8m experiment (Tuesday)

Shortly, I hope to be on 8m QRP TX on 40.680 MHz USB dial FT8 again. 

In the last few days I have been spotted by 4 stations across Europe with the best DX 1808km. Es may be quieter, but there are still good times!! 

UPDATE| 1259z:  EA3ERE (1153km) has spotted my 8m QRP FT8 again.

UPDATE 1340z:  Off cooling. Back on about 1415z, I hope.

Hidden disability - NOT amateur radio

This was written in 2016, but little has changed for me.

EI7GL - more

It would appear that EI7GL was spotting on 10m WSPR RX yesterday. Assuming this was indeed John and not a pirate, I am puzzled. I have no further information.

UPDATE 1915z: Just had an email from John. All is well, but he was too busy to blog over the summer, but hopes to resume in September. Basically good news. 

Scooters - NOT amateur radio

When we were young, scooters were popular, probably as most young people could not afford to buy and run a car. 

These were on display last weekend at our Classic Car Day at our local museum. 

The windmill is on the left and our house in the background on the right.

We need rain, as the photo shows!

FTDX-10

I am seriously thinking about one of these radios. Over the years I have had many Yaesu rigs and this has some rave reviews. It includes an ATU and 4m, but does not include 2m or 70cm. At 100W, it is far more power than I would ever want. Most times it would be used at 5W!

Ideally, please may I have a decent FT817 replacement with 4m? No doubt the minute I was to buy an FTDX-10 they would announce a decent FT817 replacement at half the price of the FTDX-10. Perhaps I should wait....

Sunspots - Tuesday August 23rd 2022

Solar flux is 103 and the SSN 44.  A=7 and K=1.

Dahlias - NOT amateur radio

The dahlia garden at nearby Anglesey Abbey is open at last. Our neighbour has had dahlias out for weeks. The ones in the photo were some we saw this morning at Anglesey Abbey. 

Nearly 100 years ago - NOT amateur radio

This photo is nearly 100 years old. My uncle is in the front row in the middle. I think he was the foreman. It shows the Salcombe Council gang (Devon) in the 1930s I think. Love the moustache front left!

UPDATE 1251z:  Someone thinks this could be shortly after WW2.  My uncle certainly looks young though!! He was born in 1908ish, so the 1930s seems more likely to me. Mind you, the late 1940s would make him early 40s, so if he was the foreman, this would make sense.

Morris 1000 - NOT amateur radio

My very first car in 1971 was a Morris 1000. 

A friend has had this one for about 40 years and he has lovingly restored his (see photo). 

It was at the classic car day at our local museum next door yesterday. 

EI7GL ?

John has (had?) one of the best blogs, that I found really helpful, but it has not been updated since May. I wrote to John over the weekend, but got no response. 

Does anyone have any news please? 

If he, or others who know, is able to read this, a response would be helpful.

10m WSPR QRP (Monday)

My 500mW WSPR beacon was turned on at 0736z. 

UPDATE 0800z:  No spots.

UPDATE 1235z: Spots by 2 unique stations so far with the furthermost EA8BFK (2880km).

Where I come from - NOT amateur radio

 

This is Burgh Island in South Devon, not far from where I came from. In the distance is looking towards Cornwall in the west. The sun is setting.

8m experiment (Monday)

Later, I hope to be on 8m QRP FT8 TX using the FT817ND on 40.680 MHz USB dial and the low wire dipole (shown in the photo).

The wire dipole is only about 3m over the ground, possibly less.

UPDATE 0800z:  Gear turned on at 0736z. No spots.

UPDATE 1233z:  EI9KP (649km) has spotted me this morning.

Sunspots - Monday August 22nd 2022

Solar flux is 97 and the SSN 56. A=14 and K=3.

That spider yesterday - NOT amateur radio

The spider in the bath yesterday would appear to be a giant house spider that can grow to about 4 inches across (over 10cm) and move very fast.

As mentioned yesterday, spiders have never bothered me. I just put them out the window.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_house_spider .

Classic Car Day - NOT amateur radio

Today is the classic car day at our local museum next door. I have never seen so many! 

Vehicles ranged from car and scooters to army vehicles. Lots of people too. 

10m WSPR QRP (Sunday)

It is now 1010z and I have been on 10m WSPR TX with 500mW from the W5OLF beacon for about an hour. So far only spotted by one station in Sweden. 

UPDATE 1150z: 14 unique stations have spotted my 500mW 10m WSPR this morning.

UPDATE 1601z:  25 stations have spotted me today so far on 10m QRP WSPR.  Most look like Es.

8m experiment (Sunday)

 As the main Es season is winding down, it would appear there are fewer people now monitoring 8m FT8 on 40.680 MHz USB dial. Shortly, I hope to be on again.

UPDATE 1145z: 2 spots of me on 8m FT8 from the Iberian peninsula. I think this again proves that openings occur far more often than people think. More activity please!!

Sunspots - Sunday August 21st 2022

Solar flux is 102 and the SSN 56.  A=14 and K=2.

ENORMOUS spider - NOT amateur radio

This evening we had the biggest spider I have ever seen in the bath. It must have been over 7cm long. It is now outside. We seem to be seeing spiders earlier this year. Some people hate spiders, but they don't bother me. I just put them outside.

Any idea what sort it was?