River Avon - NOT amateur radio

There are several Avons in the UK. This is the Avon in Devon at Bantham. It is believed tin was floated down from Dartmoor and traded with continental people here 1000 years ago. At one time, Bantham was a busy port. There are remains going back to the Iron Age nearby many thousands of years ago. A few hundred years ago it was a centre for smuggling.

Yet more amateur VLF TXing from Italy

Near 8.27kHz is the frontier these days! News has come in of yet more tests from Italy close to this frequency by Riccardo. BTW Lubos is in the Czech Republic.

"Lubos,

many thanks for your report!

I'm testing the coil for long transmissions; I have observed, for my first time, that atmospheric conditions affects antenna current: for example, today it's been a sunny and dry morning, in fact I reach 625mA; in the afternoon the sky was so cloudy and I have measured only 570mA. Now the value is stabilized around 590mA (relative humidity's still high: 86%).

I'm preparing an EbNaut setup for next days: I will announce details soon."

Feeding from my hand

Last night, we went to my brother's house for a meal. It was great to be able to feed wild pheasants by hand in his garden (see photo). There is something rather wonderful when a wild bird trusts you enough to eat food directly from your hand. I have never been so close to live pheasants ever.

Sunspots - Tuesday May 8th 2018

Solar flux is 68 today and the sunspot number 14.  A=17 and K=3.

Another Bouvet Island DXpedition

DXpeditions rarely excite me.

If you have a mega station, the thought of calling and calling in the hope of being heard does not "float my boat". Some, however, love this aspect of the hobby and get very excited when a few keen individuals cross oceans to activate a really rare place. Take for example Bouvet Island. This team has a very swish website and is asking for financial support.

See https://bouvetoya.org/

Walk - NOT amateur radio

This morning we did a great walk at Snapes Point, near Salcombe, Devon. Unlike a few years ago, I found it hard going. I managed to slip and fall, although thankfully no damage done. The views are splendid.

At almost 70 I am finding some things quite hard now. Since my stroke in 2013 I am always giddy although several people say how well I look. In the mornings I am also very tired. I guess I have to learn to adapt and I am not as fit as I once was.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/stroke

14th century cross - NOT amateur radio

At the moment there seems to be a craze across the UK to hide painted pebbles. Young people especially seek these out, take a photo and post on social media, then re-hide the stone somewhere else for the next person to find it. It is innocent fun. Yesterday I noticed a stone on the base of this 14th century stone cross at Thurlestone, Devon.

Es season and getting outdoors

We are now in the Es season in the northern hemisphere and 10m and 6m will be good for low power DXing now for several months. On bands like 10m and 6m DX on SSB should be workable out to around 1500km with 1W or less. Often signals are very strong.

This is a good time to venture outdoors to a quiet electrical environment with a QRP rig. One advantage of a whip antenna is the whole rig can be moved around to get the best signal. Use a counterpoise.

There are some tips on pedestrian portable operation on my website. I guarantee you will not be disappointed! Many will be surprised how easy it can be. Whatever, it is a great way to enjoy sunshine and our hobby. Even outside the Es season DX can be worked, but the next few months are good.

Sunspots - Monday May 7th 2018

Solar flux is 69 today and the sunspot number 14.  A=31 and K=5.

The uBITX

This design from India appears to be gaining in popularity. Today, I was made aware (by Steve G1KQH) of a mod to increase the power output on higher bands. Several people are selling suitable enclosures.

Kits come from India with built and tested boards. As I understand things, it is very easy to build and test this multi-HF band rig. It looks a very low cost way of getting on HF.

See http://www.hfsignals.com/index.php/ubitx/

The other half? - NOT amateur radio

We did a lovely walk in Thurlestone, Devon earlier. On the way we spotted this in someone's garden. Talk about how the other half live!

"Just popping down for the weekend". I expect this is a second home and the owner pops down when it is sunny! He/she probably has a private jet to get further. 😊

Dual band antenna

Some years ago, I made this dual band antenna for 10m and 6m. It worked well.

