Since about 0800z this morning I have been on 10m. No spots given or received yet today. I have the feeling today is going to be a quiet day. Certainly no evidence yet here of Es. Things could change.
UPDATE 1110z: Still no spots on 10m FT8 today. Unless things improve after lunch, I may QSY to 2m FT8 later.
18 Aug 2020
Amusement - NOT amateur radio
What a total display of ineptness!! If the UK had any credibility left, they have now lost it. The government comes across as "back of a fag packet" people.
The future of amateur radio
On Southgate News there is discussion about online exams as recently done in the UK and in the USA. This particular piece is about Australia. Personally, I think it is a far bigger issue than exams.
When I was young radio was magic and the idea of talking across the world was like landing a man on Mars. To talk around the world meant amateur radio and getting a licence. My first introduction to the hobby was hearing AM amateurs on HF and 160m. These days there is no magic as people can hold video chats with friends and family across the planet for free using the internet.
Unless we can properly connect with the generation of today, I can see amateur radio just fizzling out within 20 years. Now, I hope I am pessimistic, but the signs are not good. As the amateur radio population ages (most are old men) fewer radios will get sold and some manufacturers will leave the market as there are no profits to be made. There will be fewer dealers, fewer ads, fewer and smaller magazines. Fewer new people will enter the hobby.
I just wonder what our hobby will look like in 2040.
See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2020/august/time-for-reconstruction-of-the-ham-radio-hobby.htm#.Xztyp2jYq00
When I was young radio was magic and the idea of talking across the world was like landing a man on Mars. To talk around the world meant amateur radio and getting a licence. My first introduction to the hobby was hearing AM amateurs on HF and 160m. These days there is no magic as people can hold video chats with friends and family across the planet for free using the internet.
Unless we can properly connect with the generation of today, I can see amateur radio just fizzling out within 20 years. Now, I hope I am pessimistic, but the signs are not good. As the amateur radio population ages (most are old men) fewer radios will get sold and some manufacturers will leave the market as there are no profits to be made. There will be fewer dealers, fewer ads, fewer and smaller magazines. Fewer new people will enter the hobby.
I just wonder what our hobby will look like in 2040.
See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2020/august/time-for-reconstruction-of-the-ham-radio-hobby.htm#.Xztyp2jYq00
137kHz transverter
From this QTH I have never tried 137kHz. At some point I really should. It is an interesting allocation. From the old QTH I copied a station in Sweden with just an E-field probe antenna. The transverter below was used on TX (see link below).
With QRP ERP from my old QTH it allowed me to be copied 250km away on WSPR. I forget the actual ERP but it was low mW at most. The antenna was either my earth-electrode antenna in the ground or my 80m square loop.
See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/mflf/137khz_tvrtr
With QRP ERP from my old QTH it allowed me to be copied 250km away on WSPR. I forget the actual ERP but it was low mW at most. The antenna was either my earth-electrode antenna in the ground or my 80m square loop.
See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/mflf/137khz_tvrtr
Reviews
Before buying new or used gear, it is often worth looking at reviews.
Remember than people who are very happy or very unhappy tend to leave reviews and many just use the gear.
I often look at the reviews on eham.net to get an impression. If a product is well liked, or disliked, this can be a good indicator.
See https://www.eham.net/reviews/index
Remember than people who are very happy or very unhappy tend to leave reviews and many just use the gear.
I often look at the reviews on eham.net to get an impression. If a product is well liked, or disliked, this can be a good indicator.
See https://www.eham.net/reviews/index
17 Aug 2020
Visitor - NOT amateur radio
Not including the antennae, it was about 3cm long. I don't think these can fly.
I have not seen one this year.
East Cambs 2m FM net
Every Monday night at 8pm UK time, we hold the East Cambs net on 144.575MHz FM vertical. Usually we are on for about 30 minutes. Sometimes there are technical discussions, although this is usually just someone sharing their knowledge to help someone out. It is rare for deep technical discussions to take place. All are always welcomed.
Government U-turn - NOT amateur radio
After a public protest, the government has been forced to make a U-turn over A level and GCSE grades. These are usually given as a result of exams held in the summer term. This year, these were not possible because of Covid-19. A level grades are used for offers of university places. Many grade predictions made by teachers were down-graded by an algorithm designed to normalise results.
After a public outcry in England the government has decided to use teachers predictions after all. Although they will be humiliated (again) over this, at least they saw sense in the end.
After a public outcry in England the government has decided to use teachers predictions after all. Although they will be humiliated (again) over this, at least they saw sense in the end.
Flood - NOT amateur radio
For a few minutes yesterday, it rained very heavily. For the first time since this happened, I went into the shack just now. The floor of the shack is about 10cm lower than the rest of the bungalow.
Much to my surprise some of the floor carpet is wet. Luckily nowhere else in the shack or house seems to have been affected. I have placed a convector heater in the little room to dry the carpet. I hope it does not leave a bad stain.
Much to my surprise some of the floor carpet is wet. Luckily nowhere else in the shack or house seems to have been affected. I have placed a convector heater in the little room to dry the carpet. I hope it does not leave a bad stain.
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