Nearly 4 years ago, I did a walk-through of my shack at that time. Since then, the rigs have changed a bit and I have an 8m dipole erected.
24 Sept 2022
10m QRP FT8 (Saturday)
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| Stations spotted mid-afternoon on 10m FT8 RX |
The future of radio clubs
For several years radio clubs have been unable to meet because of Covid-19. Some turned to Zoom and found it far better than many expected. I have been very impressed how good these meetings have been. With Zoom all participants can chat and see each other if they wish.
The Cambridge Club has started meeting again in person, but has held "virtual" meetings, so that people at home can still see the talks and take part. As I am really unable to drive far by car at night, I have joined the last 2 meetings by Zoom.
Last night there were far more people on Zoom than in person! I just wonder if this is the future of radio clubs? The advantage of Zoom is speakers and listeners can be anywhere in the world. In the past, CDARC has had people give talks from Canada. With screen sharing this has been really good. We have had viewers from all sorts of places, from where they would be totally unable to attend in person.
What I wonder is should clubs do talks via Zoom with "in person" meet ups, say, once a month? No need to hire rooms, members could be from across the world, they could have lower fees. For those without PCs, people could get together in each other's homes. Social meetings could be in a pub or someone's home.
Love lies bleeding - NOT amateur radio
Until a friend in the village grew these from seed and gave them to us we had never heard of them. We planted them and they made a great display. The name is apt.
Plans for today
After breakfast, I hope to be on 10m FT8. If 10m is promising, I shall QSY to 8m FT8.
Where I come from - NOT amateur radio
This is where I come from in South Devon. It is still very beautiful. I try to get there every year. My brother still lives there.
23 Sept 2022
Slovenia - NOT amateur radio
It is like Switzerland, but about half the price!
Different challenges
Next year, assuming I am still around (!), I should have some new QRP challenges. I hope to be active on 23cm and on 4m. Both are quite different, but should be fun.
4m next Es season?
I know 4m is unlikely to be "open" as much as 10m, 8m or 6m, but there should be several Es openings into Europe. Using my transverter, this should allow me some 4m Es QSOs, especially with FT8.
See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/vhfuhfmicrowaves/homebrew/4m-transverter .
23cm antenna
The transverter manufacturer has confirmed it will supply a small test antenna. This means I am probably OK for very local contacts initially.
Many thanks for the offers to build me a 23cm antenna. People in our community are very kind and I am really touched by the kindness. As I have said before, there are far more kind people around than bad ones, but these unsung heros are not newsworthy!
OFCOM updates this week
Their email said:
"Weekly publications update 23 October 2022"
Of course, they meant September!!! See the OFCOM website for details of what they hold about us.
10m QRP FT8 (Friday)
This morning, I am on 10m FT8. Initially I was on TX and spotted in the Canary Is, but I am now RX only. No QSOs.
UPDATE 0935z: So far, I have spotted 25 stations on 10m FT8 RX.
UPDATE 1725z: 783 stations spotted.
22 Sept 2022
23cm antennas?
As regular readers will know, I am buying a 23cm 2W transverter from SG-Labs in Bulgaria. I think at one time they supplied a small 23cm PCB antenna with it. I have to check if this is still the case.
Looking around, 23cm commercial antennas look very expensive. As the majority of QSOs would be local(ish), I am wondering what you would recommend? As my fine motor skills are not good these days, I don't think I could make one. In the past, I would have made one! Is there one that would be ideal for me?
Rally on Sunday
The following rally is due to take place, but as always check with the organisers first!
Sept 25th - Weston Super Mare RS. See https://e-voice.org.uk/weston-super-mare-radio-society .
10m QRP WSPR TX (Thursday)
As the antenna is free, I am on 10m WSPR TX with 500mW from the W5OLF beacon. No spots of me yet today at 1450z.
UPDATE 1521z: As well as spots of me by local G4KPX (14km) I am also getting spotted by KD5DE (7464km). Pretty sure this is by F2.
UPDATE 1655z: I am again getting spotted by 2 stations in the Canary Is. If these RX are on, it is unusual not to be spotted by them these days on 10m QRP WSPR.
8m QRP FT8 TX and RX (Thursday)
Again, I am on 40.680 MHz QRP FT8 looking for North America.
UPDATE 1516z: No spots.
