31 Aug 2020
2m FT8
For about 40 minutes I have been on 2m FT8 using 10W and the big-wheel omni antenna. So far 37 stations in 6 countries have spotted me today. Best DX was again a spot from N. Ireland and 2 from Germany.
UPDATE 1747z: So far today, 53 stations in 7 countries have spotted my 10W to the big-wheel omni. 2m FT8 never seems to fail and it amazes me.
Ely sunset - NOT amateur radio
Origins of sayings - NOT amateur radio
Origins of some sayings shared on Facebook yesterday. Assuming these are true, quite fascinating. If not true, I wonder what the origins were?
1. In the 1400s a law was set forth in England that a man was allowed to beat his wife with a stick no thicker than his thumb.
Hence we have 'the rule of thumb.'
2. Many years ago in Scotland , a new game was invented. It was ruled 'Gentlemen Only...
Ladies Forbidden'... and thus the word GOLF entered into the English language.
3. Each king in a deck of playing cards represents a great king from history:
Spades - King David,
Hearts - Charlemagne,
Clubs -Alexander the Great,
Diamonds - Julius Caesar
4. In Shakespeare's time, mattresses were secured on bed frames by ropes. When you pulled on the ropes the mattress tightened, making the bed firmer to sleep on. Hence the phrase......... 'goodnight, sleep tight.'
5. It was the accepted practice in Babylon 4,000 years ago that for a month after the wedding, the bride's father would supply his son-in-law with all the mead he could drink.
Mead is a honey beer and because their calendar was lunar based, this period was called the honey month, which we know today as the honeymoon.
6. In English pubs, ale is ordered by pints and quarts...
So in old England , when customers got unruly, the bartender would yell at them 'Mind your pints and quarts, and settle down.'
It's where we get the phrase 'mind your P's and Q's'
7. Many years ago in England, pub frequenters had a whistle baked into the rim or handle of their ceramic cups. When they needed a refill, they used the whistle to get some service.
'Wet your whistle' is the phrase inspired by this practice.
8. In 1696, William III of England introduced a property tax that required those living in houses with more than six windows to pay a levy. In order to avoid the tax, house owners would brick up all windows except six. (The Window Tax lasted until 1851, and older houses with bricked-up windows are still a common sight in the U.K.) As the bricked-up windows prevented some rooms from receiving any sunlight, the tax was referred to as “daylight robbery”!
1. In the 1400s a law was set forth in England that a man was allowed to beat his wife with a stick no thicker than his thumb.
Hence we have 'the rule of thumb.'
2. Many years ago in Scotland , a new game was invented. It was ruled 'Gentlemen Only...
Ladies Forbidden'... and thus the word GOLF entered into the English language.
3. Each king in a deck of playing cards represents a great king from history:
Spades - King David,
Hearts - Charlemagne,
Clubs -Alexander the Great,
Diamonds - Julius Caesar
4. In Shakespeare's time, mattresses were secured on bed frames by ropes. When you pulled on the ropes the mattress tightened, making the bed firmer to sleep on. Hence the phrase......... 'goodnight, sleep tight.'
5. It was the accepted practice in Babylon 4,000 years ago that for a month after the wedding, the bride's father would supply his son-in-law with all the mead he could drink.
Mead is a honey beer and because their calendar was lunar based, this period was called the honey month, which we know today as the honeymoon.
6. In English pubs, ale is ordered by pints and quarts...
So in old England , when customers got unruly, the bartender would yell at them 'Mind your pints and quarts, and settle down.'
It's where we get the phrase 'mind your P's and Q's'
7. Many years ago in England, pub frequenters had a whistle baked into the rim or handle of their ceramic cups. When they needed a refill, they used the whistle to get some service.
'Wet your whistle' is the phrase inspired by this practice.
8. In 1696, William III of England introduced a property tax that required those living in houses with more than six windows to pay a levy. In order to avoid the tax, house owners would brick up all windows except six. (The Window Tax lasted until 1851, and older houses with bricked-up windows are still a common sight in the U.K.) As the bricked-up windows prevented some rooms from receiving any sunlight, the tax was referred to as “daylight robbery”!
30 Aug 2020
2m FT8 (10W and the big-wheel omni antenna)
Been on several hours today. Spotted by 49 stations in 8 countries.
UPDATE 1930z : Now QRT but I was spotted by 63 stations in 9 countries today on 2m FT8 with the big-wheel omni antenna. It never fails.
Time - NOT amateur radio
"Time is just a construct of the human brain" - discuss.
I saw this recently on a Facebook page about research at Durham University into the universe.
I saw this recently on a Facebook page about research at Durham University into the universe.
Broadcast listener resources
In my first years in the hobby my main focus was on broadcast band listening, especially on the shortwave broadcast bands. Often this was with a humble crystal set.
In the past I have copied right across the planet on a crystal set. These were actual broadcasts from the originating countries and not via relays. Radio Australia was a real challenge.
The thrill of copying broadcast stations from great distances was exciting especially on a crystal set in which the only power is that from the originating station.
It was amazing what could be copied on a very simple regen RX. Quite a few of us "cut our teeth" on simple regen receivers.
Some useful links are shown below.
See https://www.dxzone.com/catalog/Shortwave_Radio/BCL_Resources/
In the past I have copied right across the planet on a crystal set. These were actual broadcasts from the originating countries and not via relays. Radio Australia was a real challenge.
The thrill of copying broadcast stations from great distances was exciting especially on a crystal set in which the only power is that from the originating station.
It was amazing what could be copied on a very simple regen RX. Quite a few of us "cut our teeth" on simple regen receivers.
Some useful links are shown below.
See https://www.dxzone.com/catalog/Shortwave_Radio/BCL_Resources/
G4NUA's 100mW WSPR TX
29 Aug 2020
SPAM emails - NOT amateur radio
On the whole the SPAM filter on Gmail works well.
As an example, I have just been informed that my Norton anti-virus software is running out. The only problem is I don't use Norton!
Every day I get messages telling me how my bank balance has gone up as a result of winning a prize. As for Bitcoins, I must get at least 20 SPAM messages every day.
Regarding sexual partners, every day I get requests and I am sure it is not because I am a great stud! 😁
As an example, I have just been informed that my Norton anti-virus software is running out. The only problem is I don't use Norton!
Every day I get messages telling me how my bank balance has gone up as a result of winning a prize. As for Bitcoins, I must get at least 20 SPAM messages every day.
Regarding sexual partners, every day I get requests and I am sure it is not because I am a great stud! 😁
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