Solar flux is 88 and the SSN 18. A=3 and K=0.
5 Nov 2020
4 Nov 2020
2m FT8 RX with the big-wheel omni
At the moment I am on 2m FT8 RX. So far this evening 18 stations in 3 countries spotted with the furthermost being DD7DAC (520km). In all, 3 Germans spotted.
UPDATE 2300z: QRT.
Divided USA - NOT amateur radio
As I write, the US presidential election could go either way.
Whatever the outcome, the USA remains deeply split. Sadly, I cannot feel a whiff of compromise in the air, just a feeling of, "we are right and you are wrong".
In many countries there is a swing to the right in politics. We should learn the lessons of history. This is how Hitler started.
What amazes me is that in a great nation like the USA the competition is between a 74 year old and a 77 year old. Where are the great younger leaders?
Sadly, the president of the USA also is, by default, the leader of the western world. At this rate the USA is on a downward path to self destruction and irrelevance in the world.
Local Covid-19 cases - NOT amateur radio
We live in East Cambridgeshire. It has the second lowest case numbers in the country and the R rate has dropped to 1.0 implying the infection rate is neither growing or falling. A week ago it was 1.2, so this is encouraging.
What next? - NOT amateur radio
15m FT8 QRP
It is now 1354z. For about 45 minutes I have been on 15m FT8 with 2.5W to the indoor loop. Nobody has copied me yet, but I have spotted 15 stations.
UPDATE 1515z: 42 stations in 4 continents spotted so far today. 2 spots of me so far with the furthermost being WE9V (6313km).
OFCOM updates on spectrum auctions
On the OFCOM website there are regulations relating to the spectrum action regarding 700MHz and 3.6-3.8GHz.
2m activity contest
Valve site
Confession time.... In all my time I have never ever built a valve circuit!
Maybe low voltage HTs might have persuaded me, but all my circuit ideas and projects have been semi-conductor based. If you are interested in valved circuits you may want to visit Andrew G6ALB's site.
Sunspots - Wednesday November 4th 2020
Solar flux is 83 and the SSN 15. A=3 and K=0.
3 Nov 2020
2m FT8 QRP
Most of the evening I have been on 2m FT8 QRP (2.5W and the big-wheel antenna). It is now 2133z and for the last hour I have been vertically polarised. Spotted by G0LRD (26km), but much weaker. Over this short path the cross-polarisation is evident. Nothing spotted on RX so far. With aircraft or other scatter I would have expected the polarisation to have had little effect.
eHam reviews of the IC-705
When looking to buy new rigs (not very often!) I tend to check out the eHam reviews. Now, people who write reviews tend to be very anti and give low ratings (probably because of a bad experience) or very pro. It is less common to see reviews written by "middle of the road" people.
I was surprised to read only 3 reviews of the IC-705. By now, I was expecting to read many more. These 3 are all very positive.
As examples see all the reviews for Elecraft K3 and the IC-7300. There are loads.
See https://www.eham.net/reviews/view-product?id=14776
Updated solar data
Early in the month my favourite site for solar data updates for the month just gone. As it is November 3rd, this has been done.
USA election day - NOT amateur radio
Today, the USA is holding its election for president for the next 4 years. The papers in the UK are full of it.
Our green and windmill in autumn - NOT amateur radio
The photo shows our green and windmill in autumn.
DXCC countries
Southgate News has a link to the DXCC entities currently available. Having got QRP DXCC on SSB a quarter of a century ago, I do not actively chase DX, but I know some do.
It is great that we are all different and find so many ways to enjoy our hobby. Some like to chase DX on just a single band or on satellites or VHF.
See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2020/november/dxcc-report-02-11.htm#.X6ERPruTK00 .
15m FT8 QRP
Since 0805z, I have been on 15m FT8 with 2.5W and the indoor loop antenna. No spots yet today.
UPDATE 1336z: No spots of me yet today on 15m, but 75 stations spotted on RX with the furthermost being KP4JRS (6801km) in Puerto Rico.
Sunspots - Tuesday November 3rd 2020
Typical November day here... wet and dull!!
Solar flux is 82 and the SSN 11. A=3 and K=1.
2 Nov 2020
Should I wait?
Back in the 1970s when scientific calculators first appeared I waited and waited for the next version, that would be better, to appear. In the end I did not buy one!
I feel a bit like this with the IC-705 from ICOM. It well matches my operating style and even without a trade-in I can probably get a decent deal. By the way, XBS Telecom in France is selling these with a 3 year warranty and VAT for 1344 euros! Yaesu are reported to be working on a line of SDR transceivers, but when?
