Time to update the rig?

Wondering about upgrading my rig, but can't get on with these new fangled things, HI. 

Back in 2012

This was a few years before my stroke. It shows me working on a new 472kHz transverter in the back of the garage in our old house. 

Sunspots - Saturday July 15th 2023

Solar flux is 181 and the SSN 141. A=20 and K=2.

G3XBM Project Scrapbook - Issue 5

My free PDF "G3XBM Project Scrapbook"  is now at issue 5.  I hope to update all links to it.

If you spot errors, please tell me soon.

Pass it on - NOT amateur radio

This was one of my FaceBook memories from 2021. It means a lot to me. We are here for just a short time really.

6m QRP FT8 (Friday)

As my 8m antenna system is faulty, I am on 6m FT8 with 2.5W and the vertical omni V2000 antenna. The gear was turned on at 0850z.  Already spotted by CT1IUA (1814km) in S.Portugal so there is some Es about.

UPDATE 0916z:  Plenty of Es spots of my QRP from Portugal and Spain. Nothing yet on RX, which is surprising.

UPDATE 0939z: Still the same 10 stations spotting my 2.5W on TX and just G3RIK (224km) spotted on RX. Disappointing on RX.

UPDATE 1045z:  5 UK stations spotted on RX and I have been spotted by 14 stations (G, CT and EA).

UPDATE 1321z:  Still 14 stations spotting my 2.5W QRP FT8 and I have spotted 11 stations on RX. All these on RX were in the UK.

UPDATE 2026z:  24 stations have spotted me on 6m QRP FT8 today. Now QRT.

Old work colleagues - NOT amateur radio

 

Every month some old work colleagues meet up for a meal at a different place in the area. Last night, we met up in Ely.

Sunspots - Friday July 14th 2023

 Solar flux is 203 and the SSN 146  A=7 and K=3.

10m QRP FT8 (Thursday)

Stations spotting
my 2.5W FT8
at 1610z

It is now 1620z. I have been on 10m FT8 since before lunch. So far, 82 stations have spotted my 2.5W  including Brazil and Namibia. Just now I was spotted in Argentina.

Rally on Sunday

The following has been notified to me. I always advise checking first.

Sunday July 16th - McMichael Radio Rally. No postcode given. Contact  rally@radarc.org  .

Sunspots - Thursday July 13th 2023

Solar flux is 193 and the SSN 219. A=6 and K=1. 

10m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)

So far today (I have only been on for about 45 minutes) 21 unique stations have spotted me according to PSKreporter.

UPDATE 1550z:  25 stations have spotted me. This looks like Es. On RX I have spotted 35 stations.

Amused - NOT amateur radio

This cartoon from many years ago amused me. It still does! 

Sunspots - Wednesday July 12th 2023

 Solar flux is 214 and the SSN 227 (high). A=8 and K=2. Pretty sure this is the highest this cycle. 

Swifts still here - NOT amateur radio

Certainly yesterday, most swifts (birds) were still here. Sometime soon, we will realise they have gone south until next spring. Au revoir.

See https://www.rsgb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/swift/ .

My scrapbook must be updated

It is some time since I updated my G3XBM Project Scrapbook. This is available as a free PDF download. 

My last update was back in January. This page should always link to the latest available version. At the moment it is at Issue 4.

8m QRP FT8

It looks like I need to re-do the antenna and coax for 8m. Someone suggested, (Paul I think) that I might have water in the coax. If this is the case, the minimum would be to redo the coax. Not being great at all on ladders (!) this is easier said than done!

For now, I shall have to remain QRT on 8m, although I must get back on again before the autumn F2 season.

10m QRP FT8 (Tuesday)

So far today, (at 1100z) my 2.5W has been spotted by 47 unique stations with the furthermost FR1GZ (9719km).

Stations spotting me at 1504z

UPDATE  1120z:  53 stations have spotted me.

UPDATE 1245z:  60 stations have spotted me.

UPDATE 1636z:  131 stations have spotted my 10m FT8 2.5W QRP.

Our garden in summer - NOT amateur radio

Usually, our grass turns brown about now. At the moment, it is still largely green as we have had a few useful showers. Our borders are mainly perennials with a few bedding plants to add colour. We are not keen gardeners. I usually cut the grass each week and water when needed.

Coax plug on V2000 vertical fixed

 Following Paul's suggestion, I ordered a PL259 plug and BNC adaptor. This seems to have been correctly fitted with a very low SWR on 6m, 2m and 70cm. All being well, I shall be on the CDARC 2m FM net on Wednesday evening at 8pm.