23 Apr 2025
3D printed CW key
This was on the DX Explorer YouTube channel earlier. I like this channel. There are lots of very informative videos on this channel.
22 Apr 2025
Train food - NOT amateur radio
This was the meal I had on the train from London to Newcastle. Only 3 hours and 10 minutes- really good.
21 Apr 2025
Really low power WSPR
VK3YE is well known in amateur radio circles. This is his video on very low powered experiments with WSPR.
Pope dies - NOT amateur radio
Although I am not a Roman Catholic, I can understand the profound pain that must be felt across the globe on the death of the Pope announced earlier. He had been gravely ill, but appeared to be recovering. His death must have been a shock to many people.
See Home - BBC News
Hmmm.. - NOT amateur radio
Even if I was a Republican in the USA I would be concerned about this.
Hegseth shared Yemen attack details in second Signal chat, reports say - BBC News
10m QRP FT8 (Monday)
After breakfast I expect to be on 10m QRP FT8 again. I run the IC-705 at 6W.
UPDATE 1047z: 7 stations have spotted me (all near - tropo or aircraft?) and I have spotted 6 stations.
UPDATE 1458z: Spotted by 20 stations and I have spotted 17 here with the furthermost Indonesia.
UPDATE 1910z: Spotted by 26 stations with the furthermost Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean. Now QRT.
20 Apr 2025
Faroes - NOT amateur radio
10m QRP FT8 (Sunday)
My 10m 6W FT8 was turned on late this afternoon. I think there was an issue getting spotted on PSKreporter earlier, so I gave up.
UPDATE 1621z: So far, 38 stations have spotted me.
Knitted Bible - NOT amateur radio
Whatever our views on religion, Easter is a time for peace and kindness. So, I wish everyone a very happy Easter. There is an exhibition of knitted bible figures that is currently in our church. It is currently going around the country.
DE G3XBM JO02
I have been experimenting with formats that show up on PSKreporter when I am beaconing.
The above format seems to work and does not show that I am actively seeking out stations for a QSO as "CQ de G3XBM JO02" does.
In future, when beaconing, I shall use this format on FT8.
"BCN de G3XBM" is another format that seems to work, but does not show my location.
19 Apr 2025
The future of AI - NOT amateur radio
To say I am amazed and frightened by AI is an understatement.
Recently I watched a video imagining a street scene in 1897. I have used AI every day to get the daily sunspot number. I put a few placenames in AI and got back huge amounts of accurate data. A friend said he used AI for most of his software coding.
A few years ago AI often produced rubbish and could not be trusted. Now there are far fewer occasions when it "goes rogue". Today I discovered a painting produced by a humanoid robot that sold at action for over £1M. As time goes by AI will get even better! Imagine AI in 40 years' time. It cannot be uninvented. There is little doubt that many jobs will be done in future by AI.
We have to adapt.
See Meet the AI robot whose artwork sold for over $1m - BBC News









