ZS6WAB 8m beacon copied in Europe and QSL received

The South African 8m beacon has been widely copied across Europe and Borat in Central Europe has a QSL card as shown. 

G3XIZ sub 10kHz

This photo was taken some years ago and shows the signal from G3XIZ on VLF at 45km. Notice the timescales - hours!! 

Australian beach? - NOT amateur radio

This photo was on 365project recently. I think it is Australia. 

Hot Iron archive

Some may like the archive of W4NPN to "Hot Iron",  which many builders will find very useful. Hot Iron is an online magazine for constructors. 

See https://www.w4npn.net/hot-iron-directory/

Online calculators

Every now and again, you need to work out something "radio" and a calculator can come in very handy. This site has some very useful calculators.

See https://www.66pacific.com/calculators/default.aspx .

Sunspots - Thursday March 3rd 2022

Solar flux is 110 and the SSN 66. A=4 and K=1. 

2m FT8 activity contest

Starting at 1900z is the RSGB organised 2m FT8 activity contest. At the moment I am RX only, although I might try TX with 2.5W FT8 with the big-wheel omni later.  So far, 35 stations in 6 countries spotted after 7 minutes!

UPDATE 1940z: 74 stations in 7 countries spotted. 1 QSO just now. RX only again as it is too crowded!

UPDATE 2110z:   96 stations in 9 countries spotted on 2m FT8 RX this evening and 3 QSOs. My signal was spotted by F1FPL (345km). Now QRT. Quite pleased with just 2.5W and the omni antenna.

Summer Saturday - NOT amateur radio

This was Salcombe, where I come from in South Devon, on a summer day many years ago. 

10m FT8 RX

A few moments ago (0955z), I turned on my 10m FT8 RX. As I had just turned the electricity off whilst I changed a bulb in the bathroom, there was no internet, so no spots were appearing on PSKreporter.  Locally, I was spotting several stations.

UPDATE 1024z:  37 stations spotted and on PSKreporter. Most are single hop F2.

UPDATE 1411z:  172 stations spotted.

Stations spotted today

UPDATE 1744z:  476 stations spotted. QRT soon.

E-Field probe RX antenna

This tiny antenna is very effective on VLF, LF and MF. Versions are available which can be bought ready made or as kits.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/antennas/e-field-probe-efp .

See also https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/antennas/137khz-efp-rx-antenna .