2m FT8 QRP (Monday)

At the moment I am on 2m FT8 QRP with 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna. So far, 6 stations have spotted me with the furthermost GI6ATZ (479km).

Tulips - NOT amateur radio

Believe it or not, these are tulips seen outside a Cambridge college a few days ago. They are fully open and look more like primroses. 

17m FT8 QRP (Monday)

At the moment I am on 17m FT8 QRP with 2.5W and the tiny indoor loop. At 1222z, 21 stations spotted on RX and 1 station in the Azores has spotted my QRP on TX.

UPDATE 1416z:  Still just the 1 spot on QRP TX.  76 stations spotted on RX with the furthermost YB2HND (11985km) in Java.

UPDATE 1840z :  213 stations spotted on RX as the map shows. 

Coin collecting - NOT amateur radio

Since a child, my wife has collected old coins. I can understand the fascination, wondering whose hands have touched these coins before and for what purpose. Some of these are very old indeed and could tell some stories.

Transatlantic 2m tropo in the North Atlantic?

According to tropo forecasts, there is remote chance of transatlatic tropo on 2m early this week between Canada and western Europe. There are people trying on FT8. As far as I am aware we have never had a transatlantic QSO on 2m in the North. People have spanned from Cape Verde to the Carribean. FT8 is a good mode to try as it works with very weak signals. Crossing the North Atlantic with 2m tropo is a very long way!

See https://ei7gl.blogspot.com/2021/04/vo1fn-144-mhz-trans-atlantic-sdr.html .

10FT8R (continued)

Later today, all being well, I hope to do some more building of my 10m FT8 RX. The Es season really gets going in May, so I have to have it working by then.  Another job is erecting my 10m wire dipole by then. As ladder work is needed, I shall need the help of my son.

UPDATE 1345z : All the "MeSquares" are down and I have made a small start on component placement. Small steps!  Funny how hard this is nowadays. Although harder, I think soldering is still possible, just.

Crazy weather - NOT amateur radio

 April weather can be very odd. Last week we had temperatures approaching 25 degrees C. Today we have snow flurries!

When I first came to Cambridge in the early 1970s we did a 4m contest from the back of someone's Landrover.  It was bitterly cold. I think it was April 3rd. Sometimes days can be very cold and other days very hot. In the UK in April, anything can be expected.

Sunspots - Monday April 5th 2021

 Solar flux is 70 and the SSN 11. A=3 and K=1.

Easter - NOT amateur radio

These days I am not very religious. I accompanied my wife to church this morning, but it was a very sad occasion with social distancing, no singing and pre-booking. Normally the churches are full at Easter. Not this year.

All the time I am aware of how narrow the Christian faith, indeed all religions, are. How can so many people in so many different religions all believe they are right? My own view is all these are hints at the truth. Not one has the answer.

Human beings find it very hard to deal with our finite lives. The universe is so vast and the chances of intelligent life existing elsewhere are high.

Whatever your views on religions, I hope that the next year brings you peace and happiness. We have all had a difficult 12 months with most things we took for granted gone. Let us hope we can all return to something more normal soon.

Perhaps I could best be described as agnostic: I really do not know what I believe. Something within me hints that love is important and that care for others and our world are important.

Heathkit HW8 QRP CW transceiver

 

A few days ago I posted that Heathkit is trying to make a comeback. So far, the kits are a poor imitation of the kits of old. These (to me) seem overpriced and poor. It is rumoured that some amateur band kits are planned.

Many years ago I owned an HW8 which was an HF QRP transceiver. I had great fun with mine. 

These days there is less CW activity, with FT8 better suited to QRP modes. However, FT8 needs a PC. With CW some very simple rigs can be made.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/hw8 .