7 Mar 2019
10m FT8
For the last hour or so I have been on 10m FT8. After a brief CQ (2.5W) I have been RX only, but only G4XYT (93km) spotted. No spots of my CQ call.
Grumpy old man - NOT amateur radio
As I read somewhere that the UK food chain Greggs was doing very well, I thought I'd check out their menus and prices.
Wouldn't you have thought that their menus would include prices? I looked and looked and was unable to find any prices!! Lots of stuff about contents, but I was totally unable to find prices. If this is obvious please accept my apologies. In the meantime, they will not be getting my business.
See https://www.greggs.co.uk/
UPDATE 1517z: I have looked again, but still cannot find any information on their prices. If it is there, it is far from obvious. Surely this is stupid.
Wouldn't you have thought that their menus would include prices? I looked and looked and was unable to find any prices!! Lots of stuff about contents, but I was totally unable to find prices. If this is obvious please accept my apologies. In the meantime, they will not be getting my business.
See https://www.greggs.co.uk/
UPDATE 1517z: I have looked again, but still cannot find any information on their prices. If it is there, it is far from obvious. Surely this is stupid.
Successful amateur VLF TX tests from Poland
Transmissions from Poland at 8.27kHz VLF have been received in the UK. The antenna used was a long baseline earth-electrode "antenna". From my own experiments with far shorter baselines, I know such structures work.
See https://klubnl.pl/wpr/en/index.php/2019/03/03/nadawcze-proby-z-dipolem-ziemnym-w-zakresie-vlf/
See https://klubnl.pl/wpr/en/index.php/2019/03/03/nadawcze-proby-z-dipolem-ziemnym-w-zakresie-vlf/
Rally
Sunday 10 MARCH : GRANTHAM ARC RADIO AND ELECTRONICS RALLY
Grantham West Community Centre, Trent Road , Grantham, Lincs NG31 7XW. Doors open 9.30am to 3pm, admittance £3. There will be trade stands, and RSGB bookstall and Special Interest Groups. Catering is available on site. Contact Kevin Burton, G6SSN, 07793 142 483, rallyinfo@garc.org.uk.
A list of rallies can be found at http://rsgb.org/main/news/rall
Grantham West Community Centre, Trent Road , Grantham, Lincs NG31 7XW. Doors open 9.30am to 3pm, admittance £3. There will be trade stands, and RSGB bookstall and Special Interest Groups. Catering is available on site. Contact Kevin Burton, G6SSN, 07793 142 483, rallyinfo@garc.org.uk.
A list of rallies can be found at http://rsgb.org/main/news/rall
BREXIT - NOT amateur radio
The deadline for the UK to leave the EU is very, very, near. The EU is clearly (for now) tabling "take it or leave it" options, but the current deal has little chance of getting through parliament.
What many (most?) in the UK want is control over who lives and works here and the UK elected parliament having the final say over our laws. It is in the EU's interest to strike a good deal that works for the EU and the UK. If they don't strike a deal both sides will be hurt.
In my view the EU wants to punish the UK. No, both sides need to grow up and compromise. Mrs May, UK Prime Minister, seems to be impotent and lacking the will to come to a deal that will meet the goals of both sides.
What many (most?) in the UK want is control over who lives and works here and the UK elected parliament having the final say over our laws. It is in the EU's interest to strike a good deal that works for the EU and the UK. If they don't strike a deal both sides will be hurt.
In my view the EU wants to punish the UK. No, both sides need to grow up and compromise. Mrs May, UK Prime Minister, seems to be impotent and lacking the will to come to a deal that will meet the goals of both sides.
Overnight on 472kHz WSPR
In a word - disappointing.
In all, my 10mW ERP WSPR from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground was spotted by 4 stations with best DX DK2DB (685km). On RX, I spotted 10 stations with best DX LA2XPA (1310km).
In all, my 10mW ERP WSPR from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground was spotted by 4 stations with best DX DK2DB (685km). On RX, I spotted 10 stations with best DX LA2XPA (1310km).
 |
| 472kHz WSPR TX (10mW ERP) overnight |
 |
| 472kHz WSPR RX here overnight |
6 Mar 2019
472kHz WSPR (10mW ERP)
For over an hour now, I have been on 472kHz WSPR (20% TX, 80% RX, 10mW ERP). What surprises me is how few UK stations appear to be active on 472kHz WSPR TX. At the moment it appears there are only two of us!
Surely my ultra-simple system proves that with WSPR you do not need big antennas or high power. Several spots already on RX and TX. I shall be on overnight. As usual, I am using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.
Surely my ultra-simple system proves that with WSPR you do not need big antennas or high power. Several spots already on RX and TX. I shall be on overnight. As usual, I am using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.
Amateur radio survey
You may be interested in this survey: http://www.radiosoth.org/ . I believe it has been done for several years. Obviously, the more people that are surveyed, the better.
It took me about 5 minutes to answer the questions. Most are tick boxes, so simple to fill in.
It took me about 5 minutes to answer the questions. Most are tick boxes, so simple to fill in.
New Zealand wines - NOT amateur radio
Next week, my wife and I are giving a talk at our local wine group on New Zealand wines. We are certainly no wine experts and, to be honest, we are "winging it" on NZ wines.
We visited the country in 2009, not long after we retired. It is without doubt the most beautiful place we have ever been to, helped by having a population way smaller than the UK. If you can go, I recommend it.
I think they had 4M people when we went. They speak English and drive on the left like in the UK. With Skype video contact with one of our sons it felt like just next door.
We were in Christchurch exactly 2 years to the very day before the big earthquake struck the city. New Zealand is a great place to visit, although perhaps not to live if you like old churches and culture.
We visited the country in 2009, not long after we retired. It is without doubt the most beautiful place we have ever been to, helped by having a population way smaller than the UK. If you can go, I recommend it.
I think they had 4M people when we went. They speak English and drive on the left like in the UK. With Skype video contact with one of our sons it felt like just next door.
We were in Christchurch exactly 2 years to the very day before the big earthquake struck the city. New Zealand is a great place to visit, although perhaps not to live if you like old churches and culture.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
