At 0915z I switched on 15m FT8 RX using the FT817ND and the indoor loop. It is currently 0937z and so far 37 stations have already been spotted.
UPDATE 1007z: 83 stations spotted today so far on 15m FT8 RX. As 15m is looking so much like yesterday, maybe I should QSY to 10m FT8?
UPDATE 1030z: 99 stations spotted. Now QSYed to 10m.
Many years ago, I used to really enjoy this contest. Working on 10m SSB it was possible to work many stations. Since my voice was adversely affected by my stroke, it has been harder. It is even harder still if you do as I did and totally forgot it was on!
The last weekend in October should have been in my diary. Mind you, on 10m with an indoor loop at this part of the solar cycle it would have been hard work. Maybe next year?
The rules for the 2020 contests (SSB and CW) are attached, even though these have passed.
At 1845z, I QSYed to 2m FT8 with 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna. It is now 1852z. Already 5 stations have spotted me.
UPDATE 2245z: 11 stations spotted me this evening with the furthermost being GI6ATZ (479km). Now QRT.
As I write (1030z Saturday) the head of the UK and EU are going to speak on the 'phone and as yet there is no BREXIT trade deal, even though to have one is in everyone's interest.
I suspect there is brinkmanship on both sides. In these last few weeks, I think these children should throw away their toys and behave as grown-ups if this is possible. We all know that is what is best.
Go on, get a mutually good deal that all can sell as a success.
UPDATE 1848z: Talks to continue on Sunday.
You will be pleased to know that OFCOM is considering its strategy for the radio spectrum in the years ahead. It is navel gazing about the future. Sorry, "vision". See the OFCOM website.
It is now 0950z. At about 0915z I turned on 15m FT8 RX. So far today, 67 stations in Asia and Europe spotted. Still using the FT817ND and the tiny loop on the shack windowsill.
I find it incredible that some stations are so strong. One Ukrainian station was +2dB S/N even with the tiny loop!
UPDATE 1005z: So far today, 81 stations have been spotted on 15m FT8 RX.
UPDATE 1128z: 134 stations spotted so far today on 15m FT8 RX with the tiny indoor loop and FT817ND in 4 continents.
15m seems quiet now, so I have QSYed. Since about 1815z I have been on 2m FT8 RX. So far this evening, just 1 station in Belgium spotted.
UPDATE 1938z: So far today, 4 stations spotted with furthermost spotted being G7RAU (461km).
UPDATE 1944z: TX (2.5W to the big-wheel omni antenna) turned on. 2 stations have spotted me so far.
Just now, I had to go to the local post office to do 3 things (1) post a card, (2) post a parcel, (3) buy some stamps.
It was cold and wet and there was a big queue outside because of Covid-19. Stamps are expensive these days!
It is definitely winter.
To those unfamiliar with this, the main PCB is supplied assembled and tested. This is assembled by a women's co-operative in India. The kit consists of putting the assembled PCB in the case and the various wiring harnesses that connect the things up. It was designed by Ashhar Farhan VU2ESE and is a model of a simple but effective design. It is available for $200. I am unsure what happens about VAT and duty.
It is now 0921z. I am on 15m FT8 RX. So far, 13 stations spotted on RX.
UPDATE 0954z: 49 stations so far spotted on 15m FT8 RX.
UPDATE 1122z: 126 stations so far spotted with the furthermost being ZS6LKF (9089km).
Southgate News reports that Croatia has given a 1 year permit to 9A6W to operate on the 8m band. Others may follow. It would be great to see others in other countries get permission.
See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2020/december/croatia-gets-new-40-mhz-band.htm#.X8lXBmiTLrc
Since 1845z, I have been on 2m FT8 RX with the FT817ND and the big-wheel omni antenna. So far, just one station spotted - G8GXP (201km).
For the last 12 hours or so, I have been using the latest "release candidate" version of WSJT-X, which is 2.3.0-rc2. Certainly on FT8 it appears stable and works well. The only thing I have found is an annoying pop-up box saying I do not have logbook of the world on my PC. I seem to recall this on an earlier version.
