13 Apr 2016

CDARC 2m FM Net

This evening at 1900z I came on the 145.550MHz Cambridge Club net. I had a long chat with M0SND (Waterbeach) who gave me a 59+50dB report despite me running QRP to an omni-vertical. Alex is 92 years old  and was a regular on our Monday 2m net. It was good to talk with him again.

At one time (early 1970s) I was on the committee of the Cambridge club. It is some years since I last went to the club. I am not keen on driving in the dark these days.

See www.cdarc.co.uk  .

Return to 472kHz WSPR

We have been out most of the day at Felixstowe Ferry for a walk next to the sea and a lunch of fish (fresh) and chips at the old fashioned cafe that has been there since 1958.

I have been on 472kHz (630m) WSPR since 1936z. Only spots by M0LMH (223km) so far of my 5mW ERP, but the evening and night are young.

UPDATE 2100z:   LA8AV (1035km) is the best DX on RX so far tonight on 472kHz WSPR.

Steve G1KQH - NOT amateur radio

Steve did look for deals on eBay yesterday and found the Bluetooth smart watch for a little over £4. See yesterday's post. I do not understand how they do it for the price and ship it half way around the world.

Steve also sent me a link in which you can check MOT history.
See https://www.gov.uk/check-mot-history

40m WSPR overnight

No great DX last night with only European spots given and received overnight. On previous 40m WSPR outings I have been copied in North and South America and Australia. No such luck last night!

Sunspots and 10m - Wed April 13th 2016

Solar flux is 113 today. Sunspot number is 34 (K=4) and the forecast for 10m propagation is again "poor".

As there is a chance of thunder, I am not currently active on any band at present. I shall review the situation later.

12 Apr 2016

70cm UKAC

As usual, I entered the RSGB's monthly activity contest for 70cms using 5W pep and my 2m big-wheel antenna. I only stopped on for less than 1 hour because of my poor voice. 5 QSOs were made as shown on the map. Considering the QRP, poor antenna and my limited time, I was quite happy with the results.

QSY to 40m WSPR

After another disappointing day on 10m WSPR, I have QSYed to 40m WSPR for the evening and overnight.

UPDATE 1840z:  UA1ASB (2042km) is the best spot of my transmissions this evening so far. Plenty of spots given and received on 40m WSPR.

That EU referendum - NOT amateur radio

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-36024492

As a "floating voter" in the coming EU referendum I am not impressed by the £9M government publication going to each home and the negativity of the "IN" campaign.

Surely if staying in is a good thing, there are positive messages, not just more negative comments, that can be shared? My instinct is to vote "IN" but I may well change my mind.  I have a brain and intend to use it. I need to hear positive reasons to stay in the EU. All this negativity is counter-productive.

UPDATE 1850z:  I got this in the last hour. Apparently, if you return the leaflet to the freepost address, the Conservative  Party gets billed for the postage:


Another stroke after-effect

At one time, I just looked at a word and knew if it was wrong. These days I really struggle. As an example, on one of my other blogs I used the word "daffodils". I have to admit that I had to look up the word to see if it was daffodils or dafoddils. I am sure that this lack of seeing spelling errors is yet another post-stroke after-effect. It is more of an inconvenience than a real handicap, but I can see that this has changed. Strokes and brain injuries are odd things. Even 2.5 years after it all happened it is still causing me real problems.

BeoFeng Dual Band Transceiver for £18.99 (or lower) with free postage!

See http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BaoFeng-UV-5R-136-174-400-520-MHz-Dual-Band-DCS-DTMF-CTCSS-FM-Two-Way-Radio-/252233483100?hash=item3aba49835c:g:6RAAAOSwL7VWhdxu

Some of the prices for new amateur radio gear is just incredible. At these prices how can anyone make a profit? This is shipped from the UK too.

UPDATE 1235z:  OK, I give up! I have just seen it available even cheaper (£15.75) on eBay!! See http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BAOFENG-UV-5R-Dual-Band-UHF-VHF-Two-Way-Ham-FM-Radio-Speaker-Mic-Walkie-Talkie-/262371437743?hash=item3d168e6caf:g:JXkAAOSwJQdW-zkK
 No doubt Steve G1KQH will find the lowest price ones! Once he reads this he will be "on the case".

UPDATE 1246z: Or maybe a smart watch with Bluetooth for just over £7? See http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bluetooth-Smart-Wrist-Watch-Phone-Mate-For-Android-IOS-iPhone-Samsung-HTC-UK-/172150503333?var=&hash=item2814f837a5:m:mIJ9EQ_TPg5B29hjQ8cDS_Q