Some have phobias about spiders. To me they are just fun.
25 Oct 2025
Autumn visitor
10m 2W FT8 (Saturday)
My gear was turned on at about 0930z.
UPDATE 1805z: 642 stations have spotted me across the planet. At one point this afternoon I noticed the number of stations spotting me had not gone up. Then I noticed that I had not turned the PSU on at the mains. So all reports up to about 1500z were at 1W and not 2W.
UPDATE 2025z: 647 stations have spotted me. Now QRT.
QDX and QDX-M
These are made in Turkey and designed by Hans Summers G0UPL.
The QDX is a digital only, 5W, transceiver about the size of a pack of cards.
They also do a simpler radio (the same size) covering just one band (2200m - 10m) called the QDX-M which is shown in the photo.
See https://qrp-labs.com/ .
Spooky?
The cynic in me says this is all about making more money, but the kids enjoy the fun.
Our grandchildren loved it, but they are now too old: they enjoyed carving a pumpkin and playing silly games.
This was the decoration outside a house locally.
24 Oct 2025
Autumn colours
The autumn colours are really good this year. Apparently it is due to the high sugar content because of the growing conditions.
10m 2W FT8 (Friday)
My gear was turned on at about 1000z.
UPDATE 1117z: 130 stations have spotted me so far this morning.
King’s College , Cambridge
These are the grounds at the back of King’s. I used to go to a weekly meeting in a room just off this photo when I first came to Cambridge in 1970.
Batteries for the future
We all know that electric cars (maybe hydrogen) are probably the future.
However, they are, on the whole, expensive with a limited range. They also tend to need batteries with materials that are not that common.
What is needed is a real breakthrough allowing a far greater range and a battery technology that uses easily obtainable materials.
It would be good to have lower weight. I am sure that across the world a lot of research is going on to make these breakthroughs as whoever gets there first would have a huge commercial advantage.
One avenue is a solid state battery. Another is a technology that does not need lithium such as sodium. It would be good to be able to top up the charge quickly too although if the range was considerable, many could charge at home quite infrequently.
There is a lot of hype around and I am not sure what the answer is. I suspect this breakthrough is not many years away.
What do A and K indices mean?
Most days I give the solar data. Several people wonder what the A and K indices mean. Hopefully this ARRL file will explain.
Basically a high solar flux is good for HF conditions and low A and K indices mean stable geomagnetic conditions, which are good.
As a rough indicator look for a high solar flux and low A and K indices for good HF conditions.
See https://www.arrl.org/files/file/Technology/tis/info/pdf/0209038.pdf
BST and GMT
This weekend we return to GMT from daylight saving time (BST) in the UK. This means darker evenings and an earlier drawing of curtains. It's amazing how we adapt.
23 Oct 2025
10m 500mW WSPR
My beacon was turned on just before lunch.
UPDATE 1851z: 31 stations spotting me with the USA and Canada the furthermost. See map showing stations spotting me today. Now QRT.
6m 5W FT8 (Thursday)
My gear was turned on just before lunch.
DX Explorer
This is a website I like. There are lots of videos with interesting projects such as this one.
Cambridge market
This is in the centre of Cambridge, UK. It used to be bigger, but there are fewer occupied stalls these days. I guess the council charge them too much.
More fool them?
I read today that some people pay £750 just for breakfast. This is what some people have to live on for a whole month. Personally, I think this is obscene.
Thursday plans
Later I hope to go on 6m 5W FT8 and 10m 500mW WSPR as long as the thunder stays away. It could come our way later.
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