Since about 1930z I have been on 160m FT8 RX. It is now 2005z and 42 stations have been spotted. The antenna is still the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.
UPDATE 2245z: 90 stations spotted this evening.
28 Mar 2021
FT8 slots
In the last few years FT8 has taken off like crazy. It is very sensitive and works with very weak signals, much weaker than SSB and CW. It is not a chatting mode. It allows the minimum details for a QSO to be exchanged. There is a spin-off called JT8call that does allow free form messages, so chats could be had.
Sadly FT8 has resulted in fewer speech mode chats. Although not a QRP mode per se, it does allow worldwide QSOs with QRP and simple antennas. Most find far less than 100W is sufficient to work the world.
One thing I have noticed is just how busy the narrow FT8 slots get. Although the transmissions only need about 50Hz, it is quite possible to find 20 or more stations in the FT8 window. The advantage is all signals get decoded by the (free) software and split operation within the FT8 window is encouraged.
There is a case of several FT8 slots in each band. The disadvantage is you may have to monitor more slots. There is a case for 2 or 3 FT8 slots on each band. This is still narrower than a few SSB signals.
UK and Covid-19 - NOT amateur radio
Rules within the UK nations vary, so what follows applies to England only. At the moment, the plan is to cautiously relax some rules on March 29th. This is part of a roadmap to complete relaxation of the rules.
Dates could slip, although at the moment things are still on track. A lot depends on how people behave, vaccines and the 3rd wave in Europe and of course variants emerging.
See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-56553128 .
Friedrichshafen 2021 - off
Although I have looked quite hard, I have failed to find out if this years grand show in June is definitely cancelled.
2022 is on and I would be extremely surprised if this years show was on, especially with rising Covid-19 cases across Europe. Putting on a show would be expensive and it is unlikely many would want to be there in big crowds with the pandemic, even if they could travel.
The last definitive information I saw was that Dayton, USA was cancelled and Friedrichshafen 2021 was to be decided still. However, Southgate News is reporting that it is cancelled this year.
It is definitely not happening in 2021. I have found the official announcement of this. A pity, but understandable.
Notice the word "suspended" . There is an online event June 25th - 27th 2021.
17m FT8 QRP (Sunday)
At 1109z I went on 17m FT8 QRP with 2.5W to the tiny indoor loop on the shack windowsill. It is now 1116z and so far today, 18 stations have been spotted on RX with nobody spotting my QRP on TX.
UPDATE 1425z: So far today, 2 spots of my QRP with the furthermost being UW5ZM (2317km) from the Ukraine on TX and 185 stations spotted on RX. At some point I shall remember to convert BST to GMT. Give me a few days!
27 Mar 2021
Lode - NOT amateur radio
Lode is a sleepy village about 5 miles from Cambridge. Buses are every 2 hours in the weekdays with none on Sunday.
17m FT8 QRP (Saturday)
For most of the day I have been on 17m FT8 with 2.5W and the tiny indoor loop. So far (it is now 1510z), just 1 station has spotted me on TX and I have spotted 267 stations on RX with the furthermost YB3EDD (12235km).
Village cottages - NOT amateur radio
Burwell (our village) has a total mix of old and new homes. These cottages are on the main High Street. I am not sure how old these are, but I guess most date from the 1800s.
Oscar 100 geosynchronous satellite
Every few weeks, I give my impression of activity on the narrowband transponder of this satellite as seen by looking at the webSDR at Goonhilly.
As said many times before, this is not a scientific look. It is more of a "quick peek" impression, in this case looking mid-afternoon on a Friday in Europe.
My impression is activity is very slightly up on the last time I looked. There is still plenty of room.
26 Mar 2021
Spring colours - NOT amateur radio
/P and contests
According to Southgate News, the RSGB is to accept /P entries in contests from March 29th. They state you have to obey local Covid rules, but the "stay at home" message is to be replaced (we hope) by "stay local" in England. This would mean /P operations would be legal if local.
OFCOM plan of work
I am definitely a grumpy old man!
OFCOM has just posted its plan of work for the next financial year on its website. If I was still working and not retired I would have been told the statement is full of "motherhoods" !
Personally, I would prefer if they concentrated on real enforcement and less on such statements.
It is very easy to criticise, but the impression this gives me is a total lack of RF knowledge and a bunch of children, trying to be "grown ups". Your views may well differ, and these are my impressions only.
As I was always told "don't judge a book by its cover".
See the OFCOM website and make up your own minds.
17m FT8 QRP (Friday)
At 1217z, I turned on the FT8 QRP with 2.5W and the windowsill tiny loop. It is now 1222z and, so far, 20 stations have been spotted on RX but no spots of me on TX.
UPDATE 1435z: 127 stations spotted on RX with the furthermost YB8ADX (12413km). On QRP TX 2 stations have spotted me so far today.
UPDATE 2212z: Now QRT. Altogether, 204 stations spotted on RX and 2 stations spotted my QRP on TX.
Rainbow - NOT amateur radio
25 Mar 2021
Perspectives on old age - NOT amateur radio
Next birthday I shall be 73. Both my dad and granddad died in their sixties. I could die tomorrow or live for many years.
On the balance of probabilities I probably have not got many years left. Certainly I am more aware than ever that the years are passing by.
Some of the things I could so easily do are now impossible. I am giddy all the time and driving is no longer a pleasure.
Someone once advised me to enjoy things before it is too late. Maybe they are right. One thing is certain: the future is unknown.
Angry sky - NOT amateur radio
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| Angry sky |
We have just got back from a walk around Anglesey Abbey. It tried to rain!
Rally cancelled
The Callington Rally in Cornwall has been cancelled. Many years ago I went to this when I lived in Devon. It should have been March 28th, which is this Sunday. Hopefully it will be on again in 2022.
