28 Jun 2021
eBay fan - NOT amateur radio
PFX Manual
Years ago, I worked on the Pye PFX. An old friend has just pointed me to a PFX service manual for sale on eBay.
I have just spotted that it was my personal copy with my name on it!
No, I shall not be bidding, HI.
The PFX was widely used by the UK police and some were used on 70cm. It was the first synthesised portable Pye Telecom ever made. It had a few false starts, but was very successful in the end. The PF85 was a crystal controlled handheld using many of the same modules.
10m FT8 RX with the indoor loop
At about 0750z, I turned on the 10m FT8 RX with the 50cm diameter indoor loop. So far, 2 Iberian spots on RX.
UPDATE 1022z: Now 30 stations spotted on RX with furthermost 5T5PA (3791km).
UPDATE 1142z: 59 stations spotted on RX.
UPDATE 1545z: 86 stations spotted today on 10m FT8 RX.
27 Jun 2021
Earth-mode VLF
Earth-mode is a form of VLF communication that is open to all. With 5W I managed to cover 6km, although far further should be possible even with the same gear. I have updated my webpage to include a link to my earth-mode blog showing my experiments some years ago.
My understanding is this does not require a UK licence, but check with OFCOM as I cannot give legal advice.
See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/vlf/vlf-earth-mode .
Lightning threat?
Later, we have the threat of thunderstorms. At the moment there are storms on the near continent, but not here. If they get close I shall go QRT.
See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/other-amateur-radio/lightning-maps .
UPDATE 1710z: Still nothing here. At the moment the storms are not expected until 0100z tomorrow.
Our son's kitten - NOT amateur radio
After the pandemic - NOT amateur radio
When the current pandemic ends (it will) things will be different in many ways:
High streets will be different. Many of us have got used to online shopping. Some of this started before the pandemic, but certainly this trend has speeded up. Those shops that survive will be those that adapt. Those that do not are unlikely to be around long. Expect fewer shops, more in-town flats and more places to meet. In 20 years, things will be very different. People will shop more locally.
People will work from home more. I suspect people will go into the office a few days a week, but maybe commute on fewer days. People will realise that living in a village rather than a big city has its advantages.
People will have meetings online more rather than travel a long way. Most of us have been pleasantly surprised how effective online meetings can be. I have attended several lectures by Zoom and sometimes we have had speakers and viewers on different continents.
There will be less air travel. People are realising there are actually good places to see without getting on a plane.
Live music will suffer. People often prefer live music, but may be more reluctant to travel far.
Inflation could rise.
Low interest rates will be around for a long time. Savings are likely to suffer.
For a while people will be nervous about socialising.
There is a danger of social unrest with fewer jobs and more unemployment.
We are going to have a very different time. Not all is bad.
See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/non-amateur-radio/covid-19-aftermath .
6m super-DX
About now each year, we hear of DX openings between Europe and Japan on 6m VHF. I believe there have already been 6m openings from Western Europe to Australia. One has always to watch for pirates who are actually much closer! I very much hope these QSOs are confirmed as genuine.
The regular 6m Japanese openings (and to the Far East more generally) seem to be linked to mesospheric noctilucent clouds that form about now. I am sure this is E-layer, but not Es. I also wonder about some of the very long transatlantic 6m openings. Some may be multi-hop Es, but I suspect many are not. E layer - yes. Es - no.
They do not call 6m "the magic band" for nothing. Well equipped stations can work some amazing DX. Even very modest stations can have plenty of fun with QRP and simple antennas.
This why a future 8m allocation could be so informative to radio science: midway between 6m and 10m could be so interesting. We could all learn so much.
I am convinced there is a great deal for us to find out about E layer propagation and this is one area in which radio amateurs can really contribute to radio science.
See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/vhfuhfmicrowaves/super-dx .
UK Health Secretary - NOT amateur radio
The UK Health Secretary has resigned.
Somehow, the UK press got hold of CCTV tapes of him having steamy embraces with someone in his department. He is seen breaking the very rules we have all tried to follow since the Covid-19 crisis hit us. I do not like the way the press got hold of the "scoop", but it shows him in an untenable role breaking his own rules!
Surely a cabinet minister would know there is CCTV around. This is designed to safeguard them. I feel for the families broken over this. Once pillars of society they are thrown into the limelight in the most ignominious fashion. Lives are ruined. What about the children?
I am sure there are many in high office in many nations with dark secrets.
The UK Prime Minister came out in support of him.
In my view, there is gross ineptness at the highest levels. I am sure this has gone on for centuries. We all have dark secrets, but we can do without those telling us "we are all in this together" breaking the very rules they set us! Gross stupidity!
In my view, those in government in the UK have lost a great deal of credibility.
10m FT8 RX
At just before 0830z, I turned on my 10m FT8 RX setup with the tiny indoor loop antenna. No spots yet at 0833z.
UPDATE 0922z: 4 spots on RX so far.
