22 Sept 2022
Autumn colours - NOT amateur radio
Marconi pre-WW1 radio station
By the First World War it was already old technology.
Where I come from in South Devon - NOT amateur radio
This is a photo of where I come from in South Devon. We can trace our family history back to the mid 1500s in a village near here and I have a record of land ownership nearby in the early 1400s.
21 Sept 2022
17m FT8 RX (Wednesday)
As I was getting nowhere on 8m, I decided to QSY to 17m FT8 using my 10m end fed antenna.
UPDATE 1749z: 33 stations already spotted.
Bumper crop - NOT amateur radio
I guess these must have been ideal conditions.
8m FT8 QRP (Wednesday)
About an hour ago I QSYed to 8m FT8. hoping to be spotted across the Atlantic or spot someone from over there. A QSO would be magic.
Based on ERP alone, this should be possible as I have done it with less ERP on 10m SSB, so 8m FT8 QRP should be possible.
UPDATE 1733z: Nothing on RX or TX today. QSYing to 17m FT8 RX.
Memory costs - NOT amateur radio
Imagine what memory will cost in 2032!
Complete change today?
As an experiment, I may try FT8 RX on a different band with my 10m end fed antenna. I think it has a low SWR on some other bands, but I cannot remember which.
UPDATE 0836z: The antenna would appear to be a good match on 17m, 15m. 12m and 10m. Today, I am trying 15m FT8. My very first signal resulted in a QSO with an LZ station. 8 stations have spotted me on QRP TX! I am RX only now. So far, on 15m FT8 RX, 16 stations spotted.
20 Sept 2022
8m Cornish beacon
According to the beacon keeper, the 8m beacon at GB3MCB on 40.050 MHz should be operational next weekend subject to the rigger and weather. They also have permission for a 5m beacon.
As yet, I have not checked on modes. I hope to copy it by MS, scatter, and maybe tropo.
The probable modes are CW and PI4.
In my view, ALL beacons should include an FT8 sequence as this mode is (I think) as good as PI4 and is included free with WSJT-X and other software packages making 24/7 monitoring easy.
10m QRP WSPR (Tuesday)
After a successful RX session on 10m FT8, I am now on 10m QRP WSPR (500mW from my W5OLF beacon) as the antenna is available.
UPDATE 1815z: Just F2 spots from 2 stations in the Canary Islands. No DX from the USA today. I think most people now use FT8.
8m FT8 RX (Tuesday)
All afternoon and early evening (UK time) I shall be on 40.680 MHz FT8 RX hoping to spot some DX from North America via F2.
If successful, I hope to be on FT8 TX (40.680) later in the week. My first challenge is can I spot anyone from "across the pond" on my low wire dipole!
OFCOM and Mangata satellite licences
OFCOM is consulting about new licences for satellite opearation by Mangata. See the OFCOM website for details.
South Devon - NOT amateur radio
This is Burgh Island from Thurlestone in South Devon, UK. I don't think this photo has been on the blog already. This is very near where I originally came from and still love.
10m FT8 RX (Tuesday)
As mentioned yesterday, I am on 10m FT8 RX again this morning, but may QSY to 8m FT8 RX this afternoon if F2 propagation looks promising. Judging by initial 10m results, F2 to the USA is looking a possibility on 8m later.
Initially, I shall be RX only on 8m FT8 on 40.680 MHz. I shall try TX if things look possible.
UPDATE 0915z: 71 stations already spotted on 10m FT8 RX.
Software VLF RX
This very simple software RX by SM6LKM was found about 10 years ago. I think it has been developed further by others.
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