This was sent to me in 2011.
8 Nov 2022
7 Nov 2022
Not on the radio today (Monday)
As I was out most of the day at my Cosmology lecture at the University of the Third Age in Cambridge (given by an ex Cambridge mathematician), I decided not to go on the radio at all today. My overriding thought is, "this cannot be the whole story". We really understand so little.
Following Murphy's Law, there were several transatlantic 8m FT8 QSOs today! Hopefully, I shall be on tomorrow and conditions might support 8m FT8 QSOs. Compared with better equipped stations, I am probably at least 10dB down. To achieve a transatlantic FT8 QSO, I probably need conditions to be very good. At least I know my signal can reach the USA judging by results last week.
The Earth as a living organism? - NOT amateur radio
At first this seems a crazy idea. In some ways it is less so. Certainly it is worthy of some thought.
For a long time I have been puzzled by scale. The world of sub-atomic particles and the sheer vastness of the universe seem so remote from each other. I have often wondered if our concepts of space and time are wrong. Perhaps the universe (or some universes) are actually in what we perceive as the micro world? What if every cell and atom in our body is a whole universe? We are used to thinking of things on the scale that we know.
A quote from the article:
"Earth seems to be stuck at a stage called an “immature technosphere.” This is a scenario where technological activity has fully developed and taken root — yet it’s not yet harmoniously integrated with other systems, such as the physical environment. It is important to integrate these two spheres, for only when the biological and technological processes are in sync can we ensure productivity and human’s future on this planet."
What's so interesting? - NOT amateur radio
Something is fascinating them!
137kHz (2200m)
It is a very long time since I was on this LF band.
On TX, I have used my earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground and a loop in the garden made with 0.2mm diameter multi-strand wire. Thicker wire would have been better.
On TX I used a QRSS beacon or a transverter, both home designed. I have been copied overseas. My transverter is shown on my video channel and on my main website.
For RX only, the antenna can be very small e.g. an e-field probe, also described on my main website.
6 Nov 2022
10m QRP WSPR TX (Sunday)
When on 8m FT8, I keep forgetting that I can go on 10m WSPR as this uses a different antenna and does not need the PC.
At about 1555z, I went on 10m QRP WSPR with my W5OLF 500mW WSPR beacon. I could have gone on hours earlier.
UPDATE 1609z: 4 WSPR spots from the USA and Canada.
Lithium-Ion batteries
Since I retired in 2008, technology may have moved on. What I recall was li-ion batteries were a nightmare.
Failures were, thankfully, rare but when they occurred they could be very bad. At a guess I would say 1 in 150000 failed. This does not sound too bad, but how many are out there in laptops and other devices? I know of at least one person who had her flat totally destroyed when she was charging a li-ion battery pack.
If abused, the batteries can catch fire and explode. For this reason I never ever leave li-ion batteries charging unattended. Assume they are potential bombs.
See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-us-canada-63532906 .
I am sure many incidents in the past were brushed under the carpet as product recalls could be extremely expensive.
These batteries can be misused. Treat them with the greatest respect.
8m QRP FT8 (Sunday)
Yet again, I am trying to get spotted in the USA on 8m. A QSO would be amazing! So far, I have been on about an hour, but no spots. With my 5W and low dipole, it has to be good to be spotted.
UPDATE 1557z: No spots. QRT on 8m.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
