At the moment (2028z) I am on 40.680 MHz FT8 TX with the "old" Windows PC. So far, no spots.
12 Jul 2022
PC not fixed
My issue seems to be no Internet connection. I have tried most things I know about, but so far no luck. I shall try again tomorrow.
UPDATE 2020z: I am currently on 8m FT8 QRP TX with the "old" Windows PC. So far, no spots.
Little things please little minds - NOT amateur radio
This cartoon that appeared on Facebook today must be very old, but it amused me! The USA has had 2 presidents since.
Minimalist transceiver
This has been on before, although I make no apologies. It was inspired by a 40m design by W2UW (now a SK). My main issue was netting the receiver, although you may have a way of doing this. The rig must still be around somewhere - probably in the loft. As I recall, it needs just 14 parts including a single FET.
See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/80m-feter-transceiver .
Dad's seats - NOT amateur radio
My dad died in 1987 after working for the water board in South Devon for a very long time. Before that he was a plumber and before that a Pathfinder in Lancasters in WW2. he rarely spoke of his war. I think he hated it.
11 Jul 2022
Fuel prices in the UK - NOT amateur radio
In the last few months wholesale UK fuel prices have dropped back quite a bit. OK, the US dollar exchange rate has got worse and oil is bought in dollars.
Now, I am no expert, but it seems when prices rise that oil companies are keen to put up prices, but are less keen to put prices down when they pay less wholesale.
It is interesting that they are very keen to avoid that £2 a litre figure with the diesel price widely at £199.9 a litre.
It would be rather nice if garages dropped their prices/profits when they can.
Burwell Museum - NOT amateur radio
Our local museum next door is vast with many things besides the windmill. It goes on and on!
One of the exhibits is a Nissan hut with things from WW2. I cannot rave it more highly as it is probably one of the best local museums in the UK. Really well worth visiting.
8m experiment (Monday)
As I am unlikely to fix things today, I suspect there will be no action on 8m FT8 TX here today.
UPDATE 1927z: reset router and flushed DNS cache, but still no success....yet.
Fixing that FT8 PC
It looks my issue with time sync is more general with DNS addresses. All websites fail to connect with this PC although other PCs work fine. I have found a very good site to systematically work out what's wrong. After lunch, I intend to work through these and fix the problem.
UPDATE 1930z : Flushed DNS cache and reset router, but no success.... yet.
10 Jul 2022
8m experiment (Sunday)
Well, FT8 is working on 8m FT8 RX on a different PC, but not yet on TX. The audio shows TX on the SignaLink USB, but no power on TX.All sliders are at maximum. It must be something stupid I am doing. This PC must be about x20 slower than the machine usually used!
UPDATE 1236z: No spots on 8m FT8 RX today.
10m QRP WSPR TX
As I can sync my 10m WSPR TX beacon without the PC, I am able to TX WSPR at 500mW. It is now 1000z and so far today 6 stations have spotted me.
I need to fix the PC as this is needed for FT8.
Looking towards Cornwall - NOT amateur radio
This was the view some years ago looking towards Cornwall from Thurlestone in South Devon.
9 Jul 2022
FT8 and PC time sync
Until I can sort out my PC time sync issue (to Internet time on the PC) I am unable to use FT8 on any band.
Years ago I would have been able to do this logically. Since my 2013 stroke, it is like part of my brain is scrambled and I find logical thinking and problem solving so much harder.
The best way I can describe it is as follows. Imagine wading through glue. It is a bit like this. It is all but impossible to think clearly these days without becoming exhausted.
Dry - NOT amateur radio
We went for a walk around the village of Reach earlier before it got too hot. A few months ago it was muddy. Now it is very dry.
10m WSPR QRP TX (Saturday)
Again on 10m WSPR QRP TX using my 500mW TX beacon by W5OLF. So far, at 1000z, spots by 6 unique station, predominately more northerly stations.
Is it my imagination or do we get more northerly stations on 10m later in the summer? I have noticed this before.
UPDATE 1537z: 28 unique stations have spotted me today.
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