Salcombe, Devon yesterday - NOT amateur radio

The photo shows where I come from in South Devon, yesterday. My dad lived on the road to the right over 100 years ago.  

The house where he lived now sells for about £500k. It was a hovel when he lived there and he would be amazed.

VLF earth-mode

It is many years now since my health allowed me to carry out VLF earth-mode experiments. Results obtained with 5W and simple kit amazed me. I got a range of 6km and far further would have been possible. I kept a blog of my results which can be accessed via my website and old website at https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp/Home/earthmode (do not follow the links on the left of this old website as these are very very old and may not work).

As I understand it, OFCOM is not interested in licencing earth-mode kit as long as no "harmful interference to wireless telegraphy" is caused. To be honest,  I think conduction modes are a total puzzle to them! Without (free) software ranges would be much shorter.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/vlf/8-97khz-earth-mode-transmitter .

Sunspots - Saturday December 12th 2020

Solar flux is 83 and the SSN 11.  A=6 and K=1.

QSYed to 2m FT8 QRP (Friday)

At just after 1930z, I QSYed to 2m FT8 QRP with 2.5W to the big-wheel omni antenna. 2 spots of me so far. No spots of others yet and no QSOs. Best DX spot of me is by G8TTI (186km).

Looking east - NOT amateur radio

This is the view from Rame Head near Plymouth looking towards the South Hams in Devon, UK 

OFCOM's plan of work for next year

In my old age I must be getting a boring old f**t.   

OFCOM has published details of its plan of work for 2021-2022 on their website. Yet more motherhood crappery in my view. See the OFCOM website for more details. 

Maybe have another minced pie instead?

QRP YouTube channel

As many know, QRP is the part of our hobby that I enjoy most. Southgate News reports that the GQRP Club has a new YouTube channel devoted to QRP. Great idea.

The latest GQRP Convention talks are there. These were online this year. Well worth watching.

See https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClhe-ybLZzpnJh80VmFuS-A/videos

20m FT8 RX (Friday)

At about 0905z I turned on my 20m FT8 RX with the FT817ND and the tiny indoor loop antenna. As the internet is off, these will not be uploaded to PSKreporter. Plenty of stations spotted. 

UPDATE 0920z:  As the internet is back on, hopefully some spots will get through now.

UPDATE 1235z: 246 spots here so far on 20m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1920z: 452 stations spotted here today on 20m FT8 RX. Quite amazing with just the loop on the windowsill.

UPDATE 2210z:  QRT. 

Christmas - NOT amateur radio

The photo shows the mince pies and date and walnut cake my wife made yesterday. Most of the mince pies have already been eaten! We'll make some more today. 😋

Looking west - NOT amateur radio

The photo shows the view looking west towards Cornwall taken in 2012 in Devon.