Simple QRP projects, 10m, 8m, 6m, 4m, FT8, 160m, WSPR, LF/MF, sub-9kHz, nanowaves and other random stuff, some not related to amateur radio.
24 Dec 2024
UV5 (8) handheld
Seen earlier - NOT amateur radio
This was seen earlier . Very appropriate for Christmas. Whatever your beliefs or none, this is a time to think of those that mean a lot to us.
10m QRP FT8 (Tuesday)
23 Dec 2024
It can only get better - NOT amateur radio
Programming languages
Yesterday I came across a site that showed the progession of programming languages from the time I started working to today. Some of the languages I had never heard of!! Just as well I was not a software engineer!🥴
22 Dec 2024
10m QRP WSPR (Sunday)
My 500mW stand-alone 10m WSPR beacon has been on since this afternoon. So far, 13 stations have spotted me.
"At home" - NOT amateur radio
SAQ VLF
21 Dec 2024
Oscar 100 narrowband activity
Every few weeks I take a peek at the narrowband activity on Oscar 100, the geosynchronous satellite. My own view is activity is pathetically low. As I have said many times I think the main issue is the lack of a volume market in the USA and Japan as these are outside the footprint of the satellite. This means no interest by the big manufacturers.
My last peek was lunchtime in Europe on Saturday.
Christmas cheer? - NOT amateur radio
How to be cheered up for Christmas (NOT). Saw this on The Knowledge earlier:
"Scientists who are trying to create microbes that present an “unprecedented risk” to life on Earth. That’s according to an international group of Nobel laureates and other experts, says The New York Times, who warn that so-called “mirror bacteria” – synthetic organisms made from mirror images of natural molecules – could evade the immune defences of natural organisms, causing an “unstoppable pandemic, devastating crop losses or the collapse of entire ecosystems”. "
As my father-in-law once said, "I'm glad I am on the way out".
Dusk on Shetland - NOT amateur radio
The days are short and the wind can really blow, but he comes up with shots like this!
Finding that lost Malaysian Plane - NOT amateur radio
The search for the Malaysian plane MH370 that was lost in the Indian Ocean 10 years ago is to be resumed.
Apparently analysing WSPR reports allows the path of the plane to be tracked. I hope they are successful as this must be a nightmare for relatives of those on board. They want answers.
10m QRP WSPR (Saturday)
Just after breakfast, my 500mW beacon was turned on. No spots of me at 0850z.
UPDATE 1005z: Spotted by 4 stations so far.
UPDATE 1500z: 26 stations have spotted me so far.
6m QRP FT8 (Saturday)
My IC-705 QRP FT8 was turned on just after breakfast. So far, just English stations have spotted me.
UPDATE 1013z: Spotted by 22 stations.
VHF NFD - early 1970s I think
In those days it was in early September as I recall. Happy days when we were all quite young!! I have no idea who the people in the photo are. It’s not our group.
As I remember we left a Kingshill PSU behind up there. If it is still there it is covered in rust and ferns 😉😉.
Those were the days!
20 Dec 2024
SPRAT article
Building the QMX+ transceiver from QRP Labs
This video, that I came across, may help making the QMX+ from QRP Labs.
10m 500mW WSPR TX (Friday)
6m QRP FT8 (Friday)
Um, ah, eh and like - NOT amateur radio
Have you noticed how many young people say "like"?
At one time this bothered me, but it is the new "um","ah" or "eh". Language is always evolving.
Recently I noticed how often we say "um", "ah" or "um". I counted 4 in a very short period.
19 Dec 2024
UKAC certificate
In the low power section I came 57th.
Much to my surprise I have a certificate to say I took part!
10m 500mW WSPR (Thursday)
My stand-alone WSPR beacon has been on most of the morning. At 1156z 10 stations have spotted me.
UPDATE 1847z: 20 stations have spotted me. See table.6m QRP FT8 (Thursday)
My 6m QRP FT8 from the IC-705 has been on most of the morning. At 1153z 18 stations had spotted me
UPDATE 1825z: 38 stations have spotted my 6m FT8 QRP (see map).
Busy supermarket - NOT amateur radio
8m QRP FT8 with the QMX+
In many ways I am lazy, putting off things that I could do right away.
