Solar flux is 154 and the SSN 103. A=8 and K=1.
6 Jan 2023
5 Jan 2023
Spring coming - NOT amateur radio
As the weeks progress we will see more. In the last 7 days many more snowdrops have appeared and we saw the first daffodils of the season.
Tactile tree bark - NOT amateur radio
8m QRP FT8 (Thursday)
Since doing a system restore on my shack PC, I have been on 8m with 2.5W FT8 on 40.680 MHz, but no spots at 1030z.
UPDATE 2014z: Spotted by WESSEXSDR (265km) earlier. Now QRT.
10m QRP WSPR TX (Thursday)
For about an hour I have been on 10m WSPR TX with 500mW from the W5OLF beacon. So far, spots of me from 2 unique stations at 1022z.
UPDATE 1036z: FR1GZ (9724km) is now spotting me too.
UPDATE 1241z: 7 stations spotted so far.
UPDATE 1448z: The 10 spots of my 500mW so far today are shown on the map.
UPDATE 2020z: 14 spots of me today.
System restore - NOT amateur radio
As my PC was not communicating with my SignaLink USB since installing the driver for my SDR, I did a system restore. FT8 is again working. I shall try the SDR on a different PC!!
4 Jan 2023
SDR issues
About a week ago I bought an Neoelec SDR (highly rated) from Amazon. For various reasons, I have not been able to set this up.
It seems incredibly difficult to install the driver. In my view, the instructions were useless. I have now installed the driver, but it no longer recognises the SignaLink USB, so I cannot, at present, operate FT8. I am sure the solutions are relatively easy, but I was expecting this to be dead easy.
Although I have installed the recommended SDR software I have still not got it working.
It is all not helped by having brain fog as a result of my 2013 stroke. It is like wading through treacle and I cannot think clearly.
10m QRP WSPR TX (Wednesday)
 |
| Stations spotting my 500mW 10m WSPR today |
This morning I am again on 10m (500mW) TX. At 1210z, 6 stations have spotted me.
8m winter Es
This report came yesterday from Borut S50B in Slovenia. Signals were obviously just on the edge, but it shows even 2.5W to a low dipole is enough for winter Es on 8m FT8.
3 Jan 2023
2m activity contest this evening
Not sure about you, but I am all mixed up over the days of the week! I thought yesterday was Tuesday.
Tonight is the first 2m activity contest organised by the RSGB. I usually stay on for less than an hour and enter the low power section with my ICOM IC-705 and big-wheel omni antenna.
See https://www.rsgbcc.org/cgi-bin/contest_rules.pl?contest=2mukac .
Chromebook - NOT amateur radio
This is being written on my Asus Chromebook. It has been owned and used for over 3 years. It still has a good battery life, boots up in seconds and does most things I ever need.
When I first got it, I wondered if I was going to make a big mistake. Instead, it has been brilliant and I have no regrets at all.
8m QRP FT8 (Tuesday)
Since just before lunch, I have been on 40.680 MHz FT8 with my 2.5W to the dipole.
UPDATE 1804z: No spots on TX or RX today. QRT soon.
10m QRP WSPR TX (Tuesday)
Since just before lunch, I have been on 10m WSPR TX with my 500mW beacon. So far just local spots.
8m T&I permit
OFCOM has informed me that my T&I permit (and all similar) are not renewable, but I am free to apply for a new one.
My current permit expires in early April. As there seems little prospect of even a very tiny 8m amateur band, I guess I have little alternative but to pay £50 to do experiments that should be free.
Perhaps I should ask for 10kW from 1 kHz to 300 GHz, all modes, to show how utterly stupid this is.
Remember, no callsigns or locations are needed! How totally stupid! I could cause horrendous interference to vital services and be totally untraceable!!
Fungus - NOT amateur radio
2 Jan 2023
Bell ringing videos - NOT amateur radio
My elder grandson is mad on bell ringing He as rung in over 80 towers now in London and East Anglia. He has a YouTube channel with some recordings of tower bells. He recently changed the channel name to StedmanTriples783.
