Minion SDR QRP transceiver

G1KQH, Steve, sent me some information about this rig. It looks interesting and very small.

See https://qrpver.com/transceivers/all-band-10-band-hf-sdr-transceiver-minion-sdr.html

Time for reflection? - NOT amateur radio

Many of us are in lockdown, unable to do the things we once did. These times will pass.  Hopefully at the end of it we can all reflect on what things are really important in our lives.

We will realise that what we once thought was important is not and some things are far more important than we thought.

This YouTube video reflects on this.

Solar forecast page updated

My favourite page for solar forecasts has been updated.

It still shows that we have passed the solar minimum. Recent sunspot numbers suggest this is correct. If so, we can look forward to better conditions in the years ahead.

It is definitely worth keeping an eye on the FT8 frequencies.

Even around the solar minimum paths from the UK to South America open regularly.  People have worked South Korea on 10m around the solar mimimum from the UK.

See https://www.solen.info/solar/

Our view - NOT amateur radio

We are lucky having the view of a 200 year old restored windmill from several rooms in our house.

The photo shows the view from the lounge.

Sunspots - Sunday May 3rd

Solar flux is 69 and the SSN 0. A=5 and K=2.

FT8

This digital mode is like a certain UK yeast spread: you either love it or hate it!  Sadly, I think it has resulted in less SSB activity on HF and VHF bands. For me, with my poor voice, it is ideal as it only needs 50Hz of bandwidth, works with very weak signals and concentrates activity within a few kilohertz on each band. QSOs (albeit rubber stamp ones) can be completed very quickly. It works well with lower power and simple stations. Someone estimated it is about 17dB better than SSB. That is a lot!

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/hf-ft8

Dad - NOT amateur radio

Before now, I have mentioned that my dad was a Pathfinder flying Lancasters in WW2. I think he hated killing innocent people and this haunted him all his life. He died in his late 60s in 1987.

Today was his birthday and he would have been 102.

At the end of the war he dropped food over Holland and helped to bring prisoners of war home.

6m FT8

This morning I am on 6m FT8 with 10W and the V2000 omni antenna. Already lots of Es on RX and TX.

UPDATE 1058z:  My 10W has been spotted by 10 stations so far with 1 QSO. On 6m FT8 RX 18 Europeans spotted so far today.

Stations spotting my 10W
6m FT8 today to 1508z 

UPDATE 1410z:  37 stations spotting my 10W so far today.

UPDATE 1816z: 40 stations spotting my 10W 6m FT8 today and plenty of QSOs!

UPDATE 2120z: QRT.

Another funny video - NOT amateur radio

This Italian video made me laugh too. Watch it to the end.

Dawn chorus - NOT amateur radio

In the northern hemisphere it is springtime.  Because of the lockdowns in many countries, it is quieter and sounds can be more easily heard.

The RSPB has a good video on the dawn chorus for those of us unable to experience it at the moment.