When younger we hardly celebrated Halloween. Sadly, in recent years, the shops have seen another opportunity to take our money and Halloween has become commercialised. The new god is profit.
I have little problem with youngsters having fun (my grandchildren love it), but I do object to the commercialisation. I know some object on religious grounds, but to me it is just an excuse for youngsters to dress up and have fun.
31 Oct 2019
10m FT8
On John EI7GL's advice I am giving 10m FT8 a go. An initial 2.5W FT8 CQ at about 0900z was spotted by no-one and now I am RX only on 10m FT8.
UPDATE 1216z: EA4IL (1370km) spotted on 10m FT8 RX. There is life on 10m!
UPDATE 1413z: 3 stations spotted today on 10m FT8. 2 were Spanish and 1 was a local. A recent 10m FT8 CQ (2.5W) was spotted by no-one. I can run more power. Perhaps I should? I can increase the power about 8dB.
UPDATE 1640z: A recent 10m FT8 CQ was again spotted by no-one and no further stations have been spotted here today on 10m FT8 RX.
UPDATE 1840z: Sometime in the last 2 hours my Windows 10 PC decided to turn off WSJT-X. I really am heartily fed up with Microsoft.
UPDATE 1216z: EA4IL (1370km) spotted on 10m FT8 RX. There is life on 10m!
UPDATE 1413z: 3 stations spotted today on 10m FT8. 2 were Spanish and 1 was a local. A recent 10m FT8 CQ (2.5W) was spotted by no-one. I can run more power. Perhaps I should? I can increase the power about 8dB.
UPDATE 1640z: A recent 10m FT8 CQ was again spotted by no-one and no further stations have been spotted here today on 10m FT8 RX.
UPDATE 1840z: Sometime in the last 2 hours my Windows 10 PC decided to turn off WSJT-X. I really am heartily fed up with Microsoft.
472kHz WSPR overnight
Overnight, my 10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground on 472kHz WSPR was spotted by 14 stations. This time I did not reach Norway, but was spotted by several stations in the Netherlands.
Sunspots - Thursday October 31st 2019
Solar flux is 70 (highest for some time) and the SSN 0. A=9 and K=1.
30 Oct 2019
BREXIT - not amateur radio
With a probable election in the UK on December 12th, it is anyone's guess what will happen regarding BREXIT.
If the Conservatives manage to get a big majority they will probably try to get their current withdrawal agreement passed into law.
If the Labour party gets to form the next government they will probably go for a new, softer, withdrawal agreement and probably push for a people's vote (referendum) to either approve this or remain in the EU.
If the Lib Dems win then BREXIT will be cancelled and we will remain in the EU.
Somehow I cannot see the BREXIT party doing well. They may have some followers, but if they stand against Conservatives they could lose the seat to Lib Dems or Labour.
Like many, I personally favour remaining in the EU or a much softer form of BREXIT. After 3.5 years, like many, I am tired of BREXIT! Years ago we joined a common market. That is what we have always wanted, plain and simple: nothing more and nothing less.
Personally, I doubt if this UK election will make matters clearer.
If the Conservatives manage to get a big majority they will probably try to get their current withdrawal agreement passed into law.
If the Labour party gets to form the next government they will probably go for a new, softer, withdrawal agreement and probably push for a people's vote (referendum) to either approve this or remain in the EU.
If the Lib Dems win then BREXIT will be cancelled and we will remain in the EU.
Somehow I cannot see the BREXIT party doing well. They may have some followers, but if they stand against Conservatives they could lose the seat to Lib Dems or Labour.
Like many, I personally favour remaining in the EU or a much softer form of BREXIT. After 3.5 years, like many, I am tired of BREXIT! Years ago we joined a common market. That is what we have always wanted, plain and simple: nothing more and nothing less.
Personally, I doubt if this UK election will make matters clearer.
28MHz (10m) WSPR TX - 500mW
As I have my outdoor 10m antenna erected again, I thought I would connect my W5OLF WSPR beacon. This puts out 500mW and transmits 100% of the time, but changes frequency every 2 minutes.
If anyone copies me I shall be amazed. The Es season is over and we are at sunspot minimum. Still, it is easy to connect and you never know!
UPDATE 2048z: After a whole day, not a single 10m WSPR spot. Maybe tomorrow I should try FT8 instead on 10m?
If anyone copies me I shall be amazed. The Es season is over and we are at sunspot minimum. Still, it is easy to connect and you never know!
UPDATE 2048z: After a whole day, not a single 10m WSPR spot. Maybe tomorrow I should try FT8 instead on 10m?
Museum Party - NOT amateur radio
It is one of the best local museums in the UK. It heavily depends on volunteers. Many people think it is just the windmill, but it goes on and on!
See http://burwellmuseum.org.uk/
Overnight on 472kHz WSPR TX : 20 stations spotted my 10mW ERP!
Overnight I was on 472kHz WSPR transmit using 10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. In all, 20 stations spotted me with the best DX spot being by LA8AV (1035km)in Norway overnight. In the last 2 weeks, I have been spotted by 40 stations on 472kHz WSPR TX when running 10mW ERP from my earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.
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| Overnight on 472kHz WSPR TX (10mW ERP) |
UK General Election on Dec 12th - NOT amateur radio
So here in the UK we are set for a general election before Christmas.
Although this is largely about BREXIT, I fear the outcome could result in even more of a muddle!
The people in the country, and most parties in government, are largely divided over BREXIT. What my gut tells me is no single party will win an overall majority and the party forming a government will have to consider coalitions, or at very least consider working with the smaller parties. This is not a recipe for strong, decisive government. What might happen is a softer BREXIT.
One thing is certain: nobody knows what will happen.
Although this is largely about BREXIT, I fear the outcome could result in even more of a muddle!
The people in the country, and most parties in government, are largely divided over BREXIT. What my gut tells me is no single party will win an overall majority and the party forming a government will have to consider coalitions, or at very least consider working with the smaller parties. This is not a recipe for strong, decisive government. What might happen is a softer BREXIT.
One thing is certain: nobody knows what will happen.
SAQ (17.2kHz) VLF - no transmission Oct 24th
If you were listening for the special UN Day CW transmission from the historic alternator VLF 17.2kHz TX SAQ you would have been disappointed as it did not happen. They hit a problem, so the transmission had to be abandoned. I think they are trying to find out what the problem is.
Somewhere I have a QSL card for a transmission about 10 years ago.
Somewhere I have a QSL card for a transmission about 10 years ago.
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