2m activity contest (UKAC)

Last night was the May 2022 leg of the UKAC activity contest organised by the RSGB. In the 50 minutes I was on, I managed 6 QSOs with the furthermost G4RUL/P (172km) on the south coast.

Jay, W5OLF?

 As regular readers will know, Jay', W5OLFs 10m WSPR beacon is a small stand-alone 500mW WSPR beacon that I have used for many years. It is still in use this very minute.  With it, I have reached all parts of the planet.

Despite writing to Jay some days ago, I have not got a reply. Does anyone have any news please?

10m QRP WSPR TX

At the moment I am again on 10m WSPR TX with the W5OLF 500mW beacon. So far, spots from the Canary Is and Turkey.

UPDATE 1135z:  Still the same stations spotting me.

Dual band antenna

This photo appeared as a Facebook memory today. It shows the 10m/6m antenna erected in 2012. 

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/antennas/homebase10-10m-halo .

Bolberry Down, Devon - NOT amateur radio

In my view this is one of the best places in the world. It is wild and unspoilt. 

8m experiment (Wednesday)

Once again, my intention is to stick with FT8 today on 40.680 MHz USB dial. So far, I have been copied in 4 European countries and expect this to increase during the Es season. 

The impression I am getting is that other than Es openings my QRP is not capable of being spotted at any distance. Also, I think there are fewer stations with TX permits this year. I was expecting more to be asking for these. Overall, I am a bit disappointed. Other than stations in the UK, Croatia, Slovenia and possibly Eire, I suspect the chances of exchanging FT8 reports are small. Once these countries are "worked", I suspect interest might wane.

If I am honest I was expecting stations across Europe to be active this Es season. Sadly, this is not the case. 

Personally I think a very small 8m, digital only, allocation to the amateur service would really help research in radio propagation science. I think OFCOM and the RSGB have been totally stupid over their attitude to this! You feel that they are not really interested in real self training and research. Talking about gardens and arthritic knees on 80m with Japanese commercial rigs is fine!!

UPDATE 0835z:  For about an hour I have been on 8m FT8 TX. I was spotted (yet again) by EI9KP (649km) in the west of Eire. Nobody spotted here, although I am currently RX only.

UPDATE 1320z:  No further 8m spots. Currently RX only again.

Sunspots - Wednesday May 4th 2022

Solar flux is 114 and the SSN 53 .  A=7 and K=2.

ON4KST chat?

This chatroom is often used to set up skeds etc. When I tried to log in earlier it came back with a 404 error and said, "not found". This may be just a temporary glitch. I hope this is just temporary as I normally post news of my 8m tests here as well as my blog.

See http://www.on4kst.com/chat/start.php .

UPDATE 1740z:  All working again - thankfully.

That free PDF G3XBM project scrapbook

It is pleasing to say that this book is on target to be completed by the end of May. 

My intention is to collect all my projects into a freely downloadable PDF book. I shall add the link on this blog and send it to the major radio magazines. I want this to be freely available so you can share my fun. It is a scrapbook as it is full of ideas that I am sure can be improved by experimentation.

Nothing would give me more pleasure than if someone took my projects further.

The reason for the free PDF is to avoid the copyright issues that might arise with a printed book. Also it means I can add additions and corrections easily at any time.

Cambridge bookshop - NOT amateur radio

When I first moved to Cambridge in 1970 there were loads of bookshops. With people choosing to buy online there are now far fewer. 

The photo shows one that has remained. One wonders for how long?