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I have to confess I have no idea where these islands are and the callsign does not help. In a short while I shall look them up. This is a QSL card.
4 Feb 2026
Chesterfield Islands
I have to confess I have no idea where these islands are and the callsign does not help. In a short while I shall look them up. This is a QSL card.
10m 200mW WSPR (Wednesday)
My beacon was turned pm just before breakfast.
UPDATE 1630z: 72 stations have spotted me today.
QRP CW
Recently, there was a 50mW CW QSO on 20m using this homemade TX. I forget who designed and built this.
Fog of war
The trouble with wars and conflicts is it impossible to tell who is telling the truth. Both sides in a conflict tend to invoke propaganda to show they are winning or have the upper hand.
Whatever a side says treat it with a degree of skepticism.
3 Feb 2026
Public life
If you are in public life it must be hell.
Your every move is looked at, photographed and every little detail picked over.
Recently, with the release of the Epstein files, several people in public life have found themselves in the public eye. Some of the revelations are eye watering.
Free Scrapbook PDF
It is really a dump of my life in amateur radio and you might enjoy some of the projects. I have had lots of fun and wish you can enjoy it too.
It is time I updated it as some of my recent things are not included!
10m 200mW WSPR TX (Tuesday)
My beacon was turned on at 0926z.
UPDATE 0940z: 2 stations spotting me (EA8 and OH)
UPDATE 1040z: Spotted by 5 stations. See map by VK7JJ.UPDATE 1236z: Spotted by 11 stations. With 6 spots so far, I have concluded that MO04SW is a Russian SWL.
UPDATE 1951z: Spotted by 56 stations. QRT soon.
2 Feb 2026
Portable operation
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Many get lots of pleasure from operating in the great outdoors.
In some countries the Elecraft KH1 is popular. As far as I know, this is not sold in Europe including the UK. It is also very expensive.
People have had great success on CW using just a small whip antenna on CW. I think it has a built-in auto ATU too. If you operate CW, it means you can be operational in a few seconds.
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You want cheering up?
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This was found earlier. After all this dull and wet weather in the UK we need cheering up!!
10m 200mW WSPR TX (Monday)
My beacon was turned on just before breakfast.
UPDATE 1634z: 44 stations have spotted me including North and South America.
UPDATE 1845z: 55 stations have spotted me.
1 Feb 2026
AI historical reconstructions
AI sometimes gets a bad press.
In the case of historical reconstruction videos some are very good. Occasionally the AI get things very wrong e.g. the reconstruction showing Edinburgh in the 1880s with British Railways engines post 1948!
On the whole I am very impressed.
10m 200mW WSPR (Sunday)
My beacon was turned on around breakfast.
UPDATE 2021z: Spotted by 48 stations including quite a few in the USA. See map by Phil VK7JJ.
6m FT8 yesterday
Yesterday was quite a good day with spots by 49 stations across Europe spotting my 5W to the omni vertical. See map.
31 Jan 2026
The future of our hobby
For a long time I have expressed my concerns for the future of amateur radio.
The things that appealed to us years ago no longer appear as the magic they did to us long ago.
Various suggestions have been made to correct this and get more people into the hobby and retain these. It is very hard to generalise and in some places the hobby is growing.
It was interesting to read on Amateur Radio Weekly one person's "take" on this.
See https://ke9v.net/2026/01/24/your-fault.html
In my view, despite everything, I expect amateur radio to be very different in less than 20 years.
6m 5W FT8 (Saturday)
My IC-705 at 5W to the V2000 omni was turned on late morning.
UPDATE 1525z: spotted by 11 stations with the best OE6JCG (1256km).
Sunshine!!
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Internet Archive
Just out of curiosity, I put my callsign into the Internet Archive to see what appeared. It looks like my YouTube videos are archived along with my Scrapbook.
See https://archive.org/details/sbjuly22/page/22/mode/2up
Everything I have ever done is free to be shared.
10m 200mW WSPR (Saturday)
My beacon was turned on at 1123z.
UPDATE 1155z: Spotted by EA8BFK (2880km).
30 Jan 2026
Long UK winter?
