29 Apr 2018
"Our" windmill - NOT amateur radio
Should she go? - NOT amateur radio
Amber Rudd, the UK Home Secretary, is under fire for her ignorance of targets for getting rid of illegal immigrants. As Home Secretary she should have known. She was sent a memo and has no excuse! Either she lied or does not read what she is sent. Mind you, the Prime Minister of the UK is not exactly faultless either.
Personally I think Amber Rudd should fall on her sword and leave her post. One of the downsides of high office is you have to take responsibility.
If Theresa May goes as PM I have no idea who would replace her as we lack decent leaders in all parties. Sadly, can you think of even one charismatic leader in the western world? I can't.
See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-43925749
Personally I think Amber Rudd should fall on her sword and leave her post. One of the downsides of high office is you have to take responsibility.
If Theresa May goes as PM I have no idea who would replace her as we lack decent leaders in all parties. Sadly, can you think of even one charismatic leader in the western world? I can't.
See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-43925749
Smart Meters - NOT amateur radio
Several years ago my energy provider contacted me to arrange a smart meter fitting. We agreed a date and a time. We emptied cupboards to ease access. We waited and waited, but no-one came!
It seems the supplier only communicates with others in its own company by computer and they failed in this instance. You could say they, "couldn't organise a piss up in a brewery" as my old dad would have said. I certainly get very fed up with communicating with computers! All their letters seem to be generated by a computer and, one day, it will be very hard to find a real human being to speak with.
Ever since then, I have told them to go away when I get emails offering me fittings. Now, I have little doubt that, used intelligently, these could save money, but I shall wait.
My bank is similar - a while back it took 3 different people 33 minutes to explain something that should have been made clear in a letter I had already received. 2 of these calls were with an Indian call centre. Now I have no problems with India - indeed these people tried very hard - but I do object to being a faceless number. Years ago I could walk in to my local branch and speak with the manager who actually knew me and cared! I'd better stop as I sound like a grumpy old man!!
So, I read with interest some links copied to me by Steve G1KQH which are below.
It seems the supplier only communicates with others in its own company by computer and they failed in this instance. You could say they, "couldn't organise a piss up in a brewery" as my old dad would have said. I certainly get very fed up with communicating with computers! All their letters seem to be generated by a computer and, one day, it will be very hard to find a real human being to speak with.
Ever since then, I have told them to go away when I get emails offering me fittings. Now, I have little doubt that, used intelligently, these could save money, but I shall wait.
My bank is similar - a while back it took 3 different people 33 minutes to explain something that should have been made clear in a letter I had already received. 2 of these calls were with an Indian call centre. Now I have no problems with India - indeed these people tried very hard - but I do object to being a faceless number. Years ago I could walk in to my local branch and speak with the manager who actually knew me and cared! I'd better stop as I sound like a grumpy old man!!
So, I read with interest some links copied to me by Steve G1KQH which are below.
10m FT8 again
Yet again, I am on 10m FT8.
Just before breakfast I was on TX with 2.5W (no spots) and since I have been RX only, so far spotting no-one.
Yesterday and the day before 10m FT8 allowed me to spot loads of South American stations. The Es season is nearing, so soon there will be lots of EU stations.
UPDATE 0919z: Now a couple of stations spotted with best DX on 10m FT8 RX F5RRS (818km).
UPDATE 1118z: Europeans from Italy and Spain now spotted on 10m FT8. 7 stations in 4 countries. Best DX on 10m FT8 RX is currently EA4DAU (1375km).
UPDATE 1735z: Now 20 different Europeans spotted today on 10m FT8 in 5 countries. Best DX is EA7DT (1781km). Some of these spots (time and distance) look like Es.
UPDATE 2120z: PU5SVE (9900km) spotted on 10m FT8 this evening. That's 3 evenings in a row with 10m FT8 DX spotted. In all, 25 different stations spotted today on 10m FT8 RX in 7 countries. Soon be time to go QRT. Went QRT at 2140z.
Just before breakfast I was on TX with 2.5W (no spots) and since I have been RX only, so far spotting no-one.
Yesterday and the day before 10m FT8 allowed me to spot loads of South American stations. The Es season is nearing, so soon there will be lots of EU stations.
UPDATE 0919z: Now a couple of stations spotted with best DX on 10m FT8 RX F5RRS (818km).