See  https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/antennas/homebase

My MAIN website

A reminder to those who do not know that my main website is at www.g3xbm.co.uk where you will find plenty of details about my projects (mostly simple!).

I also have a YouTube channel G3XBM which has videos about many of my projects. If you have not had a chance, you may care to take a look.

President Trump - NOT amateur radio

OK, I have tried very hard to remain open minded, but personally I find his latest address to the NRA about blood on the floors of a UK hospital of little value. Yes, we do have a knife crime issue in some parts of some groups in the UK. In my view guns are not the answer to knife crime.

If I understand him correctly, his NRA address is aimed firmly at the powerful gun lobby in the USA.  Most of his tweets come from the hip it seems.  Who does he think he is? A wild west fighter from the 1800s?  No sir, you are meant to be leader of the free world! Instead many in the free world think you are just ignorant and stupid.  Sadly, we have very few truly great potential leaders.  The world is in great need of inspiring leaders.

My recommendation to him?  Please, just shut up. Read your briefs and stop spouting rubbish, especially if you are unclear of real facts on the international stage. If the good people of the USA elected you, that is fine. Internationally is a very different matter. The leader of the free world must be a person who is above reproach and highly respected on the world stage. 

These are my personal views based on what I have seen and heard with my own eyes and ears.   Others are perfectly entitled to have different views. A true democracy would be very weak if we were not entitled to say how we feel freely and openly. I respect the right of people to hold views very different from mine.

Promontory Fort - NOT amateur radio

At Bolt Tail, near Hope Cove, on the South Devon coast is a very old promontory fort. It is quite possible that one of my ancestors manned it many thousands of years ago, as this is where we came from at least as far back as the 1400s.

There is something quite humbling about this. Our lives seem quite long, but they are just a speck really. And this fort was built very recently considering life on Earth.

Dust to dust and all that.

Sunspots - Sunday May 6th 2018

Solar flux is 68 today and the sunspot number 14.  A=20 and K=6.

Topband Noise

Although I can't speak for you, here in rural Cambridgeshire the noise on 160m is probably at least 20dB worse than 10 years ago. To be honest, noise on the lower HF bands is bad and getting worse. Even on the higher bands it is a real problem for some. In many ways I am quite lucky!

If you are lucky enough to live in a quiet part of the world (do they exist?) you might like this simple 160m antenna I used some years ago. It worked remarkably well.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/antennas/160m_loft_ant

Cottage - NOT amateur radio

Many years ago, my uncle lived on this street. Every day, rain, snow or sun he walked to and from school, a round trip of about 14 miles every day! These days, most of these are yuppy pads, second homes occupied a few weeks a year by people with lots of money, but small brains.

Yellowhammers - NOT amateur radio

These are very common in certain places in the UK. They are on the RSPB red list.

See https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/yellowhammer

Another Rally

7 MAY 2018 (Bank Holiday Monday) : DARTMOOR RADIO RALLY

Tavistock College, Crowndale Road, Tavistock PL19 8DD. Doors open at 10.30am (disabled 10.15am). Admission £2, under 14's free when accompanied by an adult. Ample free car parking and on-site catering. Trade and club stands, usual Bring & Buy. Details from Viv Watson, G7AWG, 01752 823 427, vivwatsondrc@aol.com.

A list of rallies can be found at http://rsgb.org/main/news/rallies/

A grave mistake? - NOT amateur radio

My wife photographing something last night. Not sure what it was! Thurlestone, Devon.

Sunspots - Saturday May 5th 2018

Solar flux is 68 and the sunspot number 13. A=4 and K=1.

Breakfast with old friends - NOT amateur radio

We had breakfast with old friends today.

Rally

MAY 2018 : THORPE CAMP HAMFEST (formerly DAMBUSTERS HAMFEST)

Thorpe Camp Visitor Centre, Tattershall Thorpe, Lincoln LN4 4PL. For more information please go to the events page on http://thorpecamp.org or email secretary@thorpecamp.org or phone Anthony on 0795 665 4481.

