Burwell, Cambs, UK - NOT amateur radio

Since 1975, we have lived in this East Cambridgeshire village. It is about 10 miles from Cambridge, 4 miles from Newmarket, 17 miles from Bury-St-Edmunds and 12 miles from Ely. In recent years the population has soared to about 6500. When we came it was about 4000. Luckily, it still feels like a friendly village.

The village has a fine church (see photo) and fully restored 200 year old windmill, the latter being part of one of the best local museums in the whole UK.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burwell,_Cambridgeshire

Lesser Chirpy (10m)

At the moment, at the depths of sunspot minimum, 10m is not exactly busy! In the late spring and summer 10m can be very good for Es communications up to around 1500km. Often, much further can be reached with 10m Es. Es can be effective at any part of the solar cycle.

Years ago, when 10m was good, I designed the Lesser Chirpy ultra-simple 10m transceiver. Like all simple transceivers, it is a compromise, but it is fun.

In the Es season it is capable of decent QSOs e.g. from the UK into Europe. In decent F2 conditions (may be a few years off yet) it should be possible to cross the Atlantic with it. The main limitation is the RX. Only TX if you know the frequency is clear.

Oscar 100

From time to time I look at the webSDR at Goonhilly in Cornwall monitoring the narrowband transponder of this geosynchronous satellite. This is a very unscientific look at activity levels, which must vary a lot depending on the day and time of day. Nonetheless, it provides a snapshot of activity levels.

As far as I can tell, it is beginning to get a bit busier, approaching levels I might have expected. The last time I looked (albeit a weekend morning) there were 10 stations on SSB. This is more than I have observed in the past, suggesting more people are becoming active. By now, I was expecting the narrowband section to be full. Even now, there is plenty of space.

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/ .

SDRs and amateur radio

Southgate News has a piece about the impact of SDR on our hobby, mentioning that it will soon be possible to buy a 3.5GHz transceiver for about £50. As the piece says, we live in exciting times.

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2019/december/foundations-of-amateur-radio-07-12.htm#.Xetv3eiTLnE

Sunspots - Saturday December 7th 2019

Solar flux is 70 and the SSN 0. A=4 and K=0. Sunspots seem pretty rare!

Trinity Street, Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

On my way to my relativity course in Cambridge, I walked down this street, Trinity Street. This is one of the most famous streets in Cambridge. About 200m behind me is Kings College Chapel.

Day off

As I have my U3A course on relativity in Cambridge on Fridays, I am not active currently.

Websites - NOT amateur radio

Being fairly sedentary these days, I tend to do things that I can do from home. I created and maintain several websites and blogs not all amateur radio related. One of these is for my wife's choir www.cambschoral.org.uk . Others are mainly amateur radio related.

Sunspots - Friday December 6th 2019

Solar flux is 71 and the SSN 0. A=3 and K=1.

Choose your sweets - NOT amateur radio

To be honest, I am not a great sweet addict. If I never had another sweet in my life it would not be a disaster.

My wife noticed this machine in a Cambridge supermarket. It allows you to fill a tin with the sweets you like. I did not even notice the machine!

2m SSB in the 1970s

When I first started in VHF amateur radio it was in the early 1970s, when most rigs were AM. Gradually people started using FM gear and this mode really took off with the coming of repeaters.

My first 2m SSB rig was a Liner-2. It was a revelation, with distances I could only dream about being workable even with very simple antennas. Nowadays many prefer the "rubber stamp" FT8 QSOs. Back in those early days 2m DXing was real fun and ranges of several hundred kilometres were possible most nights on SSB.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/vuhf/liner2

Delta-T - NOT amateur radio

Delta-T is a company in our village focusing on plant measurement gear and environmental science. They work from offices that were originally built in the 1500s. At one time they were a worker's co-operative although I am not sure of their business model today.

See https://www.delta-t.co.uk/

2m FT8

All day, I have been on 2m FT8 RX. So far (1304z) 39 stations spotted in 8 countries spotted.

UPDATE 1839z: 64 stations spotted today so far in 8 countries on 2m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 2216z: 86 stations copied today on 2m FT8 RX. Soon be time to go QRT.

Sunspots - Friday December 5th 2019

Solar flux is 70 and the SSN 0. A=3 and K=0.

ICOM SDR radios at RSGB National Radio Centre

Southgate News reports that ICOM has provided IC-7300 and IC-9700 SDR rigs to the RSGB's National Radio Centre.

