Disability, what disability? - NOT amateur radio

When I first came out of hospital after my 2013 stroke I had a blue disability badge. This went several years ago as I knew it would not be renewed because I could walk. To assessors I would appear perfectly fine.

Six years later, I still find speaking and being understood hard. Driving is still possible, but I do not enjoy it. All the time I feel giddy on my feet. I tire easily. Compared with how I was before my stroke I am disabled.

Now I am not after the sympathy vote! What I want to say is there must be thousands of people who look perfectly healthy on the outside yet are not healthy on the inside. So, do not judge.

6m in Region 1

As reported earlier, the WRC-19 has ended. One of the outcomes, as reported in Southgate News, should be more countries on 6m in Region 1, as this is to become a proper Region 1 amateur allocation.

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2019/november/more-countries-gain-access-to-50-mhz.htm#.Xdu0P-2TLnE

Chromebooks - NOT amateur radio

About 10 days ago, I bought an Asus C213NA Chromebook. It is NOT a Windows PC. Instead it uses Chrome OS.

It is blisteringly fast.  Every time I open the lid it is there in a blink. So far, it has been mainly used for web browsing, but I am not in the least disappointed. At the moment, it has far exceeded my expectations.

It runs Android apps (used) and Linux apps (not used) and the battery seems to last all day. The screen is bright and clear. The laptop has a touch screen and the whole thing can be used as a tablet if need be. It came with a 3 year on-site warranty. It is small and light. Perfect.

Oh, by the way, I am using it to write this.

Pleased? You bet!

ICOM IC-705

Although I have been keeping my "ear to the ground", I have not got any more information on this new radio due to be released in 2020.

As we know, this will be an SDR based 10W HF-70cm radio based heavily on the IC-7300 and IC-9700. Personally, I think they should include a wide range auto-ATU inside, especially as they are marketing this as a field radio. This seems a huge omission. If I was ICOM, I'd make it slightly bigger and, at the very least, offer this as an option. OK it will cost more, but many will be prepared to pay.

If you have heard any more, please share it here.

10m FT8

Yesterday was not a bad day with quite a few Europeans spotted. I have just gone on 10m FT8 calling CQ (2.5W) initially, although I am currently RX only. No spots yet on 10m FT8.

UPDATE 1625z:  Still no 10m FT8 spots today.  Another bad 10m day.  A recent 10m FT8 CQ (2.5W) was again spotted by no-one at all!

Overnight on 472kHz WSPR TX (10mW ERP)

In the end 17 stations spotted my QRPP signal with nothing further from Norway. Quite a good night, although staying on overnight is questionable.

Stations spotting my QRPP 

472kHz WSPR overnight

Sunspots - Monday November 25th 2019

Solar flux is 71 and the SSN 0. A=11 and K=1.

472kHz WSPR TX

At about 1800z, I returned to 472kHz WSPR with my 10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. The first transmission was spotted by 4 stations including LA2XPA (1310km).

UPDATE 2025z: 10 spots of me so far on 472kHz WSPR this evening on 472kHz. LA2XPA has spotted me 5 times already this evening!

Sub-9kHz transatlantic DX

VO1NA has been successfully decoded on EbNaut in Europe.

See https://groups.io/g/rsgb-lf-group/topic/vlf_vo1na_8270_0075_hz/61873847?p=,,,20,0,0,0::recentpostdate%2Fsticky,,,20,2,0,61873847

137kHz E-field probe

Several years ago I made this mag-mounted 137kHz e-field probe to see how far away I could detect my QRPP 137kHz beacon. At about 24km I just stopped!

Both the EFP and the 137kHz beacon clearly worked.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/antennas/137efp