UPDATE 1624z: 13 stations so far spotted on 10m FT8 RX with the tiny 50cm diameter loop antenna this morning. Disappointing so far. At the moment, the Es here today is the worst this season. I shall stay on until late this evening "just in case". With the loop, I am probably not seeing some of the stations others are able to copy.
Man born in 1746 photographed? - NOT amateur radio
This photo appeared as a Facebook memory today. It is supposed to be of a man born in 1746.
26 Jun 2021
Sad day (SPAM messages) - NOT amateur radio
It seems quite a few emails and texts are malicious these days. It has reached such a level that many genuine messages are discarded unread just in case they have malware or viruses.
Oscar 100 activity
10m FT8 RX
It is now 0615z. In a short time I hope to go on 10m FT8 RX with the tiny indoor loop antenna.
UPDATE 0933z: 39 stations spotted on RX so far today. The gear was turned on about 45 minutes ago.
25 Jun 2021
10m FT8 RX
Since mid-morning I have been on 10m FT8 RX using the tiny indoor loop. So far, (at 1234z) 27 stations spotted.
Dadvent - NOT amateur radio
24 Jun 2021
Windows 11
Apparently Microsoft has announced Windows 11. No doubt this will mean another long download and quite possibly a period whilst they sort the bugs out and yet more downloads. Even if I delay updating as long as possible I expect we will all have to in the end.
Cambridge bikes - NOT amateur radio
Cambridge is famous for its bikes. You would think with fewer overseas people there might be fewer. Not what I saw!
10m FT8 RX
It is now 1020z and so far today 12 stations spotted on R.X with the tiny indoor loop antenna.
UPDATE 1237z: 30 stations spotted on RX so far today.
UPDATE 1840z: 222 stations spotted on RX today.
PYO strawberries - NOT amateur radio
As well as the fresh ones I can see a few crumbles in the freezer! Raspberries ready next week.
23 Jun 2021
Friedrichshafen (Germany) cancelled
The big Friedrichshafen rally, due soon, is cancelled in case you did not know. Look out for virtual events instead. I hope it returns next year as it is an important gathering for many.
Windows 11?
Microsoft is about to make a big announcement according to Verge. Windows 11 maybe?
See https://www.theverge.com/2021/6/2/22465126/microsoft-windows-event-june-24th .
Windows 10 is OK, but painfully slow on my machine bought 4 years ago and, it seems, always needing updates. If it is so good, why?
Surely if it is so great, why does it not clear rubbish slowing it down and do updates quietly in the background? My virus protection is by Avast.
Overall, I am not impressed by Windows.
I have a Chromebook and it is both lightning fast and does updates and virus checking in the background. For almost everything it is perfect. By comparison it makes Windows seem poor.
The next solar peak
Jay, W5OLF has sent me an article on the next solar peak suggesting it could be good. The last forecast I saw suggested it could be similar to the last one. Sadly, I think it is too early to tell.
10m Es
In the northern hemisphere we have the sporadic E (Es) season, which offers good QSOs on all modes on bands like 10m, 6m and 4m. Occasionally, it is also good on 2m, but this is far rarer. Skip is usually 800-1500km.
As a child, I used to see what DXTV came through on Band 1 TV. I well recall the lunchtime watching Midi-Pyrenees via Es on 819 lines. On a standard 405 line TV we got 2 images side by side with a black band in the middle. There is far less TV on Band 1 these days. I am not sure which countries still use it.
As is often the case, I am on 10m FT8 RX with the tiny indoor loop antenna. So far today, 5 stations spotted.
UPDATE 1015z: 16 stations so far spotted today on 10m FT8 RX. All Es I think.
UPDATE 1450z: 87 stations spotted so far today on 10m FT8 RX. Furthermost is 5T5PA (3791km) in West Africa. Nothing yet seen from the Americas.
UPDATE 2016z: 116 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX with the furthermost CE2SV (11716km) in Chile.
Call me sir? - NOT amateur radio
22 Jun 2021
Cambridge Market - NOT amateur radio
The statue in the foreground is in memory of Snowy, who was a famous local character who raised a lot for charity. We used to see him often.
The church in the background is Great St Mary's, the university church.
160m antenna
There is a misconception that 160m antennas and grounds have to be big. This antenna fitted in a small attic and results suggest it does very well.
Most people have high noise levels on the LF and MF bands these days, but I find FT8, with its effective 50Hz bandwidth, is still effective.
You may be surprised by results. I was.
See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/antennas/160m-loft-vertical .
10m FT8 RX (Tuesday)
At 0718z, I turned on 10m FT8 RX using the tiny indoor loop. So far, 3 spots at 0822z.
UPDATE 1305z: 71 stations spotted so far with the furthermost VO1CH (3737km).
UPDATE 1810z: 96 stations spotted so far today.
10m FT8 RX yesterday
Optical link changed
A reminder that if you find any errors or omissions on my new web pages, please let me know so I can address them. Mike pointed out an old link that I have (hopefully!) corrected. I am sure there are others.
See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/optical-nanowaves/over-the-horizon .
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