Probably many more rallies will be postponed or cancelled this spring and summer.
2m FT8 QRP (Thursday)
Since before breakfast I have been on 2m FT8 with 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna. So far, at 0947z, I have been spotted by 13 stations in 2 countries with the furthermost G7RAU (461km) in Cornwall. On 2m FT8 RX 20 stations in 4 countries spotted with the furthermost DJ9ON (489km).
UPDATE 1025z: One QSO with a station in IO70. 15 spots of my QRP.
UPDATE 1648z: 3 QSOs today. My 2.5W FT8 to the big-wheel has been spotted by 25 stations and I have spotted 55 stations in 6 countries.
UPDATE 1830z: 29 stations in 3 countries have spotted my 2m FT8 QRP today on TX. 65 stations spotted on RX in 7 countries.
OFCOM spectrum negotiations
OFCOM has announced that its next stage of auctioning 700MHz and 3.6GHz spectrum has moved to the negotiating stage where bidders can trade spectrum between each other. See the OFCOM website for more details. It makes sense for bidders to have contiguous chunks.
472kHz WSPR last evening
Continued monitoring overnight has not been that productive on previous occasions , so I went QRT in the late evening having spotted 4 unique stations. As usual, using the FT817ND and the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.
Earning a cup of tea - NOT amateur radio
It looks much better now after a coat of preservative used for sheds and fences. I shall ask him to do the garden benches soon.
24 Mar 2021
472kHz WSPR RX
At 1844z, I QSYed to 472kHz (630m) WSPR RX. Once again, I am using the FT817ND and the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.
UPDATE 2211z: G0MRF has been a huge signal this evening. Furthermost is LA8AV (1012km).
UPDATE 2300z: QRT
17m FT8 QRP (Wednesday)
A few moments ago, I QSYed to 17m FT8 QRP with 2.5W and the tiny indoor loop. It is now 1111z. So far 6 stations have been spotted on RX with nobody yet spotting my QRP on TX.
UPDATE 1127z: So far today, 15 stations spotted here on RX, and still nobody has spotted my QRP FT8 on TX.
UPDATE 1421z: 105 stations in 5 continents spotted on 17m FT8 RX today and nobody has spotted my QRP TX.
UPDATE 1806z: 139 stations spotted on RX. Nobody spotted me on TX.
EMF calculator (revised)
Southgate News reports that a new EMF calculator is now available from the RSGB. If your EIRP is greater than 10W, you may have to use this.
See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2021/march/new-rsgb-emf-calculator-available.htm#.YFsX-yuTLrc .
Suez Canal blocked - NOT amateur radio
The BBC reports that a large container ship has run aground in strong winds and blocked the Suez Canal. This is vital artery for world trade. It is already caused major tailbacks. Imagine being in charge of steering this ship!
Spring - NOT amateur radio
Daffodils are looking good in our village.
The clocks change to British Summer Time (BST) this weekend. Next week it is lighter in the evenings and not dark until about 7.45pm local time. We change from "indoor mode" to "outdoor mode". Sadly, this means cutting the grass!
Overnight on 160m FT8
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| Stations spotted last night on 160m FT8 RX |
272 stations spotted in 5 continents as the map shows.
I was spotted by 47 stations across
Europe on QRP FT8 160m TX as the map shows.
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| Stations spotting my 2.5W FT8 QRP last night |
I remain amazed just how well this "antenna" works. Considering nobody knows it is there, I cannot fault it.
UPDATE 1005z: Back to daytime conditions! Nobody spotted in the last few hours.
23 Mar 2021
Dad's seat - NOT amateur radio
When my dad first retired he got a job with the National Trust and was in charge of a team working on repairs to the coastal footpaths in South Devon. When he died they erected 2 seats on Bolberry Down in his memory. In the photo I am sitting on one of them some years ago.
160m FT8 QRP (Tuesday)
At about 1330z I turned on my 160m FT8 QRP with 2.5W and the earth-electrode antenna in the ground. No spots yet.
UPDATE 1708z: Just 1 G - G3NSM (123km) has spotted my QRP TX and European DX is starting to come through on RX. So far, 7 stations spotted on RX.
More - NOT amateur radio
The photo shows what I think are storage batteries being erected near our electricity substation.
Overnight on 160m FT8 QRP
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| Stations spotting my 160m FT8 2.5W |
One QSO on 160m FT8 QRP with a German shortly before midnight.
Just 268 stations spotted on 160m FT8 RX overnight in 5 continents. I do not use 160m often enough to know if this is conditions changing or just a bad night. 2 North Americans and 1 South American spotted.
UPDATE 1009z: Back to daytime and just 1 G spotted!
22 Mar 2021
Scam bating - NOT amateur radio
If you are like me, you are getting more scam calls that originate abroad, but use UK numbers to actually fool punters. TPS, which we have, cannot stop these I think.
We have tunes on our phones so we know when genuine people are calling: different friends and family members have unique tunes. Everyone else is asked to leave an answerphone message. Most scammers just hang up. We work on the assumption that if it was really urgent they would leave a message or call again.
I have asked for a package on Virgin Media that may help. It is free for 30 days. We will see.
Apparently someone is working on software to waste scammers time. Great!
160m FT8 QRP (Monday)
About 15 minutes ago, I turned on my 2.5W to the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground on 160m FT8 TX. No spots yet.
UPDATE 1605z: Still no spots on RX or TX. The Europeans should start appearing soon.
UPDATE 1625z: The first DX from Europe came through at 1614z on 160m FT8 RX. There are others starting to be spotted. Still nobody spotting me on QRP TX.
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