Today we took him to Dullingham, UK. The bells here are not ringable in the conventional way. Instead they pull ropes at the back of the church in a way that one person can ring all the bells.
1 Sept 2022
Solar data update
Usually in the first few days of the month, my favourite site for solar data does an update. Watch out for this. Last month, the maximum for solar cycle 25 was expected November 2023.
4m
At one point I was going to take down my 8m wire dipole over the winter and put up a 4m dipole in its place. I gather 4m activity is quite low outside of the Es season, so I may not bother. I suppose I could give the UKAC activity sessions a go.
Yesterday, I spotted 2 stations on an unresonant 8m wire dipole antenna, so I know the RX in the transverter works. It seems pointless erecting an antenna just for the 4m UKAC sessions.
UPDATE 0752z: It occurs to me that I can test my 4m transverter TX by adding a 10dB attenuator in line with my 8m antenna. I have yet to calculate how much the SWR will be improved, but it will be a lot. Even with 10dB attenuation I am sure I can be picked up 3km away! Once this is done (assuming the TX is working!) I can decide what to do about a 4m antenna. Maybe I should erect a 4m halo below the V2000? For this, I would need help as it involves ladder work. Luckily it is above the flat garage roof, so very little ladder work would be needed. I must look for a source of 4m halos. At one time Moonraker sold them.
UPDATE 0808z: Several sources of 4m halos. The going price seems to be a bit under £45.
UPDATE 1658z: 5 stations spotted today on 4m FT8 with the low wire dipole cut for 8m (totally unsuitable) with the furthermost being GM4CXM (507km). Amazing.
31 Aug 2022
Blog numbers? - NOT amateur radio
Since I went on my blog early this morning, the number of readers has remained very low and unchanged. It looks like there is an error or the blog is suddenly very unpopular!
UPDATE 2155z: Definitely wrong. Numbers have hardly changed all day.
Where did summer go? - NOT amateur radio
It seems hard to believe, but today is the last day in August. According to the UK Met Office (weather) autumn starts tomorrow! We have had a dry, hot summer. When the autumn chills come, they will be a shock.
10m WSPR QRP TX
As it is my intention to concentrate on 4m FT8 RX later, I intend to go on 10m WSPR TX with my 500mW beacon. This does not need the PC.
As long as the 10m antenna is available, I can use this beacon, leaving the PC free.
UPDATE 1012z: Although my beacon has been on for almost 2 hours, no spots.
UPDATE 1401z: Just a single spot by OE3XOE (1233km) all day.
4m FT8 and activity
Andrew G6ALB is remaking his 4m personal beacon at the weekend so that I can retest the RX in my transverter. The transverter has not been used for years.
I was hoping for suggestions about where to put my RX for the best chances on FT8 RX. Some say 70.100 whereas others suggest 70.154 MHz USB dial. At the moment I have no 4m antenna so cannot TX.
As the chances of Es are much diminished I guess most propagation will be inter-G. I have no idea what activity levels on 4m are like. If like other VHF bands, I guess my best chance will be the next UKAC activity session in 3 weeks' time.
So, where is the best place to watch for 4m FT8 activity in the UK please?
UPDATE 1018z: I have divided my time between the 2 frequencies I know about, but nothing yet spotted on 4m FT8 RX. I am still waiting for FT8 frequency information. Help!!
UPDATE 1107z: I have been told most 4m FT8 in the whole of Europe including the UK is on 70.154 MHz USB dial, so that is where I shall monitor. Still no spots.
Latania (?) - NOT amateur radio
When it comes to plants I am definitely not an expert! We saw this on our walk a few days ago in somebody's garden. Not sure if it is a palm or fern. It is quite big.
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