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30m FT8 RX on the
tiny indoor loop as of 2100z
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27 Sept 2019
30m FT8 RX
Continuing my experiments with the tiny indoor loop antenna, I have QSYed to 10.136MHz (30m) FT8 RX. Immediately 48 stations spotted.
UPDATE 2013z: Now 162 stations spotted today on 30m FT8 RX with the tiny indoor loop. The first USA station has been spotted here on 30m FT8 RX - N0FW (6352km).
365 Project - NOT amateur radio
For several years now, my wife and I have done something called the 365 project. This is totally free, but you can pay $19.99 a year to gain total privacy and extra albums.
The idea is to take a photo every day. It make a good visual diary. Some photos are very creative, whereas others are boring and blurred.
If you want to, you can see the photos taken by others around the world. It has been a good exercise. We try to stick to very recent photos when we can, unless there is good reason.
My own photos are at http://365project.org/g3xbm/365 . Don't get too excited!
The idea is to take a photo every day. It make a good visual diary. Some photos are very creative, whereas others are boring and blurred.
If you want to, you can see the photos taken by others around the world. It has been a good exercise. We try to stick to very recent photos when we can, unless there is good reason.
My own photos are at http://365project.org/g3xbm/365 . Don't get too excited!
17m FT8 RX
Continuing my tests with the tiny indoor loop, I have QSYed to 17m FT8 RX. Already 12 stations spotted with best DX PY2VA (9584km) in Brazil. Already 3 continents spotted!
UPDATE 1416z: As well as loads of Europeans, 5 USA and one South American spotted.
UPDATE 1715z: Now 111 stations spotted today with the tiny indoor loop with best DX spotted LU3DI (11229km).
UPDATE 1416z: As well as loads of Europeans, 5 USA and one South American spotted.
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Stations spotted on 17m FT8 RX
with the tiny indoor loop to 1715z.
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BREXIT deal? - NOT amateur radio
Like most in the UK and the rest of Europe, I am fed up with BREXIT. Whether you voted "remain" or "leave" in the 2016 UK referendum, agreeing a deal seems illusive.
Both the UK and the rest of the EU want a deal, but no-one seems to want to compromise or lose face. Certainly most in the UK parliament and in the country seem angrier than even a few years ago. I do hope a deal in which no-one loses face can be agreed in the next few weeks. Whilst there is a lot of brinkmanship, time is rapidly running out.
I'd have more faith if the current Prime Minister was not a liar. Quite recently, he had an encounter with a man in a hospital. The PM claimed the press were not there when they clearly were! It looked like a press event to me. Sometimes I fear he believes what he wants to believe. Does this remind you of anyone?
Both the UK and the rest of the EU want a deal, but no-one seems to want to compromise or lose face. Certainly most in the UK parliament and in the country seem angrier than even a few years ago. I do hope a deal in which no-one loses face can be agreed in the next few weeks. Whilst there is a lot of brinkmanship, time is rapidly running out.
I'd have more faith if the current Prime Minister was not a liar. Quite recently, he had an encounter with a man in a hospital. The PM claimed the press were not there when they clearly were! It looked like a press event to me. Sometimes I fear he believes what he wants to believe. Does this remind you of anyone?
MLS weekend offers
As usual, MLS is offering some deals for the weekend. This is to attract buyers at the UK Hamfest, but these apply to other sales as well. I don't know if these are good deals or not, but if you are going to buy one of the sale items it is worth taking a look.
See https://www.hamradio.co.uk/
See https://www.hamradio.co.uk/
Weather forecasts - NOT amateur radio
As a matter of habit, I check the weather forecasts. Usually I look on the BBC weather forecast and the Met Office weather forecast. Rarely do these agree.
As an example, the Met Office forecast shows the risk of thunder at tea time. The BBC forecast has no mention of this.
Now, I know forecasting the weather in the UK is not a precise science, but I would have expected more agreement just a few hours ahead!
As an example, the Met Office forecast shows the risk of thunder at tea time. The BBC forecast has no mention of this.
Now, I know forecasting the weather in the UK is not a precise science, but I would have expected more agreement just a few hours ahead!
10m FT8
Today I am trying 10m FT8 using the tiny indoor loop. A quick couple of (5W) 10m FT8 CQs was spotted by a couple of Gs, but nothing further yet. Earlier I spotted a G0 finishing a QSO with a YO station, but this did not get reported to PSKreporter maps. I am monitoring 28.074MHz FT8. Like 6m, I think many have migrated to lower frequencies thinking the band is dead.
UPDATE 1030z: DK9CX (937km) and S55OO (1233km) spotted on 10m FT8 RX. G0PQO (50km) also spotted. This was the station I spotted earlier.
UPDATE 1113z: DK9CX replied to my 5W 10m FT8 CQ, but in the end I lost him sadly before completing. In all, 5 stations spotted my 5W FT8 10m CQ with the best being a spot by 9A4ZM (1289km). My regret now is not trying this indoor tiny loop back in the Es season! On 10m FT8 RX 9 spots so far with best DX spotted being IK7XLU (1708km).
UPDATE 1225z: 18 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX so far.
UPDATE 1314z: A recent 5W 10m FT8 CQ (using the tiny indoor loop) was spotted by 3 stations with the best being HB9CRE (795km). Now 19 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX today so far. There are probably fewer people monitoring and TXing on 10m FT8 compared with 20m.
UPDATE 1030z: DK9CX (937km) and S55OO (1233km) spotted on 10m FT8 RX. G0PQO (50km) also spotted. This was the station I spotted earlier.
UPDATE 1113z: DK9CX replied to my 5W 10m FT8 CQ, but in the end I lost him sadly before completing. In all, 5 stations spotted my 5W FT8 10m CQ with the best being a spot by 9A4ZM (1289km). My regret now is not trying this indoor tiny loop back in the Es season! On 10m FT8 RX 9 spots so far with best DX spotted being IK7XLU (1708km).
UPDATE 1225z: 18 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX so far.
UPDATE 1314z: A recent 5W 10m FT8 CQ (using the tiny indoor loop) was spotted by 3 stations with the best being HB9CRE (795km). Now 19 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX today so far. There are probably fewer people monitoring and TXing on 10m FT8 compared with 20m.
15m FT8 RX
On the tiny indoor loop, I am trying 15m FT8 RX. Although I have not been on long, no spots so far this morning. I am looking on 21.074MHz, which I think is the 15m FT8 frequency.
UPDATED 1022z: Although I have QSYed to 10m FT8, there were plenty of Europeans being spotted on 15m FT8. Yes 21.074MHz seems to be the 15m FT8 frequency.
UPDATED 1022z: Although I have QSYed to 10m FT8, there were plenty of Europeans being spotted on 15m FT8. Yes 21.074MHz seems to be the 15m FT8 frequency.
Ferrite rod transmitting antennas
Perhaps I should repeat these tests with FT8 from this QTH. FT8 is not as good as WSPR with weak signals but it is better than CW.
These tests were done at least 6 years ago and I have not tried since. It must be used with QRP or the ferrite may saturate.
See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/antennas/ferrite_tx
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