Thatched cottage - NOT amateur radio

 

This is about 12km away from where we live.

Revolution? - NOT amateur radio

Certainly here in the UK, some people are worried sick over the horrendous rise in energy costs. Some are thinking is it food or heating? This is in a wealthy western country!  I cannot see how some people will be able to manage. Many more people will be dragged into poverty.

My personal view is some people will be unable to pay and we therefore risk revolution.  We are in for a difficult period.

Mystery rigs

My son went into our loft and brought down some rigs I had not seen for 9 years! One was a 2m to 10m QRP transverter and one looks like a Micro 80, although I have no recollection of building it!! Funny what you forget.

Miracle Whip

Since my 2013 stroke, I have not been in our loft. Last night, one of my sons brought down a box and in it was my old Miracle Whip antenna! Later, I shall try it on FT8, probably on 15m.

UPDATE 1057z:  I decided to go on 20m FT8 initially. Within a few minutes I have already been reported by 16 stations with the Miracle Whip on the shack windowsill and the FT817ND!

UPDATE 1154z:  Now on 15m FT8 with the Miracle Whip on the shack windowsill. I was only on for a short while but the best DX was a spot of me from 3365km away.

UPDATE 1221z:   Now on 30m QRP FT8 with the Miracle Whip on the shack windowsill. 20 spots of my QRP. Even on 30m it works pretty well.

UPDATE 1221z:  On 40m FT8 with the Miracle Whip. 7 spots of my QRP within the first 3 minutes.

 

UPDATE 2008z:  153 stations spotted on 20m FT8 RX today, so far, with the Miracle Whip.

10m QRP WSPR TX (Tuesday)

Been on for a couple of hours so far with my 500mW beacon. No spots of me so far today.

UPDATE 1302z:   Still no spots of me so far today on 10m WSPR TX. I am quite surprised. Must check the beacon is correctly synced.

UPDATE 1315z:  Resynced "just in case".

8m experiment (Tuesday)

Been on 40.680 MHz USB dial QRP FT8 for a couple of hours. Nothing on RX, but spotted by HC02 (1808km) in Portugal.

Rye, Sussex - NOT amateur radio

This is Rye in Sussex. We visited there some years ago. It is a delightful place. 

Sunspots - Tuesday August 9th 2022

Solar flux is 113 and the SSN 63. A=31 and K=3.

10m QRP WSPR TX (Monday)

Although I am not too hopeful, I am on 10m WSPR TX with my 500mW beacon. The beacon was turned on about 0951z.

UPDATE 1027z:  Just OK2BVG (1232km) spotting me. I wasn't even expecting this! 

UPDATE 1038z:  Now 4 unique stations spotting me. Far better than I was expecting.

UPDATE 1652z:  11 stations have now spotted my 500mW QRP today.

Housework - NOT amateur radio

We always do housework on Monday mornings and have a coffee afterwards.

Funny how we all have routines. 

8m experiment (Monday)

Conditions look quite disturbed today, but I hope to be on 8m TX on 40.680 MHz USB dial FT8 shortly, ever hopeful. 

UPDATE 1000z: Surprise, surprise!  After a very short time, I was spotted strongly by EA3ERE (1153km). Aircraft? Gear turned on about 0951z.

UPDATE 1635z:  EI9KP (649km) spotted strongly on RX. Aircraft?

Sub 9kHz amateur DX

This was 2011 when I was experimenting with earth-mode at extremely low frequencies. Much further should be possible by utilities assisted earth-mode. 

I must be doing something wrong

My free PDF scrapbook is now at issue 2, but for some reason my tinyurl still goes to the issue 1 version despite the issue 2 having the same filename and being in the same directory where issue 1 was. I must be doing something wrong, but as I write this (on Sunday night) I cannot work out what I am doing wrongly. When I have a clearer head, I shall point to the newer version!

Sunspots - Monday August 8th 2022

 Solar flux is 116 and the SSN 87. A=24 and K=5.

Native American proverb - NOT amateur radio

This old proverb was made public yesterday. I like it. 

Home - NOT amateur radio

 

This photo of our bungalow was taken a few years ago from our nearby windmill.

Amplitude Modulation (AM)

When I was first active, AM was the main mode on all bands. On HF this was replaced by SSB and, in very recent times, FT8 has become very popular. On the VHF bands most use FM, although there are fewer coming on just for a chat as there are now (free) alternatives on the internet.

Now I am not saying AM is brilliant, but the gear is often simple and low cost. There has been a growing interest in AM on bands like 160m, 80m and 10m. If you have never played with AM, you don't know what you are missing! At one time, ex PMR AM gear was practically being given away.

On 2m, the centre of AM activity is 144.550 MHz.

I get the feeling that most people have a dim view of AM, not least our national society, the RSGB. In my view this is totally wrong. Like other modes, AM has its place. Just listen above 29 MHz when 10m is open.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/vhfuhfmicrowaves/vhf-am .

10m QRP WSPR TX (Sunday)

After just a few minutes, my 500mW 10m WSPR TX beacon has been copied by 4 unique stations.  Very encouraging.

UPDATE 2053z:   25 unique stations have spotted me today.

8m experiment (Sunday)

Almost immediately, my QRP 8m  FT8 TX on 40.680 MHz USB dial was spotted on the Iberian peninsula by 2 stations. I have the feeling today could be good.

UPDATE 1103z:  3 stations have spotted my QRP 8m FT8 today. Rig now off cooling. Back on later.

Bodium Castle - NOT amateur radio

This castle is in Kent. We went there in 2012.