It looks like the coming days (especially today) could see quite disturbed solar conditions due to a coronal mass ejection (CME) on the sun. I am not clever enough to know how this will effect HF and low VHF.
24 Mar 2023
Red Kites (birds) - NOT amateur radio
Until these birds were re-introduced in England some years ago, you would only see them normally in Wales. Now they are a quite common sight especially near motorways where they seek out road kill.
See https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/red-kite.
23 Mar 2023
Low cost RF modules
A few moments ago I took a peek at RF modules on eBay. This is just one that will cover many bands. Someone much fitter than me could probably design some useful kit around these.
Signs of spring?
In the UK, clocks go forward an hour on Sunday morning to British Summer Time (BST). Already there are promises of better days to come. Weeping willow trees often have hints of green before most others. This one in Ely a few days ago thinks it is spring!
I like the spring as it is the season of new hope after a long, dark winter. The blossom does not last long, but it beautiful for a while. I prefer the spring to the summer.
Under water - NOT amateur radio
These were photographed by a friend earlier this week in Letchworth.
Unused spectrum - NOT amateur radio
OFCOM is consulting on the future use of the 1900-1920 MHz spectrum. See the OFCOM website for details. Apparently these frequencies are allocated, but not used.
4m FT8
At the moment I am again on 70.154 MHz FT8 with my big-wheel 2m omni and coax tuned via the auto-ATU in the FT-710. At 1029z, no spots. I have yet to be spotted on 4m, although my "antenna" does not help!
UPDATE 1226z: Well, my 4m "antenna" is working with 3 stations spotted and one spotting me - G4HGI (244km).
UPDATE 1241z: I would imagine that most propagation is one of the following: flat-band propagation, tropo enhancement, MS or scatter. As Bas says in the comments, the Es season is probably some months away still.
UPDATE 1515z: G3SHK (200km) has been spotted, and has spotted me, on 4m FT8 (see map). M0RJV (91km) has spotted me. Still to have my first FT8 QSO on 4m. The impression I am left with is this band is very under-used apart from (maybe?) during the Es season.
UPDATE 1630z: My first ever 4m FT8 QSO has happened. GW8ASA (301km) was worked this afternoon using the 8m dipole and the internal auto ATU.
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| Stations spotting me today on 4m FT8 TX |
UPDATE 1907z: No further stations spotted.
UPDATE 2115z: QRT.
Devon cliffs - NOT amateur radio
This photo was taken in 2012 and shows me in Bolberry Down in Devon.
22 Mar 2023
630m WSPR RX
At 2005z, I went on to 630m WSPR RX using the 2m big-wheel and coax via a ferrite rod ATU. So far this evening, a couple of German stations spotted.
UPDATE 2119z: G6AVK (78km) also spotted.
UPDATE 2218z: Now QRT.
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Ely Cathedral - NOT amateur radio
This photo was taken yesterday at Ely Cathedral. There has been Christian worship on this site for 1350 years.
Electric cars - NOT amateur radio
In a few years, as mentioned recently, I am expecting a "tipping point" when most use electric cars rather than cars fuelled by fossil fuels. My prediction is this will happen about 2028.
For this to happen, range has to be considerably improved and prices have to fall dramatically. Electric cars today appeal mainly to early adopters, those who feel strongly against fossil fuels and those who only make very short journeys like shopping trips and who can charge at home. I think the breakthrough will come with solid state batteries.
Usually on my trips to Cambridge I see about 2 electric cars. Today I saw 10!! There must be a lot of early adopters!
10m FT8 QRP (Wednesday)
As I am back from Cambridge, I am on 10m QRP FT8 with 5W. After about 10 minutes, 13 stations have spotted me and I have spotted 99.
UPDATE 1540z: 28 stations have spotted my QRP 10m FT8 and I have spotted 257.
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| Stations that have spotted my 5W 10m FT8 today at 1800z |
AI search engines - NOT amateur radio
There has been a lot recently about artificial intelligence and search engines. First there was ChatGPT followed by GPT-4 and now BARD which is Google's experimental version.
I can see great danger with these as people believe what these bots create as truth, when it may be full of errors. I tried BARD out and most was correct, but some things were totally wrong!!
21 Mar 2023
Thatched cottage - NOT amateur radio
The photo was taken in 2013. It shows a thatched cottage in a village not far from here.
630m WSPR RX (Tuesday)
At about 1745z, I changed to 630m WSPR RX. It is now 1756z and, so far, no spots.
UPDATE 2057z: 2 stations spotted so far this evening.
UPDATE 2240z: Now QRT.
4m UKAC - missed it!!
Last Thursday evening was the 4m (70 MHz) activity contest for March. I missed it!
My antenna is just my 2m big-wheel and coax matched via the auto-ATU in the FT-710. I have no idea how it performs with regard to gain, polarisation, or directivity. This I was hoping to find out! Maybe in April? My next chance looks like April 20th.
Birthday lunch - NOT amateur radio
Yesterday we went to lunch with old university friends we have known since the 1960s. Seeing them, it is as if we had seen them just the day before.
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