All seasons have their beauty, but I am fed up with this misery!
The birds seem to have got the message, with several singing this morning. Things are heading in the right direction in the northern hemisphere.
The photo shows the windmill next door this afternoon when the sun came out. The photo was through the lounge window.
6m 5W FT8 (Friday)
My gear was turned on at about 1020z.
UPDATE 1136z: So far, spotted by 7 English stations and 1 in Wales.
UPDATE 1211z: Spotted by 10 stations. See map.
UPDATE 1352z: Spotted by 11 stations.
The Trump Report
This was an interview with a Politico journalist about some alleged private reports from EU leaders on President Trump.
10m 200mW WSPR (Friday)
My beacon was turned on at about 0730z.
UPDATE 0926z: 5 stations spotting me with the best R9SA (3658km).
UPDATE 1220z: Now spotted by 9 stations with the best HZ1SF (4939km). No stations from "across the pond" reporting me yet.
Sydney-Sussex College, Cambridge, UK
We live about 15km from Cambridge and go into the city free on the bus a couple of times a week. This was Sydney- Sussex College earlier in the week in the sunshine.
Banggood products
In the past I have bought a few products from this company and have not had any issues.
The goods originate in China.
If the goods have been copied or cloned I avoid them. Usually the goods are low cost and arrive very fast.
Up to now I have never had to pay any duty. Usually the price is so low that even if they were faulty you would simply write it off and not bother to complain.
29 Jan 2026
Increased air activity?
We live about 15km from airbases used by the USAF. In the last couple of days these appears to be an increase in air traffic.
In the shack
Last weekend was the Big Garden Birdwatch organised by the RSPB in the UK.
The aim is to watch your "patch" (in my case the back garden) for an hour and record the highest number of bird types seen.
It is done annually by millions and gives a good snapshot of birdlife in the UK.
It was interesting how few small birds were seen.
This is my worst year and I have been doing this for many years.
Clickbait
In recent years, YouTube has migrated to the TV screen. I guess there are now millions of things to entice us including some full length films and some historical recreations made using AI. Some of these are very good.
Unless you can be absolutely sure of origins, it is now safer to assume it is made using AI and very well might be untrue.
Many YouTube items are clickbait. The creator gets paid by clicks on the content. Often the voice is created using AI.
Caveat emptor.
10m 200mW WSPR (Thursday)
My beacon was turned on at 0910z.
UPDATE 0945z: 11 spots by EA8BFK (2880km). At times he was getting my 200mW WSPR beacon at incredible strengths suggesting that even if I was running just microwatts he might have copied me!
UPDATE 1436z: 37 stations have spotted me including many in the USA and Canada.
UPDATE 1706z: 39 stations have spotted me me. QRT soon.
Is the USA putting itself out of world trade?
Although traditionally the US has been a very important market, it would appear that many countries are increasingly looking to each other rather than the USA.
It could take many years to happen, but at the moment the USA seems to be "kicking itself in the teeth".
Cambridge in the sun
28 Jan 2026
Mondays at 8pm RSGB video talks
There was a recent talk about sunspot cycle 25 by Steve Nichols G0KYA. As the RSGB does not allow the video to be viewed on other websites, please find the RSGB's channel on YouTube.
136kHz experiments
Before my 2013 stroke, I did some experiments on 136kHz using modes like QRSS3 and WSPR. As my garden was small, huge antennas and ground systems were just not possible , so I wanted to see what was possible with QRP and small antennas. I got as far as the Netherlands with uW ERPs with QRSS3.
Things might be harder now with increasing noise floors, especially in urban areas which might limit what some can hear.
This was my weak signal spotted by G3WCB at 101km. I think G3WCB is now in Devon.
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10m 200mW WSPR (Wednesday)
My beacon was turned on just after 0900z.
UPDATE 0916z: Just 4 spots from EA8BFK (2880km).
UPDATE 1611z: 28 spots of me. See table.
27 Jan 2026
Reverse Beacon Network
If this has been on already, please accept my apologies.
If you are a CW user, this is very useful, even when your CQ goes unanswered. By monitoring the RBN you can see where your signal is reaching.