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2019/december/latest-icom-sdr-amateur-radios-supplied-to-rsgb-national-radio-centre.htm#.XeehfeiTLnE

ABC Classic Sydney, 92.7MHz FM, Australia - NOT amateur radio

A few weeks ago we bought a Brennan BB1 receiver.  This plays thousands of stored music tracks, Youtube videos and 40000 internet radio stations from around the world. Quality is great and the device small. I am mightily impressed.

At the moment, whilst typing this, I am listening in the background to ABC Classic from Sydney, Australia. Quality is first class, as if I was a local in Sydney!

2m FT8

Just now, I tried to go on 10m FT8, but on 2 rigs it was showing hi-SWR, so something is wrong with the antenna or its connecting coax. I shall have to investigate.

In the meantime I am on 2m FT8 calling CQ initially with 10W to the omni antenna. Now I am 2m FT8 RX only. 16 spots of me including GD3YEO (384km) and 6 on 2m FT8 RX with best DX being F6APE (551km).

UPDATE 1252z:  Now 32 stations in 6 countries spotted so far today on 2m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1815z: 87 stations spotted today on 2m FT8 RX with best DX SM6VFZ (1030km).

UPDATE 1855z: 95 stations in 10 countries spotted today on 2m FT8 RX.

Stations spotted so far
today on 2m FT8 RX

UPDATE 2208: 118 stations in 10 countries spotted today on 2m FT8 RX.

Narcissi - NOT amateur radio

Recently, my wife bought a pot of narcissi for the kitchen table. It will be great to see them come into flower over the weeks ahead whilst having breakfast. They are a real December and Christmas  plant.

Sunspots - Wednesday December 4th 2019

Solar flux is 71 and the SSN 0. A=2 and K=2.

2m UKAC activity contest this evening

Starting at 2000z tonight is the December leg of the 2m activity contest. Normally activity levels on SSB are high. Although I just use QRP and stop on for less than an hour, I frequently manage more than 200km.

UPDATE 2126z: In the end with my 10W SSB 7 QSOs with best DX 243km in the Dales. After about 50 minutes I had to stop because of my poor voice. There were plenty more stations to work.

Stations worked with QRP on 2m SSB

this evening in the activity contest

OFCOM updates

As is usual, OFCOM has updated its Communications Monthly for December. It does this every month. See the OFCOM website.

UK Pound up again - NOT amateur radio

The UK Pound is, yet again, up against major currencies such as the Euro, Yen and US Dollar. With a UK General Election next week, I am puzzled. With the outcome so uncertain I would have expected a fall, or at very least, things to be static. It is nearly back to the value last year.

I guess the markets are banking on a Conservative government with a working majority and a BREXIT deal being approved soon.  If there is a hung parliament or a Labour victory, we can expect big falls.

10m FT8

It is now 0910z. For just over 1 hour I have been on 10m FT8, calling CQ initially. Not surprisingly, no spots this early.

UPDATE 1010z: 4 EU stations spotted so far on 10m FT8 RX with best DX being RU2FJ (1396km). My own 2.5W CQ calls were spotted by no-one.

UPDATE 1157z: Now 7 EU stations spotted.

UPDATE 1830z:  Now 14 EU stations spotted.

UPDATE 2130z: I went QRT on 10m at about 2000z.

Sensitive Crystal Set

This has appeared before, but may interest some readers. Some years ago a crystal set design using a zero voltage threshold MOSFET appeared in QST. Thankfully that article is reproduced on the ARRL website and accessible to non-ARRL members.

See http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Technology/tis/info/pdf/culter.pdf

Billy Bunter - NOT amateur radio

If you live in the UK, you may remember Billy Bunter on black and white TV in the 1950s. At the time we thought it was wonderful.  It looks a bit dated now!

Watching some extracts recently, there are some very young looking actors who became famous TV stars years later.

See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfuVQJdA-z8

UK beginners licence?

This has been touted by the RSGB as a way to get newcomers into the hobby. I have mixed feelings. Yes, we do need more young people and if this could be linked to things like scout badges that could be a good thing, but I am a bit concerned that "dumbing down" is really the answer though.

As I understand it, this would be restricted to 5W commercial gear only on 2m and 70cm.  At this stage I think it is just an idea being tossed around rather than a firm proposal.

See https://www.kb6nu.com/rsgb-vhf-manager-proposes-beginner-license

Sunspots - Tuesday December 3rd 2019

Solar flux is 70 and the SSN 0. A=2 and K=0.

Sunrise - NOT amateur radio

Today has been a lovely, cold, early winter day with a brilliant sunrise as the photo shows.

