Staggering numbers - NOT amateur radio

Continuously, I get amazed by the number of planets in the universe. One estimate puts the number of planets as 10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000, which is totally mind blowing. 

At the same time SETI has been searching the universe since the 1960s and have found not a single sign of intelligent life. To me, I find this odd. In the early days, equipment was not as sophisticated as today. However, by now, I would have expected to find something.

My only conclusion is that our view of the universe must be flawed or that we are somehow missing something important.  

To me, all our religious beliefs are too "Earth centred".

I look at the heavens and feel awe.

See https://www.seti.org/ .

70cm activity contest

Last evening, I took part in the 70cm UKAC activity contest organised by the RSGB. As I had just sold my IC-705, I had to use my FT817ND at 2.5W without the speech processor. 

To my surprise I worked 6 stations and some good DX as the map shows.

Once again, my antenna was the 2m big-wheel omni.

Sunspots - Wednesday February 15th 2023

Solar flux is 180 and the SSN 206.  A=8 and K=4.

Hawkedon, Suffolk NOT amateur radio

The photo shows two of the grandchildren on a walk at Hawkedon in Suffolk today.  

Our son says it is a lovely walk we must do.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawkedon .

Reset done on the FT-710AESS

Just now, I did a microprocessor reset on the FT-710AESS. Indeed the audio does come out of both speakers, but there still seems far more from the external speaker irrespective of the AESS balance. Overall, I am not impressed with this AESS "feature". The rest of the rig seems excellent.  At QRP levels, I doubt I shall hear the fan very often! In fact, I have never heard it yet!

UPDATE  1638z:   Must try the transceiver with FT8 soon.

Almost forgot!

Almost as time was running out, I remembered that I had not submitted an entry for the 2m UKAC activity contest for February. With just 2 QSOs before my voice said "enough", I expect I shall be somewhere near the bottom of the low power section! 

Hare Park, Chippenham near Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

 

This photo of my wife and I was taken at nearby Hare Park, Chippenham earlier.

10m QRP WSPR (Tuesday)

 On my 500mW QRP WSPR beacon again. So far today, spotted by 16 unique stations at 1356z.

UPDATE 1636z: 27 unique station spots of my QRP WSPR today (see table).

UPDATE 1730z:  The map shows the spots of me today. 

See http://wspr.rocks/.

UPDATE 1955z:   29 unique stations have spotted me.

8m QRP FT8 (Tuesday)

Just been copied across the Atlantic again on 40.680 MHz FT8 - VO1SIX (3933km).  Again, my power was 2.5W to the low wire dipole. On RX G9PUV and G4APB copied probably by F2 back scatter.

Anglesey Abbey - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday afternoon we went for a walk at nearby Anglesey Abbey. The photo shows a bracket fungus (I think) on a tree trunk. The place is now full of snowdrops and the daffodils are starting to flower. 

This photo was taken on my Canon Powershot Zoom camera on zoom. I bought mine on Amazon, but have just realised the price has shot up again!  Probably wait a bit and the price will fall dramatically again!

Village Church at night - NOT amateur radio

This was our local church last night when it was dark. 

Sunspots - Tuesday February 14th 2023

Solar flux is 189 and the SSN 185.  A=4 and K=1.

FT-710 full reset

MLS have told me it is safe to do a full reset on this rig and I shall not lose 5 MHz and 70 MHz by doing so. Shortly I shall try this in the hope it fixes my issue with AESS not working.  

They also tell me the fan comes on only when necessary. At QRP levels, this should be very infrequently.

UPDATE 2053z:  Reset not yet tried.

Parkin - NOT amateur radio

We have our son and grandson here for a few days.  Our grandson loves Yorkshire Parkin. This is a sort cake made with treacle. It is very soft and tastes delicious.

See https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/parkin .

10m QRP WSPR TX (Monday)

 As usual, I am on TX with my 500mW WSPR beacon.  Plenty of F2 spots of me after an hour.

UPDATE 1710z:  32 stations have spotted me today.

UPDATE 2027z:  35 stations have spotted me today with the furthermost F61895 (9729km). QRT.

Monday plans

Hopefully I can resolve the FT-710AESS issue with AESS and with the fan not being on on RX or low power TX. I shall go on 8m FT8 QRP and 10m QRP WSPR TX. 

UPDATE 1812z:   My son and grandson have been staying here, so only 1 of the 3 things has been done: 10m WSPR TX. The others will have to wait.

South West Coast Path - NOT amateur radio

Sadly I am too old these days to do this walk, or even short stretches of it. I have walked many parts of it in South Devon, and as you might expect, there are some great views. Some do the whole lot over several weeks

See https://www.southwestcoastpath.org.uk/ .

Sunspots - Monday February 13th 2023

Solar flux is 200 and the SSN 197. A=7 and K=0. 

Nearly - NOT amateur radio

The daffodils in our Close are starting to flower.  In a month they will be everywhere. 

These have just come out in the last day.  It looks like a few days will see more coming into flower.

8m QRP FT8 (Sunday)

My QRP FT8 has been on for about 2 hours. So far, no spots. 

UPDATE 1736z:  No spots all day.

UPDATE 1820z:  Scare!!  On 8m, there was no output on FT8. I feared the PA in the FT817ND had been damaged. I connected a 2m antenna and 10m antenna and tried FM. All was well thankfully. Later, I returned to 8m FT8 and all was well. I guess the PA had got too hot. Now QRT.

10m QRP WSPR (Sunday)

My 500mW 10m WSPR beacon has been on for about 90 minutes. It is now 1540z. So far this afternoon, 17 stations have spotted me (see table).