UPDATE 1118z: Europeans from Italy and Spain now spotted on 10m FT8. 7 stations in 4 countries. Best DX on 10m FT8 RX is currently EA4DAU (1375km).
UPDATE 1735z: Now 20 different Europeans spotted today on 10m FT8 in 5 countries. Best DX is EA7DT (1781km). Some of these spots (time and distance) look like Es.
UPDATE 2120z: PU5SVE (9900km) spotted on 10m FT8 this evening. That's 3 evenings in a row with 10m FT8 DX spotted. In all, 25 different stations spotted today on 10m FT8 RX in 7 countries. Soon be time to go QRT. Went QRT at 2140z.
New Abba recordings - NOT amateur radio
So Abba has recorded some new material. They are a "feel good" group that did much in the 1980s. I hope these new recordings are a great success.
See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-43925749
See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-43925749
Miracle antennas and similar
If you are after a simple antenna for HF you may be interested. Certainly, if used with a counterpoise, these are capable of useful (but not great) performance, especially on the higher HF bands.
Like all such antennas, they are compromises. In my experience you must use a good earth or counterpoise, otherwise they will be well down on every reasonable HF antenna. On the higher HF bands they can be quite useful, especially in the Es season when signals can be strong. They are simple to adjust, but they can never be miracles! They work (at best) like a small whip.
In my limited experience loops work better, but loops are narrow band and require frequent retuning if moving far in frequency.
See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/antennas/mwhip
VHF AM
It is a number of years since I last used VHF AM. At one time nearly all VHF activity was AM. These days most activity is FM with DX being mainly SSB, with FT8 coming up fast. Ex private mobile radio (PMR) AM kit is often very inexpensive.
See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/vuhf/2am
See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/vuhf/2am
Sainsbury's and Asda merger? - NOT amateur radio
There is no doubt that all over the world, the retail market is changing. More and more of us are buying goods online as it is so convenient and fast: you no longer have to take the car to town and often prices are better.
As an example my wife bought 3 lens caps for her camera. These came with free airmail from Hong Kong at prices way below UK retail prices in town. A few years ago I bought a kit radio transceiver from China. Even with free airmail it was cheaper than just one part in the UK. I built it and it worked first time. It is no wonder stores like Maplin in the UK are suffering.
The big supermarkets are suffering and looking to make economies and yet still trying to get us to come into their stores. This is happening all over the world.
I have no idea how this will end, but the big supermarkets have to adapt or go out of business. It is a very difficult environment and lots of well known brands will die. In 20 years our high streets will be quite different. We live in a time of rapid and great change.
Now we hear Sainsbury's and Asda are in merger talks. These are large UK food stores. A merger is likely followed by store closures and rationalisation.
In our own local town (Newmarket) Waitrose is already struggling and will suffer more when a new Aldi store opens. Although my wife enjoys visiting food stores, I'd be happy to buy on line and I am typical.
See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-43933517
As an example my wife bought 3 lens caps for her camera. These came with free airmail from Hong Kong at prices way below UK retail prices in town. A few years ago I bought a kit radio transceiver from China. Even with free airmail it was cheaper than just one part in the UK. I built it and it worked first time. It is no wonder stores like Maplin in the UK are suffering.
The big supermarkets are suffering and looking to make economies and yet still trying to get us to come into their stores. This is happening all over the world.
I have no idea how this will end, but the big supermarkets have to adapt or go out of business. It is a very difficult environment and lots of well known brands will die. In 20 years our high streets will be quite different. We live in a time of rapid and great change.
Now we hear Sainsbury's and Asda are in merger talks. These are large UK food stores. A merger is likely followed by store closures and rationalisation.
In our own local town (Newmarket) Waitrose is already struggling and will suffer more when a new Aldi store opens. Although my wife enjoys visiting food stores, I'd be happy to buy on line and I am typical.
See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-43933517
Amateur VLF DX from Italy
A test signal on VLF from Italy has been copied in the UK, Germany and the Czech Republic. Some years ago the refrain was, "you won't get over the garden wall". Oh yeh?
This was from Paul Nicholson (Todmorden, UK) a few days ago:
"A very nice signal this morning,
http://78.46.38.217/fbins3.htm
Bearing 126.9, great circle is 127.8.
Paul Nicholson"
This was from Paul Nicholson (Todmorden, UK) a few days ago:
"A very nice signal this morning,
http://78.46.38.217/fbins3.htm
Bearing 126.9, great circle is 127.8.
Paul Nicholson"
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