Geosynchronous Oscar 100

Since I last looked, there is not much change. This was European mid afternoon on a weekend, when activity is highest. Still plenty of space.

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/ .

St George's Norwich - NOT amateur radio

The photo shows St George's Church in Tombland, Norwich that we passed on Friday.  

It is not far from the cathedral. Sadly it was locked. 

2m FT8 RX in the last day

77 stations spotted on FT8 RX in the last day with just the omni big-wheel antenna. 

Did someone say 2m is dead?  Try FT8. I suspect more people are choosing to use FT8, so the rest of the band appears quiet.

The furthermost is F8BON (684km).

10m WSPR QRP TX (Sunday)

 When I am using 2m FT8, the 10m antenna is available. I keep forgetting that I can still go on 10m WSPR TX using my 500mW W5OLF WSPR beacon. This morning, I shall go on 10m WSPR TX. I must remember this when I get active on 8m.

UPDATE 0830z: WSPR TX turned on at 0825z. Just G4KPX (14km) spotting me. 

UPDATE 1500z: 3 unique stations spotting me.

Sunspots - Sunday March 27th 2022

 Solar flux is 119 and the SSN 48.  A=7 and K=2.

Summer migrant birds - NOT amateur radio

It is fair to call me a fair weather bird watcher. I are very unlikely to look for birds in the rain! 

There have now been a couple of reports of swallows (to some they are known as barn swallows) in South Devon. The earliest I have seen them in East Anglia is April 7th. Last year there were very few.

Already returning chiffchaffs can be heard and sand martins seen in Devon.

See https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/swallow/.

Dipole calculator

In the next few days, I have to make a dipole for the 8m band on which I have special permission to TX for 12 months. At my QTH, the most suitable antenna is a simple wire dipole. You may be interested in this calculator.

See https://www.wireantennas.co.uk/dipole-calculator . 

Burwell ( Lincolnshire) - NOT amateur radio

We live in Burwell, Cambridgeshire. There is a much smaller Burwell in Lincolnshire shown in the photo. 

UK 8m permits

As I understand it, 3 people in the UK have already got 8m TX permits. Others could follow. 

The coming Es season could be interesting. Certainly at least 2 will be on FT8 and a single USB dial setting will be needed, so just monitoring this should help with reports and QSOs. 

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/vhfuhfmicrowaves/8m-band .

Spring in the garden - NOT amateur radio

The last few days have been warm and sunny, so we have done some jobs in the garden and had some meals in the sunshine. 

Later next week it is expected to be much colder! 

Norwich tapas - NOT amateur radio

Tapas, as far as I know, is a Spanish invention. Instead of a large meal, you are served several small dishes of your choosing, all of which you can share. We had a lovely tapas lunch in Norwich yesterday and the price was extremely reasonable. I was just about to pay a tip when I was told the bill included the tip!

See https://www.dontxoko.com/ .

Medieval manuscript - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday, we went to Norwich on the train. It is about an hour on the train. This medieval book was on display in St Peter Mancroft church in the centre of the city.  Amazing to think this was done by monks by hand many hundreds of years ago.

2m FT8 QRP (Saturday)

It is now 0930z. After a brief TX period with 2.5W to the big wheel (4 Gs spotted me), I am now RX only, but nobody spotted yet.

UPDATE  0948z:  6 stations spotted on RX with the furthermost DJ0PY (453km).

UPDATE 1505z:  46 stations in 6 countries spotted so far on 2m FT8 RX today.

UPDATE 2212z:  62 stations spotted on RX today as the map shows. 

Sunspots - Saturday March 26th 2022

Solar flux is 112 and the SSN 50.  A=10 and K=1. 

2m FT8 QRP (Friday)

This evening I have  been on 2m FT8 with 2.5W to the big-wheel omni. 15 stations have spotted me on TX and I have spotted 8 stations on RX.

Norwich Market - NOT amateur radio

On this sunny spring day we went to Norwich on the train. The photo shows the market with people enjoying the sun. 

6m FT8 QRP (Friday)

It is now 0840z. For about an hour I have been on 6m FT8 initially with 2.5W to the vertical omni V2000 with just one G spotting me. Since then I am RX only.  Just 2 G stations spotted.

10m WSPR QRP TX (Friday)

When I am on 6m FT8 QRP I keep forgetting the 10m antenna is free and I can go on 10m WSPR TX with the stand alone W5OLF WSPR beacon. Today I remembered! 

After about an hour just spots by G4KPX (14km) and no DX.

Old friends - NOT amateur radio

On Wednesday we went to Anglesey Abbey with old friends we have known since 1968.

Sunspots - Friday March 25th 2022

Solar flux is 112 and the SSN 44.  A=9 and K=3.

Carpe Diem - NOT amateur radio

This means "make the most of the moment".

As we get older, this has more meaning. Basically, it urges us all to make the most of the "now" as we do not know what the future holds for us all.

Enjoy every moment however simple it is.

OFCOM and repeaters for mobile phones

 OFCOM is carrying out a consultation on the use of in-house boosters for mobile phones. See the OFCOM website for details.

