OFCOM and wireless telegraphy fees

 OFCOM is consulting on the fees it charges for certain WT services. See their website for details.

10m QRP FT8 (Thursday)

It is now 0800z. I have been on 10m FR8 RX for about 15 minutes. So far, 92 stations spotted. 10m is really good already.

UPDATE 0852z:  So far this morning, 193 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX including D2UY in Angola. I did not realise there is a bit of Angola that is cut off from the main body of the country.

My 8m challenge

This autumn, I am trying to reach the USA on 8m FT8 TX on 40.680 MHz USB with my QRP. I only use 5W to a low dipole antenna. It is possible if there are enough monitors and the MUF goes high enough. So far, I have not succeeded.

My rig is a modified FT817ND. 

Bury St Edmunds yesterday - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday was market day in Bury St Edmunds. It is a delightful place with mostly locals.

Sunspots - Thursday October 13th 2022

Solar flux is 141 and the SSN 62. A=6 and K=2.

70cm QRP FT8

At 1900z, I think there is an RSGB organised activity FT8 contest. Before that, I think there is a European 70cm FT8 contest. I have already worked a local.

Stations spotting my QRP
on 70cm FT8 this evening

UPDATE 2002z:  Loads of stations spotted on 70cm FT8 RX including EI and PE. Quite a few spotted me on QRP FT8 TX with the 2m big-wheel omni antenna.

10m WSPR QRP TX

It is now 1503z and I have been on 10m WSPR TX (500mW), so far, after about 15 minutes by 2 stations in the Canary Is.

UPDATE 1736z: 12 unique stations spotted.

8m QRP FT8 TX

In a few moments I hope to be on 8m QRP FT8 TX on 40.680 MHz (first). 

UPDATE 1748z:  No spots on RX or TX. Perhaps another day I shall reach the USA? 10m WSPR has been good to the USA, but the E-W F2 MUF needs to reach 40.682 MHz.

Bury St Edmunds Abbey Gardens - NOT amateur radio

These are the Abbey Gardens in Bury St Edmunds. We went there today. 

Museum van - NOT amateur radio

This little van used to do deliveries locally.  It was in our local museum across the road yesterday. 

Sunspots - Wednesday October 12th 2022

Solar flux is 150 and the SSN 72.  A=7 and K=1.

70cm activity contest (UKAC) October

This evening, I took part in the 70cm activity contest (UKAC). In all, 3 stations were worked when using 10W and the 2m big-wheel omni antenna. I was on for under an hour.

The impression I am getting is there are fewer SSB stations active than there were a few years ago. Perhaps more are using FT8 than SSB these days? Unless I am mistaken the 70cm FT8 UKAC is tomorrow. It will be interesting to see how busy this is. My expectation is there will be far more people active during this.

Scotland - NOT amateur radio

People say Scotland is one of the most beautiful places on earth when it is not raining. When it rains it can be very drab. 

One of the people I follow on 365project usually has photos of the Shetland Islands. This photo is of a place on the mainland. 

8m QRP FT8 TX (Tuesday)

Although I was not planning to go on 8m until late this afternoon, I am already on QRP 8m FT8 TX on 40.680 MHz.

You may be interested in my 8m webpage. See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/vhfuhfmicrowaves/8m-band .

UPDATE 1732z:  No spots today.

Video channel

A reminder that some of my videos might be of interest. Most are about amateur radio. A few are not. Many give more details of some of my projects.

See https://www.youtube.com/user/G3XBM

10m WSPR QRP TX

My plan for today is to go on 10m QRP WSPR (500mW) TX and switch to 8m QRP TX FT8 later this afternoon. As the table shows, several 10m WSPR spots from the USA yesterday.

10m WSPR spots of my QRP
500mW beacon yesterday

UPDATE 0948z:  On QRP 10m WSPR now.

UPDATE 1342z:  Spotted by several stations in the USA.

UPDATE 1717z:  10 stations spotted.

Cambridge Sightseeing - NOT amateur radio

Most big cities around the world have a bus to take tourists around to see the sights. 

I have no idea what they charge, but they can be a useful way to get your bearings. 

Sunspots - Tuesday October 11th 2022

Solar flux is 163 and the SSN 134. A=10 and K=2.

10m QRP WSPR TX

As the 10m antenna is available when on 8m FT8 QRP, I decided to go on 10m QRP WSPR TX with the 500mW beacon.

8m QRP FT8 TX (Monday)

Although I have been on 8m for about 2 hours, no spots at all at 1805z. Another disappointing day.

Family history - NOT amateur radio

One of my Facebook memories today was this post about family history.

