It is now 1625z and I have been on 8m QRP FT8 for about 30 minutes. So far, no spots.
UPDATE 2025z: QRT now. No spots all day.
4 Mar 2023
10m QRP WSPR (Saturday)
When we got back from Peterborough (at about 1550z), I turned on my 500mW WSPR beacon. So far, at 1620z, 5 spots from the Canary Is..
UPDATE 1745z: 6 unique stations have spotted my 500mW WSPR today.
UPDATE 2026z: 11 spots of me today with 9 transatlantics.
Peterborough - NOT amateur radio
Today we went on the train from Ely to Peterborough. This is a nice day out. The train takes about 35 minutes. Peterborough has a fine cathedral with some famous royal burials. Mary, Queen of Scots is buried there and Katherine of Aragon was buried there before being moved.
3 Mar 2023
The rise of FT8
Looking on John's blog I see the recent Bouvet Island DXpedition did not use SSB on some of the major bands, concentrating on FT8 instead.
No wonder some bands appear quiet. Because of my poor voice, I use FT8 quite a bit. However, in the long run, I can see few coming into the hobby by just chancing upon radio amateurs. FT8 needs special (free) software. If our hobby is to be there in 20 years' time, we need something else to attract and keep people.
In truth, far smaller amateur bands could accommodate us in future. I know to say this is heresy, but is it true? Personally, I would prefer more, smaller, bands throughout the spectrum for the Amateur Radio Service. In 20 years'time I can see many differences coming.
ICOM's IC-905 microwave transceiver price
MLS has just announced the expected price of the ICOM microwave transceiver , the IC-905. It is expected to be £3549.95. It covers 2m,70cm, 23cm, 13cm and 6cm. 3cm needs another transverter.
At this price, I really cannot see huge sales. Remember the GPS receiver and a 10 GHz transverter are extras on top. I cannot see change from £4000. This sort of price is only for the well off. Also, microwave antennas are on top as well!
No, I predict this will flop and be withdrawn within 2 years.
ICOM make some very good products and I really hope I am wrong. Sadly these manufacturers and dealers are, ultimately, in business to made profits. I just cannot see how this will make them money. They will sell a few to the well off, but I cannot see this ever becoming a mass seller.
See https://www.hamradio.co.uk/icom-ic-905-vhf-uhf-shf-transceiver-deposit-only .
Rose pruning - NOT amateur radio
Just realised that the roses must be pruned! They will soon be growing.
UPDATE 1547z: Front roses pruned.
OFCOM updates
A reminder that OFCOM updates the data it holds every week. Check the OFCOM website for the latest.
Spectran V2
8m QRP FT8 (Friday)
At the moment I am on 40.680 MHz QRP FT8.
UPDATE 1258z: No spots. Just switched to second period TX.
UPDATE 1333z: Still no spots today.
UPDATE 1940z: Just G9PUV (158km) spotted today. QRT.
Talk ....without the talking
Next Friday, I am giving a "talk" at the Cambridge Radio Club (CDARC). This is a bit of an experiment as I have prepared the slides and someone else is doing the talking. These days, my voice is pathetic!!
CDARC is experimenting with hybrid talks so those of us unable to attend can watch on Zoom. Let's hope there are not too many questions! The talk is entitled, " Fun in Amateur Radio". I have been blessed with over 60 years of fun in the hobby and my greatest wish is that others can have as much fun. We all enjoy our hobby in different ways and that is one of the things that make it great.
10m QRP WSPR (Friday)
As the 10m antenna is available, I am again on 10m WSPR with my 500mW TX beacon. At 0935z, just a single spot from EA8/DF4UE (2876km).
UPDATE 1237z: 3 unique stations spotting the 10m QRP WSPR today.
UPDATE 1535z: 5 unique stations spotting me today.
UPDATE 1920z: QRT. 6 unique stations spotted my QRP today. Quite a poor day.
481THz tests
These days I am just too wobbly to do optical tests "out in the field". However Bernie G4HJW has offered to put up an optical beacon so I can see if I can copy it "over the horizon" 10 miles away at my QTH. It is many years since I did optical experiments and this will be a challenge on many levels.
VLF tests
Years ago I did some drive around tests in my car with an E-field probe on the roof. I was trying to see where my 5W signal could be received. This map shows where it was possible.
2 Mar 2023
United Eire? - NOT amateur radio
In the end I can see Eire becoming one nation again. I doubt this will be in my lifetime however.
The DUP (the Unionists) appear very much in the minority and this will go down further in the years ahead. No, Northern Ireland was a convenient political outcome in the last century and I can see a united Ireland this century. Clearly the DUP need appeasing, but this is the 21st century not a long time ago.
10m QRP WSPR TX
Since mid afternoon, I have been on 10m WSPR with my 500mW beacon. So far, 5 stations have spotted me. I forgot that when on 8m, the 10m antenna is free so that I can use the 10m WSPR TX beacon.
Rallies
The following rallies have been notified to me. Please check that this information is correct.
* Saturday March 4th - Lagan Valley ARS. No contact details.* Sunday March 5th - Exeter Radio and Electronics Rally. No contact details.
As I have no contact details, please check on a search engine.
8m QRP FT8 (Thursday)
At 1325z, my 8m QRP FT8 was turned on. No spots yet.
UPDATE 1505z: Still no spots.
UPDATE 1540z: ZS6OB (9099km) spotted strongly on 8m FT8, but no spots of me sadly.
UPDATE 1649z: No spots of me and no further spots on RX.
15m
Back in the mid 1970s I designed the QRP Pipit CW transceiver. For many months it was the only rig used. It worked really well with just a low dipole.
See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/15m-qrp-cw-pipit.
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