After a few days' break, I have returned to WSPR on 472kHz. As before, I am using about 10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. I am on RX 75% of the time and 25% on TX. After the initial TX period, no spots.
UPDATE 2128z: 3 spots on RX so far.
11 Oct 2019
UK VHF/UHF-only beginners licence?
Southgate News has a piece on a possible "beginners licence" to encourage VHF/UHF activity. This would be non-technical and with restrictions on power and bands. Certainly a casual look at our VHF and UHF bands would suggest these are not well used and maybe we should be encouraging use of these bands. Back in the 1980s, these bands were busy.
See http://southgatearc.org/news/2019/october/new-uk-entry-level-licence-proposed.htm
See http://southgatearc.org/news/2019/october/new-uk-entry-level-licence-proposed.htm
Bill's - NOT amateur radio
I wrote to explain our disappointment and they offered us a free meal for 2 in the Bill's in Cambridge. We went there for lunch today and they worked hard to make amends. The service and the food were fine.
Of all the places to eat in Cambridge our favourite is still Cote Brasserie, They offer good fixed price menus of either 2 or 3 courses. Every month they vary the menu.
Non-scientific research - NOT amateur radio
As I was in Cambridge today, I felt compelled to carry out some research.
As I stood outside a shop in Cambridge today I observed the use of mobile phones by young people. Older people tend not to use mobile phones as much. My method was to observe male and females who were walking alone. My highly scientific methodology was to count the number of males and females using mobile phones. Some were listening to music, some were texting and some were surfing. I guess some were even using it as a phone!
In the time I counted 16 males and 13 females on their mobile phones.
Conclusions? My feeling is that as many males as females were using their mobile phones. The sample size was really far too small. A year ago, there were far more females than males using mobile phones. A year ago I concluded the females were saying, "go away as I am not available". Today I guess younger people are using them to connect, although I have no evidence.
As I stood outside a shop in Cambridge today I observed the use of mobile phones by young people. Older people tend not to use mobile phones as much. My method was to observe male and females who were walking alone. My highly scientific methodology was to count the number of males and females using mobile phones. Some were listening to music, some were texting and some were surfing. I guess some were even using it as a phone!
In the time I counted 16 males and 13 females on their mobile phones.
Conclusions? My feeling is that as many males as females were using their mobile phones. The sample size was really far too small. A year ago, there were far more females than males using mobile phones. A year ago I concluded the females were saying, "go away as I am not available". Today I guess younger people are using them to connect, although I have no evidence.
20m FT8 RX with the tiny indoor loop
As 10m was dire here yesterday, I decided to try 20m FT8 RX using the tiny wire loop on the back of the rig indoors. I made the switch yesterday afternoon. In the last day, 618 stations on 4 continents spotted.
10 Oct 2019
More UK rallies
Sunday 13 OCTOBER : HORNSEA AMATEUR RADIO RALLY
Floral Hall, Hornsea HU18 1NQ. Doors open at 10am with admission being £2 with under 14s free. There will be trade stands exhibiting radio equipment, computers etc. The Bring & Buy will be run by Hornsea ARC. There will be an RSGB book stand. Hot and cold food will be available in the café. See latest information on www.hornseaarc.co.uk or contact Les, 2E0LBJ on 01377 252393 or by email lbjpinkney1@hotmail.co.uk.
13 OCTOBER 2019 (NEW VENUE) : HOLSWORTHY RADIO RALLY
Holsworthy Leisure Centre, Well Park, Western Road, Holsworthy, Devon EX22 6DH. There will be Traders, a Bring & Buy and catering will be available on site. The venue has separate disabled access via the Traders side door entrance. A club steward will be on duty in the car park. Doors open 8am for Traders and 10am for visitors. Email Howard, M0MYB at holsworthyarc@gmail.com [https://www.qsl.net/m0omc/].
A list of rallies can be found at http://rsgb.org/main/news/rall
Floral Hall, Hornsea HU18 1NQ. Doors open at 10am with admission being £2 with under 14s free. There will be trade stands exhibiting radio equipment, computers etc. The Bring & Buy will be run by Hornsea ARC. There will be an RSGB book stand. Hot and cold food will be available in the café. See latest information on www.hornseaarc.co.uk or contact Les, 2E0LBJ on 01377 252393 or by email lbjpinkney1@hotmail.co.uk.
13 OCTOBER 2019 (NEW VENUE) : HOLSWORTHY RADIO RALLY
Holsworthy Leisure Centre, Well Park, Western Road, Holsworthy, Devon EX22 6DH. There will be Traders, a Bring & Buy and catering will be available on site. The venue has separate disabled access via the Traders side door entrance. A club steward will be on duty in the car park. Doors open 8am for Traders and 10am for visitors. Email Howard, M0MYB at holsworthyarc@gmail.com [https://www.qsl.net/m0omc/].
A list of rallies can be found at http://rsgb.org/main/news/rall
Extinction Rebellion - NOT amateur radio
I am not sure what I think about this.
It seems to me to be totally wrong if the UK government is subsidising fossil fuels when we should be doing all we can to persuade people to adopt "carbon neutral" solutions for everything. If we are even to meet carbon neutral by 2050 targets then people really have to change. This is not optional. This means eating less red meat and adopting energy saving methods in all new homes.
At the same time the Extinction Rebellion protests may turn people off. This is a hard one, but I think the duty of government is to encourage habits to change.
Electric cars will be the norm when they are less expensive and ranges better. This alone is not enough. The Prime Minister of the UK is wrong when he labels protesters as "crusties". We are seeing really concerned people of all shades protesting.
It seems to me to be totally wrong if the UK government is subsidising fossil fuels when we should be doing all we can to persuade people to adopt "carbon neutral" solutions for everything. If we are even to meet carbon neutral by 2050 targets then people really have to change. This is not optional. This means eating less red meat and adopting energy saving methods in all new homes.
At the same time the Extinction Rebellion protests may turn people off. This is a hard one, but I think the duty of government is to encourage habits to change.
Electric cars will be the norm when they are less expensive and ranges better. This alone is not enough. The Prime Minister of the UK is wrong when he labels protesters as "crusties". We are seeing really concerned people of all shades protesting.
BREXIT rabbits? - NOT amateur radio
Unless there is a metaphorical rabbit about to be pulled out of a hat, I think the UK Prime Minister is about to see the total annihilation of the Conservative Party and a General Election. At the moment I think a BREXIT deal seems unlikely.
We are in totally uncharted waters in the UK and no-one knows what the next few weeks will bring.
We are in totally uncharted waters in the UK and no-one knows what the next few weeks will bring.
The Yaesu FT7 HF transceiver
It was never used mobile. These days more bands are possible in about a fifth of the size. It was sold to a friend in Cambridge many years ago.
It had a very quiet (non-synthesised) VFO. As I recall it only covered parts of 10m. The later FT7B had more power and full 10m coverage. This is the best rig I have ever owned.
See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/ft7 .
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