10m FT8 RX (Wednesday)

Since about 0825z, I have been on 10m FT8 RX. So far, 4 stations spotted with the furthermost OD5SK (3433km). The rest are Gs.

UPDATE 1020z:  10 stations spotted so far on 10m FT8 RX with the furthermost 4X5DF (3582km). I suspect the OD5 and 4X are single hop F2 propagation. See logbook.

UPDATE 1311z:   18 stations spotted so far on 10m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1550z:  23 stations spotted so far on 10m FT8 RX today.

UPDATE 2135z: Now QRT.  50 stations spotted today on 10m FT8 RX with the furthermost VP8LP (12773km) in the Falkland Is..

365project

The photo shows Corfu some years ago. It was a Facebook memory from several years ago. We do 365project every day and have done since 2013. Great fun looking back. 

Sunspots - Wednesday September 29th 2021

Solar flux is 89 and the SSN is 57.  A=10 and K=1 . 

24GHz WBFM

This is a band I have never tried. Some people take it very seriously and employ narrowband techniques. Others "play" at the band using wideband FM (WBFM), much as is done with 10GHz. 

There are Doppler radar modules available which look as if they could be used at 24GHz. With such units there is almost no need for microwave engineering. 

With such units at the focus of dishes, ranges could be surprising. I have never seen designs for 24GHz WBFM units. If you find any, please send me links. 

Ranges of a few kilometres might be possible with just the modules alone.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/vhfuhfmicrowaves/homebrew/24ghz .

UK fuel shortages - NOT amateur radio

A few days ago someone leaked a memo saying a few (5?) garages had run out of fuel but do not panic as there is lots of fuel in the country. So what happens? Lots of people panic so most garages have very long queues and run out of fuel! This is stupid!!! Let's hope things get back to normal soon.

Even in our rural Cambridgeshire village the queue was huge (miles long) and the village garage was soon dry.  The photo show part of the queue yesterday. They had a new delivery earlier, but there was no diesel.

You can now understand why an Orson Wells radio play of 1938 about Martians caused widespread panic in the USA.

10m FT8 RX (Tuesday)

F2 DX coming through from all over today. It is now 1430z and 62 stations spotted from all over the place on 10m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1940z:  So far today, 229 stations on 4 continents spotted on 10m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 2023z:  It has been quiet on 10m for some time now, suggesting the propagation has ended. QRT soon.

UPDATE 2118z:   QRT.

Ely Cathedral - NOT amateur radio

It is not called "the ship of the fens" for nothing! 

We are lucky to live just a short drive from Ely.  The cathedral, like Chartres in France, may be seen from miles around. As far as I am aware, it is the highest point in Ely.

See https://www.elycathedral.org/ .

Sputnik TX

According to my Facebook memories today I was using a Sputnik QRP TX built by G6ALB 10 years ago. See the photo. I was surprised to get a QSO so soon after its completion.  I think I was chief operator as I could use a CW key! 

Sunspots - Tuesday September 28th 2021

 Solar flux is 85 and the SSN 30. A=7 and K=2. 

10m FT8 QRP (Monday)

At about 0930z I went on 10m FT8 with 2.5W QRP.  I was on TX for a few minutes, but now am RX only. No spots given or received so far.