National Hamfest - virtual again

As Covid-19 is still having an impact, this large UK rally is being held virtually again.

Like many boring old farts (BOFs), I am appalled by the spelling on the main page, which is seen by thousands. Does nobody check?

See https://www.nationalhamfest.org.uk/ .

OFCOM Commonweath Games Licences

OFCOM is issuing licences for communications at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham next year. See the OFCOM website for more details.

Pixies and the Micro-80

There has always been a call to see what can be worked with very little. Among such rigs are the Pixie and Micro-80. I have built both in the past. 

Both use the PA as the mixer on RX. The RX is the compromise although both work. Pixie kits were available as kits from China at very low cost. I bought one for 40m, with a crystal on 7.023MHz. If you get one you may want to consider crystals on 7.030MHz which is the  QRP calling frequency in Europe. These crystals are available at low cost.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/8040m-pixie-and-micro80-transceivers .

Corpus Christi College, Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

 

This college in Cambridge was founded in 1352.

See https://www.corpus.cam.ac.uk/ .

10m FT8 QRP (Friday)

Since 0800z, I have been on 10m FT8. As usual, I was on 2.5W TX for a few minutes, then RX only. It is now 0811z and no spots given or received yet. It is still very early.

UPDATE 0835z: Just a spot of me on TX by G0FWX (160km).

UPDATE 1300z: 11 stations spotted on RX with furthermost D60AC(8211km) on the Comoros Is in the Indian Ocean. 

UPDATE 2050z:  Today is the best F2 propagation I have seen on 10m for some years. So far today, 88 stations spotted  very many in South America.

Yesterday on 10m FT8 RX

Yesterday was quite a good day on 10m FT8 RX. There were stations spotted on RX from Indonesia, Africa, South America and Europe. On the whole, there is less Es and more F2 DX. 

Shack in 2012

One of my Facebook memories today was this photo of my shack in 2012. This was at the old QTH. 

Sunspots - Friday September 24th 2021

 Solar flux is 90 and the SSN 75. A=11 and K=3.

Yaesu VX series

These were tiny dual-band FM handhelds produced by Yaesu. 

In the past I have used these (I have a VX1 and VX2) on both 2m and 70cm simplex and repeaters. Many found the supplied antenna not as good as they could be and they replaced these with better ones. 

These days, many have bought much less expensive Beofeng units, although the quality control on these seems a bit hit and miss. 

At the moment the Chinese manufacturers seem to have work to do to get amateur radio products to the same consistent quality we are used to from Japan. They will get there, but it may take a few years. When Chinese products get to the same quality and consistency we are used to from Japan the Japanese will face serious competition.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/vhfuhfmicrowaves/vhfuhf-commercial-rigs/yaesu-vx2 .

Daddy long legs - NOT amateur radio

This is the time of year when we see lots of daddy long legs. The proper name is crane fly. 

They look fearsome, but are harmless, always bumbling into things.