Nothing really changes
About 8 years ago we visited Pompeii. I was struck by how similar the people were to us now in many ways with cafes, street food, take-aways, etc.
The quote in today's Knowledge was by the Roman Marcus Aurelius about 2000 years ago:
"Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth"
10m 200mW WSPR (Tuesday)
UPDATE 0924z: Already 3 spots by EA8BFK (2880km) and someone in KO40 square.
UPDATE 1155z: 4 stations have spotted me. No stations "across the pond" yet.UPDATE 1225z: Now spotted by 7 stations. It looks like the first USA spots were at 1218z.
UPDATE 1424z: 36 stations in 4 continents have spotted me. See map by VK7JJ.
UPDATE 1847z: 51 stations have spotted me. Now QRT.
26 Jan 2026
10m 200mW WSPR (Monday)
My beacon was turned on after breakfast.
UPDATE 0955z: Spotted by 2 stations with the best a station in Saudi Arabia - HZ1SF (4939km).
UPDATE 1635z: 31 stations have spotted me with the best LU1XA (13253km). See table.
EI7GL's blog
John's blog is always worth a look. He seems to find out lots of news! In my view, it is one of the best.
World politics
The world is changing.
In many ways, despite the constant threat of nuclear war, mine was a lucky generation. We seem to be returning to a world of empires and spheres of influence.
What is happening in Minnesota is typical of the new world order. Different accounts differ wildly and it is hard to tell what is the truth.
Why can't we live peacefully together?
Yaesu FT7 transceiver
This photo has been on before.
It shows the Yaesu FT7 which was the first commercial transceiver I owned in the 1980s.
During that time DXCC was worked on 10W 10W SSB (QRP).
It had no memories, no synthesiser and a very quiet analogue RX.
Of all the commercial transceivers I have owned, it was probably the very best. It proved that QRP SSB and low simple antennas were all you needed to work the world. I think the antennas at the time were just wire dipoles and a CB vertical.
25 Jan 2026
Learning CW
Back in the 1960s in the UK, Morse (CW) at 12 words a minute was essential to get a licence to transmit on HF.
In most countries this is no longer the case. I think you can get on HF now without Morse. Mostly I use FT8 and WSPR in preference, mainly as my fine motor skills are poor. I have used CW since my 2013 stroke, but rarely.
Back in the late 1960s I used to be taught CW by Bill Honeywill G4PJ (SK) on 160m. He would regularly send me slow Morse over the air. Somewhere (goodness know where!) I had a tape recording of some of these.
I passed my Morse test in the Liver Building in Liverpool whilst at university in 1967 when I first got my G3 call allowing HF operation.
The march of AI
Just a few years ago most had never heard of AI (artificial intelligence). Now it is everywhere: you look, for example, on YouTube as you see a well known person. The chances are this is created using AI. These days many, if not most, of the things you see on YouTube are AI creations created so the creator gets money from adverts when the video is viewed.
Sadly, you have to assume it is AI unless you can be absolutely sure it is not. There are very few sites I now trust.
6m 5W FT8 (Sunday)
My gear (5W to a V2000 omni) has been on since about 1000z.
UPDATE 1405z: 11 stations have spotted me.
UPDATE 2105z: QRT now. Spotted by 24 stations today. See map by Phil VK7JJ.
10m 200mW WSPR (Sunday)
My beacon has been on most of the morning.
UPDATE 1211z: Best is a spot from Saudi Arabia.
UPDATE 1402z: 16 stations have spotted me with the best a station in Brazil. See table.
UPDATE 2110z: Now QRT. Spotted by 21 stations today.
Bullies always win?
At this time of year the RSPB in the UK runs the Big Garden Birdwatch when people observe the greatest number of each bird type seen in an hour. I have been doing it for years.
This year has been the poorest with very few small birds seen - 5 species with mostly larger birds.
This seems like the world at large sadly. Often those with money and power dominate those smaller than them.
The world is changed by small steps of kindness one step at a time. The bullies of the world must not win.
