I think it now has the most expensive homes in the UK. It is now dominated by second homes owned by the yachting crowd and rich bankers.
Times change: centuries back it was a ship building place and before that a home of smugglers.
See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/vhfuhfmicrowaves/homebrew/sixbox
My IC-705 was turned on at about 0800z. Just 9 English stations spotting me.
My QRP beacon is on. No spots.
UPDATE 1930z: 50 spots all by EA8BFK (2880km).
See https://www.gqrp.com/ .
Our ornamental cherry is just coming into blossom. It will all be gone by the end of the month I expect.
My IC-705 is set at 6W FT8. So far this morning just spotted in Europe and the Middle East.
UPDATE 1538z: 12 stations have spotted me.
A few years ago our only butcher in the village retired and nobody wanted to take it on, so they re-developed the site for houses. I expect these will go on sale soon.
My IC-705 was turned on mid-morning. I will reset things as I do not think my own spots are being uploaded to PSKreporter.
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 WindowsOS 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.
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
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.
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.
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 .
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.
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.
Yesterday we went with our son to the seaside at Folkestone- good old fashioned fun in the sun.
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.
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.
At first I believed this!! Then I noticed IC-0104 and realised it was an April Fool’s joke!
Starting at 1900z is the activity contest organised by the RSGB. This is the 2m leg for April.
The ornamental cherry is almost in blossom with the windmill behind. The blossom is ephemeral lasting about 2 weeks.
This was seen yesterday in a comment about the RSGB, the national radio society in the UK.
“Given the hobby is dying on its feet due to elderly white males popping their clogs you'd think they'd take all the users and spectrum they could muster.”
It is probably quite true.
My IC-705 at reduced power was turned on at about 0820z.
As I was having no success on WSPR I QSYed to FT8 with 6W from the IC-705.
The FCC in the USA is asking for comments on their latest document calling for deregulation and reduced burocracy. They do not talk about amateur radio specifically. In the USA amateur radio callsigns pre-date the FCC.
In many countries amateur radio costs money and generates no revenue. For this reason, I can see why the FCC and OFCOM, and others too around the world, would like to totally "wash their hands" of amateur radio.
One possibility is to "open up" amateur radio, much like CB, without the need for any involvement. The only stipulation is that only radios that comply with national standards may be used and no interference must be caused. In most cases, amateur radio has become like CB: using commercial radios to chat. True research does not matter to the vast majority, who do not even know how their transceivers work!
This is my personal view of what will happen. I may well be wrong.
There is a video on the FCC proposals. The "writing is on the wall".
It is very disappointing that, in the UK, we have to pay to do research at 8m. In the USA, they appear to have stopped permits for 8m altogether!
In the past the RSGB would have "fought our corner" with OFCOM, who would probably have granted, on application, a very narrow, perhaps time limited, 8m amateur band by NoV for a dedicated few. Instead those of us that want to do genuine 8m propagation research have to pay!!
As sunspot numbers decline, such NoVs would have less value.
All this has left a very bad taste in my mouth. When my current (paid for!) 8m TX permit expires I have no intention of renewing it.
Self training and research??
A very long time ago I did quantum mechanics as part of my degree. One of the things I remember is that all things can be described as a wave function that exists in all space and all time. This is a strange idea to grasp. There is a video that tries to explain quantum entanglement.
My QRP 10m WSPR beacon was turned on after breakfast.
UPDATE 1324z: No spots. After all this time, I am puzzled. The DC power is connected, the antenna is connected, I thought time was sync'd. I have re-sync'd time to see what's happening. I notice Angola is being worked from the UK on 6m FT8 , so I am surprised by the total absence of 10m WSPR spots.
UPDATE 1358z: Still no spots.
My IC-705 set at 6W was turned on just after breakfast.
This geosynchronous satellite has been up now for several years. Many would like a "solution in one box", which is almost possible with the DX Patrol full duplex unit. You still need rigs for TX,RX, a fixed dish and LNB plus a GPS antenna. Overall, it is still not cheap.
There is a video of this from TX Factor.
There is an interesting piece in The Knowledge today about the most powerful men in the world (Putin, Trump, Erdogan and Xi Jinping).
They all seem to have had a difficult childhood. In some way they all seem to be "damaged" people.
My 500mW stand-alone WSPR beacon has been on since about 1410z.
UPDATE 1437z: No spots yet.
UPDATE 1449z: Mind you, it helps to turn the PSU on! Still no spots.
UPDATE 1911z: Just EA8BFK (2880km) and TA4/G8SCU (3010km) spotting me.
Since about 1410z, I have been on 6m FT8 with my IC-705 at 6W.
UPDATE 1453z: 6 English stations have spotted me.
UPDATE 1912z: 16 stations have spotted me including one in Germany. QRT soon.
If I am correct 8m TX permits in the USA are granted by the FCC. With all the changes in the USA of late, I am wondering if 8m permits in the USA are more, or less, likely?
In my view the FCC in the USA and OFCOM in the UK have been stupid over 8m.
If I was in Africa looking for a politics to follow would I look towards the USA currently? The USA (sadly) comes across as a big bullying nation at present. I say sadly as EVERY person I have ever met from the USA has been kind and generous, in the true spirit of democracy.