UPDATE 1735z:  20 unique stations have spotted me today.

Optical over the horizon

Before my 2013 stroke, I enjoyed 481 THz tests over the horizon. These days I am unable to do these tests. 

Chilling

This photo was taken in 2006 on Lake Annecy in France.  Looks like a copy of Practical Wireless in my hand. 

Sunday plans

The first thing I want to try is my FT-710AESS again. One possibility is the AESS only works if everything is connected and then the rig turned on. If this fails, a phone call to MLS will be needed. I really hope this is it. Does anybody know if, on later firmware, the fan only comes on when the rig is hot?

Other plans are 10m QRP WSPR TX with my 500mW beacon and 8m FT8.

Yaesu FT-710AESS first impressions

Yesterday, I fired up my Yaesu FT-710AESS for the first time. It is very highly rated on the Sherwood tests coming 4th. 

As a dedicated QRPer, it will be used mostly on its lowest power (5W), although I may run 10W PEP on SSB. It is capable of 100W on the HF bands. It does not cover 2m and 70cm, but does include 4m.  

Everything (I think) seems OK, although the AESS appears not to work, merely switching to the external loudspeaker irrespective of the degree of balance. 

The fan (which used to be on all the time in first versions) appears not to be on. I am not sure if this was changed to come on only when the rig is hot. I want to do a full reset, but want to talk with MLS first in case this loses me 5 MHz and 70 MHz bands.

I am hoping the AESS issue is "finger trouble", although I did everything as stated in the manual (I thought). If the reset does not fix the issue and I cannot find something simple that I am doing wrong, it will have to go back to MLS under warranty. Otherwise it is a good buy.

UPDATE 1546z:  I tried making sure the external LS was connected before turning the rig on, but sadly this did not change things. I have asked MLS about a reset and the fan. I hope the rig does not have to be returned under guarantee as otherwise it is a fine radio.

Sunspots - Sunday February 12th 2023

 Solar flux is 210 and the SSN 209.  A=11 and K=1.

PSKreporter issues?

Usually, I use PSKreporter to see who is spotting my 8m QRP FT8. A few moments ago (about 1315z) briefly a spot showed up of me from the USA and the Canaries. I have not seen these since. So I am puzzled. Did I reach there or not? 

UPDATE 1640z: Mystery solved:  it was reporting my 10m WSPR. No PSKreporter issue. So no, I did not reach the USA today on 8m FT8. Ah well, you win some, you lose some. There will be another day.

Digital modes and time synchronisation

Many digital modes need the PC clock to be accurate. To this end, many use online time servers for this purpose. 

For some time now I have not bothered and use Windows 10 to do the syncing. To do this you have to make sure that Windows 10 can synchronise. Once a day seems to be adequate, although I have habit (probably not necessary) of doing a re-sync when I enter the shack.

If you have Windows 10, this may be all you need.

Hare Park, Chippenham near Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

 

This is another view of Hare Park showing the lake. At this time of year the extensive gardens are open so the public can see the millions of snowdrops that carpet much of it.

8m QRP FT8

Gear turned on 40.680 MHz at about 1020z. No spots.

UPDATE 1705z:  No spots all day. Now QRT.

10m QRP WSPR (Saturday)

Turned on the 500mW 10m WSPR beacon at about 1020z. So far, no spots.

UPDATE 1121z:  Spots from the Canaries and Italy so far.

UPDATE 1650z:   18 spots of my 10m 500mW WSPR TX beacon (see table).

Plans for Saturday

In a few moments, I hope to go on 8m QRP FT8 and 10m QRP WSPR TX with my 500mW beacon. Later, I need to test the FT-710AESS.

Mathematical bridge, Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

When first erected this bridge was supposedly made without nails.

4m transverter

The photo shows my homebrew QRP 4m transverter. Late last year it was resurrected and copied some Es despite not having a 4m antenna. 

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/vhfuhfmicrowaves/homebrew/4m-transverter .

Sunspots - Saturday February 11th 2023

 Solar flux is 208 and the SSN 190.  A=16 and K=3.

8m QRP FT8 (Friday)

 Just turned on 8m QRP FT8 on 40.680 MHz at 1000z. There look like brief meteor pings in the ISM band.

UPDATE 1220z:   G8JNJ reports very strong South African beacon reception on the WESSEXSDR this morning. I think I am receiving G9PUV (158km) by F2 backscatter and G0HVQ (181km) is spotting me, possibly by F2 backscatter.

10m QRP WSPR (Friday)

This morning, my 10m 500mW WSPR TX was turned on at about 0800z. So far, no spots. 

UPDATE 1007z:  It helps to connect the PSU!!  Just realised the -ve wire was out!  On QRP TX now.

UPDATE 1955z: 19 stations spotted my QRP today.

Sunspots - Friday February 10th 2023

Solar flux is 215 and the SSN 150. A=21 and K=2.

4m Es

Later this spring, I should be able to operate properly on 4m. Up to now, I have only used my homemade transverter. 

I intend to erect a 4m halo. Hopefully, I shall be able to work some Es on 4m later. I have not seriously tried 4m TX for many years. 

It would also be worth me trying a few 4m activity contests.

8m QRP FT8 (Thursday)

Once again, I am on 40.680 MHz QRP FT8. As of now (1325z) no spots.

UPDATE 1404z:  ZS6OB (9099km) spotted a while ago. This is my first South African spotted on 8m this year.  Nobody has spotted my QRP.