14 Jan 2021
Old House - NOT amateur radio
13 Jan 2021
Wymondham, Norfolk - NOT amateur radio
It has an unpretentious town centre and a fine abbey with 2 towers.
Some of the family moved to industrial Sheffield in the 19th century for work - what a contrast!
Art video - NOT amateur radio
My 11 year old grandson has produced an educational video as shown. Although I am a bit biased, I think it is good. He is a very good artist and there some examples of his work on my main website. These are now some years old.
See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/home/art.
2m FT8 QRP (Wednesday)
Since about 1825z, I have been on 2m FT8 with 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna. 4 stations have spotted me so far with the furthermost being G7RAU (461km) in Cornwall. No stations yet spotted on RX and no QSOs yet.
UPDATE 2107z: Spotted by 14 stations in 4 counties so far. No QSOs.
432MHz activity contest
Every month the RSGB organises an activity contest on the second Tuesday of the month on 70cm. Better stations were working Germans. As usual I was on with my poor voice, 10W and 2m big-wheel omni antenna. In 40 minutes I managed 4 SSB QSOs out to 105km. .Then I gave up!
12 Jan 2021
Aurora
In Scotland, there was a visible aurora last night. The BBC was full of pictures of this today.
I am not sure how far south it was visible. I have not heard if there were VHF QSOs via this aurora. When access to 6m was first granted I recall having a 6m auroral QSO using 1W CW and a wire dipole.
Another 8m winter Es QSO
This afternoon there was another DX QSO on 8m between EI and 9A. This was winter Es.
I expect this band to be available more widely in the years to come. At first it will be individuals asking their local authorities for spot frequencies. Sandwiched between 10m and 6m, this could be a most interesting allocation. Even a very narrow allocation and low power initially would be useful.
Sonic boom - NOT amateur radio
Years ago we used to hear the sonic boom from Concorde at my parents house in Devon every night. At lunchtime we heard another loud bang that turned out to be a sonic boom. An RAF Typhoon jet was scrambled to escort a civilian plane that had lost communications into London Stansted airport. It was very loud and we thought at first it was something on our roof.
G3KKD Silent Key
One of the regulars on our Monday night East Cambs net died of a heart attack last night. Ian G3KKD was a regular who rarely missed. As we get older more and more of us will be SKs. Still sad though. None of us expected this. Ian was keen right to the end.
He was especially keen on ATV and had recently experimented with digital.
Church Lane - NOT amateur radio
Look more closely and there are signs of new life.
Only this morning I saw a field of winter wheat and snowdrops are beginning to flower as in the lane leading to our local church. Another month and there will be daffodils common and buds just starting to appear.
January is one of the most depressing times of the year. At least days are getting longer and spring is coming.
OFCOM Communications Monthly
OFCOM has updated its statistics in its Communications Monthly. See the OFCOM website for details.
15m FT8 RX
At the moment I am on 15m FT8 RX using the FT817ND (2.5W) and the tiny indoor loop. 27 stations already spotted after just a few minutes with the furthermost 5Z4VJ (6858km).
UPDATE 1212z: 219 stations spotted so far on 15m FT8 RX.
UPDATE 1520z: Recently, I decided to go on QRP TX on 15m FT8. So far 7 stations have spotted me. 437 stations spotted so far on 15m FT8 RX with the indoor loop.
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| Stations spotting me |
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| Stations spotted here today on 15m FT8 RX |
Dayton 2021 cancelled
This is the place where many manufacturers announce new products.
11 Jan 2021
2m FT8 QRP (Monday)
Since late Monday afternoon I was on 2m FT8 with 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna. All the usual stations were spotted. DL6YBF (410km) was the furthermost on RX with EI2FG (565km) my furthermost on 2.5W TX. In all, 15 stations spotted me. At 2130z, I went QRT.
Yaesu FTDX10
I wonder if Yaesu is considering an SDR QRP rig to replace the FT817/818 and to compete with the IC-705?
The new radio does not cover 2m and 70cm, but does have an auto ATU, although I expect the range is limited. It also includes 4m TX. It is a fair bit more expensive than the IC-705.
At the moment I am torn. As a QRP fan I have owned 2 FT817s and several other Yaesu products. They have all been reliable. The standard Yaesu warranty is 3 years.
Although I stand to be corrected, I do not think the Yaesu radio has the GPS and Bluetooth features that the IC-705 has. At the moment, the IC-705 is still better in my view.
15m FT8 (Monday)
At the moment I am on 15m FT8 RX. At the moment 2 Europeans showing on 15m FT8 RX, although an early spot was a V51 on my screen, but not PSKreporter. Not sure why this did not appear. Did my internet disappear for a short time?
UPDATE 1306z: 50 stations in 4 continents spotted on 15m FT8 RX so far today.
