Optical communications

Many years ago I did some experiments with optical communications over the horizon (NLOS). See the photo. This appeared as a FB memory today. 

Sunspots - Saturday March 13th 2021

Solar flux is 77 and the SSN 15.  A=12 and K=4.

Smaller? - NOT amateur radio

Today we bought some compost from a local hardware store. 

My wife bought me a Mars chocolate bar. It says 51g. To me it seems far smaller than I remember. Is this the way they are charging us the same, but actually selling less? 

Pot of gold? - NOT amateur radio

This was the view down our close yesterday. No gold found!! 

Walkies - NOT amateur radio

This afternoon we did a walk around Anglesey Abbey. The daffodils will be at their best in about 1 - 2 weeks.

The photo shows one spot where they are out. 

17m FT8 QRP (Friday)

At 1135z, I turned on 17m FT8 QRP with 2.5W and the tiny indoor loop antenna. So far today (after 5 minutes only) 15 stations spotted on RX, but nobody has spotted my QRP on TX. 

UPDATE 1252z: 75 stations in 4 continents spotted on RX. 3 stations have spotted my QRP on TX with the furthermost UW5ZM (2317km).

Zoom "dinner" - NOT amateur radio

Last night, because of Covid-19, we had another "virtual" dinner on Zoom with old work friends. Since we have not been able to meet in person every month, we have had Zoom meetings instead. We are encouraged  to bring our own drinks! 

Surprisingly, these have been pretty effective: not as good as chatting in person over a real meal, but better than nothing. Zoom allows everyone to see and hear everyone. 

We even had a deaf member last night. Lipreading with Zoom was a challenge and a lot of use was made of the typed "chat" feature!

Age of radio amateurs

Southgate News has some feedback on a Freedom of Information request made to OFCOM asking for data on the age of radio amateurs. As no age records need to be kept now, the released data is only partial. 

I think it is fair to say that many (most?) UK radio amateurs are old. It is also well known that most are men.

Recently, our local church has lost several members who have either died or moved away. What will amateur radio look like in 20 years' time?

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2021/march/ofcom-released-age-of-radio-amateurs-data.htm#.YEs0ZyuTLrc

Sunspots - Friday March 12th 2021

 Solar flux is 78 and the SSN 23.  A=4 and K=2.

4m

It is very many years since I was on the 4m (70MHz) amateur band. When I was first on in the late 1960s most operation was in the British Isles. 

These days many more countries have permanent or temporary access to the band. There are far more European countries with access nowadays. 

At one time there was a push to get CEPT to grant access to the band in all CEPT countries I think. 

The photo shows my transverter that has never been used at this QTH. I am not sure where it is even!

At some point I would like to get on 4m again. With a few watts and a halo antenna much of Europe should be workable in Es openings.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/vuhf/4m_tvtr .

See https://70mhz.org/