On the quay is a statue of George Vancouver as shown in the photo taken some years ago at this time of year.
13 Mar 2021
Better times? - NOT amateur radio
When you can't have normal, you realise how important this was. We haven't been in to Cambridge since last summer! We used to go every week.
8m band permits?
We are about to enter the Es season in the Northern Hemisphere. Many are wondering about special permits for spot frequencies at 8m. There are a few countries with access but more would be good.
17m FT8 QRP (Saturday)
At about 1000z, I turned on my 17m FT8 gear with 2.5W and the tiny indoor loop. It is 1016z and so far 5 stations have already spotted me on TX and I have spotted 34 stations already on 17m FT8 RX including South America - PY1KS (9366km).
UPDATE 1024z: 50 stations spotted on RX.
UPDATE 1530z: 312 stations spotted on RX and 16 stations have spotted my QRP on TX.
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| Stations spotting my QRP TX today |
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| Stations spotted on RX today |
Quy - NOT amateur radio
One of our favourite places is the walk down to the lake at nearby Stow-cum-Quy. It is a delightful spot about 6 miles away be car.
Virtual expo
This weekend there is a virtual expo. There are lots of presentations that might be of interest to you.
Optical communications
Many years ago I did some experiments with optical communications over the horizon (NLOS). See the photo. This appeared as a FB memory today.
12 Mar 2021
Smaller? - NOT amateur radio
Today we bought some compost from a local hardware store.
My wife bought me a Mars chocolate bar. It says 51g. To me it seems far smaller than I remember. Is this the way they are charging us the same, but actually selling less?
Walkies - NOT amateur radio
This afternoon we did a walk around Anglesey Abbey. The daffodils will be at their best in about 1 - 2 weeks.
The photo shows one spot where they are out.
17m FT8 QRP (Friday)
At 1135z, I turned on 17m FT8 QRP with 2.5W and the tiny indoor loop antenna. So far today (after 5 minutes only) 15 stations spotted on RX, but nobody has spotted my QRP on TX.
UPDATE 1252z: 75 stations in 4 continents spotted on RX. 3 stations have spotted my QRP on TX with the furthermost UW5ZM (2317km).
Zoom "dinner" - NOT amateur radio
Surprisingly, these have been pretty effective: not as good as chatting in person over a real meal, but better than nothing. Zoom allows everyone to see and hear everyone.
We even had a deaf member last night. Lipreading with Zoom was a challenge and a lot of use was made of the typed "chat" feature!
Age of radio amateurs
Southgate News has some feedback on a Freedom of Information request made to OFCOM asking for data on the age of radio amateurs. As no age records need to be kept now, the released data is only partial.
I think it is fair to say that many (most?) UK radio amateurs are old. It is also well known that most are men.
Recently, our local church has lost several members who have either died or moved away. What will amateur radio look like in 20 years' time?
11 Mar 2021
4m
These days many more countries have permanent or temporary access to the band. There are far more European countries with access nowadays.
At one time there was a push to get CEPT to grant access to the band in all CEPT countries I think.
The photo shows my transverter that has never been used at this QTH. I am not sure where it is even!
At some point I would like to get on 4m again. With a few watts and a halo antenna much of Europe should be workable in Es openings.
Bee friendly - NOT amateur radio
At one point he climbed on my hand.
OFCOM and EMF
Although in the UK OFCOM is consulting, it is likely that it will make safeguarding the public from harmful EMF a condition of our licence.
What this means is that if were ever investigated, we may have to prove we are safeguarding the public.
With very low power, this is very unlikely to be a problem. However, with full legal limits and big beams this could be a problem, although antenna height may well help. There are spreadsheets on the RSGB and OFCOM websites to help. Many are awaiting the final rules.
The bottom line will be that if you cannot show proof e.g. a printed out spreadsheet with results for your station, you could be closed down. Forearmed is forewarned.
See the OFCOM website for more details.
Covid-19 saliva test - NOT amateur radio
Since trials were carried out some months ago, it has gone very quiet on this. Putting swabs up noses and down throats can be distressing for some. Just spitting down a tube would be far easier, and quicker.
I am also puzzled that vitamin D and zinc supplements are not ever mentioned. Vitamin D supplements are very low cost and have strong evidence of effectiveness. I have never, ever, heard vitamin D supplements mentioned ever. Why not? If this is a "quick win" why are we not encouraged to take these? I know of several friends who are taking these.
UHF/VHF scatter
Recent QRP FT8 operations on 2m and 70cm have got me thinking. On the face of it, aircraft and tropo scatter might actually be better on 70cm than 2m.
Certainly for aircraft scatter, the smaller wavelength at 70cm might mean better scattering. I am no expert and may well be wrong. By my argument 23cm might be better still!
Certainly, path losses would be higher on 70cm, but antenna gain at each end can be easier as you go up in frequency.
What are your views?
2m FT8 QRP (V) Thursday
As an experiment, I am on 2.5W FT8 on 2m, but using the V2000 vertical antenna instead of the big-wheel horizontal. This will mean weaker reports locally as most stations will be horizontally polarised, but I would expect less difference on more distant stations spotting me. Indeed, I am weaker on the grabber at G0LRD.
So far, at 1032z, I have been spotted by 6 stations on TX with the furthermost G4TRA (185km). 2 stations spotted on RX.
UPDATE 1115z: 5 stations spotted on 2m FT8 RX with the furthermost being G4BNM (222km).
UPDATE 1312z: I am puzzled. Although I have been spotted by 6 stations on QRP TX, I have spotted 16 stations on 2m FT8 RX with the furthermost PE1KWE (307km), which is far more stations than normal. It is almost as if vertical is better!
