8m QRP FT8 TX (Wednesday)

Later this afternoon, I hope to be on 8m QRP FT8 TX on 40.680 MHz. 10m so far looks pretty promising.

UPDATE 1842z: No 8m spots.

G3XBM history

My interest in radio goes back to 1961. Since then, it was my career and an absorbing hobby. 

After all this time I still find aspects of our hobby totally fascinating. 

Most recently, I have ordered a 2W 23cm transverter from Bulgaria that I hope to use to work some locals and maybe further in the UKAC sessions when portable.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/other-amateur-radio/g3xbm-history .

2m UKAC yesterday evening

As usual, I went on the 2m activity contest organised by the RSGB with 10W pep and my horizontal omni antenna. 6 contacts were had in about 40 minutes before I stopped. 2 QSOs at 105km.

10m FT8 RX (Wednesday)

Any HF user will agree that 10m is good again these days. I am hoping for the E-W F2 MUF to exceed 8m.

My plan for today is to go on 10m FT8 RX and switch to 8m QRP FT8 TX if things look promising later.

UPDATE 1400z:  On 10m FT8 RX 621 stations spotted today.

Sunspots - Wednesday November 2nd 2022

Solar flux is 128 and the SSN 63. A=8 and K=4.

Right wing politics - NOT amateur radio

It puzzles me that many right wing candidates get elected to high office in many countries. Now I know many on the left and right of politics are less than perfect and we are free to elect the candidates we choose in most countries. This is fair. If we don't like the candidate we vote them out.

However, we seem to have a swing to the right in politics in many countries.

Perhaps this is a protest vote and these candidates better represent certain minorities?

All I can say is this. Politicians with extreme values can be dangerous. History has taught us this many times in many nations. Be very careful what you wish for!

My own politics is centralist. I think it is better to be fair to everyone and extreme left or right rarely works.

Where I was born - NOT amateur radio

As a child, we lived in a council house and did not have much money. 

Just after WW2 this big country house was a nursing home, so it is good to be able to say I was born in a grand country house!

8m QRP FT8 TX (Tuesday)

We had thunderstorms earlier, so I disconnected everything. In a few moments, I expect to be on 8m QRP FT8 TX on 40.680 MHz. 

UPDATE 1548z:  No spots after 60 minutes. Apparently the E-W F2 MUF reached 43 MHz this morning.

UPDATE 1726z: No spots today.

OFCOM

OFCOM is proposing changes to their Network and Information Systems (NIS) Guidance. See the OFCOM website for details.

Solar data

This data is usually updated early in the month. As far as I can tell, it has only had a partial update. Last month they were still expecting the current solar cycle to peak in November 2023, which seems quite early. The last solar cycle had 2 peaks.

See https://www.solen.info/solar .

Grandchildren - NOT amateur radio

Our 2 grandsons recently with my wife. 

They are growing up fast. 

2m activity contest this evening at 2000z

 The RSGB 2m activity contest (UKAC) is on this evening. I hope to take part briefly with my QRP station.

10m FT8 RX (Tuesday)

At the moment, I am again on 10m FT8 RX. Propagation looks good, with stations across the world being copied. In all, 128 stations have been spotted early this morning. 

Will 8m allow me to be copied in the USA later?

DMR

As I have no DMR gear I use my Android handheld network radio and an app called Droidstar to access the DMR network as the photo shows. With it, it is possible to work stations the world over. 

This evening, I hope to join the DMR net of our local club. Last week I got the time of the net wrong.

UPDATE 1731z:  Joined the CDARC DMR net this evening. Nice to have a station in the Scilly Isles as well as locals. Initially people were saying I was quiet, so I increased the mic gain.

Sunspots - Tuesday November 1st 2022

 Solar flux is 128 and the SSN 56. A=11 and K=4.

10m FT8 RX

All day, I have been on 10m FT8 RX. So far 1328 stations have been spotted. This has been the best day so far.

UPDATE 2115z: 1397 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX today.

Plans for today (Monday)

As I am out later, I shall be on 10m FT8 RX. If things look promising I may QSY to 8m QRP FT8 TX on 40.680 MHz. 

Our local museum - NOT amateur radio

This weekend was the last time our museum was open until Easter. Today was a free day (no admission charge). Although the day started wet, it was dry most of the time and attendance was good. 

The museum is run by volunteers and is on of the best local museums in the UK.

See https://burwellmuseum.org.uk/ .

Sunspots - Monday October 31st 2022

Solar flux is 131 and the SSN 68. A=12 and K=3.

8m FT8 QRP (Sunday)

On QRP 8m FT8 this afternoon. No spots of me at 1715z.

UPDATE 1928z:  No spots. QRT.