Rallies on Sunday

The following rallies are due on Sunday October 15th:

   Dartmoor Autumn Radio Rally, Yelverton, Devon, PL206AL Contact 2e0rph@gmail.com. 

   Hornsea ARS Rally Driffield YO25 9DW. Contact ibipinkney@hotmail.co.uk . 

OFCOM publications

A reminder that there are some new publications have been published on the OFCOM website. They also update and publish the data it holds on licences etc.. See the OFCOM for more details.

War crimes - NOT amateur radio

The recent barbaric attacks by Hamas in southern Israel were terrible and I can understand the anger. 

However, taking revenge on the (largely) totally innocent men, women and children of Gaza is surely not the right course of action. 

By attacking Gaza they may weaken Hamas, but innocent people will be harmed. Israel will be guilty of war crimes itself! 

The only solution, in the end, is peaceful co-existence and mutual respect of differences. People the world over are different, and rarely, if ever, do wars really solve issues. All they do is create yet more hatred and bitterness, as well as many innocents killed or maimed. All it does is increase the coffers of arms manufacturers the world over, when this wasted money could be far better spent solving the existential threats that call into question of the very survival of the whole human race.

In my view the UK should keep out and the USA should put pressure on all sides to negotiate a fair and just peace that respects everyone.

We live in dangerous times.

8m QRP FT8 (Friday)

My 2.5W 8m FT8 has been on since breakfast. So far, just spots from local G4WSZ  (12km). I am hopeful of some F2 spots later.

UPDATE 1355z:  ZR1ADI (9777km) has been a good signal. Nothing spotted "across the pond" and no reports by F2 of my QRP 8m FT8 today.

UPDATE 1435z:  GM0SXQ/8 (576km) is a new one for me. As far as I know, I have not copied this station before on 8m FT8.

10m QRP WSPR TX (Friday)

My 500mW 10m WSPR TX beacon was turned on at breakfast time. Lots of Europeans have spotted me. 

UPDATE 1404z:  35 spots of me today. See table.

Sunspots - Friday October 13th 2023

 Solar flux is 157 and the SSN 126. A=4 and K=2.

10m 500mW WSPR (Thursday)

 My QRP 10m WSPR TX beacon has been on most of the day. So far, 43 spots of me.

8m QRP FT8 (Thursday)

Although I have been on most of the day, no spots on TX or RX.  There are quite a few monitors. I expect they are expecting F2 propagation.

UPDATE 1325z:  It helps if you connect an actual antenna and not a dummy load!  Until a few minutes ago, my 8m antenna was not connected and I was wondering why the match was very good, but I was getting no spots. Once the 8m antenna was connected, local G4WSZ (12km) immediately spotted me!

UPDATE 1530z: ZR1ADI (9777km) in Western Cape, South Africa copied well on 8m FT8.

Sunspots - Thursday October 12th 2023

 Solar flux is 158 and the SSN 149.  A=4 ad K=1

Israel and Hamas - NOT amateur radio

There is little doubt that recent incursions of Israel by Hamas caused widespread outrage. However, for more than my lifetime, the people of Gaza have been treated as prisoners by the Israelis.  Cutting off all supplies to Gaza is in danger of backfiring on Israel. I understand their view of Hamas, but does making innocent women and children suffer advance peace? I think not.

I do not have the answers.

630m QRP WSPR

At 1740z, my QRP 630m WSPR was turned on. 2 G stations have spotted me so far this evening.

UPDATE 1941z:   5 stations have spotted me so far this evening (4 Gs and 1 GM). Wet outside. 10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna"  in the ground. See http://wspr.aprsinfo.com/.

Hedging bets? - NOT amateur radio

At the moment, all retailers are having a hard time with the growth and convenience of online shopping. John Lewis in Cambridge seems to be hedging its bets by having a Halloween and Christmas display within metres! 

Shetland - NOT amateur radio

This group of islands (Shetland) is the most northerly in the British Isles. 

At one time, Shetand.belonged to Norway. This group of islands is far nearer Bergen in Norway than London. Shetland has long summer days and long winter nights.  This photo was posted on 365project recently. They often get strong winds.

8m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)

I have received spots from 3 stations (2 G and 1 in ON).  My 40.680 MHz 2.5W FT8 was turned on at about 0630z.

UPDATE 1453z:  5 spots of my 2.5W 8m FT8 today including the USA and Canada. The F2 season is in full swing.

10m QRP WSPR (Wednesday)

My 500mW 10m WSPR TX beacon was turned on at about 0630z. 

UPDATE 0936z: Already spotted by 16 stations, with again spots from Antarctica.

UPDATE 1129z:  21 spots of me today, with 10 Antarctic spots today alone!!

UPDATE 1508z:   57 spots of my 500mW today with plenty from "across the pond".

UPDATE 1812z:  66 spots of my 500mW today (see map).

630m WSPR overnight

Overnight I left my 630m WSPR transverter running. Yet again OH1LSQ (1733 km) spotted my QRP. He seems to spot me most evenings. I find this amazing. 

Sunspots - Wednesday October 11th 2023

 Solar flux is 164 and the SSN 120. A=4 and K=0.

630m QRP WSPR (Tuesday)

 At about 1745z, I turned on my 630m (472 kHz) WSPR. 

Cambridge today - NOT amateur radio

We went to a free lunchtime concert, and that involved walking though Kings. The photo shows Cambridge today. 

It felt more like mid-summer. - very warm and sunny.

Good and evil - NOT amateur radio

My religious feelings are almost zero these days. However, I think evil does exist in this world, sadly. 

It would appear after 2 world wars and many subsequent wars, humans have learnt absolutely nothing. The Russian-Ukraine conflict and the Israel-Hamas conflict/war seem to confirm this. 

Surely after all this time, we would have learnt something. It would appear not.

Jaw, jaw, not war ,war.