Rally on?

According to my information, Sunday March 27th is the Callington ARS rally in Cornwall. Back in the 1960s I went to this rally. It was about 30 miles from where I lived in South Devon.

As always. contact the organisers before travelling any distance is case things have changed.

 Contact Roger 2E0RPH on 07854 088882 for details.

Near us - NOT amateur radio

 

This is the village of Lode, about 4 miles from us. At the moment, the magnolia and daffodils look a picture.

That time of year - NOT amateur radio

It is lovely to be in the garden again in spring, but the grass does grow!

In these troubled times it is great to take pleasure in ordinary things. We have a nice home and food. Some do not. 

6m FT8 QRP (Thursday)

At about 0940z my 6m FT8 system was turned on.  After a few minutes on TX with 2.5W and the vertical omni V2000 (2 G spots, but no QSOs) I am again RX only.

UPDATE  1015z:  Just 3 G stations spotted.

UPDATE 1410z:  11 Gs spotted. No DX.

UPDATE 1952z:  14 Gs spotted today. QRT later.

Sunspots - Thursday March 24th 2022

Solar flux is 106 and the SSN 27. A=7 and K=2.

Anglesey Abbey with old friends - NOT amateur radio

We first met these friends at university in 1968. We met at nearby Anglesey Abbey and they came here for lunch later. 

There were loads of daffodils out and carpets of a blue flower I had not seen before. These had star like petals but they were not aconites. At least, if they were they were a very strange variety.

8m TX permit has arrived!!

 All being well, I should start sending 8m FT8 from April 2nd on 40.676kHz (or close to it). I am also allowed to send CW.  Some crossband QSOs are expected!

WSJT-X and 8m

OFCOM has told me my permit to TX on 8m is coming. My intention is to send FT8 most of the time, with the occasional CW and WSPR.

I know my widebanded FT817ND produces power at 8m and is clean. I also know PSKreporter supports 8m. Then, last night, I had a sudden panic. Did WSJT-X support 8m?  

This morning I checked - it does! I am sure with a hack it would have been possible, but in its standard form it does already. 

I hope to do some local CW crossband tests as well initially. My permit should start in early April and last for a year. 

Dad's seat - NOT amateur radio

One of my FaceBook memories for today was from 10 years ago with me on one of the seats in Devon in 2012. It was erected in memory of my dad who died in 1987. After he retired, he ran a job creation team for the National Trust.  The odd thing is if he walked in the door now, it would seem natural!

6m FT8 QRP (Wednesday)

 At just before 0900z I decided to go on 6m FT8. With my 2.5W and the V2000 vertical omni I was called by G3XDV (45km).  A nice surprise QSO resulted. In all, 4 Gs spotted my QRP CQ.

At the moment, I am RX only.

UPDATE 1026z:  6 Gs spotted on RX.

UPDATE 1716z:  20 stations in 5 countries spotted today. 

Sunspots - Wednesday March 23rd 2022

 Solar flux is 106 and the SSN 81.  A=8 and K=2.

Mousa sunrise - NOT amateur radio

This photo was on 365project a few weeks ago. It shows the sunrise over Mousa in the Shetland Is.

8m QSO between Croatia and South Africa

The EI7GL blog has details of a first 8m QSO between Croatia and South Africa.

See https://ei7gl.blogspot.com .

Geeks - NOT amateur radio

It is good we are all different. 

My thing is radio, but the man in the photo obviously likes model railways. 

This was at the "Burwell at Large" exhibition earlier in the week, where local societies put on stalls.

6m FT8 QRP (Tuesday)

For a change, I am on 6m FT8 QRP. I turned things on (2.5W to the vertical omni V2000) just before 0900z. 2 Gs spotted me on TX, but nothing yet on RX. At the moment, I am RX only.

UPDATE 1025z:   10 G stations spotted on RX.

UPDATE 1120z:    16 stations spotted (mostly Gs) with the furthermost SM5EPO (1344km).

UPDATE 1317z:    23 stations spotted, all G apart from 2 in continental Europe.

UPDATE 1350z:    Still 23 stations spotted on RX. A brief TX period just now at 2.5W was spotted by G0OPQ (50km), but no QSOs. RX only again now.

UPDATE 2108z:   29 stations spotted today on 6m FT8 RX (see logbook). QRT soon.

UPDATE 2137z:   One late QSO with G3YDY (98km). Now QRT.

Sunspots - Tuesday March 22nd 2022

Solar flux is 98 and the SSN 30. A=4 and K=3. 

Sad news

There is a report on Southgate News that Giles Read, who was the technical editor of RadCom, has died suddenly of cancer.

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2022/march/giles-read-g1mfg-sk.htm#.YjjIRorP3rc .

Two Beofengs for £22.99

Although I have not looked around, I see you can buy 2 Beofeng 5W UHF hand portables on eBay for £22.99.  On the way somebody makes a profit. I know quality control is a bit hit and miss but these prices are stupid.  They come with batteries, chargers, carrying straps and belt clips. How do they do it and make profits?