Quieter on 10m FT8

An earlier CQ on 10m FT8 with 2.5W was spotted by no-one. So far today (it is currently 1145z) 3 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX with best DX RA2FL (1343km). It is surprising how often some stations are spotted suggesting it is low activity rather than poor conditions that is the main problem on 10m.

UPDATE 1345z: Now 4 stations in 3 countries so far spotted on 10m FT8 RX today.

UPDATE 1523z: 5 stations in 3 countries so far today on 10m FT8 RX. At this part of the solar cycle 10m seems very variable with some quite good days and others bad. At least with FT8 those who are still active get spotted. Usually there is a small peak in Es at the tail end of the year and in January in the Northern Hemisphere.  I don't know why this is. So, with some luck, Es might liven this up on 10m shortly.

Stations spotted today
on 10m FT8 RX to 1912z

UPDATE 1940z:  At the moment 38 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX including PP5VA (9957km). Not too bad in the end.

UPDATE 2142z:  Although I have been QRT for a couple of hours now the final total was 40 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX today.

Solar data

My favourite site on solar data has been updated. It still shows we have passed the solar minimum. Although the sunspot count is very low, there have been fewer days with extremely low solar flux.

See https://www.solen.info/solar/images/cycles23_24.png

Election crappery - NOT amateur radio

In the UK we have a General Election on December 12th.

It would appear that all major parties are telling lies or are involved in dirty tricks. Facebook has banned a Conservative advert and today we got a LibDem leaflet than looked like a free local paper. Last week we had a Conservative video that had been doctored to show an opposition MP looking stupid.

We lack politicians with backbone and integrity. Most seem to want the best for them rather than the common good.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2019-50624086

Sunspots - Monday December 2nd 2019

Solar flux is 71 and the sunspot number 0. A=4 and K=1.

VLF upconverter

Some years ago I needed a VLF upconverter so I could listen for SAQ on 17.2kHz CW. The converter(s) here might be of use to help you copy some of the commercial VLF stations. It will not help copy most amateur VLF stations where frequency accuracy and long integration times are needed.

If my memory serves me right, this design of mine appeared in GQRP SPRAT, although I cannot remember which one it was.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/vlf/vlfconv

Cookies - NOT amateur radio

Certainly in the UK and possibly elsewhere, we now have to accept (or otherwise) cookies on websites. No doubt someone somewhere thought this was "a good idea".

In reality we get annoyed and click "accept" without bothering to read. So, the whole thing becomes pointless, even dangerous. We get cross.

eHam.net

This website often has some good reviews and much else as well. If you are looking to buy something, it is worth checking this site first. If people have a very bad experience they tend to say so, but many reviews are balanced and fair.

See https://www.eham.net/

DX on 10m FT8 RX

Shortly before breakfast I turned on 10m FT8 for the day. My early 2.5W CQ on FT8 was spotted by no-one, but it seems the band has suddenly burst into life with plenty of Europeans plus 3B8CW (9752km) on Mauritius in the southern Indian Ocean. It is only 0938z.

UPDATE 1440z: Now 291 stations spotted today on 10m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1738z: 302 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX in the last day. I think that is it, although I shall leave the RX on for a bit longer. It is already dark here.

10m FT8 RX here today

UPDATE 1955z:  Well, that was not it! At 1808z LU5HA (11096km) was coming through. But not only that, PU2TWU and AK4QR also spotted but for some reason did not get uploaded to PSKreporter. Quite the best 10m FT8 day in some time.

Sunspots - Sunday December 1st 2019

Solar flux is 70 and the SSN 0. A=4 and K=1.

Sunshine - NOT amateur radio

As the sun was shining brightly we went for a walk at Anglesey Abbey. It was cold at 6 degrees C but we were surprised to see a choir singing. I have to admit, I thought this was a recording at first!

Architypal Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

This picture was taken in central Cambridge yesterday. The red phoneboxes are archetypal UK and the bikes archetypal Cambridge.

Falkland Is amateur bands

Some recent changes to the amateur frequencies in the Falkland Islands have been announced including 60m.

Also included is 4m. This may have been there before, although I was not aware. I guess VP8 to ZS might be possible but EU to the Falklands on 4m is very unlikely although just possible with TEP. Someone will give it a go. A 4m beacon in the Falklands beaming north would be interesting. I guess the path VP8 to EU on 4m might just be possible at times with a combination of TEP and Es.

See https://www.regulatorfi.org.fk/spectrum/amateur-radio/70-terms-and-conditions-amateur-radio-licence-v2-0-121119-pdf/file