Working Antarctica

 This may be a rare chance to work a station in Antarctica although you might have to be quick as I think the station is only active for a few days.

Soham

 Soham is a fenland town about 8km from our village. This was a view earlier with the church behind the trees.

Autumn in our village

Many trees in our village have lost their leaves until the spring when new buds will form and the cycles go on as they have for millions of years.

70cm FT8

 

Last evening 34 stations were spotted in the activity contest on 70cm FT8. See map. This is typical . Amazing. 

Sunspots - Thursday November 13th

 Solar flux is 163 and the SSN 150. A=127 and K=6.

70cm FT8 activity contest (Wednesday)

This evening is the 70cm FT8 activity contest organised by the RSGB. I think the contest in Europe starts earlier.

UPDATE 1813z: Already spotted 8 stations with the furthest PA2WDR (280km). My antenna is just the 144MHz big-wheel omni.

UPDATE  1946z:  29 stations spotted with the most distant EI8KD (518km). See map,

UPDATE 2047z: 9 stations spotted my 10W 70cm FT8 with the furthest PI4VPO (337km). Not bad for a 144MHz omni antenna!

More on solid state batteries for electric cars

Last week I mentioned solid state batteries. 

For years, we have heard a lot of hype about these that promise lower costs, greater range and no rare earths. 

It would appear we are now getting closer. I saw this video which compares various approaches.

IC-705 Portable?

If I was ICOM develepment now I would be working on a true handheld version of the IC-705. They have the electronics, so just need to re-develop the mechanics. There has never been a decent replacement of the FT817 by Yaesu.

Should such a product come to market, ICOM could make a killing.

New DX Explorer video

 

There is new video on the PY2OHH inspired Pititico transceiver on the DX Explorer YouTube channel.

The Pititico is a really simple 1 transistor transceiver.

See https://yo6dxe.com .

Christmas cactus

 

This always starts to flower about now. We put it in our hallway yesterday.

Sunspots - Wednesday November 12th

 Solar flux is 168 and the SSN 131. A=7 and K=8.

6m 5W FT8 (Tuesday)

To finish today, I went on 6m 5W FT8  with the V2000 vertical omni antenna.

UPDATE 1904z:   Just the usual English spots.

2m 10mW FT8 (Tuesday)

After going QRT on 10m I went to 2m 10mW FT8  using to big-wheel omni antenna. Although barely visible on the grabber at G0LRD (25km) the other side of Cambridge, it was decoded.

What can you believe?

If you look on YouTube you could believe anything.

Many of the videos are now created using AI, so the only thing you can be sure of is "this could be incorrect". It is getting harder and harder to tell what is real and what is fake. 

Unless you are absolutely sure it is safer to assume everything is fake!

Son's 1998 prank

Recently, quite by accident, I found an old letter supposed to have been written by the editor of RSGB RadCom inviting me to write a series of articles. I recall being very flattered at the time and boasting to my family.

Then the boys told me it was an elaborate hoax!! They made a very convincing letter as I was quite taken in!

Sunspots - Tuesday November 11th

 Solar flux is 180 and the SSN 128. A=14 and K=1.

QSL cards

In recent years I have not sent out many QSL cards, but I have received several recently by email. 

Most have been useless as the date is shown as 0000.00.00 which must be an error as in this example. I am happy to confirm the contact as long as the details are correct, not otherwise. 

I think these are sent out by email when the amateur subscribes.

10mW 10m FT8 (Tuesday)

Today, I am on 10m FT8 with 10mW to see how it goes. The gear was turned on about 0945z.

UPDATE 1020z:  No TX spots. It is interesting that I am receiving stations from all over the planet. This implies they could run 15dB less power and still be copied if the attenuator was not there. I guess at 10mW I am more likely to be crushed by a stronger station or be below their noise floor.

UPDATE 1125z:  Spots by YL3NF (1567km) and IZ0EWJ (1546km) . Even 10mW FT8 works! I think 5W is far easier, but I shall leave it at 10mW all day.

UPDATE 1420z:  Spotted by 7 stations when I was running 10mW FT8 today.

UPDATE 1555z:  Spotted by 9 stations today with my 10mW FT8 TX. See map. QRT soon.

Is Russia heading for recession?

With oil prices falling and increasing sanctions causing China and India to think twice before buying Russian oil (its major export) there is a danger of the Russian economy being in serious trouble.

Solid state batteries

Most agree that electric cars are not there yet. 

Early adopters have to contend with lithium-ion batteries, where lithium is in short supply (and often mined by children), limited range, high prices and long charging times.

If ranges were significantly improved, charging would be needed less often.  Also price puts many off currently. One answer that always seems to be "just around the corner" are solid state batteries. These promise greater ranges, lower prices and no rare materials.

These seem nearly there, but not quite. With all the research it is likely this will come, but when?