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| Stations spotted on 2m FT8 to 2000z |
There is an FT8 activity contest at the moment and 126 stations spotted on RX and my 2.5W to the omni has been widely copied.
UPDATE 2136z: 181 stations spotted. QRT.
7 Jun 2023
Haircut time - NOT amateur radio
8m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)
Gear turned on at 0853z. No spots.
UPDATE 1326z: Just spots by HC02 (1808km) in Portugal.
UPDATE 2020z: QRT.
10m QRP WSPR TX (Wednesday)
My W5OLF beacon was turned on at 0853z. No spots yet.
UPDATE 1148z: 30 stations have spotted me so far today. Although I know some Es signals can be strong, some reports are amazingly strong. Later this week I might try the FT817ND with an attenuator right on the output to see who still copies me at low miliwatts. I could also do this on 8m WSPR.
UPDATE 1329z: 33 stations have spotted my 500mW 10m WSPR today.
UPDATE 2020z: QRT about an hour ago.
European Es (Wednesday)
Early indications are that European Es is not as good as yesterday, but this can rapidly change. My current plans are 10m 500mW WSPR TX and 8m QRP FT8.
See https://www.tvcomm.co.uk/g7izu/radio-propagation-maps/europe-sporadic-e/ .
2m activity contest last evening
Last evening was the June 2023 2m activity contest (UKAC).
Conditions were well up, but I found it very hard work with my 2.5W to the big-wheel omni. I guess this is a combination of several factors. Firstly, my low ERP is obviously a handicap with stronger signals being copied over me. Secondly, I have a very poor voice, not cut out to "outshout" others. Thirdly, I have no compressor, so my signal lacks punch.
In the end 6 stations were worked before I gave up. These days, I find FT8 easier as I do not need to "outshout" other stations. To be honest, I am no longer attracted to VHF/UHF voice contests.
6 Jun 2023
Friedrichshafen - mid June
This is the biggest gathering in Europe for radio amateurs. It attracts amateurs from a wide range of countries. I still keep hoping Yaesu will announce a new QRP SDR radio to replace the FT817. I suspect they will not, alas. In my view they have "missed the boat"....yet again. Personally, I fear Yaesu will leave the amateur radio market shortly. They could well be joined by others.
"Times, they are a changing".
The Knowledge newsletter - NOT amateur radio
This has been on before, but I make no apology as I find it so good.
This comes free by email every day and is a digest of news from across the world's press. It usually takes about 5 minutes to read and seems pretty unbiased. If you do not want to buy a newspaper or do not have time to read one, I strongly recommend it.
Shopping - NOT amateur radio
Most weeks we go about 12 miles on the bus into Cambridge. As we are old (!) we have free bus pass, so the journey is totally free. It is also as fast as taking our car. It is a pleasurable ride too.
Like most men, I hate clothes shopping. Instead I had a coffee whilst my wife did the spending!
OXO QRP TX
This circuit was originated by GM3OXX, hence the name. It has become a classic circuit. It produces about 1W CW. It has been built by many people in many forms and is very easy to replicate. You just need to add a low pass filter for your chosen band. I have used it to 10m. This schematic was on the G3PTO website many years ago.
10m QRP WSPR TX (Tuesday)
Once again I am on 10m WSPR with my 500mW beacon. It is now 0820z and, so far, 20 stations spotted. Some are F2 and some Es. A very promising start.
UPDATE 2052z: 54 stations spotted today. Some would have copied me with just microwatts given a quiet noise floor.
8m QRP FT8 (Tuesday)
As the Es looks promising, I am again on 40.680 MHz FT8 (TX 1st, DF about 1950 Hz). No spots yet.
OFCOM and my requested 8m T&I licence changes
I sent an email to Dave Parsons at OFCOM, who has always been quick and helpful. Within 24 hours he came back to me for some clarification. Hopefully, he will unblock things. He is one of the better people there.
UPDATE 1333z: Just a day after contacting Dave, my licence has been amended so I can run 20W if I need/want to on 8m.
5 Jun 2023
Yaesu FT-710 versus ICOM IC-705
My IC-705 was traded in some months ago for the Yaesu FT-710. Both are excellent radios and I have enjoyed them both. The FT-710 has 4m but no 2m or 70cm. The FT-710 also has an auto ATU which I find quite useful. The FT-710 is a 100W radio whereas the IC-705 is a 10W radio (5W with the attached battery). As a QRPer, 10W was more than enough for me.
I was hoping that Yaesu would announce a new QRP SDR transceiver at Dayton as a proper replacement to the FT817. Sadly, no such product was announced. Had one been announced, I might have traded it for the FT-710.
In my view amateur radio is at a crossroads. In many countries, amateur radio appeals mainly to older males. As these age, fewer new rigs will be sold and magazines will lose advertising revenue from dealers. Some will get smaller, less frequent, or close. In my view, several larger manufacturers will leave the amateur radio market as they will be unable to make profits. My prediction in the UK is that amateur radio will cease to be a service supported by OFCOM. I can see (not many years ahead) when CB, ISM and amateur radio will all become a "free for all" as these generate no income and are unnecessary hassle. The watchwords will be "no interference".
