9 Sept 2021

Amazon algorithms - NOT amateur radio

It is obvious that when Amazon recommends purchases, it looks at your past buying history. Having just bought something, why would you buy it again?  When I get an email with recommendations it is usually binned with other rubbish.

10m FT8 QRP

 It is now 0740z. I have been on 10m FT8 (QRP) for about 10m. I briefly was on TX with 2.5W. So far, no spots received or given.

UPDATE 0836z: 3 spots received from other stations. 2 look like Es. This re-enforces, to me, that there is still Es about, but there is far less and it is more sporadic. In these situations FT8 (and probably FT4) can be useful. Signals have certainly been strong so the shorter duration of FT4 might catch more, even shorter, openings? I have never tried FT4.

UPDATE 1722z:  20 stations spotted.  IS0AWZ was spotted at an incredible +18dB S/N.

UPDATE 1816z: 21 stations spotted with the furthermost  PY2XB (9599km) in Brazil.

UPDATE 2015z: Loads of South American stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX this evening. In all, 57 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX today. You get the feeling 10m is becoming a serious DX band again after a few relatively quiet years.

Preserved railways - NOT amateur radio


In the UK we have a number of preserved railways run by volunteers. The photo shows the North Norfolk Railway between Holt and Sheringham 10 years ago. 

Schottky diodes

Spooky! 

The other day I mentioned Schottky diodes in a post. Today I notice the adverts on Amazon are for Schottky diodes from one of the suppliers I visited! Obviously targeted ads. 

472kHz (630m) WSPR RX last evening

Just 2 unique stations spotted on RX last evening, both in Germany. Disappointing. 

UPDATE 0730z: Doh!! It helps if you connect the correct antenna! The above were with the 10m antenna connected by mistake! I shall try again this evening to see how I get on - this time with the correct antenna!

Granddaughter - NOT amateur radio

This was my older granddaughter playing the ukulele. 

She was playing ABBA songs. 

Sunspots - Thursday September 9th 2021

 Solar flux is 100 and the SSN 87.  A=14 and K=1.

8 Sept 2021

472kHz WSPR RX

This evening I am on the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. It is now 0755z and I have been on for about 15 minutes, but nothing yet spotted.

UPDATE 21020z: So far, just DC0DX (467km) spotted several times At the moment he was the same strength (roughly) as on the active loop. Does this mean they are similar in gain?

Choir closing - NOT amateur radio


After 60 years, my wife's choir has closed. Last night they had a fairwell evening that had been postponed. It brought together choirs from various village colleges to sing a major choral work in a famous venue with world class soloists. It will leave a gap. 

137kHz transverter


One of my Facebook memories today was this photo of my transverter for 137kHz. It was 10 years ago and was copied in Holland.