10m QRP WSPR TX (Thursday)

My 500mW 10m WSPR beacon was turned on about 1324z. So far, no spots.

UPDATE 1925z:  Just 3 spots by F1JSC (1010km) alone. Today has been very poor for Es in Europe.

Cambridge by bus - NOT amateur radio

One of the benefits of being old is you get a free bus pass. It is now quicker to get into Cambridge by bus than driving and taking the "park and ride" bus. 

Also, one of the John Lewis rewards this month is 2 free hot drinks. 

So later were are off to Cambridge by bus (free) and 2 cups of coffee (free) . And the weather looks good.

Sunspots - Thursday July 20th 2023

 Solar flux is 189 and the SSN 141. A=5 and K=1.

Fordham Abbey - NOT amateur radio

This afternoon we visited the Japanese garden at nearby Fordham Abbey with our village history society. It was very good. They make Saki there which is a Japanese rice wine.

See https://fordhamabbey.co.uk/. 

10m QRP WSPR (Wednesday)

I keep forgetting that I can use my 10m W5OLF 500mW TX WSPR beacon if the 10m antenna is not in use. At the moment just G4KPX (14km) spotting me. At least I know I am getting out!

UPDATE 2002z:   8 unique stations have spotted me today.

6m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)

As my 8m system is currently out of action, I am again on 6m FT8. So far today  14 stations have spotted using my 2.5W to the V2000 vertical omni antenna with the furthermost US2YW (1864km) in Ukraine. On 6m FT8 RX 4 stations spotted. There would appear to be far more people monitoring 6m than actually TXing.

UPDATE 2007z:   25 stations spotted my 2.5W QRP FT8 today.

Sunspots - Wednesday July 19th 2023

 Solar flux is 219 and the SSN 142. A=16 and K=1. 

Medieval stained glass - NOT amateur radio

Ely Cathedral is very very old yet most of the stained glass is from the 19th century. The window shown here is medieval and was bought from Rouen cathedral in France after the French Revolution. 

Low cost 10m FT8 RX

If you just want to monitor 10m FT8, may I recommend my 10FT8R receiver? This is easy to build, even "dead bug" style, yet works really well. It uses a low cost crystal, that is pulled. With this RX you will not miss much.

Mine was built ugly style, but worked well. It would make a great club project for a winter evening on a PCB. It would surprise me if it cost you more than a few cups of coffee out.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/10ft8r-rx.

Lunch companion - NOT amateur radio

This morning we went to Ely Cathedral and had lunch in the Almonry that dates back to the 13th century. Imagine eating here then!

We had a companion for lunch: a robin that came to our table and, at times, was just a few inches away. I am sure it would have eaten out of my hand given more time. As it was, it had some of my wife's cheese scone when she was not looking!

6m QRP FT8 (Tuesday)

My gear (2.5W to the V2000 vertical omni) was turned on at 0741z. So far (at 0757z) just spots by 5 Gs and no Es. On 6m FT8 RX 3 Gs near Birmingham spotted.

UPDATE 0816z:  Spotted a station in Ukraine on RX. He has also spotted me on QRP TX.  Must be some Es about ,even though it did not look too great.  See https://www.tvcomm.co.uk/g7izu/radio-propagation-maps/europe-sporadic-e/.

UPDATE 1126z: 24 spots of my 6m QRP FT8 and 21 stations have been spotted here on RX. Plenty of Es.

UPDATE 1230z: Spotted by 56 stations today on 6m QRP FT8. Plenty of Es.

Stations spotting
me at 1306z

UPDATE 1306z:   A very good Es day on 6m QRP FT8 with 66 stations spotting me. I proves that with Es, not much ERP is needed.

UK strikes - NOT amateur radio

As in many countries, the high rate of inflation, higher fuel costs and higher interest rates are fuelling a round of strikes by people who are finding the cost of living too high. I am not sure of the answer, but remember the painful days of high inflation in the last  century. 

Plans for Tuesday

I expect to be on 6m FT8 QRP later hoping for some Es. 

Sunspots - Tuesday July 18th 2023

Solar flux is 180 and the SSN 149. A=24 and K=4.

Shield bug - NOT amateur radio

This photo was taken in 2017. It shows an iridescent shield bug. 

Oil and gas prices - NOT amateur radio

In recent months, these have fallen in the UK. There is a suspicion that prices rise like a rocket and fall like a feather here in the UK. 

At its peak diesel was £199.9 a litre. It has since fallen about 50p. In some places it is even cheaper. I get the distinct impression all the reductions in wholesale prices are not being passed on. I am not sure who is trying to claw back profits lost during the pandemic, but somebody is!

For the hard pressed motorist or someone depending on gas or oil to heat their home, a full and quick reduction is needed, by law if necessary.

Most swifts still here - NOT amateur radio

Most swifts (birds) are still here. They usual start migrating south in late July or early August. Suddenly one realises the screaming of feeding parties high above has stopped. 

See https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/swift/ .

6m QRP FT8 (Monday)

My system (2.5W and a vertical omni V2000) has been on since 0726z.  So far spotted by 2 stations in East Anglia on TX and I have spotted 1 station in Devon on RX. No Es.

UPDATE 1008z:  8 stations have spotted my 6m FT8 QRP (including Portugal and Italy) and 2 stations have been spotted on RX (one by Es).

UPDATE 1212z:  23 stations have spotted my 6m FT8 QRP today.

