20 May 2020
OFCOM consultation
OFCOM is consulting on the use of spectrum between 100GHz and 200GHz. See their website.
2m FT8
6m is humming with Es. For a change, I am on 2m FT8 hoping for some Es. It is currently 1030z. So far, no Es evident.
UPDATE 1142z: 16 stations have spotted my 10W to the big-wheel omni antenna on 2m FT8 today. 3 QSOs on 2m so far. No Es.
UPDATE 1856z: IT9GSF worked on 2m FT8 using 10W and the big-wheel omni antenna. 2 Maltese stations spotted. 2m Es.
UPDATE 1142z: 16 stations have spotted my 10W to the big-wheel omni antenna on 2m FT8 today. 3 QSOs on 2m so far. No Es.
UPDATE 1856z: IT9GSF worked on 2m FT8 using 10W and the big-wheel omni antenna. 2 Maltese stations spotted. 2m Es.
Reach walk - NOT amateur radio
6m FT8
Last night I took the unusual step for me of being on 6m FT8 with the auto sequence feature turned off. Usually I work everyone that calls me. In the Es season this means QSOs with stations all across Europe. Last night I was hoping that the band would open across the Atlantic, but if there was any I missed it! At the moment I am NOT on any band (0600z).
UPDATE 1034z: 6m FT8 is buzzing with Es. Several QSOs already too.
UPDATE 2052z: At about 1905z I returned to 6m FT8 and worked some stations in southern Spain.
UPDATE 1034z: 6m FT8 is buzzing with Es. Several QSOs already too.
UPDATE 2052z: At about 1905z I returned to 6m FT8 and worked some stations in southern Spain.
ICOM IC-705 price
MLS has announced the price of the IC-705 as £1299.95. The release date is now shown as July 2020. Personally, I suspect this will be later. As far as I know it has not yet been released in Japan, although I stand to be corrected.
For a QRP radio this seems very high, although it is a 10W radio with HF, VHF and UHF bands. Like the IC-7300 I cannot see a rush to drop the price.
The FT818 is far less than half price. In my view the IC-705 is market priced as the punters will pay. As an SDR, the receiver should be less expensive than a superhet architecture.
See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/ic705
For a QRP radio this seems very high, although it is a 10W radio with HF, VHF and UHF bands. Like the IC-7300 I cannot see a rush to drop the price.
The FT818 is far less than half price. In my view the IC-705 is market priced as the punters will pay. As an SDR, the receiver should be less expensive than a superhet architecture.
See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/ic705
19 May 2020
Sheep dressing - NOT amateur radio
Brain malfunction? - NOT amateur radio
It is nearly 7 years since I suffered a stroke, but a few things have happened recently that have puzzled me. These may be artifacts of my stroke, old age, or not my problem at all.
On a couple of occasions I have heard people say things that I have corrected. My wife is certain that the right words were used. Short of recording the incidents, there is no way of knowing if it was me or not.
One of these was on BBC Breakfast TV earlier, when I thought Nagga had said 8pm by mistake when it should have been 7pm. The other event was a person's name that I corrected only to be told that the correct name was what my wife had said. My hearing is very good, so it is very unlikely that I simply misheard.
I am wondering if what I hear inside my head is sometimes wrong? I am now doubting what I hear.
On a couple of occasions I have heard people say things that I have corrected. My wife is certain that the right words were used. Short of recording the incidents, there is no way of knowing if it was me or not.
One of these was on BBC Breakfast TV earlier, when I thought Nagga had said 8pm by mistake when it should have been 7pm. The other event was a person's name that I corrected only to be told that the correct name was what my wife had said. My hearing is very good, so it is very unlikely that I simply misheard.
I am wondering if what I hear inside my head is sometimes wrong? I am now doubting what I hear.
Lockdown fun - NOT amateur radio
If you look carefully at the photo (you may need to see it full sized) there is a monster downstairs, with its head upstairs!
6m FT8
Overnight I stayed on 6m FT8. After a QSO late yesterday evening I was RX most of the time. Sadly I saw no transatlantic stations. This morning I am on 6m FT8 TX again still usingy 18 10W and the V2000 vertical omni.
UPDATE 0835z: 39 stations have spotted me so far today on 6m FT8 with my 10W to the omni. Most of these are Es. Not as promising as yesterday, that was exceptional. Only 18 stations spotted here today so far. My noise floor is low, so if they are active, I would copy them.
UPDATE 0922z: Now 42 stations spotting me today.
UPDATE 1314z: 273 stations have spotted me so far today with best DX being OD5KU (3463km). On RX 346 stations spotted here on 6m FT8 RX with the best DX being A45XR (5843km) in Oman.
UPDATE 2012z: 443 stations have spotted me today. As yet, no transatlantic signals spotted here or spots of my signal. Today seems even better on 6m FT8 than yesterday. I am still waiting that elusive transatlantic DX spot.
UPDATE 2112z: 455 stations have spotted me in the last 12 hours. In the hope of being spotted across the Atlantic, I have turned off auto sequencing. With this enabled I work plenty of stations daily, but the WSJT-X reverts to RX only. Overnight this is less ideal. Usually I can be in the shack within seconds to reset WSJT-X. Today, I have lost count of the number of QSOs on 6m FT8.
UPDATE 0835z: 39 stations have spotted me so far today on 6m FT8 with my 10W to the omni. Most of these are Es. Not as promising as yesterday, that was exceptional. Only 18 stations spotted here today so far. My noise floor is low, so if they are active, I would copy them.
UPDATE 0922z: Now 42 stations spotting me today.
UPDATE 1314z: 273 stations have spotted me so far today with best DX being OD5KU (3463km). On RX 346 stations spotted here on 6m FT8 RX with the best DX being A45XR (5843km) in Oman.
UPDATE 2012z: 443 stations have spotted me today. As yet, no transatlantic signals spotted here or spots of my signal. Today seems even better on 6m FT8 than yesterday. I am still waiting that elusive transatlantic DX spot.
UPDATE 2112z: 455 stations have spotted me in the last 12 hours. In the hope of being spotted across the Atlantic, I have turned off auto sequencing. With this enabled I work plenty of stations daily, but the WSJT-X reverts to RX only. Overnight this is less ideal. Usually I can be in the shack within seconds to reset WSJT-X. Today, I have lost count of the number of QSOs on 6m FT8.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
