After a very brief TX period at 2.5W, I am RX only. At 0915z, 14 stations have been spotted. On TX just a single local spot.
UPDATE 1130z: 75 stations spotted.
UPDATE 1842z: 482 stations spotted on FT8 RX.
18 Feb 2022
Thank you
Thanks to the kindness of people I don't even know, I shall apply for that 8m permit this weekend. Obviously, I know the permit, if granted, will be at least £50. If it is more, I shall not go ahead.
"Windbag" need not bother sending me nasty anonymous comments as these will be rejected as SPAM unless he offers his name. He might want to reflect on the fact he is traceable and IP addresses used are known.
Once again, thank you.
2m operation
"Guilty as charged me lud".
When I first went on 2m back in the 1970s, most people were on AM. Then came FM and repeaters and 2m SSB.
These days, 2m seems very quiet. However, appearances can be deceptive as many are now using FT8 . This can give the impression of a dead band, although actually it is possible to work stations at great range irrespective of conditions with very modest antennas and power. Very little spectrum is needed.
Activity sessions can be quite busy, but people have found other ways simply to chat using the Internet.
Apart from local nets, the band can appear quiet. I am as guilty as anyone rarely coming on SSB or FM unless there is an activity session or local net. I often use FT8 instead these days.
See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/vhfuhfmicrowaves/2m-operation.
17 Feb 2022
Eddystone EC10 RX
Mechanically, it was superb with its flywheel drive. On the lower bands it was just adequate. On the higher HF bands like 10m, it was terrible with its low IF and almost zero image rejection.
You used to be able to pick these up on Internet auction sites at inflated prices. I have not looked recently. They used germanium transistors (OC171s) that probably were leaky and wanted replacing. As an historic RX, you are welcome to bid, but as a serious 21st century RX? Forget it!
See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/commercial-rigs/eddystone-ec10.
UPDATE 2215z: eBay still has people listing them.
Crocuses - NOT amateur radio
Today we visited Hare Park, Chippenham near Cambridge mainly to see the snowdrops. These crocuses are out now too.
Rally
The following rally is on this Sunday (February 20th) as far as I know. Check with the organisers before travelling.
Radioactive Fair, Nantwich Civic Hall, Cheshire, CW5 5DG.
16 Feb 2022
8m Research Licence Crowdfunding
As OFCOM has refused my 8m NoV and instead asked me to apply for an Innovation and Trials Licence costing lots a year. If you are a 5G company with billions this is nothing. For small researchers like me this is stupid. I have trying for crowd funding. If I get enough funding, I shall go ahead.
See https://gofund.me/c0c32843
Exhaustion and giddiness - NOT amateur radio
It is extremely hard to get other people to understand my giddiness and exhaustion.
This is an after-effect of my 2013 stroke. All the time when awake, I feel giddy. Much of the time I feel exhausted. Not tired, totally exhausted. Any exertion leaves me very, very, tired. Many people think this is laziness. It is not.
In the past, I quite liked driving. These days, even short journeys are stressful. I guess my reaction times are longer and my brain makes all driving seem 20mph faster. Also, it is as if my brain is in overload when driving: all the time I am thinking of potential hazards.
Outwardly I look totally fine, much like many people who have MS or similar conditions. This is in some ways a good thing. In other ways it is hard, as people just do not understand.
My voice is also poor: it is very hard repeating myself as others do not understand what I am saying.
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