As an example, my QMX+ should work fine on 8m FT8 TX using the 6m TX low pass filter using PuTTY to alter the TX band parameters on a band I don't use. This should take a few minutes.
As 6m has been in good shape, I have concentrated on 6m rather than 8m in recent weeks.
Of late, 6m has been in poorer shape recently regarding F2 propagation, although Es sometimes shows a small peak in mid-winter for reasons I don't understand.
I think the RX requires hardware changes to a band pass filter, than I cannot manage any longer, so the best I can manage is to TX on 8m.
Good news - NOT amateur radio
From now on it starts to get lighter at night. At first the change is very slow , but by the end of January it is very noticeable. It still gets darker in the morning, but this is less noticeable as I am still in bed.
18 Dec 2024
6m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)
My IC-705 has been in most of the day. 46 stations have spotted me with the most distant CU6AB (2694km) in the Azores.
17 Dec 2024
1955 shack
This photo appeared yesterday of a USA shack in 1955.
When I started in the early 1960s, most HF was AM. These days it is mostly FT8 and SSB.
1937 USA amateur allocations
Yesterday I came across this, which may be of interest especially to USA readers. Notice an amateur band at 11m, no 160m , no WARC bands and no 15m. I am sorry the chart is not clearer.
10m QRP WSPR (Tuesday)
My 500mW 10m WSPR beacon was turned on at about 0915z. Yesterday, 55 stations spotted me.
UPDATE 1432z: So far today I have been spotted by 24 stations.Back on 6m QRP FT8 (Tuesday)
At the moment I am back on 6m FT8 with the IC-705. So far, at 0930z, 3 English stations have spotted me.
UPDATE 0936z: 6 English stations have spotted me.
RF in the shack?
As reported yesterday, I have an issue using my IC-705 on 10m FT8. There was no problem on 6m.
It suddenly occurred to me that this might be due to RF in the shack as I use an end-fed antenna on 10m. Later I will try adding some RF chokes to see if this cures it.
Times Radio - NOT amateur radio
Most days, I watch the YouTube videos from Times Radio. Often they interview a wide range of experts on a host of world affairs. It is hard to find unbiased sources of world news, but this is pretty good.
16 Dec 2024
"Early doors" - NOT amateur radio
Until this year I had never heard of this phrase. This year, I have heard it several times. Maybe I have led a too sheltered life!
I am wondering if it was a common phrase in the UK before?
OFCOM updates
A reminder that OFCOM updates the data it holds on licences etc.. It also has announced more about the auctions of 26GHz and 40GHz spectrum.
10m QRP FT8 (Monday)
Before it went funny I was briefly on 10m QRP FT8. 20 stations spotted me before I moved to 10m QRP WSPR with my beacon.
10m QRP WSPR (Monday)
My 500mW 10m WSPR was turned on earlier this morning. At 1101z, 8 stations had spotted me.
IC-705 FT8 issue?
After working faultlessly for several days on 6m FT8, I am getting an error message when I try to TX on 10m FT8 with the IC-705.
I checked the COM ports and audio selection (all fine). I re-installed WSJT-X v2.6 (same issue). The next thing is to re-install sound cards on the IC-705 and try again.
New version of WSJT-X released
Apparently WSJT-X 2.7.1 is now on general release. There is a YouTube video all about it. I shall have to download the new version and have a play.
UPDATE 1050z: No it is not!! I just looked and I could only see this as a release candidate. I expect it soon will be on general release.
15 Dec 2024
Another dull day - NOT amateur radio
One way or two way?
Over the years my interest in amateur radio has changed.
Like very many others, I enjoyed chatting and chasing DX. Since my 2013 stroke, speaking is hard work for me. I still use voice modes, but not as often these days. Doing so is good for me. Instead I prefer digital modes like WSPR and FT8 which do not involve my voice.
It is not purely because of my poor voice.
These days, I get as much pleasure from seeing where my QRP on various bands can be received. Many purists will say, "that is not amateur radio" and I can understand where they are coming from. Use of just digital modes means newcomers will not chance upon amateur radio as I did.
I hope amateur radio will still be here as it was. However, it would not entirely surprise me if it evolves as PTTs grow tired of amateur radio administration and its lack of revenue generation. I am pretty sure any administration costs are greater than any revenue generated. This is not a sustainable position.
10m QRP FT8 (Sunday)
How?
