Sunspots - Monday February 15th 2021

 Solar flux is 71 and the SSN 0. A=4 and K=0.

160m FT8 QRP (Sunday)

As an experiment, I am trying my earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground on 160m FT8 using 2.5W. Immediately, stations across Europe were copied on RX. Already spotted strongly in Oxford on 160m FT8 QRP TX. Furthermost on RX is R9GM (3499km) in Perm.

Stations spotted on 160m FT8
so far with the earth-electrode
"antenna" in the ground by 1830z

UPDATE 1830z: Already 102 stations spotted on RX. 1 QSO with a station in Germany and 12 stations have spotted my QRP TX in 4 countries.  My earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground obviously still works effectively. I must try it on 472kHz (630m) probably tomorrow evening, assuming the transverter works!

UPDATE 2225z: So far, 263 stations spotted on RX and 31 stations have spotted me on TX with the furthermost being OE9GHV (869km). Not bad with antenna you cannot even see with just 2.5W from the FT817ND!

The 31 stations spotting my
2.5W to the earth-electrode
"antenna" on TX on
160m FT8 this evening

UPDATE 2227z: For the night I will leave just the RX on and turn off the TX. TX now off.

UAE Mars orbiter - NOT amateur radio

Mars will one day be explored by humans. For now, we have oribiting satellites and robots on the surface. The recent UAE satellite has been put in an orbit around the red planet.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-56060890

2m FT8 QRP (Sunday)

Once again I am on 2m FT8 QRP with 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna.  So far, spotted on TX by 8 stations with the furthermost GI6ATZ (479km) and one station spotted so far on RX. It is now 1052z. 

If I come on randomly, the chances are high that I will be spotted in EI or GI. This is definitely some sort of scatter, although the randomness makes me think aircraft scatter is unlikely.

UPDATE 1306z: Several QSOs already on 2m FT8.

UPDATE 1418z: 19 spots of my QRP so far today on 2m FT8. 

The USA - NOT amateur radio

Ex-president Trump has been cleared of impeachment. This is not too surprising as the senate would have needed a 2/3rds majority.

What I sincerely hope is that the USA can move on peacefully. Judging by the votes, he clearly has a large following in the USA, although I very much doubt most of those would have wanted the violence that erupted.

As a beacon of democracy, the violence that erupted some weeks ago was ugly and self-destructive. Now is a time to heal.

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!