Walk - NOT amateur radio

We have just got back from a walk around Wicken Fen. Windy and sunny. 

ICOM - IC-705: still tempted

The price of this rig, like the IC-7300 and IC-9700, is not going to fall any time soon. 

Clearly, if you want one from a UK dealer in the next few years it is very unlikely that prices will fall. It is definitely my kind of radio, but I do not like the price.  I like the connectivity options and the GPS.

The feeling you are left with is that this radio is market priced. Prices will not drop if we are prepared to pay the current price. Clearly many are.

If I get a decent trade on my FT991A, I might be tempted...

Several dealers are selling them ex-stock now.

160m FT8 RX overnight with the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground

After being spotted by 31 stations with my 2.5W 160m FT8 last evening, I was RX only on 160m FT8 overnight. Over 400 stations spotted (see map). Fewer than a few days ago, but still plenty.

I am amazed how well this "antenna" works on 160m and 80m QRP. Why go to all the trouble of a big eyesore antenna if something this simple works?  

I may give this setup a test on 80m SSB next Sunday in the CDARC net.

New windmill path - NOT amateur radio

In the last few days they have been making a new path to the local windmill and museum, as the photo shows. This is designed to make access better in all weathers. We live next door.

As of yesterday, they had put hardcore down. I am not sure what goes on top.

Sunspots - Tuesday February 23rd 2021

 Solar flux is 76 and the SSN 26. A=17 and K=3.

136kHz experiments

Before moving to the current QTH about 7.5 years ago, I did some tests on 136kHz QRSS. I used the E-field probe for 136kHz on a mag-mount on the car and drove around to see where the beacon could be copied. The beacon produced 8W into 50 ohms, but the beacon ERP was only low milliwatts or even less. The antenna was the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. After successfully receiving the beacon on the far side of Cambridge (20+ km?), I just stopped as it was obviously working well both on TX and RX. The E-field probe is shown in the photo.

Other than a brief test with the earth-electrode "antenna" on RX, I have never yet tried 136kHz at this QTH.

My old site (links may not work as this old site is not maintained) has a description of the E-field probe RX antenna and other tests at 136/7kHz.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp/Home/136k .

See also http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2013/01/137khz-e-field-probe-mag-mount.html for more on the LF EFP.

Lockdown - NOT amateur radio

A year ago few of us were aware of the crisis ahead of us. It seems to have gone on for ever. 

With warmer weather, better treatments and Covid-19 vaccines, there is some hope in 2021.

In England, the Prime Minister usually addresses the nation when there is something important to say. Today, he is to give a "roadmap" out of lockdown. It is expected schools will return March 8th, although the path back to reality could be a long one. 

The last thing we all want is a return to lockdown after it has been eased. Mixing in cafes and pubs? Holidays? We can all hope!

Going out - NOT amateur radio

Do you remember when you could "go out"?  Yes, an odd concept, especially if you live in the UK. We use to go "abroad" on things called "planes" on things called "holidays".  😏

One of our favourite places was the National Trust place called Ickworth about 17 miles away. Usually, we walked in the grounds, but occasionally we went in the house and famous rotunda shown in the photo. 

If you book in advance you can still walk around the grounds. We enjoy walking around nearby National Trust grounds. Sadly, houses are closed at the moment.

160m QRP (Monday)

At 1103z, I decided to try 160m FT8 QRP with 2.5w and the earth-electrode "antenna".  It is now 1109z and so far no spots, although it is daylight.

 (UPDATE 1434z:  3 G spots of my 2.5W QRP 160m FT8 TX. No spots yet on RX.

UPDATE 1532z:  The first DX has started to appear with DK3UA (869km) on the Baltic coast of Germany about 70 miles north of Berlin. Still just 3 G spots of my 2.5W FT8 160m QRP.

UPDATE 1818z: 12 spots of my 160m FT8 QRP on TX and all over Europe spotted on RX as shown in the map.

UPDATE 1945z: Already 31 spots of my 160m FT8 QRP TX has been spotted in 9 countries with the furthermost OE9GNV (869km). Amazing, with just the FT817ND and the small earth-electrode "antenna" which the XYL and neighbours don't even realise is there! This "antenna" system really works for me.

UPDATE 2120z:  37 spots this evening of my 2.5W 160m FT8 QRP on TX as shown on the second map. Quite astounding how something this poor works with such low power! It seems obvious to me that this setup is working remarkably well. I shall probably go RX only overnight.

UPDATE 2220z: 41 stations spotted this evening.

Black bears - NOT amateur radio

Several years ago we had a holiday in western Canada. One of the most beautiful roads I have ever driven on is the Icefields Parkway. It was very snowy when we were there in early summer.

We saw several black bears and black bear cubs. Coming from the UK this was really exciting. The one in the photo was only a few metres from the car.