2m FT8

Stations spotted so far today on 2m FT8 RX 

with the big-wheel omni antenna (to 1350z)

All day I have been on 2m FT8. On RX, 30 stations in 6 countries spotted so far.

A recent 10W FT8 CQ with the big-wheel omni was spotted by 11 stations in 4 countries with DG1KDD (472km) as the best DX spotting me. Sadly, no QSOs resulted. I did call a French station without success.

ICOM IC-9700 book

Southgate News reports that there is a new book out about this popular VHF/UHF transceiver that covers 2m, 70cm and 23cm. In many ways it is similar to the IC-7300.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2019/september/new-book-on-the-icom-ic-9700.htm

Rather them than me! - NOT amateur radio

Today, "our" windmill next door looks rather different.

In the photo you may be able to see someone who has climbed the ladder and a sail to do some work where the sails meet. At one point there were 2 people up there. All I can say is, "rather them than me".

Windmill 1931 - NOT amateur radio

We think this photo of the windmill next door was taken in about 1931. I have no idea who took it. Our bungalow was built about 40 years later and is behind the shed on the right.

Today the windmill is fully restored and has 4 sails which occasionally rotate, usually on special occasions. The tail wheel turns regularly and we can tell the wind direction by the way the main sails are orientated. The windmill is part of Burwell Museum, which is very extensive and one of the best local museums in the UK.

In the video below, the hedge is in our garden.

See http://burwellmuseum.org.uk/

Yet more houses - NOT amateur radio

We moved to this village in 1975 when the population was just over 4000. It is now over 6000.

Wherever there is a gap more houses get built. These cater for the well healed and rarely for ordinary workers. For example, the space in the photo has recently been built on. At one time it was a pub carpark.

XBM80-2 transceiver

This was a very simple 80m CW transceiver that I designed and built many years ago, apparently in 2010.

Like all my designs please take this as a starting point as you may very well be able to do much better. As you can see this was just experimental. At the time it was fun. These days, such experimental work is probably beyond me since the 2013 stroke.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/80m_xbm80

Sunspots - Monday September 23rd 2019

Solar flux is 68 and the SSN 0. A=4 and K=0.

2m FT8 again

It is getting dark and I have switched to 2m FT8. On RX 3 stations spotted including 2 in Germany. On 2m FT8 TX (10W to the big-wheel omni) 14 spots so far with the best DX report coming from G4LOH (455km) in Cornwall.

UPDATE 2009z: A recent 10W 2m FT8 CQ was again copied by GI6ATZ (479km). The antenna was still the big-wheel omni so the ERP was maybe 20W? FT8 is pretty remarkable.

Climate change facts - NOT amateur radio

Unlike President Trump of the USA who allegedly thinks climate change is a Chinese hoax, I prefer to believe in evidence as presented by people that have studied the real data. Sorry that means reading, which President Trump allegedly does not do that often.  A true statesman looks at the facts.

People of the USA, when you vote next year look at the evidence, please. This is a global emergency which requires us to think beyond the votes and lobby groups active in the next few years. The whole future of our planet is at stake, not who is US president in 2020 November.

Just look at the fiercer hurricanes and the Bahamas. It is happening now!!

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-49773869

Time flies - NOT amateur radio

It seems hard to remember that we were abroad on holiday just a few weeks ago. We seem to have packed in a lot since. On the whole the weather here has been mild and sunny. Yet again we went on a Saga holiday, which was very good. The holiday rep who looked after everything was local and very good. I kept a blog.

See https://roses2019.blogspot.com/