Shack

Since we moved to this QTH almost 8 years ago, I have a dedicated shack for building and operating. Often I monitor FT8 on a different PC in the lounge.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/other-amateur-radio/shack

Lockdown easing in England - NOT amateur radio

 On Monday there is a significant easing of Covid-19 regulations in England. The government is gambling that although cases will rise, many people will not die or be hospitalised.  Sensible people will still wear masks in crowded places to safeguard other people whilst idiots will be idiots. I can understand why this is happening, but disappointed that the government is not going for "quick wins" by mandating mask wearing in shops and public transport. This has widespread support. 

In the absence of this, let us hope that enough sensible people wear masks to stop infections rising putting younger people at great risk.

I saw this on Facebook:

"When I wear a mask in public and in the shops, I want you to know that...

🔵 I'm educated enough to know that I could be asymptomatic and still give you the virus.

🔵 No, I don't "live in fear" of the virus; I just want to be part of the solution, not the problem.

🔵 I don't feel like the "government controls me". I feel like I'm an adult contributing to security in our society and I want to teach others the same.

🔵 If we could all live with the consideration of others in mind, the whole world would be a much better place.

🔵 Wearing a mask doesn't make me weak, scared, stupid or even "controlled". Makes me caring.

🔵 When you think about your appearance, discomfort, or other people's opinion of you, imagine a loved one - a child, father, mother, grandparent, aunt, uncle or even a stranger - placed on a ventilator, alone without you or any family member who is allowed at his bedside.

🔵 Ask yourself if you could have helped them a little while wearing a mask".

Sunspots - Sunday July 18th 2020

 Solar flux is 77 and the SSN 53. A=4 and K=1.

RadCom article

The August RadCom has my article about the 10FT8R receiver for 10m FT8. It is very simple but works well. I hope it gives you some ideas.

It would make a nice winter project. Ideally it needs a PCB. It should cost very little. With low cost GQRP Club crystals it is also suitable for 10m WSPR. I was surprised by how much WSPR there was on 10m. 

Clematis - NOT amateur radio

This is growing over our garden fence from a neighbour's garden. I am not complaining! 

St Ives, near Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

Many people in the UK know of St Ives in Cornwall where the G7 recently met. Few are aware of the other St Ives near Cambridge. 

The run from Cambridge to St Ives on the guided bus goes past lakes and is very attractive. Sit back and enjoy the run. Of course, if you are a UK Old Age Pensioner with a bus pass this can be totally free!

St Ives has some great history and is a good place to visit. This photo was posted on 365project earlier today by a friend.

10m FT8

After a brief period on TX with 2.5W QRP  (I worked one F) I am now 10m FT8 RX only.  It is now 0920z and 51 stations received.

All being well, I hope to let Richard G3TFX have my 10m multi-mode Lincoln President II on indefinite loan. This is thanks for all his hard work on my antennas. It is so long since I used this that I forget how to use it!

UPDATE 2029z:  374 stations spotted so far on 10m FT8 RX including North and South America, the Caribbean and St Helena (ZD7) The furthermost was YV1SW (7862km).

New strimmer - NOT amateur radio

 After several years of good service, my strimmer packed up, so I bought a new one. Firstly the supplied written instructions needed a degree or PhD in astrophysics to follow. I gave up and looked on YouTube for an instruction video from the manufacturer. 

I watched many many times. These were better, but not by much. The last stage was adding the steadying handle. What the video failed to explain was that you had to pull something at the same time!

In all, I was not at all impressed. My last strimmer came assembled and just worked.

If it goes wrong, I have no idea how to disassemble it to return under guarantee as most assembly steps assumed you waited for a click. Perhaps you need a PhD in theoretical physics for that!

I assume this too was made in China by slave labour and is designed to fail just after the guarantee expires.

VLF 10 years ago

Ten years ago I was very active on VLF. The photo shows the earth mode signal 6km away with 5W. 

Lockdown painting - NOT amateur radio

One of our friends in Australia has been using the lockdown periods to paint.  She is very talented.  The attached is an example of her work.