Inconsiderate parking - NOT amateur radio

Most times we love living next door to a restored windmill and museum. However, today is a special day with music and dance, so there are more people than normal. What I do not like is people who park without consideration for local residents, blocking driveways by parking badly. In future, if we need to go out in the car on such days, we need to park on the road and not on our driveway.

6m FT8

According to the weather forecast and the storm maps, the worst storms seem to be further west in the UK and here looks OK. So, I have reconnected everything and gone on 6m FT8 calling CQ (10W) initially. No spots received and nothing spotted yet on 6m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 0929z: Still no spots. Many are still asleep in the UK or have deserted 6m.

UPDATE 1045z: A recent 10W FT8 6m CQ resulted in 2 G spots, but no QSOs. Still no spots on 6m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1250z: Just 2 stations spotted on 6m FT8 RX so far (G and GD).

UPDATE 1315z: 3 stations spotted so far on 6m FT8 RX (G and GD). In answer to my own 10W 6m FT8 CQ call just now, just a couple of Gs spotted me. No QSOs resulted.

UPDATE 1608z: A recent 6m 10W FT8 CQ was spotted by one G station. At first I was puzzled as it said I was spotted 6 minutes ago, but there was nothing on the 6m PSKreporter map. Switching to "all bands" revealed that G4RDC (127km) was incorrectly reporting me as on 2m. He had obviously forgotten to change his band setting. Just 4 stations spotted on 6m FT8 RX with best DX being HB9DVZ (870km) in eastern Switzerland.

Early 2m FT8 RX

Overnight, I stayed on 2m FT8 RX. Around breakfast time I was again spotting lots of stations including 3 Germans. Then the weather was forecasting storms, so everything was switched off and disconnected.

70cm Moxon antenna

Many years ago, I raided my wife's cupboard to make a 70cm Moxon antenna from a coat-hanger. If I remember correctly, the whole thing took about 30 minutes to make. It was used out portable with my FT817 and worked well.

Never say you don't have a 70cm antenna!

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/antennas/70cm_moxon

Oscar 100 update

Periodically I check the web SDR at Goonhilly to see what the activity level is on the narrowband transponder of this geosynchronous satellite.

My own view is activity levels are similar to a month ago. Certainly the band is far from crowded. There is room for many more stations.

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/

Very simple 28MHz WSPR, FT8 or PSK RX

My trouble is I cannot remember where I've posted things!

So, if this has appeared here recently please accept my apologies. It is a simple, low cost, circuit and worth sticking on 10m WSPR when you have an antenna free. Most days you will copy something. As you can see it uses an oscillator running at half frequency and a Polyakov mixer.

I used a cheap GQRP 14.060MHz crystal, pulled. It worked well on 10m WSPR. The same idea would work on FT8 and PSK as long as you can find cheap crystals!

Our garden - NOT amateur radio

As the sun was shining, we did some work in the garden yesterday. In a month or so the leaves will fall and the garden will "sleep" over the winter. At the moment it looks tired and "late summer".

We'll blink and it will be spring.

Sunspots - Sunday September 22nd 2019

Solar flux is 68 and the SSN 0. A=7 and K=2.

Late switch to 2m FT8

Just now, I moved to 2m FT8. Yet again, my 10W FT8 CQ was widely copied with my best being a spot by G4LOH (455km) in Cornwall. On 2m FT8 RX all very quiet so far with just one G spot so far. I shall stay on 2m FT8 overnight.

Crosses - NOT amateur radio

Time and again I notice how hard life can be for some people and most of us are unaware.

Many people have mental health issues, or difficult parents or children, or a serious illness, yet choose not to share this with others. This may be their choice: some choose their hobbies to escape from these traumas. Many times I have said, "never judge a book by its cover".

We do not know the struggles some people have. All we can try to do is treat everyone with kindness.

Madness - NOT amateur radio

The UK is in a mess over BREXIT so what does the main opposition party (Labour) do? They hold a party conference and try to oust their deputy leader.

