10m WSPR as been given up today as a lost cause and I am now on 472kHz (630m) WSPR with 10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. G3KEV (232km) spotted, of course as he has huge antennas, and 3 spots of me.
UPDATE 2112z: So far this evening 9 spots of others with best DX LA8AV (1035km) and 3 spots of my 10mW ERP.
7 Oct 2018
What a difference - 2m and 6m FT8
Outside of the Es season there is a huge difference between 2m FT8 and 6m FT8. 2m seems to be very busy indeed, whereas 6m FT8 is almost devoid of activity.
Any of my QRP CQs is spotted by loads of stations on 2m FT8 whereas I'd be very lucky to be spotted at all on 6m FT8. Although I have been on 6m FT8 all day, I have spotted just one station here. On 2m FT8 yesterday I had already spotted loads of stations in 7 countries in the same period.
During the Es season 6m FT8 is much busier. I guess 2m FT8 is a safe bet with tropo and aircraft reflection. It is a pity more don't stay on 6m outside the Es season to see how it behaves.
Any of my QRP CQs is spotted by loads of stations on 2m FT8 whereas I'd be very lucky to be spotted at all on 6m FT8. Although I have been on 6m FT8 all day, I have spotted just one station here. On 2m FT8 yesterday I had already spotted loads of stations in 7 countries in the same period.
During the Es season 6m FT8 is much busier. I guess 2m FT8 is a safe bet with tropo and aircraft reflection. It is a pity more don't stay on 6m outside the Es season to see how it behaves.
10m WSPR
As the HF antenna is available, I am on 10m WSPR TX (500mW). If I get any spots during the day it will be a bonus!
The beacon does not need a PC and is totally stand-alone. It is 100% TX but randomly changes frequency within the 200Hz window every 2 minutes. It has been on for about 20 minutes so far. No spots!
UPDATE 1830z: Still no spots. QRT soon.
The beacon does not need a PC and is totally stand-alone. It is 100% TX but randomly changes frequency within the 200Hz window every 2 minutes. It has been on for about 20 minutes so far. No spots!
UPDATE 1830z: Still no spots. QRT soon.
St Ives (Cambridgeshire) - NOT amateur radio
It makes a good summary of our trip, which is why it is included here.
At the top is the famous bridge and at the bottom is the market.
6m FT8
It is now way outside of the main Es season, but I decided to try 6m FT8 today. The rig and PC went on about 0830z. I called CQ briefly, but got no spots. Nothing received either.
UPDATE 1744z: 11 stations in 3 countries so far today on 6m FT8 RX. Best DX on 6m FT8 RX today is CT7ANG (1801km).
UPDATE 1744z: 11 stations in 3 countries so far today on 6m FT8 RX. Best DX on 6m FT8 RX today is CT7ANG (1801km).
6 Oct 2018
More amateur VLF transmissions
Riccardo IW4DXW has been doing more 8.27kHz VLF TX tests, but most stations in Europe have failed to decode him.
Inspired by DK7FC, Stefan, he hopes to do some "guard rail" loop tests soon.
See https://sites.google.com/site/sub9khz/
Inspired by DK7FC, Stefan, he hopes to do some "guard rail" loop tests soon.
See https://sites.google.com/site/sub9khz/
Transformation
The VHF station here on 2m is very modest consisting of an FT817ND and a big-wheel omni antenna on the side of the bungalow. For FM a V2000 triband vertical is used. There are no beams. The most power that can be run is 5W, although most times 2.5W is used.
Despite these restrictions, decent DX is worked in UKAC activity contests, no problems are experienced working 2m FM nets and 2m DX on FT8 RX and TX seems quite easy. The latter mode seems to have transformed the band: DX that would never have been expected is now workable in flat conditions. Sometimes this is aircraft reflection and other times it is just flat band tropo i.e. normal flat conditions. Today, for example, my 2.5W 2m FT8 has been copied in Cornwall and Ulster.
FT8 worries many. Although it is a great mode for simple stations to spot and work DX, it needs a PC and special (albeit free) software. Years ago many chanced on amateur radio by picking up a local 160m AM station. These days this is very unlikely. Our hobby is changing and the appeal of new modes may not be enough to save it. There is no doubt that modes like FT8 are overall "a good thing", but we have to be careful.
Despite these restrictions, decent DX is worked in UKAC activity contests, no problems are experienced working 2m FM nets and 2m DX on FT8 RX and TX seems quite easy. The latter mode seems to have transformed the band: DX that would never have been expected is now workable in flat conditions. Sometimes this is aircraft reflection and other times it is just flat band tropo i.e. normal flat conditions. Today, for example, my 2.5W 2m FT8 has been copied in Cornwall and Ulster.
FT8 worries many. Although it is a great mode for simple stations to spot and work DX, it needs a PC and special (albeit free) software. Years ago many chanced on amateur radio by picking up a local 160m AM station. These days this is very unlikely. Our hobby is changing and the appeal of new modes may not be enough to save it. There is no doubt that modes like FT8 are overall "a good thing", but we have to be careful.
BREXIT deal? - NOT amateur radio
Negotiations on the UK's withdrawal from the EU were always going to be fraught and last minute. Both sides want the best compromise. It now looks a bit more hopeful with more positive noises from the EU.
I am sure that most people in the UK were less than happy with unrestricted movement within the EU, but were happy with free trade within the EU.
If the EU had been a bit more willing to compromise on this, I suspect the referendum outcome might have been different. For this I blame David Cameron (UK Prime Minister at the time) and the EU officials who could not read the "mood music". The UK has always been on the edge of the EU experiment.
In many countries the people of that nation want to have the final word over who works and lives in a particular nation. The UK does not want unrestricted immigration. It wants to have the final decision and, in my view, this is quite reasonable. I say this as someone who voted "remain".
This does not mean stopping low skilled workers coming to work in fruit picking, hospitals and hospitality. It means they do not have an automatic right to stay here for ever just because they are EU citizens.
See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-45768848
I am sure that most people in the UK were less than happy with unrestricted movement within the EU, but were happy with free trade within the EU.
If the EU had been a bit more willing to compromise on this, I suspect the referendum outcome might have been different. For this I blame David Cameron (UK Prime Minister at the time) and the EU officials who could not read the "mood music". The UK has always been on the edge of the EU experiment.
In many countries the people of that nation want to have the final word over who works and lives in a particular nation. The UK does not want unrestricted immigration. It wants to have the final decision and, in my view, this is quite reasonable. I say this as someone who voted "remain".
This does not mean stopping low skilled workers coming to work in fruit picking, hospitals and hospitality. It means they do not have an automatic right to stay here for ever just because they are EU citizens.
See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-45768848
Homo Deus - NOT amateur radio
You may not agree, but the latter is certainly thought provoking. What is approaching is undeniable: vast amounts of data are known and now, or very soon, machines will be able to process and analyse these data far better than the human brain. Perhaps Homo Sapiens is not the ultimate being we once thought.
The main problem remains consciousness. What is it? What is its purpose? Can we ever understand why it exists?
All the time I am aware of how limited our world view is. According to these books religions are human inventions.
What is clear is how little we understand.
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