7 Aug 2011
Internet data usage measurement?
Although my ISP doesn't appear to set limits on the amount of data I download, can anyone tell me how I can measure the amount of data I am actually downloading each day or each week?
Labels:
download internet
The financial crisis - living beyond our means?
The financial problems that have become apparent since 2008 can be put down to individuals and nations living beyond their means. How can the US government continue with an exponentially increasing debt? Why do people crank up huge credit card bills when they have no likelihood of ever paying them off? Why do many wealthy individuals in places like Greece make tax avoidance a way of life?
What happens next is hard to figure out but we are in for a period of pain and readjustment. Just maybe the outcome, eventually, will be a good and fair one but I can't help thinking we are entering troubled times where the threat of violent revolution is not far away. This is a time when moderate people with good judgement need to make the voice of reason clearly heard.
What happens next is hard to figure out but we are in for a period of pain and readjustment. Just maybe the outcome, eventually, will be a good and fair one but I can't help thinking we are entering troubled times where the threat of violent revolution is not far away. This is a time when moderate people with good judgement need to make the voice of reason clearly heard.
Labels:
financial crisis
HF noise levels
It is sad how much the noise floor has risen at my QTH in the last few years. Listening on 160 and 80m is now almost impossible on a vertical because of the wideband noise that obliterates the band to an S8-9 level. The noise is there right through to above 17m. Thankfully 10m with the horizontal halo is still pretty clear. Apart from my experiments at VLF and LF I am now tempted to move back to the VHF/UHF bands for serious operation.
Labels:
hf noise
4 Aug 2011
VLF beacon transmitter schematic
G3XBM's VLF 5W Earth Mode Beacon |
Labels:
earth mode,
qrp,
vlf
2 Aug 2011
Braintree LF/VLF talk slides
The slides from my LF/VLF talk at the Braintree and District Amateur Radio Society on Monday August 1st 2011 are now available on-line. BADARS is a small but active radio club in Essex and I was given a very warm welcome by the members.
31 Jul 2011
10m tropo
Weak signal modes never cease to amaze me. This evening I've been exchanging 5W WSPR reports with G4CUI 173km away near Sheffield on 10m by what I presume is tropo. Running WSPR for hours on end certainly shows unexpected paths popping up from time to time. Even 5W is enough with this mode, and I assume modes like JT65.
If properly exploited by using weak signal modes like JT65 and WSPR 10m could be a great inter-G band even with QRP and small antennas. I wonder who will be the first G station to Work All Britain on 10m JT65 with QRP?
If properly exploited by using weak signal modes like JT65 and WSPR 10m could be a great inter-G band even with QRP and small antennas. I wonder who will be the first G station to Work All Britain on 10m JT65 with QRP?
30 Jul 2011
Very accurate QTH locator data
Today I found that my very accurate full QTH locator is JO02DG85VD by looking at http://no.nonsense.ee/qthmap/?qth, zooming in and reading out the 10 digit alphanumeric code. You may want to try and find yours too if you want to know distances from another station very accurately.
Labels:
qth locator
28 Jul 2011
IC7000 versus FT450D?
As a keen QRPer I'm usually quite happy with 5W (sometimes 10W) but I'm considering upgrading my IC703 to a newer radio as it is now many years since I've done so. My main (non-LF/VLF) interest remains 10m and 6m although I quite fancy doing more on 2m and 70cm SSB. With HF conditions unlikely to be great in the coming years (even with cycle 24 peaking soon) maybe a little more power would be useful at times. Also, improved filtering and DSP functionality could be helpful as the HF bands get noisier.
The favourites on my shortlist are either an FT450D or an IC7000 as www.eham.net reviews give both radios good scores and these are feature-rich small radios. The IC7000 is quite a bit more expensive but adds 2m and 70cms. I'm wondering if readers can make any recommendations please based on personal experience? The other option is to wait another 6-9 months until the Elecraft KX3 appears.
Finally, in the UK, what is the best deal on these radios? I want a supplier who is likely to be around in 3 years time, a long warranty and the best price!
The favourites on my shortlist are either an FT450D or an IC7000 as www.eham.net reviews give both radios good scores and these are feature-rich small radios. The IC7000 is quite a bit more expensive but adds 2m and 70cms. I'm wondering if readers can make any recommendations please based on personal experience? The other option is to wait another 6-9 months until the Elecraft KX3 appears.
Finally, in the UK, what is the best deal on these radios? I want a supplier who is likely to be around in 3 years time, a long warranty and the best price!
Goats, rabbits and pigs
Amateur radio activity has been on hold this week as our younger grandson has been here to stay. Today we went to Wimpole Home Farm and he enjoyed making friends with the goats, rabbits and pigs. Here he is trying to get friendly with some very tame goats.
Labels:
grandson
25 Jul 2011
Braintree LF/VLF talk next week
Next Monday, August 1st, I've been invited to share my interest in LF/VLF with members of the Braintree Radio Club in Essex. The talk starts around 8pm and will cover my (dead simple) approach to MF, LF and VLF as well as giving some insight into the recent work in Europe by VLF enthusiasts with both earth-mode and radiated DXing. I'm looking forward to this.
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