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| Stations spotted to 1306z |
UPDATE1458z: Although I am TX too (2.5W to the indoor loop) nobody has yet spotted me. 54 stations so far spotted on RX in 5 continents.
10 Jan 2021
QSY to 2m FT8 QRP (Sunday)
Just before 1700z, I QSYed from 10m to 2m FT8 QRP. I am running 2.5W to the big-wheel omni antenna. Already I have spotted 2 stations and my QRP has been spotted by 9 stations.
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| Stations spotting my 2.5W 2m FT8 this evening |
Life - NOT amateur radio
Some days ago I mentioned the estimates for the number of planets in the visible universe. The numbers are staggering. Assuming just a very small number of these have intelligent life, that still leaves a huge number.
I have no idea how many humans have existed over time, but I am estimating 10,000,000,000. To be a conscious being alive today on Earth is an incredible thing. Just think, if just one of our ancestors had not had children then we would not be here. Amazing.
No doubt in the years to come our understanding of the universe will change dramatically, but one could be forgiven for thinking each of us is unimportant, yet the opposite seems to be true. Each of us seems important and our love and kindness seem to matter.
No, life and consciousness are deep mysteries. Most religions try to answer these issues, but only hint. All seem too small.
10m FT8 QRP (Sunday)
Since about 1140z, I have been on 10m QRP FT8 with 2.5W and the indoor loop. No spots yet.
UPDATE 1644z: No spots today on 10m FT8.
UPDATE 1715z: Just a single local QSO all day.
G3XBM history
My history in amateur radio goes right back to the early 1960s. On my main website is a page about my history. In all those years we have seen many changes in our hobby. I still enjoy it.
9 Jan 2021
Less meat? - NOT amateur radio
Although I enjoy meat I am sure I could be perfectly happy as a vegetarian or even vegan. Looking at non-meat recipes they look just as good and are no doubt better for the planet. Over time I am sure that adverts will persuade us to eat less meat. It doesn't bother me. Quite a few people are trying to go meatless in January. They probably save money too.
Oscar 100 activity
Activity levels on the narrowband transponder of the geosynchronous satellite Oscar 100 seem to be quite high today. My quick look on the Web SDR at Goonhilly Downs in Cornwall was late afternoon in Europe.
2m FT8 RX (Saturday)
It is now 1339z. A short while ago I went on 2m FT8 RX with the FT817ND and big-wheel omni antenna. So far G4YTM (179km) spotted and 3 other Gs. Furthermost is 2E1EMK (182km).
UPDATE 1353z: Now 6 stations in 2 countries spotted.
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| Spots of me to 1620z on 2m FT8 TX (2.5W) |
UPDATE 1700z: 20 spots of my QRP (2.5W to the big-wheel omni) 2m FT8 today so far.
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| Stations spotted today on 2m FT8 RX |
UPDATE 2152z: QRT. 2m FT8 QRP never fails.
Hope - NOT amateur radio
The snowdrops are appearing now, and the daffodils will soon be out.
8 Jan 2021
2m FT8 QRP (Friday)
At about 1920z, I QSYed to 2m FT8 with 2.5W to the big-wheel omni antenna. So far this evening, I have been spotted by 5 stations on TX and I have spotted 1 station on 2m FT8 RX. It is now 1926z.
Winter Walk - NOT amateur radio
There were a few snowdrops and daffodils out. Another month things will be very different.
15m FT8
This morning I am again monitoring 15m FT8 RX with the FT817ND and indoor loop. So far (at 0949z) 22 stations spotted.
UPDATE 1415z: 43 stations spotted on RX. Now on QRP TX (2.5W), but nobody has spotted me.
UPDATE 1906z: This afternoon my QRP 15m FT8 TX was spotted by 9 stations including 3 in the USA with the furthermost being AK4QR (6846km). Not bad with my FT817ND and the tiny indoor loop.
Stations spotting my
QRP FT8 TX
to the tiny indoor
loop on 15m today
Trump - NOT amateur radio
It amazes me that so many people within the USA voted for Trump. Clearly he has a following in the USA whereas many outside of the USA think him stupid.
Banana warehouse - NOT amateur radio
7 Jan 2021
New carpet cleaner - NOT amateur radio
The photo shows me using it.
QSY to 2m FT8 QRP (Thursday)
At 1700z, I QSYed to 2m FT8 QRP as 15m FT8 was quiet. It is now 1740z. So far, 7 statioms have spotted my QRP TX and I have spotted 4 stations on RX.
UPDATE 2123z: Now QRT . Spotted by 9 stations on TX with 1 QSO. 11 stations spotted on RX.
2m FT8 contest last night
I am pretty sure there was a contest on as several were calling "CQ TEST".
Remember, this is with an omni antenna - no beams here!
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