Tour de France - live action

On our way through Burgundy today we got diverted because of a roadblock at St Fargeau which turned out to be because the Tour de France was coming through. We were able to watch the whole "circus" coming through over about 2 hours and took some great pictures and video clips from about 10m from the  racing cycles. I'd no idea that, before the riders came through, there are loads of vehicles throwing goodies to the waiting crowds. I managed to catch a Frisbee that my grandson will have when he next comes to stay. Great fun and an opportunity to be part of the real French experience, purely by chance.

French food

Being in France currently it gives me a chance to try some good, and inexpensive food. This evening we've enjoyed a first class 4 course meal with wine that was superb. Carpaccio (marinated raw beef with a pear sorbet - tastes wonderful) followed by Loire fish, cheeses, and a delicious sorbet and tart and good coffee to follow. Tomorrow there are a few more chateau visits. I can recommend Logis de France as good value places to stay and eat.

Miracle Whip Yahoo group

Many years ago now I started a Yahoo group for people interested in the Miracle Whip and similar antennas. Amazingly the group now has over 1200 members.  Opinions vary about the effectiveness of the MW - in my opinion it is a compromise antenna that is inferior to many simple whip antennas - but it is easy to tune and with a counterpoise or reasonable ground does allow DX contacts on all modes when conditions are decent. See http://groups.yahoo.com/group/miraclewhip/ .

French wedding

These last few days we've been enjoying our son's wedding in Brittany, France where the weather, company, food and wine have been great. Unlike an English wedding, this one has taken 3 days to get through! Great fun though with a day dedicated to eating crepes (pancakes) yesterday followed by a siesta in a meadow under the oak trees!

Solar flux levels

We're now months into cycle 24, yet the solar flux levels are showing little signs of rising much: they're still in the mid 70s only and the sunspot count is below 20. Recent predictions have suggested it's going to be a very weak cycle and events so far confirm this. However, the sun throws surprises and in 6 months time the picture may be better. We can only hope. See http://www.solen.info/solar/

300m long kite antenna for VLF transmission

Stefan DK7FC has now received permission from the German authorities to use a 300m long kite antenna in daylight to transmit below 9kHz. With this antenna, 200m longer than his previous one, he should be able to run up to 16mW ERP which is 10dB more than when he lasted tested on 8.97kHz. A stronger signal should allow more stations to copy his signal.

GQRP Limerick Sudden kit

The GQRP club (subs £6 per year - excellent value) is now selling the Limerick Sudden kit. This is an improved version of the classic Sudden direct conversion receiver for various single HF bands. The cost includes everything you need including battery , knobs and case. See http://www.gqrp.com/sales.htm. Members Price - only £34.00 (Non members £40)

Supporting MS research by skydiving

A young friend of ours, Josie, has multiple sclerosis (MS) very badly and it has devastated her life in many ways. Undaunted, yesterday Josie did a skydive to raise money for the MS Society charity. So far she has raised over £1500. She is so plucky. If you care to give something please visit http://www.justgiving.com/Jo-Hardiman. Two others in our family have had MS, one of whom died a few years ago. It really is a most awful condition that robs, mainly young people, of their hope and future. Josie's uncle was Len G4IRZ.

Not quite QRP - the Haiku Omega VLF transmitter

Jim M0BMU has posted a link on the LF reflector to a site showing the Omega beacon antennas and transmitter at Haiku Valley in Hawaii. This very accurate beacon system operating just above 10kHz. It has now closed being largely replaced by GPS. My house and entire garden would fit twice in the room shown as "the dummy load room".

VHF NFD next weekend

Next weekend it is VHF NFD so there will be a good opportunity for some QRP DXing on the VHF bands. In past contests I've managed to work way up to Scotland from here with just a small halo and 5W. This sort of DXing sometimes requires going on to CW to complete contacts though. Best times, ignoring conditions, are usually early Sunday morning as the sun is rising, when tropo conditions are good, or late in the contest when stations are looking for new stations to work.