40m FT8 RX (Wednesday)

 As WSJT-X does not list the 60m FT8 frequency, I decided to give 40m FT8 a go with the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.  At this high a frequency, I think my theory of a "loop in the ground" is unlikely to hold. The SWR is quite high, but I am still copying loads of stations. Already, within just a few minutes, 104 stations spotted.

UPDATE 1945z:  So far this evening, 210 stations spotted on 40m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 2220z:  364 stations in 4 continents spotted so far on 40m FT8 RX. I am amazed this "antenna" works at all at 40m.

Winter flowering primroses - NOT amateur radio

Over winter, we plant primroses to give us winter colour. This year, we bought the plants from the nursery in the village rather than from the nursery in the next village. They were less expensive and are very healthy plants. We are very pleased and will use them again.

Change of fortunes - NOT amateur radio

Ghislaine Maxwell is accused of helping sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who died in a prison cell in 2019, with procuring under-age girls for sex. She denies this and is trying to get bail. 

Her lifestyle in prison must be a million miles from the lifestyle she was used to. She is the daughter of media mogul Robert Maxwell. Epstein was well connected.

If convicted, she could spend 35 years in jail according to the BBC.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-56181754

15m FT8 QRP (Wednesday)

At about 1013z, I turned on 15m FT8 using 2.5W and the indoor loop on the shack windowsill. No spots yet at 1022z. To be honest, it sounds very quiet. Either HF is poor or the band has not yet "woken up".

UPDATE 1328z: 7 stations have been spotted on RX and 3 stations have spotted me on 15m FT8 QRP TX with the furthermost now in Brazil on RX.

UPDATE 1424z: 11 stations spotted on RX with the furthermost YC1JEL (11777km). In QRP TX, still 3 stations spotting me.

UPDATE 1812z:  Today has been quite poor on 15m. There were no USA stations spotted and just 1 in S.America. Soon be time to go QRT.

2m scatter using QRP FT8

My recent article in RSGB RadCom postulates that FT8 is opening up scatter for QRP set ups.

This becomes possible at any time with really low ERPs. Unlike aircraft scatter, this seems possible whenever I go on suggesting it is troposcatter.  DX is possible without lifts!

My ERP is probably less than 5W. I use the FT817ND and a big-wheel omni. Ranges over 450km are possible every day, even with my set up! It has totally transformed 2m possibilities for me: no towers, no beams, QRP ..... and DX!  GI and EI are possible every day from JO02 (East Anglia) even with my QRP.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/vuhf/scatter .

Rotten - NOT amateur radio

We saw this rotten tree on our walk yesterday at Wicken Fen. 

When? - NOT amateur radio

There is a guided busway from Cambridge to St Ives which runs out along special tracks on the route of the old railway. The bus can travel fast and traffic free. It is a very good route past lakes.

We are looking forward to doing this again soon. 

Sunspots - Wednesday February 24th 2021

 Solar flux is 78 and the SSN 31. A=12 and K=3.

472kHz WSPR RX

At about 1930z, I turned on 472kHz WSPR RX using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. So far, no spots. It is now 1952z. 

I notice the noise floor on 472kHz with the PC charger on was S8, whereas with the charger off it is S2. As WSPR bandwidth is only about 6Hz, I wonder what difference this makes? I am no theory man, so I do not know the answer.

UPDATE 2210z:  5 different stations spotted this evening with the furthermost LA8AV (1012km). I shall shortly be turning off the gear.

Cat problems - NOT amateur radio

Last night, my wife had a video chat with one of our grandchildren. During the chat his cat decided to jump to his mother's highest shelf with her most valuable pottery.  I think things ended without disaster.