UPDATE 1358z: 20 stations spotted on 2m FT8 RX with the furthermost GI6ATZ (479km).
UPDATE 1458z: 27 stations spotted on RX and 8 stations have spotted my QRP on TX. 2 QSOs.
UPDATE 1916z: 35 stations spotted on RX. 14 stations have spotted my QRP mostly at "tropo" ranges rather than aircraft scatter or troposcatter.
UPDATE 2222z. QRT now. 38 stations spotted on RX.
10 Mar 2021
WISPY TX
Oscar 100 narrowband activity
Every few weeks I look at the web SDR at Goonhilly in Cornwall to assess the activity level on the narrowband transponder of this geosynchronous satellite. My latest look was just after lunchtime in Europe. My "peek" suggests activity levels are still low even after 2 years.
I guess getting a signal though this geosynchronous satellite is too hard for most "black box" operators. Even if someone sold a special Oscar 100 transceiver they would still have to point the dish, which would be too hard!
I believe BATC is also streaming TV activity through Oscar 100, but I have not yet looked.
Village - NOT amateur radio
The village has grown a lot since we came in 1975, but it still feels like a village.
Very old family photo - NOT amateur radio
One ancestor is believed to have fought at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. More recently her ancestors have been shopkeepers and run a banana warehouse in Sheffield. Doing a book is a good idea both for her and generations to come so these memories are captured.
The restored photo probably dates from the late 1800s or early 1900s.
70cm FT8 QRP (V) Wednesday
Just did a quick test and the VSWR with the FT817ND and big-wheel was high, so I have connected the V2000 vertical up instead. Now on 70cm FT8 with 2.5W and the V2000 vertical.
I intend to use this from 1700z this evening with a short break for the CDARC net on 145.55MHz FM at 2000z. I may try the latter on 2m FM with the FT817ND to see how it performs (I did).
UPDATE 1647z: No spots. I guess my chance of any spots on 70cm FT8 is low until 1700z as there will be few on at the best of times. My own view is that DX via troposcatter or aircraft reflection might be better on 70cm than on 2m. For this we need activity.
UPDATE 1938z: 11 stations spotted so far with the furthermost PD1JFB (306km). 2 QSOs so far on 70cm QRP FT8.
UPDATE 2230z: Now QRT. In all, a very decent, respectable, evening with 2.5W and a vertical omni antenna. The furthermost on TX was a spot by G7WIR (98km). The map shows the stations spotted here on 70cm FT8 RX this evening.
OFCOM auctions
OFCOM has announced that the auctions of spectrum at 700MHz and 3.6GHz start this week. See the OFCOM website for more details.
If you have a few billions spare........
70cm FT8 activity contest tonight
Ron PA2RF has reminded me there is a 70cm FT8 activity contest this evening. I shall definitely be on RX with the 2m big-wheel and may be on TX with 2.5W. The contest starts at 1700z and exchanges are just reports and Maidenhead locators. We are asked not to use the FT8 contest mode!
I have no idea about FT8 usage on 70cm on normal days.
On 70cms the main FT8 frequency is 432.174MHz in Europe.
See https://www.ft8activity.eu/index.php/en/
See https://rsgb.org/main/operating/band-plans/vhf-uhf/432mhz-band/
9 Mar 2021
2m FT8 QRP (Tuesday)
At about 2040z, I decided to go on 2m FT8 QRP with 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna. So far, 10 stations have spotted my QRP and I have spotted 3 stations on RX so far.
UPDATE 2300z : Now QRT. 1 QSO this evening.
70cm activity contest (UKAC)
With 10W and my 2m big-wheel omni antenna I entered the 70cm activity contest organised by the RSGB. I was only on for 30 minutes before I had to stop because of my poor voice. I made just 3 QSOs with the furthermost G4CLA (105km). I work him most times. With a beam and stopping on longer, I could work far more.
Private golf course - NOT amateur radio
When my brother's in-laws died he was left a big piece of a field behind his house which is now an orchard and private golf course as shown in the photo.
Not many can say they have a golf course in their back garden!
17m FT8 QRP (Tuesday)
About 10 minutes ago (it is now 1022z) my 2.5W to the indoor loop was turned on. So far, 2 stations have been spotted on RX but nobody has yet spotted my QRP on TX. Things seem very quiet today. On RX the furthermost is 4Z4DX (3561km).
UPDATE 1450z: 2 spots of my QRP TX on 17m FT8 today. 83 stations spotted on RX.
Tree work - NOT amateur radio
Recently, I showed our local meadow we call the cowfield. This is a different view showing some tree work.
Pye Telecom PF1 NOT amateur radio
Mike took early retirement to look after his sick partner. He sadly died later following a stroke.
PF1 units were low power and some were converted to 70cm.
8 Mar 2021
More "brain fog" - NOT amateur radio
As reported earlier, I got my E-field probe working on LF. In the past, this would have been totally trivial, but I am exhausted just putting dry cells in the EFP and old FT817. Just undoing a few screws tired me out!
Miracle antennas
Like all sorts of small antennas, these are a compromise. On the higher HF bands, when used with a good ground or counterpoise, they can be quite effective, being within a couple of S points of a full sized dipole. I used mine with a central heating ground and worked some remarkable DX on 10m SSB QRP. They fitted directly on the back of the rig and were very easy to tune.
I suspect mine is in the loft as I have not seen it for 7.5 years! I am too wobbly these days to go up there!
See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/antennas/mwhip .
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