Cambridge Busker - NOT amateur radio

In Cambridge, you often see buskers, attracted by the tourists. Mostly, they have guitars and violins are far rarer. This one was outside a large bookstore.

Buskers do no harm and are part of the Cambridge "scene" making the city vibrant, especially in nice weather.

King's College, Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

Most often, you see photos of the world famous King's College Chapel. This is the view looking towards the Porter's Lodge and King's Parade. 

10m QRP FT8 (Thursday)

 After breakfast I returned to 10m FT8 QRP using the QDX at 2W again.

Stations spotting my
10m QRP FT8
today at 1326z

UPDATE 2245z:  So far, 156 stations have spotted me and 860 stations have been spotted. Now QRT. Furthermost was a spot in Indonesia. 

Grandson - NOT amateur radio

 

This was our grandson yesterday at a meal in Cambridge.

Sunspots - Thursday March 6th

 Solar flux is 157 and the SSN 147. A=13 and K=1.

Cambridge Bridge Street - NOT amateur radio

This is Bridge Street, Cambridge. There are lots of places to eat along here. 

Magdalene College that houses the library of Samuel Pepys is over the bridge over the River Cam about 300m from here.

See https://www.magd.cam.ac.uk/ .

10m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)

After breakfast my plan is to go on 10m FT8 with my QDX at 2W.

UPDATE 2025z:  67 stations have spotted my 2W and I have spotted 637.QRT now.

Fungus - NOT amateur radio

 This was seen on our walk on Monday.

Sunspots - Wednesday March 5th

 Solar flux is 160 and the SSN 134. A=11 and K=3.

Which SDR is best for you?

 This Australian video goes through some of the SDRs that you could buy.

Nearby village - NOT amateur radio

 This is the nearby village of Dalham.

10m QRP FT8 (Tuesday)

My QDX at about 2W has been on 10m FT8  since just after breakfast.

Stations spotting my 2W 
10m FT8 QRP today

UPDATE 1950z:  So far today my QRP has been spotted by 161 stations and I have spotted 1070 stations here. QRT soon.

Sunspots - Tuesday March 4th

 Solar flux is 145 and the SSN 99. A=5 and K=2.

Each to their own

It has always been my view that we each enjoy amateur radio in the way we want to. Nobody has to impose our own views on anyone.

However, nothing stops me having a view! A large UK dealer is selling a new Flex SDR radio at £5599.99 plus delivery. No doubt purchasers will also want a linear, a tower and an HF beam. I am sure this new radio is  excellent, but it is not for me.

This is not my personal idea of amateur radio. My QDX is about a fiftieth of the size and very inexpensive as a kit. Even built it is not expensive. As I said, each to their own. 

Having said all this I would happily accept one if someone bought me one!  Probably very very unlikely!

By the way what does this mean please?

"Economical SO2R Solution: Support (OTRSP) in One Radio"

10m QRP FT8 ( Monday)

My QDX (at about 2W) was turned on at about 0745z.

Stations spotting my
10m QRP FT8 today

UPDATE 1335z:  107 stations have spotted my QRP and I have spotted 615 here on 10m FT8 RX.

First grass cut- NOT amateur radio

 

This weekend I cut my grass for the first time this year. At first the blades are set high. They will gradually be set lower.

Spring light - NOT amateur radio

We have moved from meteorological winter into spring. It is good to see signs of new life emerging and birds signing for mates.

I guess it is the light we notice. The sun is higher in the sky and everything looks brighter. I expect painters notice this.

Oscar 124

This is an FM satellite announced by AMSAT-EA.  It has an upload on 2m and download on 70cm. In all my time I have only had one QSO via a satellite. This must have been in the 1980s as it was (I think) a 10m uplink and 15m downlink at a time around solar minimum. I cannot remember the satellite.

See https://www.amsat-ea.org/ .

Perhaps this should be my new challenge - work a few stations via satellites?

See also https://launch.amsat.org/ .

Sunspots - Monday March 3rd

Solar flux is 140 and the SSN 139.  A=6 and K=1.

Antenna farm

 Really, I don’t go for big antennas. This is my current “antenna farm“ with the windmill in the background.