Mill Leat - NOT amateur radio

This photo was on a few days ago as part of a collage. It was taken at nearby Anglesey Abbey. 

Yaesu FT7 transceiver

My first commercial HF rig was a 10W Yaesu FT7. It was used mainly on 10m SSB and enabled me to work all over the world with simple, low, wire dipoles. 

It was later sold to a friend, who still has it. 

It only covered part of 10m, used no synthesisers and had a modular design. It was very quiet on RX and was one of the best rigs I have ever owned.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/ft7 .

The video shows the FT7B which is the 50W version.

Shack photo

 

This photo of me in the shack was taken in September 2013.   

Since then, there have been a few changes.

Memory prices

A few moments ago I ordered a 16GB micro SD card for my XYL's camera. I was amazed how low cost this was. This is from a reputable manufacturer.  Just a few years ago the cost would have been very high. 

Now you can buy micro SD cards with over 1TB!!  At some point I shall buy a 256GB (or even larger) memory card for all my photos. 

A few years from now I expect 1TB micro SD cards will be dirt cheap and seem so small.

WSJT-X rc4

The latest release candidate of WSJT-X has been released. It is rc4. When I tried to install it on my Windows 10 machine it kept blocking it. After going through the hoops several times I eventually installed it. This version runs until Feb 2nd when I expect to go through all this hassle again. I know why this is done: to keep the PC safe. rc3 no longer works after Jan 26th.

WSJT-X is used for FT8 and WSPR here

See https://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/k1jt/wsjtx.html

Crystal set DXing

It is some years since I last tried this, but it was fun. 

Although it is possible to envelope detect amateur stations if strong enough, identifying amateur SSB stations can be quite hard. The first amateur stations copied were on 160m AM way back in the 1960s.  Since then I have copied amateur SSB stations on 80m at some distance. Signals need to be S9++. 

In a crystal set all the power is from the TX end, with nothing at the RX end. No batteries, nothing.

I have seen broadcast signals from all over the world and these were genuine in original country broadcasts, not via relays.  These days there are fewer English language broadcasters as more and more people move to the Internet. 

The circuit shown here is capable of hearing this DX even though it is ultra-simple. For the detector I used a germanium diode, but a hot carrier diode might be suitable. The secret is choosing a diode with a very low turn-on voltage. Silicon diodes are not suitable.

I am sure there will be better circuits around.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/crystalset .

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

Sunspots - Tuesday January 26th 2021

Solar flux is 77 and the SSN 26. A=17 and K=2. 

"Our" windmill - NOT amateur radio

We live right next door to a fully restored 200 year old windmill. Every day, we notice somebody coming to take a photo.  You cannot blame them. 

We can see the windmill when we have breakfast and from the lounge where this photo was taken.

During the Covid-19 pandemic they removed some slats from the sails. I expect they will be repainted and replaced soon. The whole windmill is due for a repaint.

OFCOM updates

On the OFCOM website are more details of their upcoming auction of spectrum at 700MHz and 3.6GHz. 

Yorkshire pudding - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday we had stew with homemade Yorkshire pudding. 

In days gone by Yorkshire pudding was served as a savoury first course to fill you up before the main course, so less meat was needed. This was particularly important in poor families.

2m FT8 QRP (Monday)

Since about 1030z I have been on 2m FT8 using 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna. Already I have been spotted in EI and GI. 

UPDATE 1535z: 29 spots of my QRP 2m FT8 so far today with furthermost being DJ8RZ (881km). See map for spots of me to lunchtime.

UPDATE 2130z:  26 stations in 7 countries have spotted my 2m FT8 QRP in the last 12 hours. 31 stations spotted here on RX in same period.

Anglesey abbey - NOT amateur radio

 

The collage shows nearby Anglesey Abbey a few days ago.  It is owned by the National Trust.

We walk there most weeks. It is about 1.2 miles around the winter walk and not very muddy. 

The other walk we do there is a bit further, but very muddy at the moment!

G1KQH's blog

 A reminder that you may want to visit the blog of Steve G1KQH.

See http://g1kqh.blogspot.com

VLF news 2021

Experiments continue at very low frequencies by radio amateurs. This is an area where all can take part on RX as the antennas can be very small indeed, yet highly effective. This is one of the frontiers in our hobby.

It is honest that to radiate a sub-10kHz signal does need a big antenna and dedication. Nonetheless, we need far more monitoring stations on RX only.

