Remembrance Sunday - NOT amateur radio

Like many, we went out on our doorstep this year at 11am on Remembrance Sunday. We stood in silence for 2 minutes.

All those that fought in those dreadful WW1 trenches are now dust. How futile this slaughter was. 

One of my wife's relatives (see photo) fought and survived WW1, although the experiences haunted him all his life.

2m FT8

Since 1900z I have been on 2m FT8 QRP with 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna. So far just 2 stations have spotted me with furthermost PA2M (311km). On RX nothing yet spotted.

UPDATE 2034z:  Just 1 station spotted on RX this evening F4HRD (182km), whereas 10 stations have spotted me with the furthermost being G7RAU (461km) in Cornwall many times.

Time and memories - illusions? - NOT amateur radio

In the last century, our views of physics were radically changed by Einstein and then quantum physics. Things we had believed in for centuries required new ways of thinking. One wonders what our world view will be like in the next century. You can almost hear them saying,"did they really believe that?".

I wonder about time and memory. In our minds we wake up each day with our understanding of the passage of time and the assumption that our (fading) memories are as old as us. It is entirely possible that this is an illusion and each day is unique and the memories we think we have are illusions too. I have already discussed the mystery of human consciousness.

No, in 100 years' time our whole world view could be totally different.

15m FT8

At about 1515z, I switched to 15m FT8 using 2.5W and the poorer indoor loop. Several USA stations already spotted, although they did not appear on PSKreporter for some reason.

UPDATE 1548z: 1 station has spotted me and I have spotted 4 so far with the furthermost being KB8BIP (6266km) in West Virginia.

WSJT-X bug?

Several times I have noticed a bug with WSJT-X with FT8. 

When I use my Windows 10 machine, it seems not to recognise my SignaLink USB interface until a few minutes after I have switched on. After a while it recognises it and starts to decode OK. Before then, signals on the waterfall look smeared and there are no decodes.  

At first I thought it was RF feedback, but it seems to be any band and any antenna. I have still to try the new release candidate version 2.3  to see if this has been corrected.

East Cambs net

Not all locals are interested or can make it. 8pm Mondays 144.575 vertical FM - East Cambs net.

Old logbooks

When I was working, I managed to scan some of my early logbooks. These are available as files on my main website.

One of my winter projects is to join Logbook of the World (LOTW). Another is to update my eQSL entries.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/logs

10m FT8 QRP

Since 0922z I have been on 10m FT8 with 2.5W and the poorer indoor loop.  I must mend the better loop!  No spots yet.

UPDATE 1023z:  Just a single spot on RX of G0PQO (50km).

UPDATE 1508z:  Several stations in southern Spain spotted. Nobody has yet spotted me today.

Getting ready for winter? - NOT amateur radio

We saw this boat on our walk yesterday. Looks like they are getting ready for winter. 

Most blackberries have gone or have shrivelled up. I ate one last one.

Me as a child - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday my wife found this photo of me as a child.  I am holding my pet hen. I am about 8 or 9. This hen ate off the the same plate as our Cairn terrier.

As a very young child we kept hens for eggs.