Doctor reveals what you'll see when you die - according to science - NOT amateur radio

 This video was see on YouTube earlier. I had a cardiac arrest in 2013. Many with a religious faith will expect some kind of life after death.

10m QRP WSPR (Sunday)

My 500mW beacon was turned on at about 0915z. So far, 2 stations spotting me. 

UPDATE 1205z:   15 stations have spotted me. The maps is from WSPRrocks by Phil VK7JJ.

UPDATE 1920z:  40 stations have spotted me today. See table.

UPDATE 2014z:  QRT.

6m QRP FT8 (Sunday)

My QMX+ was turned on at about 0915z. A 0925z  just 2 English stations spotted.

UPDATE 1042z:  7 English stations have spotted me.

UPDATE  1927z:  17 stations have spotted me today. See map.

UPDATE 2014z:  QRT.

Amateur radio in the 1950s

After WW2 many people used surplus military equipment as this was plentiful . These were the days when many built their own gear and there were no Japanese transceivers. Most people used AM.

23cm beacons

My nearest 23cm beacon is (I think) GB3DUN (66km) on Dunstable Downs. 

From home in the shack I can only use a 6ele PCB antenna firing out of the shack window. With the leaves off the trees, now is probably a good time to see if I can receive it.

It is very much an obstructed path.

This is a useful distance and bearing calculator if you know the Maidenhead 6 figure grid for both the TX and RX. See https://www.chris.org/cgi-bin/showdis .

Chocolate box village - NOT amateur radio

This is the village of Dalham not far from us. It is filled with "chocolate box" thatched cottages that must be worth a fortune today.  

At one time they were probably worker's hovels. How times change.

Wet string antennas

Yesterday I mentioned using the coax to my 2m big-wheel antenna on 80m. It worked remarkably well. 

I came across this video on YouTube showing someone using a coat hanger antenna on 10m. As long as the antenna is properly matched to the rig with an ATU, you may be surprised.

If you do not have an antenna for a certain band do not give up. I am sure such compromise antennas would be down on a "proper" antenna, but do not be too surprised if it works quite effectively.

Some have used wires in their plastic guttering down-pipe or a flagpole. You may be amazed just how well such hidden antennas work.

Sunspots - Sunday January 5th

 Solar flux is 209 and the SSN 193.  A=32 and K=2.

Faroe Is - NOT amateur radio

One of the pleasures of 365project, as I have said before, is having a "window on the world" as in this photo recently posted by a friend who lives in the Faroe Islands. I can imagine that it is often cold, wet and windy.

See https://365project.org/mubbur/365/2024-12-29. 

The year of 23cm?

I bought  my 2W transverter with a view to using it in the RSGB activity contests (UKAC) when out /P last year, but the weather put me off, so maybe I shall try again in 2025. 

Also I have an SDR receiver that is better suited to beacon hunting. 23cm (for me) would be a new challenge. Since buying the 23cm transverter, it has hardly been used.

10m 500mW WSPR (Saturday)

 My QRP 10m WSPR beacon is on again, but again no spots. I suspect there is a problem uploading spots as I know it is working and time is synced.

UPDATE 1545z:  Whatever was wrong seems to have been fixed as my little beacon is being spotted by 39 stations with furthermost ZD7GB  (7607km).

UPDATE 2035z:  QRT.

The home of horseracing - NOT amateur radio

 

Newmarket is world famous as the home of horseracing. These horses have just returned from exercising on "The Gallops" nearby.

6m QRP FT8 (Saturday)

 Today, I am back on QRP 6m FT8 with the QMX+.  At 1043z 6 English stations had spotted me.

UPDATE 1418z:  13 stations have spotted me, all in the British Isles.

UPDATE 2025z:  QRT.

Wet string next time on 80m FT8?

 In the last 12 hours I was spotted by 184 stations despite just running a few watts of 80m FT8 from my QMX+ to the coax up to my 2m big-wheel antenna via an ATU. 

On 80m FT8 RX 629 stations were spotted here. See the map of stations received.

Hence my title! If this works anything will.

Sunspots - Saturday January 4th

 Solar flux is 200 and the SSN 190. A=9 and =5.

Back on QRP 80m FT8 (Friday)

At the moment I am back on 80m QRP FT8 with my QMX+ and the coax up to my 2m big-wheel as the antenna, tuned via an ATU.

Lots of spots already from across Europe. See map to see where I am being spotted.

I am surprised how effective this "Heath Robinson" antenna is on 80m.

UPDATE 2218z:  176 stations have spotted me on QRP 80m FT8. 404 stations spotted here on 80m FT8 RX.

Christmas shadow - NOT amateur radio

The Christmas and New Year holidays are almost over. We pack the Christmas things away on Sunday. 

This time, time has seemed to fly by. I expect in what seems like 5 minutes it will seem like Christmas again!

The Times (UK) on YouTube - NOT amateur radio

Trying to keep abreast of world affairs I get The Knowledge by email free every day and watch TimesRadio on YouTube most days, also free. 

It is important to get news from multiple sources as just one source often has bias.  Here in the UK The Guardian newspaper is very left wing politically and the Daily Mail very right wing. 

The video below is an example of news from TimesRadio.

Australia - NOT amateur radio

One of the aspects I like about 365project is that it is a window into other places on the planet. This photo was recently posted by someone who lives in New South Wales, Australia.

See https://365project.org/leggzy/365/2025-01-02

10m QRP FT8 (Friday)

As I got zero spots on 10m QRP WSPR, I have now gone on 10m QRP FT8 with my QMX+. Immediately I received 17 spots including one from the USA in the first minute!

UPDATE 1430z:  47 stations have spotted me with loads in the USA. See map.