What are a little strange are the two emus in a garden. They have been here for several years. I do not know why they are there. Perhaps they like emu eggs!
13 Nov 2019
Reach walk - NOT amateur radio
What are a little strange are the two emus in a garden. They have been here for several years. I do not know why they are there. Perhaps they like emu eggs!
HF antennas
Some years ago I bought an x80 vertical antenna. These are basically Rybakov vertical antennas. I erected mine briefly at the old QTH, but have not done so here. I would need help with erection, whereas my end-fed I managed to string to a nearby tree on my own. The end-fed is a good match on 10m (my favourite HF band) , where it seems to do quite reasonably on FT8. So, for now, the x80 is unused.
At the time (2011) the x80 had mixed reviews. Some said the aluminium flexed too much and broke. Being a vertical, it is probably noisier than a horizontal antenna. If you have an auto ATU it is quite an easy way to get on several HF bands. These days I think there are stronger versions around.
See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/antennas/x80
At the time (2011) the x80 had mixed reviews. Some said the aluminium flexed too much and broke. Being a vertical, it is probably noisier than a horizontal antenna. If you have an auto ATU it is quite an easy way to get on several HF bands. These days I think there are stronger versions around.
See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/antennas/x80
12 Nov 2019
Salcombe out of season - NOT amateur radio
70cm activity contest this evening
A reminder that the 70cm leg of the RSGB 's UKAC activity contest is this evening starting at 2000z.
11 Nov 2019
VLF amateur radio experiments
 |
| 8.97kHz earth-mode TX |
In the past I have copied radiated signals from amateurs below 10kHz from several Western European countries.
Sadly my poor health has put a stop to my earth-mode experiments in recent years.
See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/vlf/8-97khz-earth-mode-transmitter
10 Nov 2019
2m FT8
For a change, I am on 2m FT8. I may go QRT later. A recent 2.5W FT8 CQ using the big-wheel omni was spotted by 3 G stations. On RX only 2 stations spotted so far with best DX spotted being DK1VC (503km).
UPDATE 1025z: Just 3 stations spotted this evening on 2m FT8 RX. Time to go QRT.
UPDATE 1025z: Just 3 stations spotted this evening on 2m FT8 RX. Time to go QRT.
Hospital visit - G3TFX
This morning we went to visit Richard G3TFX who is in hospital. He seems in good spirits and hopes to get home soon. He is awaiting the fitting of a stent. In the meantime he has to listen on the internet to webSDRs such as Hack Green. For a useful site of web SDRs see http://www.websdr.org/ .
He doesn't want to be there and the overheads of keeping him there are about £1700 a day!! In the meantime he is, against his will, blocking a bed in a teaching hospital. Surely there is a lower cost way of doing a daily blood test and calling him in for his appointment? Yes, our NHS is wonderful but they do waste money. From my own experience they do seem to waste a great deal and the NHS needs reform and accountability.
Six years ago I was in hospital for 3.5 months. My treatment was first class, but I am aware that they need better management. In the private sector, they would run as good or better service at far lower cost.
One thing that seems missing is accountability. Yes, we all want good service for patients but at lower cost and without waste. In my view they can save money and offer patients a better service. Their inefficiencies lead to poorer services for patents. Apparently a blood pressure monitor costing around £40000 can be bought for about £10 in a local chemists. Does no-one check value for money? In the private sector this would be a sackable offence.
Another person, a D-day veteran and SWL, is terminally ill in a local hospice. I worked with him and he is a real gentle man.
He doesn't want to be there and the overheads of keeping him there are about £1700 a day!! In the meantime he is, against his will, blocking a bed in a teaching hospital. Surely there is a lower cost way of doing a daily blood test and calling him in for his appointment? Yes, our NHS is wonderful but they do waste money. From my own experience they do seem to waste a great deal and the NHS needs reform and accountability.
Six years ago I was in hospital for 3.5 months. My treatment was first class, but I am aware that they need better management. In the private sector, they would run as good or better service at far lower cost.
One thing that seems missing is accountability. Yes, we all want good service for patients but at lower cost and without waste. In my view they can save money and offer patients a better service. Their inefficiencies lead to poorer services for patents. Apparently a blood pressure monitor costing around £40000 can be bought for about £10 in a local chemists. Does no-one check value for money? In the private sector this would be a sackable offence.
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