136kHz QRSS3 experiments
One of the things I like about amateur radio is that it may be enjoyed in so many ways. About 13 years I was experimenting on 136kHz QRSS3.
Google (non)Adsense
Last evening my visitor count to this blog went up by a factor of about x10 in an hour!! This is clearly total rubbish.
It's very flattering but clearly not correct. I am not sure how this is calculated, but the algorithm needs changing!
24 Jan 2026
No radio today
As we went to Peterborough by train today, I did not go on today. I shall probably try 10m 200mW WSPR again tomorrow.
Ouse Washes, UK
This is part of the Fens in the east of England. It is rich agricultural land. In the winter, this stretch known as the Bedford Levels sometimes (intentionally) floods. It was created in the 1600s by the Dutch engineer Vermuyden. It is a famous place for migrating Whooper and Bewick Swans.
This was the view from the moving train between Peterborough and Ely earlier.
See https://www.britannica.com/biography/Cornelius-Vermuyden .
MLite-880 receiver
This is available via Aliexpress and seems to be a portable receiver with lots of features. It is not cheap. I see there is a video on it by Tech Minds on YouTube. "Made in China" seems to be on most things these days.
23 Jan 2026
Wicken windmill
Wicken is near Cambridge, UK. The windmill there has more sail rotations recorded than any windmills in the country.
Article 5 of NATO
This is a quote from the BBC website:
"UK Defence Secretary John Healey says British troops who died in Afghanistan should be remembered as "heroes who gave their lives in service of our nation".
After Donald Trump's claim that Nato forces stayed "a little off the front lines" during the conflict, Healey points out that UK and Nato allies "answered the US call," the only time the alliance's Article 5 has been triggered.
"More than 450 British personnel lost their lives" in the conflict, he writes on X.
"Those British troops should be remembered for who they were: heroes who gave their lives in service of our nation."
Nato's Article 5 states that an armed attack against one member "shall be considered an attack against them all"."
See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news .
The message would appear to be check facts first.
6m 5W FT8 (Friday)
My gear was turned on at about 1150z.
UPDATE 1328z: So far spotted by 7 English stations.
"That's a good question"
How many times have you heard this? In my view this is a phrase used by people thinking about an answer or not having an answer!
QRP Labs
It would seem that the big Japanese manufacturers are using very conservative designs. It is interesting how much less some other companies can make products for .
It suggests the consumer is really being ripped off by these big manufacturers. In the future, I am sure a major shake-up is coming and not all will survive.
10m 200mW WSPR (Friday)
My beacon was turned on at breakfast.
UPDATE 1159z: 4 stations have spotted me with the best EA8BFK (2880km).
UPDATE 1412z: Spotted by 7 stations. See map by Phil VK7JJ of WSPR Rocks.
22 Jan 2026
WSPR
Recently, I have been using 200mW WSPR on 10m and 630m WSPR RX. I have been pleasantly surprised how well it works.
Many now prefer FT8. I use both, although WSPR works with signals about 10dB weaker and takes up far less spectrum. WSPR is a beaconing mode whereas FT8 can be used for basic QSOs.
The Trump Report
Most days I watch the Trump Report on Times Radio.
They interview some very important people. The interview with John Bolton is now a few days old. In Donald Trump world this can seem like a few years ago.
I am sure he has supporters, but he upsets many people when really this is uncalled for. He may have a world view that differs from mine, which is fine, but please always respect others who passionately hold different views.
Being the leader of the West calls for diplomacy and tact at all times from every leader.
10m 200mW WSPR TX (Thursday)
My beacon was turned on at 0920z.
630m WSPR RX overnight
Overnight I monitored 630m WSPR. Again, 5 stations were spotted with the best OH1LSQ (1733km) and an LA.
21 Jan 2026
10m 200mW WSPR (Wednesday)
My gear is on.(no it wasn’t! See below)
UPDATE 1833z: Nobody spotted me today - blackout?
UPDATE 2253z: It helps if you switch it on!! My beacon had no power all day 🥴.
630m WSPR RX overnight
Overnight I stayed on 630m WSPR RX.
