Unsuccessful field test on 137kHz TX CW

As it was a nice sunny morning we decided on a walk about about 1.5km from home. I put my 137kHz CW beacon on at home into the earth-electrode antenna and took my E-field probe and FT817ND with me. I put the EFP on the car roof. I listened without success for my signal. Not a squeek. I was expecting this to work.

This was my first field test on LF since 2013. 

10m FT8 RX again

Once again, I am monitoring 10m FT8 RX with the 10FT8R and the tiny indoor loop antenna. No spots yet at 0759z.

UPDATE 1119z: Just one LA spotted so far today. An EA7 did not get uploaded to PSKreporter for some reason.

UPDATE 1230z:  Just 3 spots so far today. 

Stagecoach - NOT amateur radio

Not too long ago a stagecoach ran from Kingsbridge to Dartmouth in Devon as the photo shows. 

2m activity contest last night

I didn't realise that I needed the same connector for my big-wheel and the 10FT8R RX, so I only stayed on 2m for about 30 minutes last evening. 3 stations worked with the best DX being G4CLA (105km) with 10W and the big-wheel omni antenna. 

10m FT8 RX with the 10FT8R yesterday

147 stations in all with the tiny indoor loop antenna yesterday with the best DX Sao Paulo in Brazil. 

Sunspots - Wednesday May 5th 2021

 Solar flux is 70 and the SSN 0. A=4 and K=1.

Where are they? - NOT amateur radio

In the springtime swallows, house martins and swifts return from Africa. 

I saw one swallow in early April and none since.  I have not seen a single house martin or swift. 

At one time these were common, but not any more. This may in part be the wind direction, but I suspect global warming: their food supplies on their long journey north may have reduced as deserts grow.

To me, seeing screaming swifts overhead is an English spring and summer. Perhaps for not much longer?

Fresh green - NOT amateur radio

I like the fresh green of spring. 

The photo shows the 2 horse chestnut trees planted in our churchyard in memory of the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.

FT8 on the IC-705

I have the USB drivers and audio CODECs set up now on the rig, but have not got FT8 working yet. 

Years ago this would have been a trivial task, but with my "brain fog" this is like doing it blindfold: tasks that would have been easy in 2012 are now really hard, taxing and exhausting.  I also thought a USB-C was the same as a micro-USB!! It isn't! Luckily I had one around. 

I think for FT8 on the IC-705 I shall need a lead with isolation as the PC introduces noise I think.

More on the 10FT8R RX

This afternoon, using the very slightly revised circuit (thanks for the circuit simulation Jay) I have been receiving yet more Es signals on the 10FT8R receiver with the tiny indoor loop. 22 stations just copied in southern Europe.

UPDATE 1604z:  67 stations spotted this afternoon.

UPDATE 1835z: 135 stations spotted today. 

Stations spotted today

UPDATE 2020z: 145 stations spotted today on the 10FT8R and tiny indoor loop.