Hare Park Chippenham - NOT amateur radio

 

Last week at Hare Park Chippenham. Notice the cow.

CDARC (Cambridge) talk

Last evening, the Cambridge radio club had another Zoom talk, this time on the monitoring station at Baldock. 

This time, we also had a viewer in Russia! On previous times we have been watched in Canada and Northern Ireland. In all, 29 people attended.

Zoom has exceeded my expectations. Attendance is at least as good as a face-to-face meetings. At least with Zoom, the whole world can watch!

2m FT8 QRP (Saturday)

 At 0945z, when we went for a walk, I went on 2m FT8 RX. Since getting back, I have been on TX too with 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna.

It is now 1145z and I have been copied on TX by 7 stations in 2 countries with the furthermost being GI6ATZ (479km). On RX, 20 stations spotted in 4 countries.

South Africa - NOT amateur radio

Doing a walk around the village in the biting wind it is hard to think of the sunny weather in South Africa some years ago. 

This was a very good holiday with such a variety of scenery. In places it was like Scotland and others the Mediterranean. In other places scrub. 

The photo shows False Bay near Cape Town, which is a fine city. 

Not quite sure what we were expecting. We saw "the big five" wild animals, but the sheer variety of scenery was such a surprise. It really is "a world in one country". If you get a chance to go there in the future do go as you are very unlikely to be disappointed.

It is not a place I would wish to live in, but for a holiday it was wonderful. Certainly one of the most beautiful places in the world.

Nanowaves

As you will have seen, after a very long break, I took my first tentative steps back into optical communications yesterday. 

Before my stroke, I enjoyed going out in the field to see how far I could cover, especially over the horizon using QRSS (very slow CW) with PC decoders. 

Much greater distances would have been possible, then my health got in the way. 😕 

All the gear was home made. This was one of the attractions: all the gear was simple, including the test gear. 

This is a field of experimentation open to everyone. You may find some ideas on my main website.

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

Sunspots - Saturday February 13th 2021

Solar flux is 72 and the SSN 0 still. A=5 and K=2. 

2m FT8 QRP (Friday)

At about 1845z I QSYed to 2m FT8 QRP using 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna. So far, my 2m FT8  QRP has been spotted by 8 stations with the furthermost being GI6ATZ (479km). It is now 1904z.

UPDATE 2120z:  13 stations have spotted my QRP TX this evening. Now QRP.

2021 481THz tests

It is about 7 years since I last tried anything on 481THz (red light). 

So, today I dug out my optical beacon TX and RX and tried some tests across the house. Although I could find the RX, my TX beacon took some finding! This is mains powered. I eventually found it in a cupboard and did some tests. 

Tonight after dark, I shall try bouncing the signal off the windmill.

The last test I tried was in early 2014, but I was too wobbly.

Small steps.

UPDATE 2200z:  I tried "windmill bounce" and "tree bounce" on CW at 10 wpm but it was too easy! Signals were very strong. One thing is clear: I am much more wobbly than I was 7-8 years ago. I'd like to try much greater obstructed paths with QRSS, but wonder if I am up to it these days.

15m FT8 QRP (Friday)

This morning I am again on 15m FT8 with the tiny indoor loop antenna and 2.5W. So far lots of stations spotted on RX and EA8BFK (2882km) has spotted me on TX. 

UPDATE 1400z: 63 stations spotted on RX and 5 stations have spotted my 2.5W QRP  on TX.

Spots of me on 15m FT8
TX with 2.5W and the
 indoor tiny loop at 1535z

UPDATE 1555z: Already had several spots of my QRP from the USA, with 9 spots of me on TX in all.  Amazing. On 15m FT8 RX, 113 spots so far.

126 years ago - NOT amateur radio

This photo shows where I come from in South Devon 126 years ago. What was rocks then is now sand. If it can come this fast (why?) I guess it can go as fast.