Whilst I understand that free trade means lower costs and making things where labour costs are low, I cannot believe that making everything in the USA will be as low cost for consumers. Also, why fall out with your friends and allies?
None of us is perfect I do accept.
My IC-705 at 6W was turned on at about 0930z. So far, mostly eastern Europe and Middle East stations spotting me.
UPDATE 1413z: 67 stations have spotted me on 4 continents.
Apparently (according to the BBC) President Trump has received a portrait of himself sent by Vladimir Putin.
Since the FT817 was introduced about a quarter of a century ago a lot has changed. At that time Yaesu had a totally unique product that sold really well across the world.
These days there are several competitors and the Chinese are coming up fast.
In my view Yaesu are now playing "catch up" and the longer they delay getting the FTX-1F to market, the harder it will be.
Although I have lived in East Anglia for most of my life, I still feel my spiritual home is in South Devon.
This radio represents incredible value for money. It is available ready built from India. Even if you add duty and VAT it is still remarkable value.
Years back I recall receiving North Americans via Oscar 6 and 7 late at night when the passes were favourable, tracking the passes with a hand made device that showed the passes and what I might expect to hear. Usually the passes were brief of about 10 minutes.
Apparently Oscar 7 is still working after all this time.
Perhaps I am getting even more grumpy in my old age! OFCOM has published its 3 year plan and I am not impressed. To me it is full of "motherhood" statements: the sort of thing you would expect to see in a quango trying hard to justify its existence.
Bring back the GPO with adults.
My IC-705 at 6W was turned on at about 0925z.
UPDATE 1541z: 93 spots of me.
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The following has been notified to me. I always advise being sure of the details before travelling far.
My IC-705 at 6W to the vertical omni V2000 antenna was turned on shortly after 1000z.
My stand-alone QRP 10m WSPR beacon was turned on at about 1000z.
UPDATE 2210z: Just spots by EA8BFK (2880km) and TA4/G8SCU (3010km) today. Nothing from the USA. QRT.
It would seem that politicians in the UK are doing everything possible not to offend President Trump. Perhaps he will, at a whim, increase tariffs.
Yes, the world order has changed and Europe should never again depend on the USA as a backstop.
However, Europeans are not fools or freeloaders.
It would appear many generations of products have been designed and sold since I left. For example the SC20 portable has sold 500000 units.
See https://sepura.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/0064_0622_V18-SC20-brochure_ONLINE.pdf .
As far as I am aware there is nothing wrong with me, apart from the after-effects of my 2013 stroke.
However, I am now in my mid-70s and starting to feel old. Every step I take I am careful not to fall, I can no longer run, sex used to interest me, but no longer does, my energy levels seem to be declining and I am hopeless at remembering the names of people! Things seem to have gone downhill in the last 24 months.
I fail to see how someone old like me would want to be president of the USA!!
My beacon was turned on at about 0745z. EA8BFK (2880km) has already spotted me 11 times at 0850z.
Here we see far fewer than we used to although swift numbers seem to be holding up, despite there being fewer natural nest sites. We don't usually see swifts here in East Anglia until May. Often you can hear screaming feeding parties and then look up and see them.
Apparently some swallows have already been spotted in Devon.
There was a December record in South Devon, so this one may have attempted to over-winter. I don't know if it survived. With climate change and milder winters some might attempt it and survive.
It is probably the case that I am rare in quite looking forward to the quieter solar years when propagation on 10m becomes more difficult.
At the moment a few watts of 10m FT8 seems to get all over the planet. It is quite easy at the moment.
At sunspot minimum it will be far harder, but it will be interesting to see how 10m FT8 QRP behaves then. It is my view that as long as monitors continue to look at 10m FT8 we will find paths open far more than we thought.
As I have said many times before, people move to lower bands as it is easier. Sticking with 10m we will be doing real research. It would not surprise me to see N-S paths possible right at sunspot minimum with FT8.
OFCOM is to permit satellites to communicate directly to smartphones if the terrestrial links are poor. I have no idea how feasible this is as traditional satellite phones needed big antennas.
Perhaps OFCOM is doing this "just in case" it becomes feasible in the future?
The Maximum Usable Frequency (MUF) is a good guide to the highest frequency to use on a given path. This map, although not always correct, is a useful guide.
See https://prop.kc2g.com/ .
😂
Five years after the whole world suffered the effects of Covid-19, there are still debates over its origins.
Increasingly it appears this was an accidental lab-leak in China. People do not want to say this in case it offends China. In truth, we can never be sure.
UPDATE 2110z: This really does look like an accident. They may have been working on a bio weapon, but the virus that escaped (if indeed it did) was not the strongest that could have been created.
Basically, as far as I can tell there is none, at least available to Jo Public.
No doubt dealers have been told the selling price and any features. There is a video bemoaning the fact that "early 2025" looks more like the end of June.....or never.
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| Stations spotting my 500mW 10m FT8 |
Several times before, I have mentioned that I spent my early childhood in Salcombe, Devon, UK. At the time it was just home. We just took i...
