A reminder that my main website has far more details about my projects and interests. This is updated less frequently than this blog, but you might find some of the pages of interest.
See http://www.g3xbm.co.uk .
8 Nov 2021
Nanny state? - NOT amateur radio
In my life, I have always wished people of every race, colour, gender or religion to be treated equally. It matters not a bit whether you are white, black, pink or green. It matters not to me whether you are married to a person of a different gender or the same. What matters is we are all kind and respectful of each other. Every human is different.
In my view, the pendulum has swung too far.
We are getting silly about past errors, like slavery and pulling down statues. Yes, we should always teach history in a way that is fair to all and some statues need plaques that show the context in a totally balanced way. We have become very keen to sue others.
In the past we could wolf whistle and girls took it as a bit of harmless fun. Now we cannot do it as it might be demeaning. We are terrified of upsetting the lives of non-binary people or the transgendered.
All that is needed is to treat everybody kindly.
Some (only some) will understand - NOT amateur radio
10m antennas
One of the advantages of 10m is the antennas are small. For years I have had a Par end-fed antenna for 10m,20m and 40m up. At present I have one up, but just the 10m wire. I guess it is about 3m above the ground only.
CB half wave verticals work well. My Homebase-10 wire halo works well.
Endings - NOT amateur radio
I am not very good with endings.
Recently, a close friend died and this reminded me just how much we take ordinary things and routines for granted until they stop. I bet she would love to have him around just doing ordinary things.
For years we have cleaned the house on Mondays. For years we always visited an aunt in Devon until she died and this ended.
Change is always with us. As my wife said, "enjoy it whilst we can".
10m FT8 RX (Monday)
Shortly, I shall turn on my 10m FT8 RX. This allows me to get on with other things. I can check propagation over coffee later.
The normal routine here on Mondays is some housework followed by a University of the Third Age Zoom lecture with the XYL bringing in coffee.
UPDATE 0955z: My gear was turned on at 0853z. So far, 14 stations spotted. Furthermost is ZS4JAN (9366km). At the moment I cannot see evidence of Es. Propagation looks like F2, tropo and aircraft reflection.
UPDATE 1224z: 78 stations spotted today on 10m FT8 RX.
UPDATE 1654z: 82 stations spotted with the furthermost CX7CO (11111km). On the whole this has not been a good day.
UPDATE 1918z: Doh! My PC was on batteries that went flat! Normally I have the charger on, but I forgot. What may have looked like poor conditions may have been my PC just turning off. Stupid me!
Heffers, Cambridge - NOT amateur radio
When I came to Cambridge first in 1970 much of the stock was academic books. In those days the internet was still to come!
Oscar 100 activity
Every few weeks I try to give an update on activity levels on the geosynchronous Oscar 100 using the on-line SDR at Goonhilly Down looking at the narrowband transponder. Activity levels seem still pretty low. As I said before, people enjoy the challenge of getting going on the satellite then lose interest.
Cambridge Park - NOT amateur radio
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