UPDATE 1843z: QRT on 8m now. No spots all day. Well, that was a waste!
2 radio amateurs
We saw her with her partner and Bernie Wright G4HJW at Wicken Fen earlier. Jenny has the boat at the back with the antenna! Am I surprised? No! At work (a LONG time ago) Jenny had a 3 wheeler in drab green with a 20 foot tank whip!
We had a bite to eat at the cafe there. Nice walk with a break.
Autumn colours - NOT amateur radio
Marconi pre-WW1 radio station
By the First World War it was already old technology.
Where I come from in South Devon - NOT amateur radio
This is a photo of where I come from in South Devon. We can trace our family history back to the mid 1500s in a village near here and I have a record of land ownership nearby in the early 1400s.
21 Sept 2022
17m FT8 RX (Wednesday)
As I was getting nowhere on 8m, I decided to QSY to 17m FT8 using my 10m end fed antenna.
UPDATE 1749z: 33 stations already spotted.
Bumper crop - NOT amateur radio
I guess these must have been ideal conditions.
8m FT8 QRP (Wednesday)
About an hour ago I QSYed to 8m FT8. hoping to be spotted across the Atlantic or spot someone from over there. A QSO would be magic.
Based on ERP alone, this should be possible as I have done it with less ERP on 10m SSB, so 8m FT8 QRP should be possible.
UPDATE 1733z: Nothing on RX or TX today. QSYing to 17m FT8 RX.
Memory costs - NOT amateur radio
Imagine what memory will cost in 2032!
Complete change today?
As an experiment, I may try FT8 RX on a different band with my 10m end fed antenna. I think it has a low SWR on some other bands, but I cannot remember which.
UPDATE 0836z: The antenna would appear to be a good match on 17m, 15m. 12m and 10m. Today, I am trying 15m FT8. My very first signal resulted in a QSO with an LZ station. 8 stations have spotted me on QRP TX! I am RX only now. So far, on 15m FT8 RX, 16 stations spotted.
20 Sept 2022
8m Cornish beacon
According to the beacon keeper, the 8m beacon at GB3MCB on 40.050 MHz should be operational next weekend subject to the rigger and weather. They also have permission for a 5m beacon.
As yet, I have not checked on modes. I hope to copy it by MS, scatter, and maybe tropo.
The probable modes are CW and PI4.
In my view, ALL beacons should include an FT8 sequence as this mode is (I think) as good as PI4 and is included free with WSJT-X and other software packages making 24/7 monitoring easy.
10m QRP WSPR (Tuesday)
After a successful RX session on 10m FT8, I am now on 10m QRP WSPR (500mW from my W5OLF beacon) as the antenna is available.
UPDATE 1815z: Just F2 spots from 2 stations in the Canary Islands. No DX from the USA today. I think most people now use FT8.
8m FT8 RX (Tuesday)
All afternoon and early evening (UK time) I shall be on 40.680 MHz FT8 RX hoping to spot some DX from North America via F2.
If successful, I hope to be on FT8 TX (40.680) later in the week. My first challenge is can I spot anyone from "across the pond" on my low wire dipole!
OFCOM and Mangata satellite licences
OFCOM is consulting about new licences for satellite opearation by Mangata. See the OFCOM website for details.
South Devon - NOT amateur radio
This is Burgh Island from Thurlestone in South Devon, UK. I don't think this photo has been on the blog already. This is very near where I originally came from and still love.
10m FT8 RX (Tuesday)
As mentioned yesterday, I am on 10m FT8 RX again this morning, but may QSY to 8m FT8 RX this afternoon if F2 propagation looks promising. Judging by initial 10m results, F2 to the USA is looking a possibility on 8m later.
Initially, I shall be RX only on 8m FT8 on 40.680 MHz. I shall try TX if things look possible.
UPDATE 0915z: 71 stations already spotted on 10m FT8 RX.
Software VLF RX
This very simple software RX by SM6LKM was found about 10 years ago. I think it has been developed further by others.
19 Sept 2022
8m FT8 tomorrow?
F2 conditions are getting better, so I may try 8m FT8 tomorrow PM. I shall probably go on 10m FT8 in the morning.
At some point this autumn I hope to copy USA 8m stations on 40.680 MHz FT8. To get any reports of my 8m FT8 signals or even a QSO across the Atlantic would be incredible.
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