5 years since my brain bleed. Perhaps we tire more easily nowadays? My mother-in-law had a saying, "nice to see you come, nice to see you go". I know what she meant!

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/stroke .

160m FT8 RX

For about 15 minutes, I have been on 160m FT8 RX. As yet, no spots, but I expect this will change once it gets dark.

Before that I was on 630m WSPR RX and a bit surprised to see a DL this afternoon.

As usual, using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.

UPDATE 1510z: EU2Q (1793km) in Belarus spotted on 160m FT8 RX. They have started!

UPDATE 1626z: Now 37 stations from all over Europe being spotted on 160m FT8 RX since it got dark.

UPDATE 2010z: As on previous evenings 160m FT8 RX is full of EU stations. I expect transatlantic stations to start coming through after 2100z.

Stations spotted so far this evening on 160m FT8 RX 

with the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.

UPDATE 2217z: Already 3 North American stations spotted on 160m FT8 RX this evening. Yet again, WU1ITU (4831km) was the first logged.

Sunspots - Wednesday January 2nd 2019

Solar flux is 73 (highest for a while) and the SSN 13. A=6 and K=1.

Past the minimum?

2m activity contest

The 2m leg of the UKAC activity contest was this evening. I nearly missed it, only seeing the email reminder at 2045z. In all, 4 stations worked - not many, but better than forgetting! Best DX was (again) G4CLA (105km). As usual I run 5W SSB to my big-wheel omni.

Stations worked with 5W and omni 

antenna on 2m SSB this evening

472kHz WSPR RX

For about an hour now I have been on 472kHz WSPR RX. So far, 3 stations received with best DX DL7NN (873km).

UPDATE 2045z: 9 unique stations spotted so far this evening on 472kHz WSPR RX.

Cycle 25 - starting?

The latest solar news has been published. Are we seeing the end of the solar minimum or is this a blip?

See https://www.solen.info/solar/

"As of December 2018 the strength of the polar fields hints at a cycle 25 with a magnitude similar to or slightly stronger than that of cycle 24." 
A quote from this site.

Fungi - NOT amateur radio

We saw this fungi on an old tree stump on a walk this afternoon.

Disappointment on 10m FT8 today

Although I have been on 10m FT8 since mid-morning only 2E0XXO (121kmn) spotted so far.

Sunspots - Tuesday January 1st 2019

Solar flux is 69 and the SSN 0. A=10 and K=2.

If you are like me, all the days are fuzzy at this time of year. Today is Tuesday isn't it?

Happy New Year! - NOT amateur radio

So, today is January 1st 2019 - a new year. One thing is certain: the next 12 months will not be quite as we expect. There will be good times and sad times.  I hope, on the whole, 2019 is a good year for you.

Looking back on 2018 we had some sad times, but also some good times.

Take each day as a gift and enjoy the good times. Oh, and keep reading this blog!