A list of rallies can be found at http://rsgb.org/main/news/rallies/

Battery power suggestions

Thank you for your suggestions This sounds like something I should try. Now  I need recommendations for battery packs and chargers! I expect eBay will be the best source at the right place.

Sunspots - Friday May 4th 2018

Solar flux is just 66, which is very low. Sunspot number is zero. A=4 and K=1

Battery power?

Most of my operating is QRP, mostly 2.5W and occasionally 5W. On 472kHz my transverter produces 12W for an ERP of 10mW. Although I currently use an old linear PSU, perhaps I should use a battery pack with a charger to use when the pack is not connected to the rigs. Mains borne noise is likely to be less of a problem. I'd be interested to hear your views.

Puzzled about 10m

Every week Southgate News has a piece about 10m DX. The trouble is it takes reports from all over the world, so what is DX to some is quite inaudible to others. OK, it is a useful indication of stations that were active, but there its usefulness stops.

In my (limited) experience from here in the UK, 10m FT8 often brings in South Americans, but rarely anywhere else that I would call real DX. In my view, this would be more useful if it reported DX being worked by region e.g. from the UK.

See http://southgatearc.org/bands/10metres/2018/may/may-03.htm#.WurJ6ExFzIU

Sunspots - Thursday May 3rd 2018

Solar flux is 67 today. Sunspot number is 0. A=4 and K=1.

The South Hams - NOT amateur radio

I originate from the South Hams in Devon, a most beautiful part of England. The town in the centre is Kingsbridge (shown in the photo). It is a small market town at the head of an estuary.

"Our" windmill - NOT amateur radio

Many times now I have shared photos of our windmill next door. It really is "over the garden wall".  This photo was taken on May 1st when it was sunny. Most times this year, it has been wet.

Sails usually turn only when the museum is open on Thursdays, Sundays and bank holidays. When they do, it is a great sight.

The video shows the official opening after restoration. The chap front left is Richard G3TFX, an old work colleague. The address was given by our local MP.

Sunspots going faster than expected?

According to a report in Southgate News the sunspots are going at a faster rate than expected. They point to Spaceweather.com as their source. According to http://www.solen.info/solar/ sunspot numbers rose in May! Of course we are dealing with averages and we have to look a bit longer to see the trend downwards. I have no idea if this bodes well (or not) for the next solar cycle!

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2018/may/sunspots-are-vanishing-faster-than-expected.htm#.WunsGUxFzIU

White House Gaffs - NOT amateur radio

The USA administration has, allegedly, made some serious gaffs in what it releases to the press and public.  Often these are corrected later. Some of these are excusable. Some are not, especially those that sour international relations.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-43957756 .

Mental Health Article - NOT amateur radio

The following article was written by Molly Anderson and sent to me:

Getting Your Physical and Mental Health Back on Track While in Addiction Recovery

 Photo Credit: 

maxlkt, Pixabay

Getting sober, maintaining sobriety, making healthy changes, resuming a normal lifestyle – the whole process of quitting an addiction and being in recovery are difficult. However, the reward is worth the challenge, as you'll find yourself feeling much better, and you'll get a fresh start in life. The healthy changes you make will aid in getting sober, staying sober, and feeling healthier both physically and mentally.

Assessing the Damage

Abusing drugs or alcohol harms your body, mind, and relationships. Different substances have different effects. Amphetamines can cause insomnia, depression, cardiovascular issues, loss of appetite, and gastrointestinal issues. Cocaine can cause fatigue, depression, anxiety, and restlessness. Other drugs have harmful effects on the mind and organs as well. The negative effects of substance abuse can lead to issues that cause malnutrition and physical and mental illnesses.

Addiction can also harm relationships. Whether it's physical abuse, emotional abuse, or letting others down, friends and family members are often hurt by an addict’s behavior. Finding ways to repair the damaged relationships can help you let go of guilt and any negative feelings you have about yourself, which can help improve your mental health. Consider attending family therapy with your family and friends once you’ve completed recovery. Your counselor can decide the best timing, but it’s usually a few months or a year after treatment begins.

