Looking back over some of my old photos, I came across this photo of my 5W earth-mode VLF transmitter, that was last used over 10 years ago.
It would be good to do some more experiments in the future, if my health allows.
Simple QRP projects, 10m, 8m, 6m, 4m, FT8, 160m, WSPR, LF/MF, sub-9kHz, nanowaves and other random stuff, some not related to amateur radio.
It would be good to do some more experiments in the future, if my health allows.
The whole painting reminds me of Bosch. It was whitewashed out by the "thought police" and rediscovered in the 1800s. Attached is a small part of the painting in detail.
The following have been notified to me. It is advisable to check first for accuracy before going far.
Saturday April 22nd - Moray Firth ARS (no location or postcode given). Contact mfars.secretary@gmail.com .
Sunday April 23rd - North ARS Blackpool, FY2 9AA. Contact dwilson@btinternet.com .
Just a reminder that OFCOM updates its data every week. See the OFCOM website for details.
Certainly here in the UK and probably many (or all?) countries people seem to have licence free access to the 40.66-40.70 MHz ISM band as long as any national conditions are met. In the UK this means 10mW ERP maximum and full compliance with IR2030. Interference must be accepted and not caused. We know from Australia that 5mW 8m WSPR has been received at 5000km, so much of Europe could be spanned on 8m WSPR by anyone.
This is NOT the Amateur Radio Service!
This probably means any ISM band may be used licence free as long as national law is followed, although I have not asked OFCOM specifically about other ISM bands. Remember OFCOM only covers the UK. You have to either be sure of the legality in your country or seek legal advice if you are unsure.
My tiny QDX was turned on just before 0700z and already at 0721z 12 stations have spotted me.
UPDATE 0905z: 35 stations have spotted me with the furthermost 5Z4VJ (6858km) in Kenya and 53 stations spotted here.
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| Stations spotting my 10m FT8 QRP today |
Later, I hope to be on 10m QRP FT8 with the tiny QDX transceiver.
Last night I wanted to try my FT-710 in the UKAC on 4m, but totally forgot!!
As an experiment just now I asked Chat GPT4 about my son, who is a professional jazz pianist. I tried about 7 times. The answers were all correct in parts, but every one was totally wrong on when and where he was born and many other details.
My worry is people will believe that AI always is factually correct, when it isn't.
Yes, I am sure a great deal of good can come from AI, but also it could result in a lot of incorrect data being assumed as correct.
At the moment, Chat GPT4 gets about 3/10 from me and "must try harder".
Artificial intelligence (AI) is coming, but it still has some way to go. I wonder what AI will be capable of in 10 or 20 years' time.
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| Stations spotting my 10m QRP FT8 late today |
Every day I get "The Knowledge " by email. It is a few minutes read summary of the news from various sources. It is free and produced by the makers of "The Week". As far as I can tell it is neutral, neither left or right politically. I find it excellent, especially if you have not too much time.
Today there was a piece about AI. Be afraid, be very afraid.
This is a very useful site. Many use it in mid QSO to find out a bit more about the QSO partner. It is also useful for address and location details.
See www.qrz.com.
Activity on the geosynchronous Oscar 100 remains low. I look at the web SDR at Goonhilly Down. Last time I looked was on a weekday evening in Europe. Activity has always been lower than I expected.
As we had a funeral on the other side of the country (my wife’s brother) I was not on the radio today.