Reach walk - NOT amateur radio
It was very muddy under foot. There has been a fair here since the 1200s. It is a very sleepy village.
8m QRP FT8 (Monday)
I have been most of the morning on 8m 2.5W FT8, but no spots as of 1425z.
UPDATE 1425z: Now 8m FT8 RX only.
10m QRP WSPR (Monday)
Parsonage Farm - NOT amateur radio
We went for a walk around the village yesterday. This field is a picture with cow parsley in the spring although you would not know at this time of year.
1 Jan 2023
Oscar 100 geosynchronous
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| Activity on the narrowband transponder of Oscar 100 on New Year's Day afternoon |
Well, on a European Sunday, New Year's Day when many are on leave, you would have expected this satellite to be as busy as ever. In fact there was hardly anyone on at 1525z! In my view, this is a pity. It is unlikely we will get a second chance of a piggy back ride. People have voted with their feet and do not like repeaters in the sky.
WSPR rocks
It is not clear to me how services other than WSPRnet get their WSPR spots. In the past I have always used WSPRnet to see where I am being spotted, but another site that looks (at least) as good is WSPRrocks. It would appear you can chose different time periods that makes it better than WSPRnet. I have no idea (yet) what spotQ means!
Sugar beet? - NOT amateur radio
10m QRP WSPR TX (Sunday)
As usual, when I am on 8m FT8, my 500mW W5OLF 500mW 10m WSPR TX beacon is on. It is now 1043z and, so far, no spots. Probably many are still in bed as it is Sunday and New Year's Day.
UPDATE 1327z: Just spots from SV9 so far today.
UPDATE 1510z: Doh: it helps if the PA of beacon is switched on too!! So, the SV spots were probably with just microwatts only. I have now turned on the PA.
Solar data
At the start of the month, there is usually an update of solar data at this site. It is usually my first port of call for solar data.
As late as yesterday, it was still showing the solar peak as November 2023, which seems early to me, although I am no solar expert!
Happy New Year - NOT amateur radio
Anyway, I really hope 2023 is a good one for everyone. The last year was a tough one for many and I hope this one is better.
If you are chasing rare DX or DXCC good luck!!
Unlike previous years, I have not made any special resolutions (other than trying to get rid of a bit of weight!). All the best for the year ahead.
31 Dec 2022
Stamps swap-out - NOT amateur radio
At the moment in the UK Royal Mail workers are having a series of strikes to get a higher wage. Whilst I can understand workers trying to get salaries that keep up with inflation, there is a great danger of long-term damage to their jobs.
Fewer letters and postcards are being sent these days as people use email instead. They are trying to focus on parcels, but people are finding out there are alternative people who do this at competitive rates that are often cheaper. There is danger people will always use them in future further damaging the Royal Mail's business model, and profits.
See https://www.royalmail.com/sending/barcoded-stamps .
UPDATE 1600z: I have been told by Steve G1KQH that the deadline to use up old stamps has been extended to next July following complaints by customers.
10m QRP WSPR TX (Saturday)
My 500mW 10m WSPR beacon TX was turned on at 0905z. No spots at 0915z.
UPDATE 1810z: 7 stations spotting me.
8m QRP FT8 (Saturday)
My QRP 8m FT8 was turned on about 0905z. As yet, no spots.
UPDATE 1147z: No spots.
New Year resolutions? - NOT amateur radio
Many people start the new year with resolutions to do things differently. At the moment I have not made any plans apart from going on a diet!!
Plans for today
Yes, I shall test my SDR later!! Also, I intend to go on 10m WSPR QRP TX and 8m QRP FT8.
8m permit renewal?
As there seems little prospect of even a tiny 8m amateur band by NoV, I have asked OFCOM if it will renew my T&I licence when it expires in April. Awaiting a response. If it and the FCC are so dead set against an amateur band at 8m for research at least they could explain why.
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