UPDATE 0940z: Overnight 5 stations spotted. See table.
20 Jan 2026
630m WSPR RX (Tuesday)
The impression I am getting is the IC705 is a few dB more sensitive than my Zachtek WSPR RX. At the moment I am monitoring 630m WSPR RX using my IC-705.
UPDATE 1909z: 3 stations spotted with the best F6CWA (950 km). Using the coax to my 2m big-wheel antenna (via an ATU) and a mains earth.
WSPR receive
Just now I tried my Zachtek WSPR RX out by trying to decode my own signals. Success. Overnight I may go on 630m WSPR RX using it.
UPDATE 1704z: For some reason, no decodes of mine appear on WSPRnet. Is this me or WSPRnet? I think it is me.
Solar storm
We appear to be in the midst of a solar storm. Last night the aurora was visible far further sound than normal. I would have expected good auroral conditions on 10m, 6m,4m and 2m.
University of the Third Age
Since I retired , I have really enjoyed learning just for fun. I have enjoyed a variety of subjects, some well away from things I would have gravitated to. No exams, no coursework, no homework - pure fun. Most have been in Cambridge and a few on Zoom. Being Cambridge we have a huge range of courses, often given by ex-university lecturers.
This term one of my courses was by Zoom about the ills of the brain. The lecturer is supposed to have given the course already last year. It was clear even last week at the first talk of a series of 10 that she knew nothing about Zoom and I have now given up! One week I might have forgiven.
Last week she stopped 50 minutes early as she ran out of slides. Today she had to call a neighbour in to show her how to share her screen! If it was me I would have made sure that I knew the technology and had additional slides "just in case".
I don't understand
President Trump puzzles lots of people.
I can understand that he wants to make the USA strong. I can understand he wants to make the USA secure. What I don't understand his insistence on owning Greenland and imposing tariffs on his allies who oppose him. Surely he can achieve all the security he seeks within NATO?
It looks like he is playing into the hands of the Russia and Chinese leadership by potentially breaking up NATO and probably just walking away from Ukraine.
In May he was (allegedly) in favour of returning the Chagos Is to Mauritius and leasing back the US airbase. Now he is rude about it.
He is an enigma to so many.
In the end (in the next 20 years?) much of the world will decide they cannot (as in the past) rely on the USA in future and progressively move trade away from the USA. I can see the US dollar not being the world's reserve currency.
10m 200mW WSPR (Tuesday)
My beacon was turned on about breakfast time. Just local spots probably due to solar storms.
19 Jan 2026
Cambridge UK shop window
There are few visitors at this time of year.
10m 200mW WSPR (Monday)
My beacon was turned on before breakfast.
UPDATE 0812z: Just spots by a local so far.
UPDATE 1530z: Spotted by 24 stations. See map from WSPR Rocks by Phil VK7JJ.
UPDATE 1932z: 26 stations have spotted me . See table. QRT soon.
Kierkegaard
With Denmark much in the news lately, perhaps I should introduce him.
"There's always tomorrow"
In amateur radio there are many things still to try.
For example 23cm beacon hunting, /P 23cm UKAC, using my SDR receiver properly, monitoring 630m WSPR, SSTV, etc,etc..
Time and again I say, "there's always tomorrow".
When I was working time really mattered. In retirement, things can wait. Hopefully, there will be tomorrow to do these things.
The trouble is the list keeps growing! 😀
18 Jan 2026
6m 5W FT8 (Sunday)
My gear was turned on at 1435z.
UPDATE 1441z: Spotted by no stations? Odd. Perhaps a reset is called for.
UPDATE 1450z: PC reset. But spotted by G8SEI (133km) 11 minutes ago, so perhaps things were fine.
Icom IC-705
This radio was first introduced in 2020. Its price in the UK has recently been reduced. My personal opinion is that it represents much better value than the Yaseu FTX-1.
I have no idea what plans ICOM has for the future, but an IC-705A with a new form factor, an auto ATU built in, 4m, and USB-C socket would not surprise me aimed at the portable handheld market. They have the electronics, and could even use the same case.