Personally, I think this is self-destructive and will lose them votes. Utter stupidity when all eyes are on them! This is pathetic navel gazing.

UPDATE 1105z: Apparently, the Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has quashed this. I expect he realised the harm it would do. Well, it is now almost inevitable I shall not be voting Labour in the near future.

6m FT8

Another promising start with 6 stations spotted on 6m FT8 RX. Best DX spotted so far on 6m FT8 RX is SM0EUI (1387km) and my recent 10W 6m FT8 CQ call was spotted by G4RDC (127km).

I keep reminding people that 6m Es is there more often than people realise and FT8 is a perfect way of exploiting it.

UPDATE 1155z: Now 10 stations in 4 countries spotted so far this morning on 6m FT8 RX. A recent 10W 6m CQ call on FT8 resulted in one G QSO and 4 spots (all G).

UPDATE 1852z: 10 stations spotted on 6m FT8 RX. A recent 10W FT8 CQ was spotted by 1 G station, although no QSO resulted.

UPDATE 2032z: A late 10W 6m FT8 CQ got no spots.

A better crystal set?

Some years ago QST had a circuit for a better crystal set that used a MOSFET. I have never tried this, but I should. It is supposed to be more sensitive than conventional designs, and uses no batteries.

See http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Technology/tis/info/pdf/culter.pdf

Climate strikes - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday's climate strikes around the world were supported by millions. They were largely organised by young people, but supported by many older folk.

It is my view that climate change is real, but in the end there will be a tipping point when things will change: we will mostly be driving electric cars powered by batteries that don't depend on slave labour, with ranges that match petrol cars, with plentiful fast charging points. As with digital cameras and flat screen TVs, other technologies will suddenly seem "past it". We will eat less meat and we will find ways to counteract harmful emissions. OK, I may be wrong, but the momentum is certainly there.

The question is how soon will all this come?

Sunspots - Saturday September 21st 2019

Solar flux is 67 and the SSN 0. A=3 and K=2.

2m big-wheel antenna

For many years now my main 2m antenna (and 70cms!) for SSB, CW and digital modes has been a 2m big-wheel omni, sometimes called a clover leaf. This has a little horizontal gain, but is a fixed antenna that does not need a rotator. It well suits my style of operating. I use this for 2m and 70cm UKAC sessions and casual use at other times.

Most days, irrespective of conditions, I spot at least 7 countries on FT8 RX and I am spotted at ranges of 400-500km when I call QRP CQ on FT8. For me, this antenna is perfect. For FM I use the V2000 vertical. At one time I had a hand-rotated small dual band beam, but I find the big wheel better suited.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/antennas/bigwheel

Autumn crocus - NOT amateur radio

Earlier, we came across this lone autumn crocus in the village. It demanded a quick photo.

My first photo with the smart phone was over-exposed, so I went back again with the "real" camera.

Network radios

Summer 2018, I bought a network radio, mainly to use with Echolink. These radios look like 2m handhelds, but are actually Android phones. I realise that mine has hardly been used for months. I find Echolink QSOs unsatisfying. I prefer the struggle with "real" radio!

Buying one, especially at sunspot minimum, I was expecting to feel differently.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/network

Is Trump stupid? - NOT amateur radio

OK, I have to admit I am not a great fan of President Trump and admit that others clearly hold different views.

His stance on world affairs seems naïve. He stands alone on climate change, in the face of mounting evidence he is wrong, even close to home. His position on Iran seems more aimed at American rednecks than world peace. His dealings with China are very questionable. Canute?

Allegedly, he does not agree with California's efforts to reduce pollution, although the legal battles could well continue way after the next USA presidential elections.

On the world stage he is viewed as a joke, although I acknowledge his policies may find favour at home in the USA. Caveat emptor. He may be fine on "The Apprentice", but is he a true statesman?

See https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2019-09-19/hiltzik-trump-california-waiver

Sunspots - Friday September 20th 2019

Solar flux is 67 today and the sunspot number still zero. A=8 and K=1.