Kingsbridge Devon many years ago - NOT amateur radio

This photo probably dates from the 1940s or 1950s and shows the main street in Kingsbridge where I lived for much of my teenage years. 

137kHz tests with an E-field probe mobile

Before my stroke, I did some mobile tests on 137kHz QRSS QRP using an EFP with an FT817 RX. The EFP was mounted on a mag mount.  Results totally exceeded my expectations. After I reached 24km, I gave up. This was with a very low ERP (uWs).

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/antennas/137khz-efp-rx-antenna .

A world away - NOT amateur radio

The photo shows my office at work in 2003. I retired in 2008 and 2003 feels like a lifetime ago. Strange how things that seemed so important then were not. 

Sunspots - Tuesday September 21st 2021

Solar flux is 80 and the SSN 51.  A=3 and K=3.

10m Phaser

Because of my poor building skills, a very kind amateur in Scotland has built and tested my 10m Phaser kit. All being well, it should be back this week. 

The Phaser is a QRP SSB transceiver, for FT8 mainly, producing about 3W pep. It is a phasing rig designed by Dave Benson K1SWL. It should allow the "big rig"  to be used for other things.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/10m-phaser .

Brain overload, stroke and autism - NOT amateur radio

As many of you will know, I had a stroke in 2013, out of the blue. It put me in hospital for 3.5 months. I had never before stayed in hospital!  All strokes are different, and overall I was lucky with all my main functions remaining intact. My fine motor skills are poor.  Although you may disagree (!), my intellectual functions seem unchanged.

I am currently reading a book by Oliver Sacks that has got me thinking. Now, this may just be me getting older, but I am aware of some changes. Since my stroke, I always felt giddy and have had a very poor voice, although most of me works. My wife and I have enjoyed some good holidays both here and abroad. Apart from the giddiness, walking is OK.

In the last year, I have been aware of brain overload. When driving I seem to think of everything that can be a hazard. Driving is no longer a pleasure. Generally, things seem to be exaggerated. It strikes me that this is similar to how some autistic people must experience the world - basically my brain feels overloaded.

It leaves me wondering - are some strokes and some forms of autism similar? I'd be interested to hear of any research in this area.

10m FT8 QRP (Monday)

After a brief session on 2.5W TX I have been on RX the rest of the time. It is now 0840z, and just 1 G spotted and nobody spotted me.

UPDATE 1037z:  Just 3 stations spotted so far. The 2 from mainland Europe were probably Es, but could have been aircraft reflection. At this point yesterday, things were better.

UPDATE 1917z:  Only 7 stations spotted. All in Europe.  A bad day.

UPDATE 2058z:  10 stations spotted with the furthermost LU8EX (11209km) in Argentina.

Sunspots - Monday September 20th 2021

Solar flux is 75 and the SSN 13.  A=3 and K =1. 

Playtime - NOT amateur radio

 

My son's kitten playing yesterday. 

10m FT8 RX yesterday

In all, 121 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX yesterday. 

It is getting back in its stride again. 

South America seems pretty regular in the evening.