They look fearsome, but are harmless, always bumbling into things.
23 Sept 2021
Daddy long legs - NOT amateur radio
Cambridge - NOT amateur radio
People come from all over the world to see some of the sights we take for granted and for free. All these are within a few hundred metres on the same street. As a local we get free entry into the colleges.
Rally on (I think!)
As far as I know the Weston Super Mare rally is ON this Sunday September 26th, but as always check with the organisers before setting out on a long journey.
Corpus College, Cambridge - NOT amateur radio
It is hard to believe but I have lived in Cambridge for over half a century and never once been in Corpus College. We went in today. This is a photo of one of the quads.
10m FT8 QRP (Thursday)
At 0811z, I went on 10m FT8. Initially I was on TX with 2.5W, but now am RX only. No spots yet at 0858z.
UPDATE 1632z: So far today, 91 stations spotted on RX in 4 continents with the furthermost VP8LP (12773km).
UPDATE 2030z: 106 stations spotted on RX today.
Kindness of radio amateurs
As many know I had a stroke 8 years ago and can no longer do some of the things I used to enjoy.
Several times in the last few years I have been struck by how kind some people are. I won't name them, but 2 have offered to build my Phaser kit, one to fix my transverter for 472kHz and someone else did a schematic for me and has sent a ferrite antenna and crystals. Someone sent me some sensitive earpieces and I have been sent crystals and a clock. I am sure I have forgotten something, but you get the drift.
This was pure kindness and generosity. I have been so impressed with the sheer kindness of others. They wanted nothing in return. Thank you so very much.
The ham spirit is alive and well. If you can, do something kind for others and keep the amateur spirit alive.
As I have often said, there are far more kind people than bad people, but kindness is not newsworthy.
Thank you again.
Ely - NOT amateur radio
A few days ago we visited Ely. We ate at the Almonry overlooking Ely Cathedral.
22 Sept 2021
Cambs Net Wednesday 2m FM 1900z
Every Wednesday evening the Cambridge Radio Club (CDARC) has a net on 145.55MHz FM at 1900z. It usually lasts just over 30 minutes. We recently combined this with the East Cambs Net that used to meet on Mondays. The same people were largely on.
With my poor voice, this is quite a challenge, but I try to come on if I can. It helps when there are several people on so I don't have to speak that often, HI.
Usually I run 10W to my V2000 vertical omni. Last time I forgot to connect the PSU, so was running 5W from the battery on the IC-705.
Anyone is warmly welcomed. You do not have to be a CDARC member.
Ely - NOT amateur radio
Blackberry picking - NOT amateur radio
10m FT8 RX (Wednesday)
By mistake, I left my 10m FT8 RX running overnight. Late last night, 1 G was spotted calling CQ, but nothing was spotted overnight.
My antenna is a low Par end-fed dipole at about 3m above ground.
So far today just a spot of PA0KGB (278km) on RX.
UPDATE 1715z: 34 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX today with the furthermost PT2VHF (8874km) in Brazil. Seems to be quite quiet at the moment.
UPDATE 2016z: A brief period on TX was spotted by M0NKR (27km). No further spots on RX.
Religions - NOT amateur radio
As a youth, I was quite a good Christian. As I got older, I have become less sure what I believe. I think agnostic best describes me: I am unsure.
It seems to me that all world religions hint at something beyond ourselves. It puzzles me that, depending on where we are in the world, we are Christians, Jews, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus, Taos, Dos etc. All cannot be totally wrong. It seems amazing to me that in different cultures different religions take hold.
There has always been an element of trying to "sell" a particular religion to a different culture with the chosen religion always being "right".
Most wars and conflicts have religions at their heart, sadly.
No, I think all religions are hints and try to explain our finite lives. Not one religion succeeds in my view.
Shetland - NOT amateur radio
The photo shows Compass Head in the Shetland Islands. It was on 365project yesterday. Shetland is the most northerly part of Scotland and at one time belonged to Norway, a country with which these islands have close links even today.
GQRP club sales
Just seen this message from Steve G1KQH:
"Graham G3MFJ is currently in hospital so club sales is closed until further notice. Please send no orders and make no enquiries about components until you hear from us.
If you have already placed an order then we will appreciate your patience as it can't obviously be dealt with.
Kind Regards
Tony G4WIF"
I have no information further to this. I bought a SPRAT on a stick only quite recently. Quite a few people use GQRP club sales. Let us hope this is nothing too serious.
21 Sept 2021
472kHz WSPR QRP TX
I really should try to find the fault in my 472kHz transverter.
At first, I thought it was my earth-electrode antenna, so I completely replaced the wire. The output FET was replaced.
If my brain was less foggy I am sure I could get to the bottom of it and find what is wrong. With 10mW ERP (measured) it was regularly making it to Norway.
There are a lot of people monitoring, but few on TX.
See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/630m-472khz-transverter .
G3XBM website
A reminder that a lot of my past projects are on my website.
On my video channel you can find videos about my projects.
I hope you can be inspired by these sources. Nothing would please me more than if these were a springboard for your own projects. Probably all my projects can be improved, so don't be afraid to experiment.
