Chromebook issue? - NOT amateur radio

For several years I have used a Chromebook as my lounge PC. It has been very fast and uploads software and security patches in the background, so none of this "Windows Update" rubbish.

Very recently I have been having issues with the wi-fi disconnecting after a few minutes. Reading up about this suggests it maybe the router needs the latest software patch. So I turned the router off and on and it seems much better. It still seems to lose wi-fi when it sleeps, but is far better than it was.

Would I recommend Chromebooks? Yes, as long as you appreciate it is not a Windows device so you can't run Windows software. Having said that it does just about everything and is blisteringly fast. I have a Windows10 machine in the shack.   I still have to try Linux.

Overall, I remain very impressed with Chromebooks.

Shetland lambs - NOT amateur radio

As mentioned before, one of my friends on 365project lives up in Shetland. Lambs have started to appear up there.

How simple can you make a transceiver?

 When I was fit (before my stroke!) I liked the challenge of "something for nothing".  This is how this little 80m CW transceiver came about. It is hard to get much simpler.  

My main issue was netting the TX to the RX frequency. I am sure this is a solvable issue. This has been on before, I know.

I think it was in GQRP SPRAT many years ago, but I honestly cannot remember.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/80m-feter-transceiver

10m QRP FT8 (Sunday)

My IC-705 at 6W has been on since just after breakfast.

UPDATE 1445z:  126 stations have spotted me.  Furthermost is Argentina. See map.

Sunspots - Sunday April 6th

 Solar flux is 184 and the SSN 163. A=40 and K=3.

Blue CAT?

 On my phone is an app called RepeaterBook that is supposed to have something called BlueCAT enabled, which I assume is some sort of CAT that works over BlueTooth. 

I have an IC-705 but have no idea how to use BlueCAT. It looks like it should be useful. Any help would be appreciated.

Season switch - NOT amateur radio

 Last year we seemed to go suddenly from winter into summer. After what seemed a long dull winter it is now spring and we’ve had a spell of really sunny ☀️ weather. I must enjoy the moment.

Kent - NOT amateur radio

 

This was our son and grandson earlier this week.

Sunday rally

The following rally on Sunday has been notified to me. The usual caveats apply about checking before going far.

Sunday April 6th - Hack Green Surplus and Military Radio Hangar Sale, Nantwich, Cheshire, CW5 8AL. Contact coldwar@hackgreen.co.uk .

zBitx issues?

Several people have reported bugs with early firmware. Hopefully these will be corrected in later updates. It’s a pity as this looks good value for money.

Village postbox - NOT amateur radio

It’s nearly Easter and I see someone has decorated the postbox near our food shop.

10m QRP FT8 ( Saturday)

 My FT8 at 6W from the IC-705 was turned on just before midday. Judging by the absence of signals on RX, it looks like there is a solar storm.

UPDATE 1130z: Just one English station south of Birmingham spotting me and nobody spotted on RX.

UPDATE 1335z:   Now being spotted in the Canary Is.. See logbook.

Sunspots- Saturday April 5th

 Solar flux is 180 and the SSN 163. A=33 and K=5.

10m QRP FT8 (Friday)

 

After returning mid-afternoon from a few days with my son and family in Kent, I have turned on my IC-705 ar 6W FT8. So far, spotted by 41 stations with the furthermost VK8NSB (13781km) in Australia.

Day at the seaside - NOT amateur radio

 Yesterday we went with our son to the seaside at Folkestone- good old fashioned fun in the sun.

Sunspots- Friday April 4th

 Solar flux is 178 and the SSN 124. A=26 and K=4.

Folkestone - NOT amateur radio

This was Folkestone on sunny spring afternoon.

Medieval ducking stool - NOT amateur radio

 Not many centuries ago people believed in witchcraft and devised many ways to seek out witches including the ducking stool shown in the photo taken in Canterbury. If you drowned you were a witch. If you survived…well… 

RepeaterBook

 Although I hardly ever use repeaters, I have the RepeaterBook app on my phone. It shows all the repeaters in the area you are in and many features as well. I am sure it would be very useful if you were a keen repeater user.

Canterbury Cathedral - NOT amateur radio

 This was yesterday in the spring sunshine.

Sunspots - Thursday April 3rd

 Solar flux is 180 and the SSN 147. A=22 and K=3.

Near Canterbury Cathedral - NOT amateur radio

 It was good to see it with minimal scaffolding and in the sun.

DMR

 Some years ago I tried DMR using just my Android PTT phone. I think the app was called Droidstar. It allowed me to connect to the DMR network worldwide without a DMR phone or dongle. It was fun just leaving to see who called in across the world, but I soon lost interest.

Oldest church in continuous use? - NOT amateur radio

 This is St Martin’s church in Canterbury, UK which is supposed to be the oldest church in continuous use in the English speaking world.

Sunspots - Wednesday April 2nd

Solar flux is 182 and the SSN 147. A=5 and K=3.

April fools

At  first I believed this!! Then I noticed IC-0104 and realised it was an April Fool’s joke!

2m activity contest tonight

 Starting at 1900z is the activity contest organised by the RSGB. This is the 2m leg for April.

Almost spring - NOT amateur radio

The ornamental cherry is almost in blossom with the windmill behind. The blossom is ephemeral lasting about 2 weeks.

Sunspots- Tuesday April 1st

Solar  flux is 172 and the SSN 151. A=6 and K=1.