2m FT8 QRP (Thursday)

After a very brief session on 2.5W TX (2 spots of me), I am RX only. It is now 1506z and 2 stations spotted.

UPDATE  1752z:  17 stations spotted with the furthermost  DL1KDA (456km).

Perseid meteor shower

This meteor shower peaks about now. Often this is accompanied by some long "pings" with VHF signals propagated a long way via the ionised trails. I shall be monitoring 2m FT8 overnight, but there may be better modes.

10m WSPR TX 500mW (Thursday)

Since about 0930z, I have been on 10m WSPR TX with 500mW.

UPDATE 1000z: Already a couple of spots from Germany.

UPDATE 1414z: 17 unique stations have spotted me so far today. Furthermost is a spot by EA8BFK (2880km) in the Canary Isles.

Spots at 1738z

UPDATE 2052z: 23 stations s.potted including the furthermost FY5KE (7110km). QRT soon.

UPDATE 2100z: QRT

6m FT8 QRP (Thursday)

At about 0930z I decided to try 6m with 2.5W FT8. 3 stations spotted me including 1 in Italy. Since then, I have been RX only.

UPDATE 0955z: 7 stations spotted on RX across Europe.

UPDATE 1312z:  67 stations spotted with the furthermost 5T5PA (3791km) in West Africa.

Kafka? - NOT amateur radio

 This is supposed to be true, although I no way of telling. Whether true or not, I like it.

At 40, Franz Kafka (1883-1924), who never married and had no children, walked through the park in Berlin when he met a girl who was crying because she had lost her favourite doll. She and Kafka searched for the doll unsuccessfully.

Kafka told her to meet him there the next day and they would come back to look for her.

The next day, when they had not yet found the doll, Kafka gave the girl a letter "written" by the doll saying "please don't cry. I took a trip to see the world. I will write to you about my adventures."

Thus began a story which continued until the end of Kafka's life.

During their meetings, Kafka read the letters of the doll carefully written with adventures and conversations that the girl found adorable.

Finally, Kafka brought back the doll (he bought one) that had returned to Berlin.

"It doesn't look like my doll at all," said the girl.

Kafka handed her another letter in which the doll wrote: "my travels have changed me." the little girl hugged the new doll and brought her happy home.

A year later Kafka died.

Many years later, the now-adult girl found a letter inside the doll. In the tiny letter signed by Kafka it was written:

"Everything you love will probably be lost, but in the end, love will return in another way."

Mini-whip RX active antennas

These antennas can be very effective on VLF, LF and MF. They are extremely small but work every bit as well as big antennas. They are the best way to listen on these lower bands.

They are sometimes known as E-field probes (EFP). They work because external noise dominates. This noise decreases as the wanted signal decreases so actual S/N is just as good with a small antenna. This is not the case when the RX noise figure dominates. Often they are optimised for lower frequencies. With active antennas it is important to have good dynamic ranges.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/antennas/e-field-probe-efp . 

UPDATE 1253z:  Now 137kHz EFP on new site - see https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/antennas/137khz-efp-rx-antenna .

10m FT8 (Thursday)

In a few moments I hope to go on 10m FT8 again. My usual pattern is a few times on 2.5W FT8 TX followed by RX for most of the time. 

Disappointing - NOT amateur radio

The rose garden at nearby Anglesey Abbey is usually a picture. This year it looks "different" with fewer roses out. I am not sure if this is due to the weather or Covid-19. It still looks colourful, but not as good. 

Snogging? - NOT amateur radio

These two snails were spotted yesterday. It looks like they are having a cuddle, possibly more! I am no expert on snail reproduction. 

Yesterday on 10m FT8 RX

There is little doubt that Es was prevalent on 10m FT8 RX yesterday. In all, 354 stations spotted, with most of these in Europe.