In the past I have tried to keep abreast of happenings at extreme VLF with my website on sub-9kHz operation. If I fail to update quickly, there are links to very up-to-date information. In 2021, I shall do my best.

See https://sites.google.com/site/sub9khz/news21 .

See also https://sites.google.com/site/sub9khz/home .

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

Sunspots - Monday January 25th 2021

Solar flux is 78 and the SSN 23.  A=5 and K=1.

Yesterday's snow - NOT amateur radio

These days we do not get that much snow. We have had more this year than for several years. More was forecast for this afternoon, but we are still waiting.

The photo shows the snow falling yesterday.

More grandson's art - NOT amateur radio

There is little doubt that our 11 year old grandson has a talent for art. The photo shows one of his latest creations.

His older creations are here. Some date back several years. I think some are 5 years old.

AM activity

This is very late! There are still a few hours left if you want to give HF AM a try.

See https://amqsoparty.wixsite.com/mysite

Cape Verde (D4) on 4m?

EI7GL reports  on his blog that the team in Cape Verde intend to try 4m operation in the coming Es season. There is some doubt that they will reach much of Europe as this may depend on multiple hop Es. At this lowish VHF frequency marine tropo ducts may be harder.

See https://ei7gl.blogspot.com/2021/01/d4vhf-on-cape-verde-plans-to-be-on-70.html

2m FT8 QRP (Sunday)

At about 0950z, my 2m FT8 gear was turned on. Running , as usual, 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna. It is now 0956z and I have been spotted by 6 stations already.

UPDATE 1000z: Already a spot of my QRP 2m FT8 by EI2FG (565km).

UPDATE 1445z: 17 stations have, so far, spotted my 2.5W 2m FT8 QRP on TX. These include spots in Eire, N.Ireland and Germany. Considering no beams here, quite credible, although this seems possible with 2m FT8 QRP at almost any time. As the times seem so frequent and random, I am not convinced this is aircraft reflection. I am still wondering if FT8 allows some other sort of scattering to be possible with QRP?

UPDATE 1844z: 23 stations have spotted my 2m FT8 QRP today (see map). On SSB these sort of distances would only be possible with lots of power and a big yagi high up. And remember, I see this every day with just 2.5W and a big-wheel omni.

No Comment - NOT amateur radio

This photo arrived earlier. No comment.  I have no idea where it came from.

In the USA many voted for him. Outside the USA I have yet to speak with anyone (not one) who has a good word for him. In 4 whole years I have spoken with, or met, many people. The number must be in the hundreds now. 

Odd, he must have done something right domestically, yet abroad he is the butt of jokes.

Sunspots - Sunday January 24th 2021

 Solar flux is 78 and the SSN 34. A=4 and K=2.

Network radios

A few years ago, I bought a network radio. This looks like a 2m handheld but uses the internet to connect to distant stations using systems like Echolink. It works over WiFi or mobile phone networks. 

Since I bought it, I hardly use it. For me, network radios are just not satisfying. It has a PTT and is very similar to a VHF or UHF handheld. One of the fun things is working stations via distant repeaters e.g. in the USA or Australia.

Personally, I prefer "real" radio, although for some these are a good substitute.

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

Salcombe Devon - NOT amateur radio

As a child, I was brought up in Salcombe, Devon. The video below was filmed in summer 2020. It is a virtual tour in 4K (ultra high definition) through the town. Not much social distancing evident!

2020 was one of the rare years when I did not go back to my roots. Hopefully in 2021 at a time when it is less busy I shall get back there.

IC-705 UK dealer prices

In Europe, with a free 3 year warranty and VAT the ICOM IC-705 sells for 1317.6 Euros. In the UK the list price is £1299.95 (with VAT) with the 5 year warranty on top as an extra.  Just saying....

Even with any carriage and import duties, why the difference?

Clearly, there is comfort from buying from a UK dealer who speaks English, but.....???

See https://www.xbstelecom.eu/shop/en/non-aff-icom/2004-icom-ic-705-hf50144430mhz-5w-10w.html?search_query=ic-705&results=30

2m FT8 QRP (Saturday)

In a short while I hope to go on 2m FT8 with 2.5W and the big-wheel omni. Yesterday I had 1 QSO, but was widely spotted despite my low ERP signal. 

Although the conventional wisdom is this is due to aircraft reflection, I am still puzzled: these DX spots seem to occur at almost any time, so I am wondering if FT8 is allowing QRP stations to access some scatter modes that would not be possible with CW or SSB at these ERPs?

