UPDATE 1712z: 17 English stations have spotted me.
3 Feb 2025
6m QRP FT8 (Monday)
RF in the shack
By turning the power down I seem to have proved that there is RF floating around the shack. So far I have tried one clip-on ferrite bead on the antenna coax as it enters the rig. I have more clip-on ferrite beads on order which I shall add on the leads between the USB plug on the PC and various rigs. These should be here later this week.
OFCOM licences
OFCOM has announced granting ground station licences to Amazon for its satellite system, mainly aimed at providing internet services. I think their system of low earth orbit satellites is to compete against Starlink. No doubt there will be a price war. See the OFCOM website for more details.
This will result in a huge number of additional satellites in low earth orbit. At some point these either burn up or fall to earth!
Tariffs - NOT amateur radio
The USA has already imposed heavy tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China. It is threatening tariffs on the EU and UK. Whilst I can (I think) understand the reasons, my view is this is a blunt tool that can do much damage to the world economy.
Like it or not the world is very interconnected with supply chains that go the world over. Whilst I can see the incentives to keep things local, this will come at a cost. Suppliers nearer to home are likely to have higher labour costs, so things are likely to be more expensive.
The USA may be big enough to cope on its own. Much of the world cannot.
We may be at the start of a new world order with the USA (for now) forging an isolationist policy, unlike the rest of the world. It will be interesting to see what happens.
Local church - NOT amateur radio
This was our local church some summers ago. It will (all too) soon be spring. This winter has felt very long for some reason with lots of dull and dreary weather.
10m QRP WSPR (Monday)
In a few moments I expect to turn on my 500mW WSPR TX beacon.
UPDATE 1050z: My beacon was turned on at 0948z. So far, spotted by 13 stations.
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| WSPRrocks by Phil VK7JJ |
UPDATE 1504z: Spotted by 28 stations today.
Winchester Palace - NOT amateur radio
2 Feb 2025
RF in the shack?
When I try to use the IC-705 on FT8 I get an error message saying that there is a problem with the sound card when I know the correct one is being selected. Probably there is RF in the shack.
My antenna is an end-fed, and RF in the shack is often a problem with end-feds. I have never had the issue before. It probably depends exactly where the leads are placed.
Tomorrow I shall try adding ferrite beads to the antenna and PC leads to see if this cures the problem.
One thing I should try is reducing the RF power as this should prove it. With far lower power it should avoid the issue of RF feedback. If this proves it, I know what to do to fix it.
Would you pay over £13k for a transceiver?
One large UK dealer is selling a German made transceiver for over £13k. Now, each to their own, but I do not see this as amateur radio. Personally I would get as much fun with a transceiver having 14 parts total!
Oh, don't forget the linear, beam, rotator and tower!
The future of amateur radio
There was a link on Amateur Radio Weekly yesterday saying that amateur radio in the USA was not dying, but it was changing. I cannot speak for the USA, but I can for the UK.
Many groups are seeing a change, not just amateur radio: churches in the main, have an aging (mostly female) demographic. When this demographic ages and dies there will be very few left in many churches.
Amateur radio is like this. It does, in the main, appeal to older men. Many are retired with more disposable income than those younger people with growing families, high rents or mortgages. I do not see many of them joining the hobby as we did. These days they are more interested in their screens and online games. Worldwide communication is no longer magic and fascinated: it is just taken for granted.
Many PTTs are growing tired of administering amateur radio as it no longer generates revenues.
In the future I can see things changing for sure. My prediction is that amateur radio will merge with CB and become a free-for-all. As long as interference is not caused, these PTTs could not care. The main issue I can see would be traceability without some sort of callsign and registration.
See https://k4fmh.com/2025/01/22/the-u-s-ham-radio-market-is-it-dying/ .
More from the Clink Museum - NOT amateur radio
The conditions and torture must have been awful.
10m 500mW WSPR TX (Sunday)
My 10m QRP WSPR beacon has been on some of the time this morning.
UPDATE 1147z: EA8BFK (2880km) has spotted me.
Sunday objectives
Today, I have 3 aims. We'll see if they are achieved!
1. To go on 10m QRP WSPR with my beacon.
2. To go on 8m QRP FT8 TX with my QMX+
3. To mend the PL259 plug (re-solder) on my V2000 antenna for 6m, 2m and 70cm.
UPDATE 1140z: Well, 2 objectives net! I am on 10m QRP WSPR and have mended my V2000 antenna plug. I seem to have issues with my PC not producing audio on any band. I may have to re-install WSJT-X in case that has got corrupted.
1 Feb 2025
Day off amateur radio
As we were out for most of the day, amateur radio had a rest. Whenever I am in the house I can usually be founds on some band on WSPR or FT8. Not today.
London trip - NOT amateur radio
Firstly, we wanted to visit the Clink prison museum and secondly we had lunch with our daughter-in-law and our granddaughter.
The museum was gruesome, but worth a visit. The meal was excellent.
31 Jan 2025
Heathkit
Many old timers have fond memories of Heathkits. Their kits were excellent with building manuals that step-by-step showed you how to build the item.
Someone restarted the company some years ago, and I think this is still going. I won't say "strongly" as the last time I looked they had a very limited range at very high prices! Sadly, it has a very limited range. I suspect they must have a very loyal customer base. By my judgment they would have closed several years ago. I wish them well, but they need far more kits at reasonable prices. The competition from the Far East must be crippling.
My introduction to radio was a Heathkit Electronics Workshop for Christmas 1961 bought for me by my dad. Little did he know it was the start of a career and hobby. Even now this hobby still gives me loads of fun.
I still like the form factor of the "Benton Harbour Lunchboxes". These were a series of AM transceivers for 11m CB, 10m, 6m and 2m. At the time these were ideal, although their wide super-regen receivers would struggle today.
See https://shop.heathkit.com/ .
More Anglesey Abbey - NOT amateur radio
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