10m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)

 Today, I am on 10m QRP FT8 with the IC-705 at 5W.

UPDATE 0915z:  59 stations spotting me with the furthermost ZD7GB (7606km).  An SV has his locator wrong as it appears he is in the Pacific Ocean!

UPDATE 1405z: 442 spots of me today. I doubt it can get much better with 5W FT8.

UPDATE 1625z: 625 spots of me today.

UPDATE 1900:  QRT soon.  755 stations have spotted me today. 

Chippenham Park, near Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday we went to Chippenham Park near Cambridge to see the snowdrops. There must be well over a million there.

Sunspots - Wednesday February 19th

 Solar flux is 178 and the SSN 187.  A=14 and K=3.

Famous quote - NOT amateur radio

Saw this earlier:

“The world is not static, and the status quo is not sacred.” Harry Truman

Oscar 100 narrowband activity

Every few weeks I peak at the activity levels on the narrow-band transponder of this geosynchronous satellite. As before, I find activity levels disappointing. 

I gather someone in the UK is selling a transverter now. Unless and until a "big name" does this, I cannot see activity levels increasing.

This is disappointing. By now, I was expecting the satellite to be really busy. The fact it is not says a great deal about the state of our hobby today.

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/ .

Looking around, there are other tranverters on offer. For example, see https://www.leijenaarelectronics.nl/downloads/LE016-R5_System_Manual_13-09-2021.pdf .

See also https://www.passion-radio.com/satellite-qo-100/pack-dxpatrol-100-880.html .

Some have come up with "all in one box" solutions, but I guess this is too hard for most sadly. It requires engineering, rather than a cheque book. Engineering is a dying art these days in the amateur community. Full marks for those prepared to do it.

Anglesey Abbey - NOT amateur radio

This was Anglesey Abbey last week. 

For once it was sunny.

6m QRP FT8 (Tuesday)

 Using my IC-705 at 7W, I am on 6m FT8. It was turned on just before breakfast

UPDATE 0923z:  16 stations spotting me with the furthermost EI3KD (583km) and the station in Brittany.  No "earth-shattering" DX today.

10m QRP WSPR (Tuesday)

 My 500mW 10m WSPR TX beacon was turned on just before breakfast.

UPDATE 1608z:  36 stations spotting me. It looks like F2 propagation. Furthermost is Brazil.

Sunspots - Tuesday February 18th

 Solar Flux is 185 and the SSN 218. A=15 and K=3.

8m frustration?

Since I have been active on 8m (nearly 3 years now) I have tried again and again to get a tiny narrow digital only 8m amateur band in the UK. 

I was suggesting 5kHz, but even 3kHz would be enough to allow propagation research to proceed. In the past, just a Notice of Variation (NoV) would have been allocated, much as was done years ago when I started VLF tests.

Sadly, it would appear the RSGB and OFCOM just cannot be bothered: it is all too much hassle. Instead they are happy for people who want to do 8m research to pay up for doing so. In the USA the FCC seems equally blinkered. 

The most important things would have been found out around sunspot maximum. Sadly, it would seem self-training and propagation research no longer matter!  2000kHz of low VHF spectrum can be found for DTV work, yet just 3kHz can not be found.

After my 8m Trial and Innovation TX permit runs out, I do not intend to renew it.

RSGB membership? Why do I bother?

A just peace - NOT amateur radio

Both in the Ukraine and Gaza, peace is possible. 

Whatever the outcomes, it is essential that the peace is totally just for the inhabitants of those that live in these troubled lands. 

Peace cannot and must not be imposed on them.

8m QRP FT8 TX (Monday)

My gear was turned on at about 1000z. 

UPDATE 1747z:  Spotted by EI4DQ (580km) in southern Eire.  This is the first 8m spot in several days. QRT.

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Monday)

My beacon was turned on about 30 minutes ago.

UPDATE 1745z: 19 stations spotting me.  117 spots of me by EA8BFK (2880km).  Best DX a spot by ZD7GB (7607km). Now QRT.

Tree Hole - NOT amateur radio

This was in a tree at Anglesey Abbey seen last week.

One wonders what lives within! I expect the kids love it and imagine all sorts!

Sunspots - Monday February 17th

 Solar flux is 185 and the SSN 271 (high).  A=18 and K=2.

World order - NOT amateur radio

It would appear a new world order is emerging.  For over a century the USA was seen as the dominant world power. We are now seeing this change as China comes to the fore.

At one time the USA was seen as a beacon of democracy and one that could be aspired to. 

Recently, I cannot see many in the world wishing to follow the USA.

No political system is perfect.

Tree root - NOT amateur radio

 

This was a tree root seen a few days ago.

8m activity level

It is fascinating to see how interest in 40.680MHz FT8 has increased. Whereas this was a band hardly monitored, quite a few stations are monitoring it nowadays. 

It is a great pity that so many PTTs cannot see fit to allocate a few kilohertz to the amateur service to allow genuine research to be progressed. Instead, many PTTs seem brain dead. 

The map shows the stations monitoring this afternoon. There are probably more as I don't think PSKreporter shows spotters unless they have recently received something or just come on.

10m QRP WSPR (Sunday)

 In a few moments I expect to turn on my 500mW W5OLF 10m WSPR beacon.

UPDATE 1008z:  My beacon was turned on about 1000z. Just EA8BFK (2880km) spotting me so far.

UPDATE 1639z:  25 stations have spotted me today. Plenty of spotters in the USA.

8m QRP FT8 (Sunday)

Very shortly, I hope to go on 40.680MHz FT8.

UPDATE 1004z:  My 8m gear was turned on at about 1000z.

UPDATE 1638z: No spots.