For this price both the manufacturer and AliExpress make profits. I am amazed. In the UK one could not buy even the crystal for this!
Some years ago I bought a Pixie kit from AliExpress. It cost a few pounds, but worked perfectly when fired up on the air.
14 Dec 2024
Sunday plans
Tomorrow I plan to try 10m QRP FT8 with the IC-705.
If I have time, I shall try to use PuTTY to put my QMX+ on 8m FT8 TX. I think the RX would need HW changes to the RX BPF. I intend to convert the 20m TX settings to 8m. This should only need me to change the frequency and low pass filter selected. The 6m LPF should do. As my fine motor skills are poor, I shall have to accept the (poor) RX sensitivity.
Chinese - just how do they do it?
This is what the big Japanese manufacturers are up against. In my view, if the Japanese want to remain in the amateur market, I suspect the answer is to design in Japan, but make products in a low cost country. In the future this may not be China.
Memories - NOT amateur radio
My wife and I met in Liverpool Anglican Cathedral in 1968. I see it is now part of a UK set of stamps.
10m QRP WSPR (Saturday)
My 500mW WSPR beacon was turned on at about 1050z. So far, 7 stations have spotted me.
UPDATE 1524z: 28 stations have spotted me. Furthermost Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean.
6m QRP FT8 (Saturday)
My gear was on all night. Lots of European spots. Was this the Geminid shower?
13 Dec 2024
Humour - NOT amateur radio
Geminid meteor shower
Throughout the year there are meteor showers. At the moment we are at the peak of the Geminid shower. Often the ionised trails enhance VHF signals.
6m QRP FT8 (Friday)
12 Dec 2024
Proud grandparents - NOT amateur radio
One of my granddaughters was awarded a place with the Royal Ballet against very stiff competition.
Recently she performed at Westminster Abbey in front of 2 future UK kings. It was recorded and is being broadcast on ITV at 7.30pm on Christmas Eve.
I am not a royalist, but am extremely proud, as she is still very young. I would post a photo, but it is probably copyrighted.
Pixie transceiver kits
A few moments ago I looked at AliExpress for Pixie transceiver kits. The lowest price I found was £1.28 with free delivery from China!! The term "free delivery" seems to be a bit odd as most seem to charge for "shipping".
I just do not know how they do it and make profits.
10m 500mW WSPR (Thursday)
My beacon has been on since late morning. At 1334z 17 stations had spotted me with several in the USA and Canada.
UPDATE 1657z: 29 stations have spotted me.
6m QRP FT8 (Thursday)
My QRP has been on 6m FT8 since about 1215z. At 1230z 8 stations have spotted me, all in England.
UPDATE 1641z: 18 stations have spotted my 6m QRP FT8 today.
11 Dec 2024
Changing times
These days there are many other ways to do this not involving amateur radio or licences. Radio is no longer magic for most: video chats across the world for free on the internet are easy. My wife talks to a friend in Australia on video as if she is in the next room.
Back in the late 1960s I really wanted a Heathkit Twoer HW30 kit. This was a 5W AM transceiver with a super-regen RX. In those days of very low activity, this was probably all you needed. Selectivity was poor, not that it really mattered most of the time.
6m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)
10m QRP WSPR TX (Wednesday)
Optical DX - NOT amateur radio
For years I have been fascinated by mirages and increases in refractive index at optical frequencies. What is often not realised is that how far we can see changes depending on the refractive index .This photo was a Facebook memory from some years ago.
10 Dec 2024
Notre Dame, Paris - NOT amateur radio
How ignorant we are - NOT amateur radio
As part of my University of the Third Age course in Cambridge I was studying great physicists. The take-away remark is just how little we know!
For centuries great minds have tried hard to better understand the universe at macro and micro level, without really understanding it.
Quantum mechanics was only put forward a little over one hundred years ago. All we really know is that everything is stranger than we ever imagined.
I don't think our human brains are capable of fully comprehending this.
Next term I am studying "Computers, the Brain and AI". Perhaps AI could help?
The other course (totally different!) was about the Balkans.
6m QRP FT8 (Tuesday)
My gear was turned on at about 1005z. Already spotted by 19 stations including many in continental Europe.
UPDATE 1832z: 57 Europeans spotted me today on 6m QRP FT8.