20 Mar 2021
Overnight on 160m FT8 RX
19 Mar 2021
160m FT8 QRP (Friday)
At 1850z I QSYed to 160m FT8 with 2.5W and the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. It is now 1856z. So far this evening, 4 stations have spotted me on TX and I have spotted 22 stations on RX.
UPDATE 2030z: 16 stations have spotted me on QRP TX on 160m FT8 today.
136kHz beacon tests
Last week I mentioned that I had, by accident, found my 136kHz CW beacon. I also found my battery operated E-field probe which fits on a car mag-mount.
At the moment, during lockdown, we are only meant to leave the house for defined purposes. Just going out for a 136kHz test is not allowed, so I shall have to combine my tests with a walk for exercise. I have a possible test site, but may be able to test as we drive around if my wife drives the car. The beacon can be switched to QRSS, but I want to test "by ear" with 10wpm CW.
On TX the beacon is connected to the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. So far, I have never tried 136kHz TX outside the home. I did try 136kHz WSPR RX a few years ago.
17m FT8 QRP with 2.5W and the tiny indoor loop antenna
At 1345z the 17m FT8 QRP gear was turned on. So far today 22 stations have been spotted on RX and 3 stations have spotted me today so far on 15m FT8 QRP TX after just 10 minutes!!
UPDATE 1840z: 151 stations spotted on RX. 8 stations have spotted my QRP TX.
Red-legged partridges - NOT amateur radio
18 Mar 2021
Chinese electric commuter car - NOT amateur radio
The Chinese have launched a very low cost electric car aimed at commuters. It is a joint venture with General Motors. It is outselling Tesla cars by about 2:1. The standards in China are much lower than in Europe and the USA. At the moment it is only on sale in China.
It seems to me they have got their marketing spot on. In the west we have not got our electric car marketing correct. Our cars have (generally) got insufficient range for long distances and yet are far too expensive.
In what appears to be a stupid move, the UK government has today reduced the grant on electric cars under £35k and withdrawn it totally for cars over £35k. So much for encouraging us to go green!
In my view, the UK should launch a no frills electric car that fits the commuter range and can be charged at home. The government could actively encourage sales of these by strongly subsidising low cost electric cars made in the UK designed for commuters and local shopping trips.
See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-56178802 .
Spring....nearly
10m dipole
One of the simplest antennas is the dipole made of wire.
On 10m this is quite small being only about 5m long. Although I have been very impressed with my tiny indoor loops, an outside dipole should be several dBs better in the best directions.
Whereas, in the past, erecting this would have been a trivial task, my ladder days are largely over, so I depend on others now for erection. Hopefully my son can help in the coming weeks.
It would be good to have this up before the Es season starts, late next month. By the autumn I think we can expect the USA to come through regularly on 10m, even on 10m AM just above 29MHz.
I have an idea on where to hang it. This should be good for North America and Europe.
Echolink update
Southgate News reports that Echolink has been updated. I have to confess that I have not used Echolink for over a year. It allows you to talk via distant repeaters, although most of the ones I tried were very quiet. Finding any with activity was hard and this is one of the reasons I stopped.
An advantage of Echolink is network radios can be used. As long as you have the internet, then you can gain access.
Kind bee - NOT amateur radio
Fen landscapes - NOT amateur radio
17m FT8 QRP (Thursday)
At 0830z, I turned on my 2.5W QRP FT8 to the indoor loop on 17m. So far, no spots on PSKreporter even though there are several stations spotted.
UPDATE 1215z: 101 stations spotted on RX. 5 stations have spotted my QRP TX.
UPDATE 1348z: 7 stations have spotted my QRP today on 17m FT8 with the furthermost being AJ1AJ (5264km). 167 stations spotted on RX.
Stations spotting my 2.5W QRP on 17m FT8 with the tiny indoor loop |
Sunspots - Thursday March 18th 2021
Solar flux is 78 and the sunspot number 12. A=5 and K=2.
17 Mar 2021
Astra- Zeneca Covid-19 Vaccine - NOT amateur radio
I am deeply puzzled by some EU nations. I voted to stay in the EU in 2016, but am now convinced we did the correct thing leaving! They seem protectionist and slow beyond words!
Both the European Medicines Agency and the WHO have declared the AZ vaccine safe, yet still some nations insist on a pause. In the meantime many people will die and even more will be more vaccine-averse in months to come.
Surely investigate if you must, but do not in the meantime pause vaccinating people who so desperately need it. This stinks of crass stupidity on a massive scale. Sour grapes?
