Earth-electrode "antenna" replaced

Yesterday, I replaced the wire that I used successfully on 472kHz WSPR TX with a very low ERP. 

It was also used successfully on 160m and 80m.

As yet, it has still to be tested. 

UPDATE 0940z:  Tested on 160m and 80m.  Still high VSWR. Totally puzzled.

UPDATE 1538z: I cleaned the contacts at the far end and the VSWR remained high on 80m. With the auto ATU it matches on 160m. I have not tried 630m, which needs the transverter. My conclusion is that over the years tree roots have grown and effectively shorted out across the "loop" in the ground rendering this "antenna" no longer useful. I may try 160m WSPR or FT8 tonight, but may remove it tomorrow.

Me 1968 - NOT amateur radio

When I was a teenager I still had hair. This was a photo of me back in 1968. Some changes. 😉

These days I am bald and quite a bit heavier! 

Sunspots - Sunday February 14th 2021

 Solar flux is 71 and the SSN 0. A=13 and K=2.

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.