Grandson bellringing - NOT amateur radio

This morning our grandson rang the church bells at Bottisham about 5 miles from here. He has now rung bells in 4 places.

French amateur success on 8.27kHz

F5VLB has been received in Todmorden, UK by Paul Nicholson. Jean-Marie was using a 75m base earth-electrode antenna. Paul was integrating the signal which had to remain stable for a very long time (days). This is, I am sure, the first reception of a French amateur outside France below 10kHz.  Huge congratulations to both stations. This is a result of hard work by both.

UPDATE 2230z:  Apparently the power has been increased a bit and he is being copied in Italy too!

Cottage - NOT amateur radio

This is in the nearby village of Wicken about 4 miles away. 

In the snowdrops - NOT amateur radio

My wife yesterday at Hare Park, near Cambridge. There were snowdrops out, but no daffodils. I think the snowdrops will be better next week.

Classic QRP transceivers

Nothing compares with working hundreds or thousands of miles on an ultra-simple QRP transceiver that you made yourself. 

The challenge is often trying to make the simplest rig that actually works. Often it is receiver that is the weakest link. With modern rigs, mW signals can often be dug out of the noise.

One classic is the Pixie and its predecessor the Micro80. Pixie kits can often be bought from China at stupid prices. These work and allow real QSOs, but they are let down by the RX. The challenge is to get a rig where the RX is up to the job. Often I do not call CQ in case a weak signal I cannot hear is already there. With QRP, calling others is often a better approach.

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

6m FT8 QRP (Sunday)

In a few moments I intend to go on 6m FT8 with 2.5W. Unless I get a response I shall be RX only.

UPDATE 1354z:   6 stations spotted on RX (all G) and 1 station spotted on TX - G0PQO (50km).

UPDATE 1600z: At last some activity outside G. EA1GCM (1098km) spotted. 7 stations spotted today on 6m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 2204z:  QRT.

10m QRP WSPR TX (Sunday)

In a few moments I intend to go on 10m WSPR TX with 500mW from the W5OLF beacon. 

UPDATE 1330z:   3 unique stations spotted. Furthermost is EA8BFK (2880km).

UPDATE 2200z: QRT. 4 unique stations have spotted me.

Lerwick, Shetland - NOT amateur radio

This photo was posted on 365project yesterday. It shows the capital of the Shetland Islands which are part of Scotland but much closer to Norway. 

Sunspots - Sunday February 6th 2022

Solar flux is 126 and the SSN 91.  A=12 and K=3. 

Wedding? - NOT amateur radio

Someone once said that church bells almost sound like they are coming out of the earth. It was really good to hear all 8 bells being rung in our church earlier as recorded by my grandson.

The union jack flag is there (I think) as the queen has been on the throne 70 years this weekend. Whatever you think of royalty she has dedicated herself to service all that time and is well respected across the planet. I am against wealth because of who you are or who your forefathers were. Once the present queen dies I cannot seeing the royal family continuing without major changes.