Shadows - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday, the shadows cast by the windmill next door were spectacular as shown in the photo.  We get good views from the kitchen and lounge.

The windmill and sails are due for a repaint soon. Normally the 200 year old, fully restored, mill is open for visitors April-October.

15m FT8 QRP (Tuesday)

It is now 1125z. I have been on 15m FT8 QRP with 2.5W and the indoor loop for about 30 minutes. So far, nobody has spotted me and I have spotted just 5 stations so far today.

UPDATE 1420z: Best station spotted on RX today is VP8NO (12722km) in the Falklands. Still no spots of my QRP on TX.

UPDATE 1656z: 10 stations only spotted today on 15m FT8 RX and nobody has spotted my QRP on TX.

Sunspots - Tuesday March 16th 2021

 Solar flux is 75 and the SSN 24. A=7 and K=2.

Kingfisher - NOT amateur radio

Late this morning one of our sons rang up to say he had just seen a kingfisher. Not only that, but he also saw it on the side of the river on a branch. Photos rarely do them justice. Normally they are just flashes of amazing colour just above the water.

These are iridescent coloured birds, rarely seen these days. They are quite something. It must be many years since I last saw one. 

See https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/kingfisher/

First cut - NOT amateur radio

For the first time this year, I have cut the grass at the front of the house as shown in the photo. 

The first cut is always with the blades set high. 

I shall probably do the back garden tomorrow if the weather is OK.

10m FT8 transceiver

Regular blog readers may recall I want to design and make a very simple transceiver for 10m FT8, as 10m should soon be much better and less than 1W should enable DX QSOs with very simple antennas. 

The photo shows the 10m WISPY TX beacon.

Steve G1KQH told me of a good, low cost, source of the crystal needed. This is in the USA, so I ordered some and these have now left Heathrow, London, so they must have been in stock and sent by air. I have no idea if I will have to pay VAT or duty. I hope not.

As my fine motor skills are poorer since my 2013 stroke, I want to build this in parts, probably starting with the RX. Assuming this is OK I shall have a go at the TX, then combine as a transceiver. Being largely based on the 10m WSPR WISPY it should work.

UPDATE 1220z: Crystals have arrived from the USA in the post just now. No duty or VAT to pay. Just need to build now! Excellent.

15m FT8 QRP (Monday)

At about 0910z, I turned on my 2.5W to the indoor loop on 15m FT8. No spots yet.

UPDATE 1116z:  13 stations spotted so far on RX. Nobody has yet spotted my QRP on TX.

UPDATE 1500z: 1 station has spotted my QRP FT8 on TX and I have spotted 37 stations on RX. including 2 in South America. Conditions do not seem that great on 15m today.

South African 8m beacon heard in Portugal

Yesterday, the South African 8m beacon was spotted in Portugal. I guess this was TEP. 

Pommes de terre gratin Dauphinoise - NOT amateur radio

This is one of our favourite ways to cook potatoes. Par boiled, cooked with cream and Gruyere cheese. Great cold too.  

We had this yesterday for Mother's Day. Surprisingly, there is still some left.

Sunspots - Monday March 15th 2021

Solar flux is 78 and the SSN 24.  A=24 and K=2.