8m FT8 QRP (Monday)

Later, I expect to be on 8m TX on 40.680 MHz USB dial FT8 with 2.5W QRP. The winter Es season seems to be in full swing, so I am hopeful some in Europe will spot me. 

UPDATE 1927z:  No spots. QRT.

Kingsbridge 1930s? - NOT amateur radio

This photo of where I lived as a teenager was probably taken in the 1930s although I am not an expert on vehicles. It certainly looks pre WW2 to me. 

Sunspots - Monday January 9th 2023

Solar flux is 184 and the SSN 117. A=8 and K=0.

The Yaesu FT81x transceivers

Yaesu has announced the ending of production of the FT818 transceiver claiming parts shortage as their reason. 

When the FT818 was launched, like many, I was completely under-whelmed. What a complete failure!! 

The FT818 offered none of the things people had expected and that would have been very easy to do. Instead, they opened the market to others and gave us the impression of a company that had totally lost its way. 

In my view they have one last chance in 2023. Based on their muddled performance in 2022 I am not too hopeful. If they are after profits, they have surely lost their chances already. Compared with, say, 10 years ago there are far more competitors.  At one time they ruled the QRP market and were leaders not followers.

In my time I have owned many Yaesu transceivers. I was a Yaesu fan. 

It would not surprise me at all if Yaesu left the amateur radio market within 5 years.

481 THz "over the horizon" communications

Since my 2013 stroke, I have felt too wobbly to do field work. One of my great pleasures was trying optical communications over the horizon where I was astounded by what was possible, even though there was no sign of any light visible. Had I been fit, far further would have been possible.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/optical-nanowaves/over-the-horizon for some ideas. 

In many ways optical communications are easier than microwaves as all the gear (test gear and working kit) may be homemade at low cost.

The photo shows my first tentative steps in daylight along a road. Little did I realise what fun was to follow!

"Our" windmill - NOT amateur radio

We see the windmill right next to us at breakfast and from the lounge. 

This photo was taken yesterday when we had showers and sunshine. Well worth a visit as it is fully restored. The museum is excellent. 

Few people have a fully restored windmill right next door!

See https://burwellmuseum.org.uk/.

10m QRP WSPR TX (Sunday)

At 0956z, my 500mW WSPR beacon was turned on.

UPDATE 1808z:  30 stations have spotted my 500mW 10m WSPR TX today as shown below in the table.

8m QRP FT8 (Sunday)

It is now 0950z. In a few moments I expect to be on 8m TX on 40.680 (TX first) with my 2.5W FT8 QRP and low dipole. 

UPDATE 1101z:  On now. No spots.

UPDATE 1335z:  G0HVQ (181km) has spotted my QRP 8m FT8.

UPDATE 1452z:  EI9KP (649km) has spotted me ....again ... on 8m FT8.

UPDATE 1815z:  S50B (1220km) has now spotted my 2.5W FT8 on 8m today. Today is probably my best day on 8m for several months. Winter Es for S50B? The propagation to EI9KP still puzzles me. It must be some sort of scatter - aircraft, random MS or tropo?

Grandson's bellringing videos - NOT amateur radio

Our elder grandson has a video channel about bellringing. He has new rung in well over 80 towers in London and in the Cambridge area. His channel is called StedmanTriples783.

See https://www.youtube.com/@stedders783.

Sunspots - Sunday January 8th 2023

Solar flux is 179 and the SSN 104. A=6 and K=1.