In Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

Last week we went to Cambridge to take some photos and shop. In the photo we are having a light lunch opposite St John's College.

Note this outdoors in a UK October!

Shield bug - NOT amateur radio

This photo was taken in 2017. It shows a shield bug in our garden on my arm. As you can see it's very iridescent. 

481THz test

OK, these are tiny steps. Yesterday I did a test reflecting my optical beacon from the kitchen, off the museum roof, to the RX in the lounge. I would guess the total path was only about 0.2km. The reflected signal was extremely strong, so I might try receiving the reflected signal at my son's house further away.

Unlike many years ago I am extremely giddy now. At one point the TX crashed to the floor. Luckily, nothing was broken.

I am just too wobbly for field work, but I want to do what I can. Receiving 10wpm CW at my son's house would be a great achievement for me nowadays.

10m WISPY

Although both the TX and RX were built, I never got around to boxing and testing the full transceiver version. It should work, but I have not tried it. You may want to use it for your own ideas.

I have been surprised by the WSPR activity still on 10m. Back in the Es season my beacon was widely spotted most days. The same basic idea would also work on FT8. It depends on finding suitable, low cost, crystals.

Please note there was an error on the schematic: the main winding on the inductor in the oscillator collector should have 22 turns and not 9 turns.

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

Sunspots - Wednesday October 13th 2021

Solar flux is 84 and the SSN 26. A=45 and K=3.

70cm (432MHz)

This is a band that seems to have sadly gone out of favour. This evening is the October leg of the 70cm activity contest organised by the RSGB (UKAC). Activity on SSB can be quite good and people are friendly. It starts at 1900z and lasts for 2.5 hours. Even if you just come on for the fun, I can recommend it. I only managed 3 QSOs with 5W and the 2m big-wheel omni antenna (see map).

Unlike lower VHF bands, brief tropo lifts in certain specific directions can be quite common. I suspect aircraft scatter is also more effective than on 2m. It is a pity more stations are not active as it is an interesting band. Antennas look like TV antennas and interference (QRN) is usually much less of an issue.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/vhfuhfmicrowaves/70cm-operation .

Winter flowering primroses - NOT amateur radio

After the summer the garden can look a bit dull, so we plant winter flowering primroses to bring a bit of colour. These are the primroses in the front garden. We have some pansies in the back garden and some bulbs to plant.

Spiders web - NOT amateur radio

 

This is a season of dew. This spiders web is highlighted by the dew.

You may have to click the image to see the web more clearly.

481THz

Since my stroke in 2013, I have been too wobbly for field work, which is a pity. Some months ago I promised myself that I'd try some experiments at home. The first thing I could try is "windmill bounce" using the nearby windmill as a reflector with the TX in the kitchen and the RX in the lounge or even down the street.

For the uninitiated, 481THz is red light. I have homemade gear.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/optical-nanowaves/over-the-horizon .

10m FT8 RX (Tuesday)

It is now 0755z and I shall shortly go on 10m FT8 RX. If it is like recent days, l can expect mostly Europeans and African stations before lunch with the Americas later in the day.  UPDATE 0840z: The RX was turned on at 0804z. So far, no spots.

UPDATE 1002z: 4 European stations spotted so far on RX with the furthermost IZ7NLJ (1770km).

UPDATE 1232z:  64 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX.  All stations were is Europe apart from 1 in the Canary Is..

UPDATE 1353z:   83 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX.  Nothing from the Americas yet today.

UPDATE 1543z:  104 stations spotted. Just a few South Americans spotted.