Am I being thick?

Before turning on my new webapages, I want to take a backup copy of my old pages. The old pages are in Google Classic Sites. 

When I looked I could not see how to do this. I shall look again, but if you know how, please let me know.

UPDATE 1222z: I think you go to Classic sites and download to your Google drive as a zip file in "takeout". Haven't tried yet. This must have changed as I am sure this wasn't the case a few years ago.

UPDATE 1256z: I tried it. When I unzipped I could see the images but only some of the webpages! Now, this may just be me being thick, but.....  So far, I am still trying to find a way. All I really wanted to do was make a backup copy just in case.

New website - not quite ready

Last weekend I was hoping to "go live" on the revised web pages. There are still omissions and I want to find a way to have clearer schematics for those that want them.

My best estimate is in about a weeks' time.

See www.g3xbm.co.uk  . At the moment this still points to the old pages. I shall say when it is done on the blog.

DX Summit

If you are a keen DXer , I guess this site could be of use. I think people post stations they spot so you know where to look. 

It has not been used here as I have not been DX hunting actively for many years.

See http://www.dxsummit.fi/#/ .

10m FT8 RX

In the last few days I have started to have an S8 noise level on the higher HF bands on AM. Up to now, these bands have been fairly quiet. I guess someone locally has a new gadget with a noisy PSU. 

I don't think it is a problem with FT8. Maybe the noise is on specific, narrow, frequencies? At the moment I am on 10m FT8 RX with the FT817ND and the tiny indoor loop. It is now 0715z and no spots yet.

UPDATE 1510z:  No spots yet.

Sunspots - Wednesday May 12th 2021

 Solar flux is 76 and the SSN 31. A=3 and K=1.

70cm UKAC

This evening was the May leg of the 70cm activity contest organised by the RSGB. With my QRP and poor voice, 4 QSOs were had using the 2m big-wheel omni. I only stayed on for 37 minutes.

OFCOM Communications Monthly - May

As usual, OFCOM has updated its "Communications Monthly" with the latest statistics it holds. See the OFCOM website for details.

15m FT8

It is now 0750z. At the moment, I am on 15m FT8 RX using the IC-705 and the tiny indoor loop. 

Yesterday, on 10m FT8 I did not have both pre-amps on. This may have reduced sensitivity and may have resulted in fewer 10m FT8 spots being obtained.

UPDATE 0717z:   No 15m spots yet.

UPDATE 1247z: 17 15m FT8 stations spotted on RX. I am back on the FT817 at the moment. I am suffering horrendous local noise for the first time too. The USB lead from the PC to the IC-705 was introducing noise, although I think it was the external noise that was the real culprit. NN4X (7001km) is the furthermost.

UPDATE 1438z: 30 stations in 4 continents spotted today on 15m FT8 RX with the tiny indoor loop.

UPDATE 1735z: 47 stations spotted on 15m FT8 RX. 

160m FT8 last evening

 

Yesterday evening (not overnight) I went on 160m FT8 with QRP using the IC-705 and the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. Although no QSOs, I was widely spotted across Europe (see map).

Tame pheasant - NOT amateur radio

My brother lives in the country and has tame pheasants eating out of his hands. He was surprised to see this visitor in his kitchen yesterday! 

Obviously not feeding it enough.