Finding Healing Activities

Most people who abuse drugs or alcohol are probably not involved in healthy activities such as yoga, meditation, and acupuncture. In recovery, you can start up these activities to be used as holistic therapies, which can improve your health and keep you on track to remain sober. Meditation teaches you to become aware of your thoughts, emotions, and sensations through breathing and concentration. This technique can be used to fight cravings, to deal with the physical pains many people deal with in recovery, and to fight negative emotions, such as anxiety and depression.

Yoga produces long lasting changes to the body, both physically and mentally, which help maintain a healthy lifestyle. Yoga creates a sense of calm and solace and is a positive coping mechanism when dealing with depression, anxiety, anger, guilt, and other negative emotions. Yoga and mindfulness can be combined to provide energy, satisfaction, and stability during your path to recovery.

Certain points used in acupuncture can address targeted parts of the body – such as the kidney, lungs, and liver – that are damaged from drug or alcohol abuse. Acupuncture can also help calm the body so that you can let go of negative feelings, such as anger or anxiety, and get in touch with your emotions. Acupuncture may also help to alleviate physical pain and insomnia.

Diet and Exercise

Part of addiction recovery includes improved health, which means beginning to exercise. Exercise releases endorphins, so it can be an alternative to drugs. It can also reduce stress, improve mental health and mood, and benefit your organs, bones, and muscles. Getting healthy also involves good nutrition. A well-balanced diet provides energy so you don’t feel fatigued, and it provides the nutrients you need for growth and repair. Your diet affects all parts of your body, including your heart, immune system, bones, teeth, and mental health.

Another important step in your road to recovery is to figure out your goals. This includes both clinical treatment goals and goals for employment, education, social activities, and housing. Once you establish your goals, you can work with a counselor to pursue and achieve them. Recovery gives you a fresh start, so use this opportunity to heal your mind and body with holistic therapies, diet, and exercise. You can then work on healing relationships and accomplishing your goals in life.

6m FT8 today

Yet again, I am on 6m FT8. After a brief CQ period earlier (no spots) I am RX only. So far just a couple of Gs with best DX spotted G4VPD (150km).

UPDATE 1305z: Quite a few UK stations, plus Denmark, Slovak Republic, Belgium and Italy. Best DX currently is I6WJB (1509km).

UPDATE 2106z: Currently 37 unique stations in 6 countries spotted today on 6m FT8. Time to go QRT.

Sunspots - Wednesday May 2nd 2018

Had my dad lived (died 1987) he would have been 100 today. Somehow I can't imagine him being 100!

Solar flux is 68 today and the sunspot number 0. A=3 and K=1.

Grandson's paintings and drawings - NOT amateur radio

We are very proud of our young grandson who has just turned 9. For his age, his artwork is excellent. He has a real gift, unlike his grandparents!

He is good with people, good at swimming and sports - in fact a good all-rounder. Some examples of his art are attached. The Santa Maria and the train were painted some years ago.

SAQ (17.2kHz VLF CW)

SAQ the historic alternator VLF TX was on the air yesterday from Grimeton in Sweden. Paul Nicholson in Todmorden, UK made a complete recording.

Guess who totally forgot?!

See http://78.46.38.217/saq-180501.mp3

2m UKAC contest

Last night was the May leg of the 2m activity contest. 6 QSOs before I had to go QRT (poor voice) with best DX G6DOD/P 213km on the Isle of Wight. I run 5W to a big-wheel omnidirectional antenna.

Rigs

The photo shows my current operating set-up.

Not shown is the 472kHz transverter (about 12W out, 10mW ERP) or ATU.

Mostly I use 2.5W on HF, VHF and UHF.  I receive far more than I transmit. At one time I had the Elecraft auto-ATU but I much prefer the LDG Z817, which seems better suited to home use.