14 Mar 2020
Meal out - NOT amateur radio
13 Mar 2020
Amazon and amateur radio
Amazon is a bit like the UK yeast spread Marmite: you either love it or hate it!
My wife and I really try to support local, village businesses. As our son tells us, without our trade they will just go. The local butcher does amazing bacon and the local bakers great soft rolls and pasties.
I digress. What I was going to say was that Amazon does a great range of amateur radio products and books. With Amazon Prime you can order these for next day delivery.
Our shopping habits are changing and many choose to order from the armchair and get them delivered to the door the next day. OK, we cannot browse as we can in a real shop, but returns are easy and painless.
I was saddened by our local chemist: last year my wife just wanted some nail scissors. Nothing fancy, just simple nail scissors. She was told they had no stock and were not getting any! She went on Amazon, ordered them and they were delivered promptly, for less money! If local businesses are to survive they have to stock common items at sensible prices. Many people will pay a little more to shop locally.
See https://www.amazon.co.uk/
My wife and I really try to support local, village businesses. As our son tells us, without our trade they will just go. The local butcher does amazing bacon and the local bakers great soft rolls and pasties.
I digress. What I was going to say was that Amazon does a great range of amateur radio products and books. With Amazon Prime you can order these for next day delivery.
Our shopping habits are changing and many choose to order from the armchair and get them delivered to the door the next day. OK, we cannot browse as we can in a real shop, but returns are easy and painless.
I was saddened by our local chemist: last year my wife just wanted some nail scissors. Nothing fancy, just simple nail scissors. She was told they had no stock and were not getting any! She went on Amazon, ordered them and they were delivered promptly, for less money! If local businesses are to survive they have to stock common items at sensible prices. Many people will pay a little more to shop locally.
See https://www.amazon.co.uk/
Indoor loop matching
The wire used in the loop is about 1mm diameter and the loop diameter about 45cm across. It just sits on my shack windowsill. It works far better than I ever expected.
As I mentioned before, if you cannot use an outside antenna and you enjoy modes that don't require lots of retuning, consider a loop!
2m FT8
A few moments ago I went on 2m FT8 again. As usual, I am using 10W to the big-wheel omni antenna. On 2m FT8 RX 2 stations in 2 countries spotted and on TX I have been spotted by 7 stations in 2 countries so far.
UPDATE 1028z: Now spotted by 11 stations in 4 countries with best DX a spot by EI3KD (583km) in or near Cork. One QSO so far with M0NPT (125km). On 2m FT8 RX, 3 stations in 3 countries spotted so far.
UPDATE 1128z: Now 6 stations in 4 countries spotted on 2m FT8 RX today so far.
UPDATE 1242z: Now 15 stations in 6 countries spotting my 10W 2m FT8 TX today so far.
UPDATE 1540z: Now spotted by 22 stations in 6 countries on 2m FT8 TX (10W) as the map shows.
UPDATE 2323z: Now QRT. In all 36 stations in 7 countries spotted my 10W FT8 on 2m today.
UPDATE 1028z: Now spotted by 11 stations in 4 countries with best DX a spot by EI3KD (583km) in or near Cork. One QSO so far with M0NPT (125km). On 2m FT8 RX, 3 stations in 3 countries spotted so far.
UPDATE 1128z: Now 6 stations in 4 countries spotted on 2m FT8 RX today so far.
UPDATE 1242z: Now 15 stations in 6 countries spotting my 10W 2m FT8 TX today so far.
UPDATE 2323z: Now QRT. In all 36 stations in 7 countries spotted my 10W FT8 on 2m today.
OFCOM
OFCOM has details of the release of additional 5G spectrum on its website. See the OFCOM website for more details.
Chestnut tree - NOT amateur radio
12 Mar 2020
That crash - NOT amateur radio
Anyone looking at the stock markets, oil prices and currencies in the UK will realise this was a very bad day.
Clearly people are spooked by the Coronavirus and how it is being dealt with. A year from now we will, hopefully, look back at this time in amazement. I think the biggest thing is the uncertainty: nothing quite like this has ever happened in our lifetimes and we are all grappling with uncertainties. The virus seems more easy to catch than flu. At the moment we have no immunity.
With luck and good hygiene, these very bad times will pass and things will recover. In the meantime, batten down the hatches!
Clearly people are spooked by the Coronavirus and how it is being dealt with. A year from now we will, hopefully, look back at this time in amazement. I think the biggest thing is the uncertainty: nothing quite like this has ever happened in our lifetimes and we are all grappling with uncertainties. The virus seems more easy to catch than flu. At the moment we have no immunity.
With luck and good hygiene, these very bad times will pass and things will recover. In the meantime, batten down the hatches!
6m UKAC
Tonight is the March leg of the 6m activity contest starting at 2000z.
The only antenna for the band is my V2000 vertical omni. I'll try with 10W and see how it goes. Usually less than an hour on air is enough for my poor voice in the 2m UKAC.
See https://www.rsgbcc.org/cgi-bin/contest_rules.pl?year=2020&contest=6mukac
UPDATE 2114z: Never again!! With my vertical antenna it was very noisy and only 2 signals were heard and not one worked! With my 6m set-up, this is one contest I am happy to ignore.
The only antenna for the band is my V2000 vertical omni. I'll try with 10W and see how it goes. Usually less than an hour on air is enough for my poor voice in the 2m UKAC.
See https://www.rsgbcc.org/cgi-bin/contest_rules.pl?year=2020&contest=6mukac
UPDATE 2114z: Never again!! With my vertical antenna it was very noisy and only 2 signals were heard and not one worked! With my 6m set-up, this is one contest I am happy to ignore.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
