Laziness or exhaustion? - NOT amateur radio

Quite a few people mistake my behaviour for laziness when I am actually totally exhausted. My worst time is after breakfast in the morning, when I feel totally drained. You would expect after a good night's sleep I would be at my best. After a rest of about 30 minutes I feel quite a bit better. On my feet I am always giddy.

My stroke 4 years ago left me largely unscathed but my voice is poor and I get tired (no, exhausted) after any form of physical or mental exertion. I very much wish things were better, but I think I need to reset my expectations: improvements are still to be had and many say my tiredness is due to my brain trying to rewire itself.

Sadly, I am unable to do many of the things I once could. This does not mean I can't live a full and interesting life though. Onwards and upwards!

Sunspots - Thursday January 11th 2018

Solar flux is 71 today and the sunspot number 11. A=5 and K=1.

630m WSPR RX last night - good

As you may recall, I still have to find out why I am unable to TX on MF. I think I am doing something stupid but my head is too foggy to work out what I am doing wrong.

So, overnight I tried an experiment: running the shack PC off its internal battery power to reduce the noise floor, so I was able to copy weaker signals. It seems to have worked!

Last night I spotted 12 unique stations, which is far more than usual.  I am pretty sure this includes a few stations not seen before on this antenna. I am sure there are other steps to try as well. All these need to be addressed before the autumn.

A good blog - G0LUJ

G0LUJ has been able to reliably copy my 630m 10mW ERP WSPR, although he recently had to relocate his RX antenna to beat local noise. He has a very interesting blog which is worth checking out.

See https://g0luj.blogspot.co.uk/

Hackers back?

In the last hour blog numbers have more than doubled quite suddenly. I am sure this is not radio hams on the USA west coast waking up! It would be good to believe this was true, but sadly I think not, HI.

QSYed to 630m WSPR RX

As I was unable to find out why I have no power on 630m (yet), I am on 630m WSPR RX only. At some point I shall turn off my PC battery charger in the hope of reducing my noise floor on that band.

UPDATE 1955z:  I have been on PC battery power for some while now (about 40 minutes) and already 7 unique stations spotted. The RX noise floor must be lower as more stations are being copied. Still using the coax to my 2m antenna as the antenna on RX via a ferrite rod ATU on the bench (see picture).

UPDATE 2010z: PC charger back on, so that I can run the PC on battery power overnight. So S/N of received signals should degrade whist the charger is on if this noise is limiting what I can spot.

UPDATE 2125z: Still using the PC on mains with the battery charger. On battery power (on the PC) spots of LA8AV are between -12 and -19dB S/N. With the PC on mains power with the charger running it is about 10dB worse, although with QSB it is hard to be precise.

UPDATE 2135z: Just started the PC on its battery power again. If the noise floor has dropped again LA8AV S/N should improve again.  Indeed his S/N is about 10dB better!

UPDATE 2206z: PC back on mains and PC battery is charging. In about an hour I shall be switching the PC to its battery power. This should last for several hours. Battery is currently 94% charged. Well I am on mains power and the PC battery is charging. LA8AV is still in the teens S/N. Ah, there goes another theory then.....

10m FT8 RX

Much later than usual, I went to 10m FT8 RX. So far the only station copied is PG0DX (411km).

Deep pockets?

If you have money to burn (not me!) you might want to consider the ICOM IC7610. According to Southgate News these are now selling. There is little doubt this is a "good" radio, but it is far more than I choose to spend. Even the IC7300 at under half the price I consider too much.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2018/january/ic-7610-hf-50mhz-sdr-transceiver-has-landed.htm#.WlYbx0x2v4g

Diesel cars - NOT amateur radio

A year ago I bought a low mileage diesel car which was about a year old. Fuel consumption is low and a year's road tax (just renewed) was nothing.

There seems to be a backlash against diesel cars, but as far as I am aware recent diesels are low emission, clean and efficient.

Until electric cars have a range of 300 miles plus, I am put off electric. Yes, in the end they will be better for the planet, but battery technology still has a way to go.

Amaryllis - NOT amateur radio

We have three of these magic plants. Just how do they grow so tall so fast and produce such magnificent flowers?