Dull January
Everywhere there are hints of new life. Snowdrops are coming out and I have even seen a few daffodils in flower. Spring is still a way off, but it is getting better.
Greenland
Suddenly this frozen landmass has come into sharp focus with President Trump of the USA wanting to own it.
He claims he has to own it to defend it, despite Denmark and Greenland being in NATO. It is interesting that it has lots of rare earth materials as well.
Most countries of the world are opposed to the USA owning it unless the people of Greenland agree. They have the right to determine their future.
Reserve currencies?
Since the end of WW2, the US dollar has been the reserve currency of world trade, but recent events have brought that into question. In the short-term this may continue, but what about the future?
Way back during WW2 Keynes suggested a neutral "currency" called the Bancor that clearing banks only could use in world trade.
BRICS countries have suggested something else in place of the US dollar.
I do not know the future, but it seems clear the USA under President Trump is moving away from world trade, so the US dollar no longer makes sense as the world's reserve currency. Also, if the US dollar loses value what then?
Maybe it is time to reconsider the Bancor?
10m 200mW WSPR (Sunday)
My beacon was turned on at 0754z.
UPDATE 1200z: So far, 4 stations have spotted me with the best HZ1SF (4939km).
UPDATE 1510z: Spotted by 16 stations, with many in the USA. See table.
Are we eating less meat?
There is no doubt that meat prices are now very high. People are looking for lower cost alternatives that taste really good.
Probably we are being gently brainwashed through adverts to change our habits. It would not surprise me at all if meat consumption was down 50% in 20 years.
I enjoy my meat but, to be honest, many plant based alternatives are just as good. Yesterday I had a plant based minced pie and it was just as tasty. Although definitely not a vegetarian, I could be.
Also, in the last 10 years non-alcoholic beers have been transformed, Many now taste as good as beers with alcohol and there is far more choice.
Operating away from home
See https://vu3dxr.in/hotel-antenna-for-2-meter-and-70-centimeter-amateur-bands/
I am sure if you are an experimenter you could make a fold-up version with old co-ax.
17 Jan 2026
6m 5W FT8 (Saturday)
My gear was turned on about 5 minutes ago.
UPDATE 1509z: So far, spotted by just 5 English stations. Best DX is 171km away. This could be aircraft reflection , scatter, or normal flat-band tropo. Of course for a two-way QSO the path has to be open for long enough for the basics to be exchanged i.e. several minutes.
Ukraine
I watch quite a few videos about the Ukraine and Russia. Most say that inside Russia things are getting very hard, and now even harder with falling oil prices.
It would appear (outwardly at least) that Putin wants a new Russian Empire. He sees the destruction of Ukraine as a separate nation as something worth fighting for. The fall of Russia internally seems to be very slow in happening.
If the USA is pulled out of supporting Ukraine, I think the wrong message will be sent to the world that bullying succeeds.
70cm activity contest
Once a month I go on the 70cm activity contest (UKAC) organised by the RSGB.
Because of my poor voice I usually stay on for only the first 30 minutes.
I only use 10W pep and a 144MHz big-wheel omni. Despite these limitations I still manage to work over 100km away most times. No doubt the antenna at the other end helps!
UK "feel good" factor
It is usual to say the UK is "going to the dogs" and getting worse, but a recent article on the BBC sheds a different view. Whilst many older people have decreased confidence, confidence is increasing in younger people.
As the year progresses, inflation and interest rates are likely to fall.
Shetland Islands
It is generally, bleak, treeless and windy.
In the last few weeks they have had snowstorms.
Being that far north, days are short in winter.
10m 200mW WSPR (Saturday)
My beacon was turned on at 1038z.
UPDATE 1044z: So far, spotted by EA8BFK (2880km).
UPDATE 1500z: Spotted by 16 stations with the best V51RS (8481km). Amazing what 200mW WSPR to an indifferent, low, 10m antenna can do! See map from WSPR Rocks by Phil VK7JJ.
16 Jan 2026
6m 5W FT8 (Friday)
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UPDATE 1046z: So far 5 English stations have spotted me.
UPDATE 1707z: 15 stations have spotted me. See map.
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