At about 0900z, I turned on 15m FT8 RX using the FT817ND and the tiny indoor loop. It is now 0915z and already 28 stations spotted including the Middle East and Asiatic Russia spotted.
UPDATE 1115z: 136 stations spotted on 15m FT8 RX today so far. The furthermost is UA9Y (5055km).
At about 2020z, I QSYed to 2m FT8 QRP with 2.5W to the big-wheel omni. 7 stations spotted on 2m FT8 RX with best DX DL6YBF (471km). On TX, my 2.5W has been spotted by 8 stations with the furthermost being EI2FG (565km).
As 10m FT8 was looking rather quiet, I have QSYed down to 15m FT8 with 2.5W and the indoor loop. So far (at 1520z) 22 stations have been spotted on RX and 1 local station has spotted me on TX.
UPDATE 1803z: 35 stations spotted on RX. Just 1 local has spotted me on TX.
It is still true that I have met not one person outside the USA, online or in person, who has a good word to say about President Trump. I appreciate this is not so in the USA where nearly half the people voted for him.
The more time passes the deeper hole he seems to dig at least for those of us outside of the USA.
On the day a vaccine for Covid-19 was approved for UK rollout, the value of the UK pound against the major currencies such as the euro, yen and US dollar has fallen! OK I appreciate a BREXIT deal has still to be done, but I was expecting the pound to have a good day.
Southgate News has a piece relayed from EI7GL's blog about the 6000km trans equatorial propagation from Argentina to the Dominican Republic.
See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2020/december/6000km-tep-path-on-144-mhz.htm#.X8di32iTLrc
At about 0900z my 10m FT8 QRP gear was turned on (2.5W and the indoor loop). So far, no-one has spotted me on TX and I have spotted 2 stations on 10m FT8 RX.
UPDATE 1427z: 4 stations spotted.
Every day I must get about 20 SPAM emails. My gmail SPAM filter is very good, so I rarely see these in my inbox. It is always worth checking as just occasionally (1 in 1000?) genuine posts end up in the spam folder.
It was good to know that my account has just been credited with over £200k. That should help in retirement.😆
Never ever click links you are unsure about. My passwords are regularly changed.
As usual, OFCOM has updated its statistics in its Communications Monthly. See the OFCOM website.
At 1850z, I QSYed to 2m FT8 QRP with 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna. So far, 3 stations have spotted me with the furthermost G4HGI (244km).
UPDATE 1941z: 7 stations have spotted me so far on TX. Nothing spotted on RX yet.
UPDATE 2155z: 9 stations have spotted me on 2m FT8 QRP TX in 4 countries with the furthermost being GI6ATZ (479km).
There was a posting on the SAQ website saying that their Christmas Eve transmission on 17.2kHz CW has been cancelled. See their website. Hopefully better next year. This is often a good time to test your VLF system.
See https://alexander.n.se/the-radio-station-saq-grimeton/saq-transmissions/?lang=en
A very simple PC based receiver for SAQ and VLF is available from SM6LKM. This is simple to install and works very well. I installed it years ago. There may be even better ones around now. You now have more time!
See https://sites.google.com/site/sm6lkm/saqrx/
Looks like there are even better RXs! I have not yet tried this one.
For most, the explanations are clear, but if not please let me know so I can make them clearer. It was used for many years at my old QTH.
See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/antennas/homebase .
In a few moments (it is now 0914z) I hope to go on 10m FT8 QRP with my 2.5W to the indoor loop. For this time in the sunspot cycle conditions are quite promising.
UPDATE 0924z: 10m FT8 gear turned on.
UPDATE 1027z: Just one spot of a Polish station SP8BZX (1078km) so far on 10m FT8 RX today.
UPDATE 1258z: As our Internet has been off some of my spots will not have got to PSKreporter.
UPDATE 1438z: Just 4 stations spotted today with the furthermost NR1DX (7107km) in Florida.
This was one of Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s greatest projects.