Plans for today (Monday)

This morning, I shall not be on. After lunch, I hope to be on 10m FT8 RX.  Later, if thing are promising, I expect to be on 8m QRP FT8 TX as well as 10m WSPR QRP TX. 

My U3A course in Cambridge starts this afternoon, so I shall not be on TX until late afternoon.

Apple day - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday our neighbour, who has a big orchard of apples, had an apple day where we picked our own. I can see some chutney coming! 

Sunspots - Monday October 10th 2022

Solar flux is 161 and the SSN 114. A=24 and and K=4.

8m QRP FT8 TX (Sunday)

After several hours on 8m QRP TX FT8 on 40.680 MHz (it is now 2005z) I have again failed to get any spots from the USA, or anywhere else. 

At some point I shall make it.

UPDATE 2025z:  Now QRT.

Norwich - NOT amateur radio

Norwich was forgotten by the UK industrial revolution. Today, it is a bit cut off, whereas years ago it was the second most important city in England because of the wool trade. 

I love Norwich. 

Bell hunting - NOT amateur radio

Every other Sunday, we go bell hunting with our grandson who is nearly 15. 

He has rung now in about 50 churches. He has a YouTube channel called Ringer Luke. 

Currently he is doing a project on unringable bells. These are bells that cannot be rung in the conventional way as they are no longer safe. Today we went to Impington near Cambridge, where some of the bells were damaged by water dripping.

10m FT8 RX

 

At about 1115z I went on 10m FT8 RX.  So far (at 1137z) 147 stations spotted so far today from all over.

UPDATE 1300z:  361 stations spotted today so far on 10m FT8 RX.

Plans for the day (Sunday)

Later this morning (all being well) I expect to be on 10m FT8 RX. 

If things look promising, I shall switch to 8m QRP TX on 40.680 MHz later in the afternoon, hoping to reach the USA.  As yet, this has not been successful on 8m, but let's hope for success whilst F2 propagation is good. 

Having worked the USA handheld with QRP SSB from the bedroom with just a base loaded whip on 10m SSB, it should be easily possible on 8m FT8 if there is propagation. My main issue is there are too few 8m monitors in the USA. This means the USA may be reached on 8m QRP FT8, but not be reported!

Norwich train - NOT amateur radio

Last week, we went to Norwich by train from Ely.  Ely station is always busy. I guess this is because many lines converge here.

Sunspots - Sunday October 9th 2022

Solar flux is 157 and the SSN 137 A=12 and K=4.

King's College Chapel a year ago - NOT amateur radio

A year ago we had this practically to ourselves because of the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Engineering in the future?

This photo was taken some years ago in the back of the garage in our old house. I failed with my grandson. 

Huge satellite - NOT amateur radio

A huge satellite should be clearly visible from Earth. In fact some astronomers are worried that this and its companions could be so bright they may interfere with some observations on earth.

See https://cosmosmagazine.com/technology/bluewalker-launched-spacex-largest-satellite-astronomers/ .

12m FT8 RX

As 8m was drawing a blank, I went on 12m FT8 RX using the 8m (i.e. well off tune!) antenna. To my surprise, it was full of FT8 signals around 24.915 MHz. After probably less than 15 minutes, 126 unique stations spotted. I did try 15m briefly, but this was much the same.

UPDATE 1446z:  301 stations spotted from most parts of the world.

10m WSPR QRP TX (Saturday)

As the 10m antenna is available, I have remembered to go on 10m WSPR (I keep forgetting I can do this!).  No spots yet today.

UPDATE 0918z:  Several spots from the Canary Is. These look like single hop F2.

UPDATE 1650z:   21 spots so far, with lots from the USA. It appears I am romping into the USA on 10m WSPR.

8m QRP FT8 TX (Saturday)

The 8m FT8 gear was turned on at 0846z on 40.680 MHz.  No spots yet. 

UPDATE 0938z:    No spots.

UPDATE 1645z:    I am trying again on 40.680 MHz FT8 QRP to get spotted in the USA. Alas, no spots.

Speech processing

Most rigs of the modern era have speech compressors. Early radios did not, and it was vital to make sure your signal was "punchy". I well remember an article in an early VHF Communications magazine that looked at this.

See https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-DX/VHF-Communications/VHF-COMM.1971.1.pdf .

Norwich market - NOT amateur radio

Norwich is a fine city with a great market. We visited there on Thursday. 

10m WSPR yesterday

As I was on 8m FT8 yesterday evening and the 10m antenna was free, I decided to go on 10m WSPR TX with my 500mW beacon. 

As well as several Ws, I was spotted in Antarctica by DP0GVN/3. which is the German base down there. This is the first time I have been spotted in Antarctica this solar cycle.