Lunch with a view in Ely - NOT amateur radio
I think our sandwiches were not medieval! They were freshly made today and were very good.
What a mess - NOT amateur radio
We have fought wars in Afghanistan of about 200 years. We left ignominiously recently having spent billions along with the USA. The latest cock-up is revealing the identities and photos of interpreters whose lives are now in mortal danger.
I am conflicted, but feel after the last 20 years we have spent a lot of money and achieved very little. Maybe we should learn the lessons of history. There is little doubt over the original aims after 9/11. Nation building was never, publicly, an aim.
10m FT8 QRP (Tuesday)
Following my usual pattern, I went on 10m FT8 TX with 2.5W for a few minutes and then RX only. No spots given or received and no QSOs.
UPDATE 0902z: 2 spots on RX with furthermost F5RD (681km).
UPDATE 1603z: 36 stations spotted on RX with the furthermost A65BR (5455km) in the UAE.
UPDATE 1803z: 78 stations spotted with the furthermost ZS1F (9745km).
Kingsbridge Devon many years ago - NOT amateur radio
This photo probably dates from the 1940s or 1950s and shows the main street in Kingsbridge where I lived for much of my teenage years.
137kHz tests with an E-field probe mobile
Before my stroke, I did some mobile tests on 137kHz QRSS QRP using an EFP with an FT817 RX. The EFP was mounted on a mag mount. Results totally exceeded my expectations. After I reached 24km, I gave up. This was with a very low ERP (uWs).
See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/antennas/137khz-efp-rx-antenna .
A world away - NOT amateur radio
20 Sept 2021
10m Phaser
Because of my poor building skills, a very kind amateur in Scotland has built and tested my 10m Phaser kit. All being well, it should be back this week.
The Phaser is a QRP SSB transceiver, for FT8 mainly, producing about 3W pep. It is a phasing rig designed by Dave Benson K1SWL. It should allow the "big rig" to be used for other things.
See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/10m-phaser .
Brain overload, stroke and autism - NOT amateur radio
As many of you will know, I had a stroke in 2013, out of the blue. It put me in hospital for 3.5 months. I had never before stayed in hospital! All strokes are different, and overall I was lucky with all my main functions remaining intact. My fine motor skills are poor. Although you may disagree (!), my intellectual functions seem unchanged.
I am currently reading a book by Oliver Sacks that has got me thinking. Now, this may just be me getting older, but I am aware of some changes. Since my stroke, I always felt giddy and have had a very poor voice, although most of me works. My wife and I have enjoyed some good holidays both here and abroad. Apart from the giddiness, walking is OK.
In the last year, I have been aware of brain overload. When driving I seem to think of everything that can be a hazard. Driving is no longer a pleasure. Generally, things seem to be exaggerated. It strikes me that this is similar to how some autistic people must experience the world - basically my brain feels overloaded.
It leaves me wondering - are some strokes and some forms of autism similar? I'd be interested to hear of any research in this area.
10m FT8 QRP (Monday)
After a brief session on 2.5W TX I have been on RX the rest of the time. It is now 0840z, and just 1 G spotted and nobody spotted me.
UPDATE 1037z: Just 3 stations spotted so far. The 2 from mainland Europe were probably Es, but could have been aircraft reflection. At this point yesterday, things were better.
UPDATE 1917z: Only 7 stations spotted. All in Europe. A bad day.
UPDATE 2058z: 10 stations spotted with the furthermost LU8EX (11209km) in Argentina.
10m FT8 RX yesterday
It is getting back in its stride again.
South America seems pretty regular in the evening.
19 Sept 2021
PSKreporter maps
This is a resource I find really useful. Although I use it mostly with FT8, it supports many modes.
My WSJT-X automatically uploads what I receive here. It means I can see (on another PC in the lounge or bed!) in graphical form the stations I am spotting.
When on FT8 TX I can see which stations are spotting me.
Unusual sunflower - NOT amateur radio
Among these is the unusual one shown in the photo, which was given by a friend.
All quiet - NOT amateur radio
Today it was very quiet.
10m FT8 RX (Sunday)
It is now 0820z and I have been on 10m FT8 RX for about 10 minutes. So far, 3 stations spotted with the furthermost IK8UKA (1649km).
UPDATE 0920z: 11 stations so far spotted on 10m FT8 RX today.
UPDATE 1038z: 28 stations spotted.
UPDATE 1744z: 77 stations spotted. All in Europe so far. Furthermost is SV1EBV (2263km).
UPDATE 1826z: 92 stations spotted with the furthermost PY2XYZ (9585km) in Brazil.
Kitten sitting - NOT amateur radio
He is very lively!
ICOM IC-9700
If I had money to burn, this is a VHF/UHF rig that I might consider. It covers 2m, 70cm and 23cm, all modes. It is an SDR transceiver. It is similar to the IC-7300 in ergonomics. I have an IC-705 that seems to do all I want.
See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/vhfuhfmicrowaves/vhfuhf-commercial-rigs/ic-9700 .
18 Sept 2021
Brighton collage - NOT amateur radio
For about a day now, we have been back home after a short break in Brighton travelling by train. The photo shows some of the scenes. We had a good break.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
