40MHz experimental station in the USA

According to John's blog there is an experimental station WL2XUP active in the USA on the 8m band. As time progresses a bigger antenna and more power are planned.

Is this the first of many?

See https://ei7gl.blogspot.com/ .

Herd Immunity? - NOT amateur radio

With regard to the current Covid-19 pandemic, it looks like the English government is (again) trying for herd immunity. 

This was last tried briefly in spring 2020. There is little doubt that cases will rise, but hopefully most cases will be mild. This time around, many have been fully vaccinated. Many have had the disease and recovered. Antibodies could be much higher than spring 2020.

This is a gamble. It may not work, but it might.

Whatever happens, we cannot "go mad". The virus is still here and new variants could be imported from abroad.

I wish the English government would abandon self isolation and replace this with daily testing. This seems a far better way, with far fewer economic impacts and just as safe.

FT817

The FT817/818 has appeared in a few guises, but Yaesu has totally "missed the boat" with regard to a really competitive replacement. 

It is still a decent radio, covering all the HF bands, 6m, 2m and 70cm with all modes. It may be used at home or out portable, but some quite small changes could transform it. 

My feelings are that Yaesu has lost its way and become, at best, a follower rather than a leader. I have owned several Yaesu radios since the 1970s. I really hope they "get on their game" soon.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/commercial-rigs/yaesu-ft817nd

Runner beans - NOT amateur radio

As an experiment this year, I am growing runner beans. These were planted in a shady spot and I quite expected them to fail, or be eaten by the Muntjac Deer.  

Actually (as the photo shows) thay are doing pretty well. In a month they have shot up and are now in the sunlight most of the day. The flowers are attractive and there are already some runner beans appearing. 

In the background are wild flowers and "our" windmill (due to be repainted soon).

As you can tell, apart from a few tomatoes, I am not a great vegetable grower, although next year I might try a few more things.

Anglesey Abbey - NOT amateur radio

This collage was taken in the herbaceous garden at nearby Anglesey Abbey. This is at its best now. Shortly, it starts to turn and look "tired".

10m FT8 (Sunday)

Apart from a very brief spell on TX with 2.5W (7 spots of my TX), I am RX only. I went on about 0635z. So far today (at 0845z) 231 stations spotted on RX. Most seem to be by Es. It looks like Es is good today.

UPDATE 0944z:  316 stations spotted (see map).

UPDATE 1512z:  814 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX so far in the last 12 hours.

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.