Lightning risk

 Although there are no thunderstorms locally at present, the risk exists. Accordingly, I shall probably give the radio a miss today.

See https://www.lightningmaps.org/#m=oss;t=3;s=0;o=0;b=;ts=0; .

Oscar 100 narrowband transponder

Every few weeks (if I remember!) I try to give an update on activity through the narrowband transponder of this geosynchronous satellite. 

It has now been up for several years yet activity is tragically low considering it allows DX QSOs with much of the planet at any time without QSB with small fixed antennas.

The activity on this satellite says a great deal about our hobby and does not bode well for the future.

My last peek was mid-afternoon, mid-week in Europe. There was hardly anybody on. 

My theory is that unlike the few that rise to the challenge of assembling a ground station, most find this just too hard and instead just get out their credit cards so the dealer can buy a flashier car.

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/ .

QTH

 

This photo shows the windmill and my QTH. It was taken last weekend from the church tower. 

Our bungalow is the one immediately in front of the windmill. If you look carefully you can see my V2000 vertical (look for the white vertical).

Back of the garage 2012

 This was the back of my garage at the old QTH where most of my building was done . Since moving to my new QTH in the following year I have a dedicated room for building and operating.

Sunspots - Thursday September 26th

 Solar flux is 174 and the SSN 160. A=32 and K=3.

Most from the least

This has always been a challenge for QRP operators. We know we can span the globe with a Japanese transceiver, a linear, a beam and a tower all costing thousands, but what may be done for the cost of a coffee in town?

There are many answers to this. It usually involves some element of compromise (usually with the receiver), but time and again people have shown that really simple gear works. I guess the "holy grail" is the rig that has the fewest compromises, yet gives you plenty of contacts. I am still looking!

One of the rigs I have tried is the Micro80 and the Pixie. A few years ago (possibly still) 40m Pixie kits could be bought with airmail from China for a few pounds. I have built versions for 80m and 40m and they have all worked. Albeit, the RX was far from perfect but they worked and resulted in QSOs.

The circuit is a typical Pixie.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/8040m-pixie-and-micro80-transceivers .

Crab apple jelly - NOT amateur radio

Every autumn I harvest my crab apples and make crab apple jelly, which is delicious on some meats. 

This was the harvest from our single tree today.

Faroes - NOT amateur radio

 

As mentioned before, one of my friends on 365project lives in the Faroe Islands. This was one of his photos from a few weeks ago.

10m 500mW WSPR TX ( Wednesday)

My beacon has been on for about 40 minutes. So far, just spots by local G4KPX (14km).

UPDATE 1356z: EA8BFK (2880km) has spotted me 14 times.

6m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)

 My 2.5W 6m FT8 was turned on at about 1045z after we returned from shopping. So far, 6 stations have spotted me.

UPDATE 1225z:  7 English stations have spotted me today. See map.