136kHz beacon tests

Last week I mentioned that I had, by accident, found my 136kHz CW beacon. I also found my battery operated E-field probe which fits on a car mag-mount.

At the moment, during lockdown, we are only meant to leave the house for defined purposes. Just going out for a 136kHz test is not allowed, so I shall have to combine my tests with a walk for exercise. I have a possible test site, but may be able to test as we drive around if my wife drives the car. The beacon can be switched to QRSS, but I want to test "by ear" with 10wpm CW.

On TX the beacon is connected to the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. So far, I have never tried 136kHz TX outside the home. I did try 136kHz WSPR RX a few years ago.

Chionodoxa - NOT amateur radio

This carpet of blue flowers is chionodoxa at Anglesey Abbey earlier.

 I thought they were bluebells. 

Apologies in advance! - NOT amateur radio

I saw this earlier on Facebook so thought I'd like to share it here. 

17m FT8 QRP with 2.5W and the tiny indoor loop antenna

At 1345z the 17m FT8 QRP gear was turned on. So far today 22 stations have been spotted on RX and 3 stations have spotted me today so far on 15m FT8 QRP TX after just 10 minutes!! 

UPDATE 1840z:  151 stations spotted on RX.  8 stations have spotted my QRP TX.

Red-legged partridges - NOT amateur radio

We used to see these handsome birds regularly in our garden and close but they have not been seen for a while. They were introduced in the UK some years ago. 

Sunspots - Friday March 19th 2021

 Solar flux is 73 and the SSN 12. A=4 and K=2.

Chinese electric commuter car - NOT amateur radio

The Chinese have launched a very low cost electric car aimed at commuters. It is a joint venture with General Motors. It is outselling Tesla cars by about 2:1. The standards in China are much lower than in Europe and the USA. At the moment it is only on sale in China.

It seems to me they have got their marketing spot on. In the west we have not got our electric car marketing correct. Our cars have (generally) got insufficient range for long distances and yet are far too expensive.

In what appears to be a stupid move, the UK government has today reduced the grant on electric cars under £35k and withdrawn it totally for cars over £35k. So much for encouraging us to go green!

In my view, the UK should launch a no frills electric car that fits the commuter range and can be charged at home. The government could actively encourage sales of these by strongly subsidising low cost electric cars made in the UK designed for commuters and local shopping trips.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-56178802 .

Spring....nearly

According to the UK Met Office, spring began on March 1st. Some others define it as March 21st. 

Once the primroses are common we know spring is really here. My wife took this photo yesterday.

10m dipole

One of the simplest antennas is the dipole made of wire. 

On 10m this is quite small being only about 5m long. Although I have been very impressed with my tiny indoor loops, an outside dipole should be several dBs better in the best directions.

Whereas, in the past, erecting this would have been a trivial task, my ladder days are largely over, so I depend on others now for erection. Hopefully my son can help in the coming weeks. 

It would be good to have this up before the Es season starts, late next month. By the autumn I think we can expect the USA to come through regularly on 10m, even on 10m AM just above 29MHz.

I have an idea on where to hang it. This should be good for North America and Europe.

Echolink update

Southgate News reports that Echolink has been updated. I have to confess that I have not used Echolink for over a year. It allows you to talk via distant repeaters, although most of the ones I tried were very quiet. Finding any with activity was hard and this is one of the reasons I stopped. 

An advantage of Echolink is network radios can be used. As long as you have the internet, then you can gain access.

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2021/march/echolink-for-windows-version-2-1-now-available.htm#.YFNdEyuTLrc .

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/network .