15m FT8 QRP (Wednesday)
Shortly, I hope to go on 15m FT8 with 2.5W and the tiny indoor loop antenna. It is now 1412z.
UPDATE 1701: Just 4 stations spotted on RX and no spots of me on QRP TX.
UPDATE 1930z: 27 stations spotted on RX and 2 stations have spotted my 2.5W on TX.
UPDATE 2030z: QRT. In the end 29 stations spotted on RX.
Kings, Cambridge - NOT amateur radio
OFCOM Auction
OFCOM has announced the results of the first stage of its recent spectrum auction. See the OFCOM website for details.
Yet again the big mobile phone companies have paid a lot for spectrum. It seems all OFCOM is interested in really is ££££££!
What happened to the GPO and enforcement?
The recent announcement about safeguarding the public from harmful EMF rings hollow.
Spring lambs - NOT amateur radio
This photo shows lambs a few years ago at a nearby National Trust property. It appeared as a FB memory today.
16 Mar 2021
Mother's Day in the UK - NOT amateur radio
2021 Friedrichshafen in June ON but Dayton cancelled, UK Hamfest - maybe
Southgate News reports that plans for an in-person Friedrichshafen in June are still going ahead. I do hope so. I think there is an online event too. This is one of the biggest amateur radio gatherings in the world.
See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2021/march/friedrichshafen-june-25-27.htm#.YFDDJiuTLrc
On a sadder note, the ARRL reports that the Dayton Hamvention is being cancelled for the second year. In the USA there is a great danger of a new spike in Covid-19 infections, so this is probably sensible.
The UK organisers of the National Hamfest is making a final decision in June.
Simple, low cost, digital mode transceivers
See https://midnightdesignsolutions.com/phaser/
UPDATE 1420z: Just ordered a 10m kit. Due May. I see the SMA parts are pre-fitted.
UPDATE 1620z: Someone asked me if I had given up on my ultra-simple DSB project. No, definitely going ahead still!
Shadows - NOT amateur radio
15m FT8 QRP (Tuesday)
It is now 1125z. I have been on 15m FT8 QRP with 2.5W and the indoor loop for about 30 minutes. So far, nobody has spotted me and I have spotted just 5 stations so far today.
UPDATE 1420z: Best station spotted on RX today is VP8NO (12722km) in the Falklands. Still no spots of my QRP on TX.
UPDATE 1656z: 10 stations only spotted today on 15m FT8 RX and nobody has spotted my QRP on TX.
15 Mar 2021
Kingfisher - NOT amateur radio
First cut - NOT amateur radio
10m FT8 transceiver
Steve G1KQH told me of a good, low cost, source of the crystal needed. This is in the USA, so I ordered some and these have now left Heathrow, London, so they must have been in stock and sent by air. I have no idea if I will have to pay VAT or duty. I hope not.
As my fine motor skills are poorer since my 2013 stroke, I want to build this in parts, probably starting with the RX. Assuming this is OK I shall have a go at the TX, then combine as a transceiver. Being largely based on the 10m WSPR WISPY it should work.
UPDATE 1220z: Crystals have arrived from the USA in the post just now. No duty or VAT to pay. Just need to build now! Excellent.
15m FT8 QRP (Monday)
At about 0910z, I turned on my 2.5W to the indoor loop on 15m FT8. No spots yet.
UPDATE 1116z: 13 stations spotted so far on RX. Nobody has yet spotted my QRP on TX.
UPDATE 1500z: 1 station has spotted my QRP FT8 on TX and I have spotted 37 stations on RX. including 2 in South America. Conditions do not seem that great on 15m today.
South African 8m beacon heard in Portugal
Yesterday, the South African 8m beacon was spotted in Portugal. I guess this was TEP.
Pommes de terre gratin Dauphinoise - NOT amateur radio
14 Mar 2021
No radio today
Today, I have not been on the radio on any band. Usually I go on an HF band in the day and 2m FT8 in the evening.
10m simple (not necessarily single) sideband transceiver
10m is coming back to life.
At any point in the solar cycle it can be good for Es contacts (in the Es seasons especially) with low power and simple antennas. This autumn we could well see some real F2 DX more commonly on 10m.
One of my aims in the past was to design a very simple rig for 10m sideband that almost anybody could build. Sadly, my health got in the way and even this is probably beyond me now. Others may well have better ideas. All I want is someone to have a go.
I can see a simple 10m kit in my mind that could be built at really low cost on a single PCB with a simple case. All this to allow everyone to get on 10m phone for less than the cost of one meal out (remember those!?).
My (dated now) ideas were here.