Sunspots - Thursday January 4th

 Solar flux is 140 and the SSN 63. A=11 and K=0.

Revising - NOT amateur radio

For the last few days, our younger grandson has been staying with us. Here he is revising for his GCSEs. I am asking him science questions and my wife is doing Shakespeare.

I seem to recall doing the same about 30 years ago with our sons!

Amateur radio: the great leveller

One of the aspects of our hobby I really like is that it is not political in the least. What binds us is a common interest in radio. Politically, we may be poles apart, but it matters not. None of us is perfect. As individuals, we are all equal.

Whether you live in deepest Africa, China, Australia, Russia, the USA or elsewhere does not matter at all. Back in the days of the USSR, it was common to hear chats between people in the USA and the USSR.  Today, I exchanged Happy New Year's emails with a station in Moscow. Tomorrow it will probably be someone in the USA!!

WSJT-X 2.7.0 - rc3

Those interested in digital modes may be pleased to hear that the latest release candidate of WSJT-X is available. I have no idea when this will be formally released.

See https://wsjt.sourceforge.io/wsjtx.html .

In praise of progress - NOT amateur radio

Looking at the state of the world, it is easy to be pessimistic on many fronts. There are wars in the Middle East, Ukraine and elsewhere and we seem to be making no real progress on climate change. 

However, there are very many fronts where progress really is being made. As mentioned earlier in the week, we can expect a big breakthrough in batteries and electric cars. Many of the world's killer diseases are being eradicated and there are far few children dying than was the case even just a few years ago.

Overall, each and every one of us has to make the world better. If we each make small steps then change for the better does occur.

QDX digital QRP transceiver

This is a tiny 5W digital transceiver from QRP Labs. It is available in 2 versions covering the HF bands. I have had the 20-10m version for several months now, but used it little recently as 5W seems like high power! It really is small. It is about the size of a fist mic only.

If digital modes are your "thing" then this low cost transceiver is probably all you need. It is available as a kit or ready built.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/qdx

10m QRPP WSPR TX (Wednesday)

My 500uW (0.5mW) beacon is running and already 2 spots from EA8BFK (2880km). At these powers, my mind is "blown away".  This is just amazing.  With WSPR, it would seem the impossible becomes possible.

UPDATE 1530z:  EA8BFK (2880km) has spotted me 5 times today. Even though the beacon is pre-programmed to report the power as 0.5W, it is actually 30dB lower at 0.5mW.

Our grandson - NOT amateur radio

They grow up all too fast. This was our older grandson yesterday.  It seems just a few minutes ago he was a baby! Now he is taller than I am.  

Sadly, he has no interest in radio.  Our other grandson is fascinated. He is amazed by my QSL cards and blog numbers. At some future point I could see him getting a licence.

The moral is to enjoy them at every age.

20m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)

For a change, I am trying the coax to my 2m big-wheel omni matched by my Z-match ATU at 2.5W on 20m FT8. 96 stations have already spotted me. I have only been on for about 10 minutes! This is too easy!!

UPDATE 1737z:   Spotted by 425 stations. There is no challenge in this.

630m QRP WSPR overnight

In all, 14 stations spotted my 10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in  the ground. No great DX.

Sunspots - Wednesday Jan 3rd

 Solar flux is 142 and the SSN 59.  A=8 and K=1.

2m activity contest UKAC (Tuesday)

In the end I gave up after working just one station at 105km with my 10W pep to the omni antenna. Usually I work 5-10 stations in about 40 minutes. 

The low level of activity is probably for several reasons. Firstly many may just have forgotten thinking today was a Monday. Some may prefer FT8 these days. Also, the wind in the UK has been very strong, so there are probably fewer /P stations out this evening.

Granddaughter - NOT amateur radio

Our ballet bonkers granddaughter is usually very lively. Here she is in pensive mood.

630m QRP WSPR (Tuesday)

At 1907z, I have been on for a couple of hours. So far, 6 stations have spotted my 10mW ERP.

UPDATE 2047z:  10 stations have spotted me.

UPDATE 2205z:   The map shows the stations spotting me this evening.

Electric cars - NOT amateur radio

These provoke strong feelings. 

In my view we will all be driving electric cars, when certain criteria are met. At the moment these are: range (too little) and price (too high) and too long to charge even if you can find a place to charge!  

In my view they will considerably increase range (1000+  miles on a charge) and there will be a big drop in price with a new battery technology perhaps solid state batteries. There is a lot of investment going towards this. 

Remember cathode ray tubes and film cameras?

There is a lot of stupid hype about electric cars at the moment, when the truth is the technology is not quite there. I give it under 5 years. By 2030, fossil fuelled cars will seem so old fashioned and so last century.  

My prediction is the Chinese will be first.

QSL cards

In earlier years, these were the common way of confirming contacts.  I remember the ones from the old USSR were of poor quality. 

More recently, QSL cards are often colourful although people exchange QSL cards less frequently as there are other means of confirming contacts.

8m QRP FT8 (Tuesday)

 At 1135z my 2.5W 8m FT8 had been on for about an hour. No spots.

UPDATE 1615z:  No 8m FT8 spots.

10m QRPP WSPR TX (Tuesday)

My 500uW WSPR has been on for about an hour at 1130z. No spots. 

630m WSPR overnight

In all, 12 stations spotted me with my 10mW ERP. No great DX but fun nonetheless.

Sunspots - Tuesday January 2nd

 Solar flux is 136 and the SSN 44. A=10 and K=2.