G8BBB/G4BEL SK

Today I heard that Roger Taylor had passed away. He was very much into VHF/UHF and microwaves and had an excellent location at Haddenham near Cambridge, UK. Many will miss him.

Shopping Habits - NOT amateur radio

More of us are shopping online. 

Gradually, over the last 20 years, the way many of us shop has changed. On the whole we are more confident that goods delivered to our door will be fine and, if they are not, they can be easily returned. No longer do we need to find car parking spaces (and pay for these) and we no longer struggle with heavy packages.

This means more retail businesses will go out of business and those that remain are working harder to retain customers.  In my view (as it has been for many years) is that those who will survive will have a strong online business and shops that remain will be mainly for browsing. Many of our well loved brands in shops may disappear. This is a trend that will continue. In a few years' time we may not recognise our high streets.

One retailer in Cambridge was selling Easter Eggs on New Years Eve!! This Valentines display reeks of survival.

In my view, High Street shops will only survive if they offer something unique. I expect the future will be more places where people can meet (cafes) and more flats for single people to live.

My future on 8m

This morning, I am getting no 8m FT8 spots whereas G9PUV and SV1DH have plenty. Their ERPs are probably at least 10dB up on mine as I run just 2.5W to a low dipole.

At the moment, my inclination is not to go for a new 8m permit in April.  

Possibly I may try 8m WSPR in the ISM band with the call 8M3ISM with 10mW ERP without a licence, as is the right of all in the UK.

The results obtained so far are impressive, but without more stations, I am unsure of the usefulness of continuing. 

As the 8m band is located between 10m and 6m, we could expect 8m to open more often than 6m. It is highly disappointing that OFCOM (and the RSGB) and the FCC has shown such a negative attitude to even a small 8m secondary allocation. It is not as if they are neutral. It would appear they are dead set against!

If beggars believe that both the FCC and OFCOM (and the RSGB) can have such a negative attitude to the real purpose of our hobby. I am left with a bitter taste.

8m QRP FT8 (Friday)

My 2.5W 8m FT8 was turned on at 1016z.

Conditions in Europe look encouraging with high MUFs.

UPDATE 1341z:  No spots.

10m 500uW WSPR TX (Friday)

Although my QRPP beacon is on, no spots today (well yet). It amazes me this is so widely spotted. 

I suppose it shouldn't surprise me as 500mW is so strong sometimes and 500uW is just 30dB weaker and we are now around solar maximum.

UPDATE 1338z:  Spotted in the Canary Is. yet again today!

Norwich by train - NOT amateur radio

We travel to Norwich from Ely several times a year by train. It takes under an hour and Norwich is a fine city. A day return with a Senior Railcard is not expensive. 

The journey is relaxed and the scenery pleasant. Being East Anglia (which is a fairly flat part of the UK) hills are rare!  Travelling there and back, you see fens, brecks, forest and arable land as well as a glimpse of Wymondham Abbey with its 2 towers.

The photo shows a pig farm!  I know you couldn't wait!  😀

630m QRP WSPR overnight

No great DX (best Germany), but 22 stations have spotted my 10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.

Sunspots- Friday January 19th

 Solar flux is 162 and the SSN 113 . A=6 and K=3.

70cm - times they are a changing

When I was first licenced here in the UK there was a class A licence and a class B licence.  Class B licencees were only allowed on 432MHz and above and did not need a morse test. My first call was without CW and 432MHz and above. Class B operators could operate a Class A station under supervision. I remember doing this at the QTH of the late G4PJ.

My first activity on 70cm was with the transverter shown. In those days nearly everyone was crystal controlled and we tuned the whole band listening for replies. Out /P with 100mW one could just about guarantee a QSO. Most people were on AM back then.

These days there is far less activity on 70cm sadly. Those that are active come on mainly in contests usually on FM or SSB. This is pity as often 70cm tropo can be better than 2m. I remember years later having loads of fun working FM DX on 70cm simplex with 4W from an FM321. Often lifts on 70cm were more localised.

Times they are a changing...

St Pancras station, London - NOT amateur radio

The photo shows the Victorian facade at St. Pancras station in London. 

At one time, this was earmarked for demolition, but saved after a campaign by poet laureate John Betjeman.