I expect my 2m FT8 reports are a mix of tropo, aircraft and other scatter, possibly with some random MS. Not quite sure how long an MS burst has to get a successful FT8 decode. I suspect far less than the 15 seconds a TX FT8 burst lasts.

My ERP is probably less than 5W.  The big-wheel has a little horizontal gain, but the coax has some loss.

UPDATE 1034z:  My 2m FT8 QRP was turned on at 0955z. So far, 10 spots of my QRP TX including (again) EI2FG (565km) and 5 spots on RX.

UPDATE 1105z: 13 stations have so far spotted my QRP 2m FT8 TX.

UPDATE 1508z:  16 spots of my 2m FT8 QRP TX today including EI and GI as the map shows.

UPDATE 1931z: 18 stations have spotted my 2m FT8 QRP TX today.

Cambridge 2012 - NOT amateur radio

This photo from 2012 shows my wife and grandson near the Bridge of Sighs in St John's College. 

Normally the colleges are very busy with visitors from overseas, especially the Far East. Not in the last 12 months!

CDARC AGM via Zoom

Last night, the Cambridge radio club (CDARC) held it AGM via Zoom. With 25 "attendees", it was very successful. Next year, assuming the Covid-19 pandemic has ended, I expect we will meet in person again. Once again this proves to me that we can always find a way.

The Cambridge club has held lots of talks using Zoom, and they have all be great.

Sunspots - Saturday January 23rd 2021

 Solar flux is 78 and the SSN 39.  A=4 and K=0. 

2m FT8 QRP (Friday)

This evening from 2000z I have been on 2m FT8 using 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna. So far I have been spotted by 7 stations in 3 countries on TX. 

January - NOT amateur radio

The photo shows Anglesey Abbey on a cold and frosty January morning. 

We went for a walk there earlier. 

More humour - NOT amateur radio

This was sent to me yesterday. it brought a smile to my face.
 

Old and new - NOT amateur radio

A few years ago, a pub car park became a building site. 

The new houses have now been finished as the before and after photo shows.

When we first came to this village near Cambridge, the population was under 5000. It is now almost 7000. It seems every spare space is a chance to make builders money. Sadly there are few houses for ordinary folk as the profits would be too low.

Sunspots - Friday January 22nd 2021

Solar flux is 78 and the SSN 26. A=2 and K=0.

Hyacinths - NOT amateur radio

 

Every year my wife grows a pot of hyacinths. These are just coming out. They smell fantastic.

See https://www.almanac.com/plant/growing-hyacinth-muscari

FT8 and breakfast spread

There is no doubt that FT8 has divided the amateur community . 

On the plus side every day my 2m QRP to a  simple non-directional antenna is copied in EI and GI. FT8 has made this possible. At the same time there is less chatting, especially with modes that casual listeners will chance upon.

It is a bit like Marmite (a UK yeast spread) that some love and some hate. 

I have mixed views. With my poor voice FT8 has been a godsend. At the same time I don't want less chatting on the bands. 

Village churches - NOT amateur radio

 

The photo shows the churches in our village. Only 2 are still in use as churches. Like pubs, many are now private houses.

IC-705, IC-7300 and IC-9700 firmware updates

Southgate News reports that a firmware update to these ICOM products is due at the end of January.

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2021/january/new-fimware-updates.htm#.YAmcZ_GTLrc

2m FT8 QRP (Thursday)

Since about 1505z, I have been on 2m FT8 with the usual 2.5W and big-wheel omni antenna. So far today, just 1 spot of me by G0LRD (26km).

UPDATE 1724z:  9 stations in 4 countries have spotted me today. It would seem EI and GI spots are an everyday thing even with real QRP.  No QSOs yet. 7 stations in 4 countries have been spotted here so far.

UPDATE 1820z: 11 stations in 4 countries spotted on 2m RX. On QRP TX 11 station in 4 countries spotted. No QSOs. My technique is to call CQ and wait, which is the lazy way. If I called stations I am sure I'd get more contacts.

Spots of my QRP today
on 2m FT8 TX

UPDATE 2120z:  So far today I have spotted 20 stations in 5 countries on 2m FT8 RX and I have been spotted by 14 stations in 4 countries on 2m FT8 TX with the furthermost being EI2FG (565km).  QRT soon. 

Sunspots - Thursday January 21st 2021

Solar flux is 77 and the SSN 25. A=6 and K=0.