European Es today (Monday)
At the start of today, I had great hopes for Es in Europe. Sadly, certainly at the moment, things are not looking too great. Hopefully things will get better.
See https://www.tvcomm.co.uk/g7izu/radio-propagation-maps/8m-40mhz-spot-band/ .
Multiple lives - NOT amateur radio
We are used to thinking of time flowing from the past into the future and experiencing just one life from cradle to grave.
However, we are only aware of one life, which is the one experienced now. It is equally possible that we could have been born on a different planet at a different time. We could have multiple lives, not one.
All we know is things are far beyond our imaginations. We are just humans with limited brain power.
Poplar fluff? - NOT amateur radio
10m 500mW WSPR TX (Monday)
Been on 10m WSPR TX since before breakfast. It is now 0958z and, so far, 12 unique stations have spotted me. These are the usual suspects.
8m QRP FT8 ( Monday)
As the Es looks encouraging today, I have stuck with 8m QRP FT8. Already spotted by HC02 (1808km) in Portugal.
4 Jun 2023
Trondheim, Norway - NOT amateur radio
This photo was posted by someone who lives (I think) in Norway. It is interesting to see how people use 365project. My wife and I use it as a visual diary, whereas some use it to show their photographic prowess. We would never win on that count!
Tomorrow 10m FT8 QRP
In view of the (low) activity levels on 8m this Es season, I propose to concentrate instead on 10m QRP FT8 using my little QDX transceiver.
8m QRP FT8 (Sunday)
My gear was turned on before breakfast. It is now 0848z. Just a single spot (quite strong too) from HC02 (1808km) in Portugal.
There appear to be fewer active stations on 8m this Es season. I was hoping for more, not fewer. With this year probably seeing the peak of the current solar cycle this is very disappointing! Where are all the experimenters? Perhaps people prefer discussing vegetables on 80m with commercial gear!
UPDATE 1414z: Just HC02 (Portugal) and SR4BBX (1217km) have spotted my 8m QRP FT8 today. Just G3WCS spotted on 8m FT8 RX.
UPDATE 1539z: It is extremely unusual to see 8m FT8 reports from new stations, bringing into question why I should continue with my experiment. My experiment was to see how useful QRP and simple antennas could be on 8m. I think I have already proved that and only with reports from newcomers will I learn more. So, unless I see significant interest from others it is unlikely that I shall spend as much time on 8m in the future. Results were more interesting in the last Es season.
Stations spotted on 8m RX today 
Stations spotting my 8m FT8 QRP today
UPDATE 1814z: Just 2 spots all day on 8m QRP FT8. On RX 3 stations spotted, although I suspect the EA is illegal.
10m QRP WSPR (Sunday)
My 500mW W5OLF WSPR beacon on 10m has been on since before breakfast. It is now 0836z and, so far, 8 spots of me. There doesn't seem to be a great deal of Es around yet.
UPDATE 1846z: 50 spots of me today. More Es later.
Village garden - NOT amateur radio
European Es
It is now 0554z, so it is too early to tell how Es will be in Europe today. Assuming it is good, my plan is QRP 8m FT8 and 10m QRP WSPR TX.
See https://www.tvcomm.co.uk/g7izu/radio-propagation-maps/europe-sporadic-e/ .
3 Jun 2023
The dangers of AI
There is little doubt that the power of artificial Intelligence (AI) can be a powerful force for good allowing huge quantities of data to be analyzed quickly and accurately. An example is analyzing x-rays for tumours.
At the same time AI could also be our downfall. As the knowledge warned today it could also be our downfall.
"The truth is that it’s “already too late” for any meaningful pause in AI development, says Iain Martin The Times. As with the creation of the nuclear bomb in the 1940s, the pressing question is whether democracies or dictatorships get there first. If the West and its allies fail, we will be at the mercy of autocrats who can swarm us with thousands of lethal drones, or deploy sophisticated programmes which “relentlessly search for weaknesses through which to launch cyber attacks and shut down our financial systems”. This is a race “we have to win”. "
This is quote from The Knowledge today.
Wicken Fen walk - NOT amateur radio
Geese with young - NOT amateur radio
This morning, we went for a nice walk to nearby Wicken Fen. Until we got home and put the photos on the PC I had not noticed the young. The photo was taken through a zoom lens.
Media fascism
In the UK media for several days a headline has been about an ITV presenter, who happens to be gay. The lives of him and his family have been a total hell. On the BBC news it has been the very first item. Had it been a heterosexual affair nobody would care.
In my view this is despicable. He and his family should be left alone.
As far as we know, he had done nothing wrong or newsworthy. Just leave him alone and get off his back.
In my view, this is journalism of the very worst kind: superficial and gratuitous gossip. BBC, get back to real news please!!!
10m 500mW WSPR TX (Saturday)
2 Jun 2023
OFCOM publications
A reminder that OFCOM updates the publications it holds on the statistics on licences and similar.
Our local shop - NOT amateur radio
8m FT8 QRP (Friday)
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