QSY to 2m FT8

As 10m seemed dead here today, I have QSYed to 2m FT8. Almost immediately my 10W to the big-wheel omni antenna was spotted by 11 stations including GI6ATZ (479km) in Northern Ireland and DF6PW (562km) in Germany. It never fails!

UPDATE 1858z:  42 stations in 10 countries have spotted me today so far on 2m with 10W and the big-wheel omni antenna. As this sort of DX seems to be available at any time, I do not think all of these are aircraft scatter or tropo. Some may be, but not all I think. Personally, I suspect some other sort of scatter that weak signals such as FT8 signals can access.

Stations spotting me
on 2m FT8 TX (10W) today

UPDATE 2039z:  47 spots of my 10W to the big-wheel omni antenna today. Even with my low power and simple antenna, it appears that these sort of ranges are possible on 2m FT8 at any time. On SSB with the same power and antenna, I am pleased to work stations 200km away!

Granddaughter - NOT amateur radio

The photo shows our 9  year old granddaughter on holiday in Norfolk.

Cartoon - NOT amateur radio

This cartoon appeared as a Facebook memory from several years ago. 

It seems appropriate in the UK at the moment.

Ultra-simple RX

Some years ago, I wanted to see just how simple a receiver could be made with a decent performance. Later, this was converted into a full transceiver.  For so few parts, it is remarkable.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/regen

10m FT8 (4W and indoor loop)

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.

Amusement - NOT amateur radio

This recently appeared in WhatsApp in response to the UK government's u-turn on exam grades. They tried to normalise school exam grades but at the very last minute had to agree to teacher's assessments instead. Many good students had results downgraded.

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

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

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

Sunspots - Tuesday August 18th 2020

Solar flux is 71 and the sunspot number 0.  A=3 and K=1.