2m FT8 QRP
Since about 1600z, I have been on 2m FT8 with 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna. So far spotted by 3 stations today with the furthermost being G7RAU (461km) in Cornwall. Just 1 station copied on RX so far.
10m FT8
It is now 1310z. For the last 30 minutes are so, I have been on 10m FT8 with the poorer indoor loop and 2.5W from the FT817ND. As yet, no spots given or received today.
UPDATE 1526z: Just 1 station in Norway spotted on 10m FT8 RX. No QSOs and nobody has spotted me yet today. In summary so far today? - useless!! At least the rain has stopped and the sun is shining . 😀 Today has been the worst 10m day for me this autumn.
UPDATE 1607z: Probably QRT on 10m FT8 shortly and QSY to 2m FT8. I see some South Americans were being worked from Norway today. I guess this is where high power and big beams high up might count!
Sunspots,solar storms, auroras and cycle 25
Like many amateurs, I am keen to know what is coming. On the Southgate News pages are links to the spaceweather forecasts by Dr Tamatha Skov WX6SWW. For more information look at www.spaceweather.com .
Wet windmill - NOT amateur radio
This last weekend was mild, wet and windy. The photo shows the windmill next door with threatening clouds behind and rain on the black sides.
Figs - NOT amateur radio
1 Nov 2020
2m FT8
At 1933z I QSYed to 2m FT8. So far tonight 9 stations have spotted my 2.5W to the big-wheel omni antenna with the furthermost being a spot by ON6LEO (392km). On 2m FT8 RX just 2 stations spotted this evening.
UPDATE 2017z: Now RX only. 3 stations in 3 countries spotted.
Rowan trees - NOT amateur radio
Autumn - NOT amateur radio
Covid-19 English month lockdown - NOT amateur radio
Strangely, I feel slightly safer this morning.
The UK Prime Minister has, reluctantly, agreed to a month long lockdown in England to try to bring the virus under control again. Although damaging to the economy, he probably had no choice. His scientific advisors that he claims to follow had been advising this for weeks!
Let us hope this helps. Our "track and trace" system is not coping, we urgently need a testing system that can give results fast (maybe the saliva test?) and we will be closer to better treatments and a vaccine.
This next month has to be used wisely. Sadly, the track record of the UK government is not good. I appreciate they have a very hard balancing act to perform, but at least "follow the science" and do not ignore timely advice.
10m FT8 QRP
At 0930z, I turned on 10m FT8 with 2.5W and the indoor (poorer) loop. After 5 minutes, no spots.
UPDATE 1210z: No spots of me so far, but 20 stations spotted, mostly in eastern and northern Europe.
UPDATE 1447z: 13 spots (all Europeans) of my 2.5W 10m FT8 so far and 30 stations spotted on RX. There has never been a day recently when I have not spotted plenty on 10m FT8 RX even on just the indoor loop. In a year from now it should be even better.
31 Oct 2020
2m FT8
At about 1656z I QSYed to 2m FT8 using 2.5W to the big-wheel omni antenna. I was on 10m earlier. Just a spot by G0OFC (81km) so far and nothing yet on RX. As usual I can use the grabber at G0LRD to check on my signal. See http://82.71.9.63:8080/cap/ .
Stations spotting my 2m FT8 QRP this evening |
Next autumn
This autumn has been strange. With luck we should see a Covid-19 vaccine widely available and the health implications of our pandemic crisis should be largely behind us. It will take years for the economies of the world to re-adjust, but they will.
On the amateur radio front, we should be climbing up sunspot cycle 25 and North Americans should be reliably coming through on 10m. In the last peak there were VE and W stations on 10m AM coming though just above 29MHz. I even copied some well on a super-regen RX mobile! If the solar predictions are to be believed, the next solar cycle will be much like the last. Compared with the 1950s, this was a poor affair, but 10m was once again a good DX band.
Dr John Campbell - NOT amateur radio
This has been a strange year because of the Covid-19 pandemic. For open, clear and good summaries of the pandemic I turn to the videos produced by Dr John Campbell. These were recommended to me by a doctor many months ago.
Halloween 2020 - NOT amateur radio
10m FT8 QRP
UPDATE 1121z: 2 spots of me on TX with the best -7dB S/N by SV1AVD (2410km). With this tiny poorer loop (see photo), I find this incredible. 22 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX with the furthermost being UA4IU (3290km).
UPDATE 1310z: 11 stations have spotted me and 59 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX.30 Oct 2020
New Yaesu radio
Steve G1KQH has informed me about a new Yaesu radio that will be sold by Martin Lynch. At the moment they will be taking deposits. It is called the FTDX10 and will be an SDR transceiver covering HF, 6m and 4m with 100W. Check the Martin Lynch website for more details.
It will also available from Wimo in Germany at 1798 euros.