More signs of spring - NOT amateur radio

In these strange days, we try to keep a routine by doing a daily walk. We see very few people and those we do are very good about social distancing. This tree (see photo) is another sign of spring.

Although there are swallows in Devon (migrant birds), I have yet to see any here in East Anglia.

The 2m SSB Liner-2

If you were around in the 1970s, you probably remember the Liner-2. This was the 2m rig that brought 2m SSB to the masses. I had a second-hand one and recall being amazed by how far I could reach.

With a simple loft antenna (HB9CV I think) I could reach stations totally out of reach on QRP AM.

The Liner-2 was a synthesised rig that produced lots of spurii if over driven. In the end mine was sold and replaced by an ICOM IC-202 as I recall. In its day, the Liner-2 was ubiquitous and a "must have" rig for serious 2m operators.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/vuhf/liner2

Adverts I hate - NOT amateur radio

Not sure if this a recent thing, but I am seeing more and more ads that say something like, "UK seniors over 50 are rushing to get this new....".

They are written in such a way that your interest is raised, so you are tempted to take a look. Whenever I see this I do not look. Although most are probably virus free, they are clickbate. Personally I hate these.

Early start on 20m FT8 today

At 0620z I was on 20m FT8 with the tiny indoor loop and 10W. No spots of me yet but one CT copied (0630z) .

UPDATE 0810z:  Although 20 stations so far spotted on 20m FT8 RX, (best spotted here is JT1CO (6662km) in Mongolia), no spots yet received on TX. It appears I was only using about 5-6W, so this has been increased and the frequency moved in case I am being clobbered by a big station I cannot see.

UPDATE 0836z: Just 1 spot of me so far today by UT4EX (2464km). 25 stations so far spotted on RX.

UPDATE 0903z: With 32 stations spotted so far today on 20m FT8 RX, the tiny loop is performing well. On TX I am sure the main problem I have is being obliterated by stations co-channel with me that are much stronger. When the frequency is clear, my 10W tends to get spotted by loads of stations. The trouble is I do not know when this happens as often these signals are not visible here. I always choose, what I think are, free frequencies.

UPDATE 1450z: 27 spots of my 10W so far today.

UPDATE 1747z: The map shows where I was spotted today on 20m FT8 TX with 10W and the tiny indoor loop antenna.

OFCOM updates

As is usual, OFCOM has updated its Communications Monthly with the latest data. See the OFCOM website for details.

The updates include:

• Office of the Telecommunications Adjudicator update
• Television broadcast licensing update
• Radio licensing monthly update
• Clarifications on Wholesale Fixed Telecoms Market Review
• Customer satisfaction tracker 2020, complaints handling tracker 2020 and reasons to complain tracker 2020
• Final directions applying Code powers to Aquind Ltd and Optical Fibre Infrastructure Ltd
• Ofcom's Tariff Tables 2020/21
• Limiting exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF) consultation FAQ

Sunspots - Wednesday April 8th 2020

Solar flux is 70 and the SSN 0. A=4 and K=2.

iPad question - NOT amateur radio

Although Steve G1KQH kindly solved the problem of my wife being unable to email photos from her gallery, we still have the mystery why the battery now seems to drain so much faster. This suddenly changed.

Although I cannot be sure, it does not seem to be the cells.

I am wondering, as an experiment, if there is a way of loading older software versions to see if this change is, or is not, linked to a software change.

Village walk - NOT amateur radio

This morning we did a nice walk around the village. We covered about 3 miles. We saw 4 buzzards but we have still to see any swallows. The photo shows some of the flowers we saw.

2m UKAC activity contest this evening

At 1900z this evening is the April 2m leg of the UKAC activity contest.

Usually, this attracts quite a few portable stations. This time we may hear more fixed stations.

Activity levels are usually high on SSB and there is no compulsion to submit logs in the contest. I normally do, but if you are free perhaps come on 2m SSB and give a few points away. This is a fun contest.

15m FT8 TX and RX (2.5W to the tiny indoor loop)

Yesterday I tried 10m FT8 with limited successs (just 1 spot), so today with the same rig and antenna I am giving 15m FT8 a go. The gear was turned on at about 0805z.

UPDATE 0840z:  No spots so far on RX or TX today.

UPDATE 1314z: 13 stations (including 1 Brazilian) spotted so far today on 15m FT8 RX, but no spots of me.  It looks like I was only running about 100mW, so this has now been increased to more like 2.5W.