My usual pattern is to go on 10m FT8 in the day and either 630m WSPR or 160m FT8 at night. I shall soon have to think about 6m. I have been on 10m FT8 calling CQ (2.5W) initially and then RX only for about 10 minutes. Guess what? No spots.
UPDATE 1152z: Looks like we may be seeing some Es with 3 stations spotted including EA3AXV (1213km).
UPDATE 1555z: 6 stations in 3 countries spotted on 10m FT8 RX so far today, all EU. Possibly some tropo, some aircraft reflection and some Es.
8 Apr 2019
Philosophical question - NOT amateur radio
Every now and again, I ask myself a philosophical question.
This time it is about the nature of time. We usually think of time being a linear thing going from the past into the future. We assume our memories are records of past events. However, it is entirely possible that time is an illusion. Perhaps we think we have memories, but these are illusory. Indeed, our awareness of space may be an illusion.
One thing we know is how limited our brains are. Every year we seem to learn new things about our universe(s). In 50 years' time we may look back and say, "did they really believe that?".
Imagine you were suddenly back in 1819. Would you have believed in aircraft, moon landings, the internet, radio, TV and quantum physics? Even in 20 years things have changed a great deal. My wife is reading a book written in 1995, when pagers were the "in thing" and nobody could imagine how mobile phones and the internet would develop.
What will we take for granted in 2119 that we know nothing about today?
This time it is about the nature of time. We usually think of time being a linear thing going from the past into the future. We assume our memories are records of past events. However, it is entirely possible that time is an illusion. Perhaps we think we have memories, but these are illusory. Indeed, our awareness of space may be an illusion.
One thing we know is how limited our brains are. Every year we seem to learn new things about our universe(s). In 50 years' time we may look back and say, "did they really believe that?".
Imagine you were suddenly back in 1819. Would you have believed in aircraft, moon landings, the internet, radio, TV and quantum physics? Even in 20 years things have changed a great deal. My wife is reading a book written in 1995, when pagers were the "in thing" and nobody could imagine how mobile phones and the internet would develop.
What will we take for granted in 2119 that we know nothing about today?
160m FT8 overnight
In all, 302 stations were spotted overnight on 160m FT8 RX with the best being KV4FZ (6764km) in the Caribbean. 5 North Americans spotted on 160m FT8 RX overnight.
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Stations spotted here on 160m FT8 RX overnight
using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground
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5.6GHz ATV
Apparently it is easy and low cost to get on 5.6GHz ATV using drone modules available on the internet. A figure of £20 was quoted. A very useful point of reference is this wiki:
https://wiki.batc.org.uk/5.6_GHz
Local to me G3KKD has 5.6GHz gear amongst others.
https://wiki.batc.org.uk/5.6_GHz
Local to me G3KKD has 5.6GHz gear amongst others.
7 Apr 2019
160m FT8 RX
For the last few hours, I have been on 160m FT8 RX. At the moment it looks like recent evenings with lots of Europeans coming through. It will be interesting to see how many North Americans are spotted. At 2118z 154 stations have been spotted this evening.
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Stations spotted this evening on 160m FT8 RX
using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground
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That hum - NOT amateur radio
A fair proportion of people say they can hear a very low frequency audio hum. I can hear it. I have heard it from very early morning (about 5.30am UK time) until now. At first I thought it was someone's washing machine, or perhaps a plane.
Could it be the distant noise of traffic? Low audio frequencies may propagate through rocks. It is a very low level, but definitely there. It is worse today than I recall. Weather conditions are a little misty and we can sometimes hear traffic on the A14 road (about 2 miles away) clearly on misty days, which must allow audio signals to propagate further. Normally we do not hear A14 traffic.
I expect someone could "see it" with suitable audio transducers and software.
Could it be the distant noise of traffic? Low audio frequencies may propagate through rocks. It is a very low level, but definitely there. It is worse today than I recall. Weather conditions are a little misty and we can sometimes hear traffic on the A14 road (about 2 miles away) clearly on misty days, which must allow audio signals to propagate further. Normally we do not hear A14 traffic.
I expect someone could "see it" with suitable audio transducers and software.
Building gear
Somewhere, in a drawer, I have an unbuilt Rockmite transceiver kit for 20m CW. It is some years since I built anything (it is much harder since my 2013 stroke), but maybe I should have a go and see how I get on.
My 20m antenna is not too great. The test is building it. Having a few QSOs would be a bonus. I must have bought the kit in 2012. Obviously I was in no hurry!
My 20m antenna is not too great. The test is building it. Having a few QSOs would be a bonus. I must have bought the kit in 2012. Obviously I was in no hurry!
Placemats - NOT amateur radio
10m FT8
Although I have been on 10m FT8 most of the daylight hours, it has been disappointing with just 3 stations spotted in 2 countries here so far. A CQ call (2.5W) earlier was spotted by no-one. After dark I think I'll QSY to 160m FT8.
UPDATE 1540z: EA7DT (1781km) now spotted.
UPDATE 1540z: EA7DT (1781km) now spotted.
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