Shack photo

 

This photo of me in the shack was taken in September 2013.   

Since then, there have been a few changes.

Memory prices

A few moments ago I ordered a 16GB micro SD card for my XYL's camera. I was amazed how low cost this was. This is from a reputable manufacturer.  Just a few years ago the cost would have been very high. 

Now you can buy micro SD cards with over 1TB!!  At some point I shall buy a 256GB (or even larger) memory card for all my photos. 

A few years from now I expect 1TB micro SD cards will be dirt cheap and seem so small.

WSJT-X rc4

The latest release candidate of WSJT-X has been released. It is rc4. When I tried to install it on my Windows 10 machine it kept blocking it. After going through the hoops several times I eventually installed it. This version runs until Feb 2nd when I expect to go through all this hassle again. I know why this is done: to keep the PC safe. rc3 no longer works after Jan 26th.

WSJT-X is used for FT8 and WSPR here

See https://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/k1jt/wsjtx.html

Crystal set DXing

It is some years since I last tried this, but it was fun. 

Although it is possible to envelope detect amateur stations if strong enough, identifying amateur SSB stations can be quite hard. The first amateur stations copied were on 160m AM way back in the 1960s.  Since then I have copied amateur SSB stations on 80m at some distance. Signals need to be S9++. 

In a crystal set all the power is from the TX end, with nothing at the RX end. No batteries, nothing.

I have seen broadcast signals from all over the world and these were genuine in original country broadcasts, not via relays.  These days there are fewer English language broadcasters as more and more people move to the Internet. 

The circuit shown here is capable of hearing this DX even though it is ultra-simple. For the detector I used a germanium diode, but a hot carrier diode might be suitable. The secret is choosing a diode with a very low turn-on voltage. Silicon diodes are not suitable.

I am sure there will be better circuits around.

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

See also http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Technology/tis/info/pdf/culter.pdf

Sunspots - Tuesday January 26th 2021

Solar flux is 77 and the SSN 26. A=17 and K=2. 

"Our" windmill - NOT amateur radio

We live right next door to a fully restored 200 year old windmill. Every day, we notice somebody coming to take a photo.  You cannot blame them. 

We can see the windmill when we have breakfast and from the lounge where this photo was taken.

During the Covid-19 pandemic they removed some slats from the sails. I expect they will be repainted and replaced soon. The whole windmill is due for a repaint.

OFCOM updates

On the OFCOM website are more details of their upcoming auction of spectrum at 700MHz and 3.6GHz. 

Yorkshire pudding - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday we had stew with homemade Yorkshire pudding. 

In days gone by Yorkshire pudding was served as a savoury first course to fill you up before the main course, so less meat was needed. This was particularly important in poor families.

2m FT8 QRP (Monday)

Since about 1030z I have been on 2m FT8 using 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna. Already I have been spotted in EI and GI. 

UPDATE 1535z: 29 spots of my QRP 2m FT8 so far today with furthermost being DJ8RZ (881km). See map for spots of me to lunchtime.

UPDATE 2130z:  26 stations in 7 countries have spotted my 2m FT8 QRP in the last 12 hours. 31 stations spotted here on RX in same period.

Anglesey abbey - NOT amateur radio

 

The collage shows nearby Anglesey Abbey a few days ago.  It is owned by the National Trust.

We walk there most weeks. It is about 1.2 miles around the winter walk and not very muddy. 

The other walk we do there is a bit further, but very muddy at the moment!