160m FT8 QRP (Saturday)

At 1355z I turned on my 2.5W FT8 to the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. I am calling CQ in the middle of the FT8 "window".  All I am spotting currently is G stations. No DX is being spotted in the daylight. It is now 1402z. Just one, fairly local, station G4HPW (37km) spotting me this afternoon.

UPDATE 1659z: 5 stations (all G) have spotted my QRP TX this afternoon. 5 stations spotted on RX with the furthermost LY2BVB (1659km) in Lithuania. It is still very light here, although I guess it is darker further east. The European DX is just starting.

UPDATE 1749z: 26 stations now spotted on RX. Clearly European DX is now coming through as night draws in.

UPDATE 2214z: 215 stations spotted on160m FT RX as shown on the map. 19 stations have spotted my QRP on TX as I have been on RX much of the evening. QRT soon, then on RX only overnight.

Victorian photo - NOT amateur radio

The photo shows one of my wife's ancestors. It was taken in the late 1800s. She is presently making books with some early photos of her relatives. 

I hope to do one soon.

The earliest she has is one showing a relative who fought at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. This is partly hand finished and probably dates from the dawn of photography in the 1840s.

See https://www.snapfish.co.uk/home

Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

The photo shows near Kings College in Cambridge 2 years ago. 

Overnight on 160m FT8 RX

Amazing. Overnight I was on 160m FT8 RX with the FT817ND and the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. 

In all, 415 stations were spotted in 5 continents as the map shows on RX. 

UPDATE 1100z: The DX is definitely a night-time thing on this band. Although I was spotting 5T5PA (3791km) at breakfast time, now I am only spotting Gs.

Sunspots - Saturday March 20th 2021

Solar flux is 74 and the SSN 14.  A=6 and K=3.

160m FT8 QRP (Friday)

At 1850z I QSYed to 160m FT8 with 2.5W and the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. It is now 1856z. So far this evening, 4 stations have spotted me on TX and I have spotted 22 stations on RX.

UPDATE 2030z: 16 stations have spotted me on QRP TX on 160m FT8 today. 

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.