20 Jan 2022

70cm FT8 - NOT this evening

 As the Hepburn tropo forecast looks poor, I have decided not to go on 70cm FT8 this evening. I may try 160m FT8 instead.

Punts - NOT amateur radio


Cambridge UK is famous for its colleges and punts on the R.Cam. The photo shows a punt outside King's College. The world famous King's College Chapel is about 200m away.

10m FT8 grabber

If you want to see the stations being copied here try this link. If your browser stops embedded pages try the link given instead.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/10m-ft8-grabber .

Or try https://pskreporter.info/pskmap.html?preset&callsign=g3xbm&txrx=rx&band=27999999-31000000&timerange=86400&mapCenter=16.191222112538867,36.66666666666666,2.925736525647676 which should be the direct permalink.

Just occasionally, the grabber may be looking at something else, although mostly it will be on 10m FT8.

More Bronze Age finds - NOT amateur radio

These were more finds revealed last evening at our local history society meeting.  

The fact that people were living in communities just 300m from us 3000 years ago is pretty humbling.

10m FT8 QRP (Thursday)

From 0945z, I have been on 10m FT8 . So far, 6 stations spotted.

UPDATE 1430z:  73 stations spotted so far with the furthermost ZS6AF (9156km).

UPDATE 1628z:  76 stations spotted today. 

UPDATE 1917z:  101 stations spotted. Furthermost is CA7OKD (12687km). QRT soon.

3000 years old pin - NOT amateur radio

Last night we went to our local history society meeting when they revealed the results of a dig 300m from home where they are building new homes. 

This pin is 3000 years old. It was on an extensive Bronze Age settlement. 

Oscar 100 activity


Every few weeks I look at the webSDR at Goonhilly in Cornwall to judge activity on the narrowband transponder of this geosynchronous satellite. The last look was at 1845z on January 19th. 

Compared with the last time I looked it seems busier, but it is still very quiet. At this time, in a European evening, I would expect activity to be highest.

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/ .

Sunspots - Thursday January 20th 2022

Solar flux is 105 and the SSN 57.  A=23 and K=1.

19 Jan 2022

70cm FT8 QRP (Wednesday)

At about 1830z, I went on 70cm FT8 with 2.5W and the V2000 vertical. So far (at 1837z) no spots given or received.

UPDATE 2244z: No spots at all. Hopeless. QRT. 

Shadows - NOT amateur radio

This shadow of our lamp intrigued me.