Dragonflies? - NOT amateur radio

 

My wife spotted this on Friday on our walk to Wicken Fen. I think it is 2 dragonflies mating, but I am no expert!

I was going to use other words, but thought the censors might object and ban me.

Back of the garage

This was my workshop at the back of the garage in 2012 at the old QTH. 

Sunspots - Sunday September 25th 2022

Solar flux is 147 and the SSN 128.  A=13 and K=2. 

23cm antennas (again)

At one time, a very popular 23cm antenna, for ATV I think, was the bow tie designed by G8GML (now SK). As I recall it was 2 diamond shaped elements with a solid reflector. I think it had a useful (not high) gain and a fairly broad forward lobe. 

For DX contacts, a decent beam with lots of forward gain is usually essential, but such an antenna might be better for me than the PCB HB9CV that, I believe, is supplied with the 23cm transverter that should come next month.

What I am wondering is does anyone make this commercially and at what price?

Such an antenna might be useful on 70cm too.

UPDATE 1907z:   As David says in the comments, Wimo make such an antenna. It looks expensive.

8m QRP FT8 (Saturday)

At the moment, I do not think conditions are good enough for E-W F2 propagation on 8m. Unless things change, I think I shall give 8m a miss today.

UPDATE 1659z:  On 40.680 MHz QRP FT8 (first). ZS6WAB has been very strong in central Europe on 40.680 MHz FT8 in the last hour, but I doubt he will be spotted further north. I think this is TEP.

Shack walk-through

Nearly 4 years ago, I did a walk-through of my shack at that time. Since then, the rigs have changed a bit and I have an 8m dipole erected.

10m QRP FT8 (Saturday)

After a very brief period on TX, I have been on 10m FT8 RX most of the day with 144 stations spotted at 1109z. 

Stations spotted mid-afternoon
on 10m FT8 RX

UPDATE 1551z:  547 stations spotted today on 10m FT8. Later, if 10m is good, I may QSY to 8m FT8.  I do not think conditions are good enough for E-W 8m FT8 via F2. So far, nothing from central or north America on 10m FT8. Conditions on 10m F2 would have to be very good for me to have a chance on 8m.

The future of radio clubs

For several years radio clubs have been unable to meet because of Covid-19. Some turned to Zoom and found it far better than many expected. I have been very impressed how good these meetings have been. With Zoom all participants can chat and see each other if they wish.

The Cambridge Club has started meeting again in person, but has held "virtual" meetings, so that people at home can still see the talks and take part. As I am really unable to drive far by car at night, I have joined the last 2 meetings by Zoom.

Last night there were far more people on Zoom than in person! I just wonder if this is the future of radio clubs? The advantage of Zoom is speakers and listeners can be anywhere in the world. In the past, CDARC has had people give talks from Canada. With screen sharing this has been really good. We have had viewers from all sorts of places, from where they would be totally unable to attend in person.

What I wonder is should clubs do talks via Zoom with "in person" meet ups, say, once a month? No need to hire rooms, members could be from across the world, they could have lower fees. For those without PCs, people could get together in each other's homes. Social meetings could be in a pub or someone's home.

Love lies bleeding - NOT amateur radio

Until a friend in the village grew these from seed and gave them to us we had never heard of them. We planted them and they made a great display. The name is apt. 

Plans for today

After breakfast, I hope to be on 10m FT8. If 10m is promising, I shall QSY to 8m FT8. 

Where I come from - NOT amateur radio

This is where I come from in South Devon. It is still very beautiful. I try to get there every year. My brother still lives there.

Sunspots - Saturday September 24th 2022

Solar flux is 146 and the SSN 111. A=12 and K=4.

Slovenia - NOT amateur radio

 

It is hard to believe that we went to Slovenia 10 years ago. It is a beautiful country.

It is like Switzerland, but about half the price!

Different challenges

Next year, assuming I am still around (!), I should have some new QRP challenges. I hope to be active on 23cm and on 4m. Both are quite different, but should be fun.

4m next Es season?

Before the next Es season, I hope to convert my FT817ND so that 5V TX appears at the antenna socket and erect a 4m halo under the V2000 vertical omni antenna. 

I know 4m is unlikely to be "open" as much as 10m, 8m or 6m, but there should be several Es openings into Europe. Using my transverter, this should allow me some 4m Es QSOs, especially with FT8.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/vhfuhfmicrowaves/homebrew/4m-transverter .

23cm antenna

The transverter manufacturer has confirmed it will supply a small test antenna. This means I am probably OK for very local contacts initially.

Many thanks for the offers to build me a 23cm antenna. People in our community are very kind and I am really touched by the kindness. As I have said before, there are far more kind people around than bad ones, but these unsung heros are not newsworthy!

OFCOM updates this week

 Their email said:

"Weekly publications update 23 October 2022"

Of course, they meant September!!!  See the OFCOM website for details of what they hold about us.

10m QRP FT8 (Friday)

This morning, I am on 10m FT8.  Initially I was on TX and spotted in the Canary Is, but I am now RX only. No QSOs.

UPDATE 0935z:   So far, I have spotted 25 stations on 10m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1422z: 463 stations spotted today on 10m FT8 RX from all over the world.

UPDATE 1725z:  783 stations spotted.

UPDATE 2029z: 10m FT8 still very busy, but I have to go QRT. In all today, on 10m FT8, 940 unique stations spotted (see map). 6 stations spotted my QRP with the furthermost WO4O in Florida.

Sunspots - Friday September 23rd 2022

 Solar flux is 137 and the SSN 99. A=6 and K=3.

23cm antennas?

As regular readers will know, I am buying a 23cm 2W transverter from SG-Labs in Bulgaria. I think at one time they supplied a small 23cm PCB antenna with it. I have to check if this is still the case.

Looking around, 23cm commercial antennas look very expensive. As the majority of QSOs would be local(ish), I am wondering what you would recommend? As my fine motor skills are not good these days, I don't think I could make one. In the past, I would have made one! Is there one that would be ideal for me?