Stations spotting
me at 1253z

UPDATE 1304z: 25 stations have spotted my QRP 6m FT8 with the furthermost EA8BFK (2881km) and I have spotted 11 stations on RX. The Es seems pretty widespread today.

UPDATE 1722z:  29 stations have spotted me today on 6m QRP  FT8.

Plans for Monday

Later, I expect to go on 6m QRP FT8 again. On recent days, there has been some good Es on 6m . I have yet to see how European Es is shaping up.

UPDATE 0712z:  It is quite early, but early indications are that European Es is not as great as yesterday. Things may well change.

VLF earth mode experiments in 2011

Some years before my stroke, I was out doing earth mode experiments at VLF. This was 2011.

Oscar 100 narrowband activity

Every few weeks I take a peek to judge the activity level. My last look was mid afternoon in Europe on a Sunday, when activity is likely to be good. Yet again, there were few stations and plenty of space. 

Judging by the activity levels, I cannot see another geosynchronous satellite happening soon. This underlines to me that the Amateur Radio Service is no longer about self training and research. Instead, most would appear to be "black box" operators. Getting on Oscar 100 is just too hard for most. Instead, many spend thousands on a rig, linear, tower and beam.

I can see the hobby dying out as many people age and no longer buy Japanese "black boxes".  Maybe before 2040?

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/ 

Sunspots - Monday July 17th 2023

 Solar flux is 184 and the SSN 99. A=10 and K=3.

UK politics - NOT amateur radio

The assumption is that the Labour party will win the next General Election and that the ruling Conservative party will be ousted. At the moment Labour enjoys a commanding lead.

In my view (often wrong!!) is it will be much closer in the end. Labour could even lose. It would not surprise me if the outcome is a hung parliament. Some years ago we all assumed the Labour party of Neil Kinnock would win. It did not.

12 months is a very long time in politics. The political landscape could rapidly change.

The leader of the Labour party, Sir Keir Starmer, seems an honest man, but lacking in charisma. Maybe the UK public is looking for a man with integrity? What is really needed is an honest leader, with integrity and charisma. These are qualities that seem in short supply, not only in the UK.

QDX reviews

The place to look for reviews of amateur gear is eham.net. I was quite surprised to see that the QRP labs QDX, which is a tiny 5W digital transceiver was only 4.2 out of 5. In my estimation, it is a 5 out of 5. It is truly tiny and if FT8 or WSPR are your "thing", you really need nothing else. I must write a review.

Some people have had trouble with PAs blowing. In my case I have 5 3A diodes to drop the voltage and always use it with an antenna with a low SWR.  I can see a problem with auto-ATUs which may present a bad match during tuning.

A 6m, 8m and 10m version would be good.

See https://www.eham.net/reviews/view-product?id=15155 .

UPDATE 0615z Monday:  Review written. 

Suffolk - NOT amateur radio

The Suffolk countryside is gentle and rolling.   It may lack some of the hills and coastlines of some counties, but I like it.

"Life's a bitch and then you die" - NOT amateur radio

Not sure where this phrase originated. It must be good to have a strong faith.

Recently my cousin died of jaw cancer having lost his only daughter in the last year. His wife was so upset that she told nobody of the funeral and there were only 3 people there (her sister, niece and herself). She must feel so alone and bereft. 

Nothing I can say will be able to make things better. Talk of a loving God and life everlasting seem hollow.

6m QRP FT8 (Sunday)

It is now 1105z and I have been on for about an hour.  So far, my 2.5W to the V2000 vertical omni has been spotted by  26 stations.

UPDATE 1340z: 29 stations have spotted me and I have spotted 28 stations with the furthermost EA8DBM (3016km). The Es would seem to be in the direction of Iberia (Spain and Portugal).

UPDATE 1600z: My signal has been spotted by 30 stations and I have spotted 33 here on RX.

European Es yesterday

Much of yesterday I was on 6m FT8. There was plenty of Es from all parts of the continent. 

The peak months are May, June and July, although Es can occur at any time of the year. 

With FT8, I suspect we will find out that many more openings occur than we were expecting.  Only a 15 second TX burst is needed for the station to appear on PSKreporter. Also FT8 works with signals weaker  than CW, so much weaker signals can be decoded. This alone is a good reason to stick with 6m outside the Es season.

Radio archive

Apparently the digital archive of all things radio has now archived 75000 items.

See https://blog.archive.org/2023/05/03/dlarc-75000/

Sunspots - Sunday July 16th 2023

 Solar flux is 179 and the SSN 96. A=8 and K=0.

Super DX on VHF and above

About now, JA and other Far East stations are worked from Western Europe on 6m. This is linked to noctilucent clouds that form at this time of year. It is pretty regular. 

Indications suggest the path could work on higher frequencies too. I have not been checking 6m FT8 until yesterday.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/vhfuhfmicrowaves/super-dx

Lightning risks

At the moment in the UK, the lightning seems to be in Wales and the north of England according to the lightning map. Of course, things can change quite quickly. If the risk increases, everything gets disconnected.

6m QRP FT8 (Saturday)

My 2.5W to the vertical omni V2000 was turned on at 0830z. 3 UK spots so far. No RX spots yet.

UPDATE 0844z:  6 UK stations have spotted me. No Es here.

UPDATE 1040z: 21 stations have spotted me. There is Es about. Several stations now spotted on 6m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1720z: 84 spots of my 2.5W FT8 from all over Europe. 

Time to update the rig?

Wondering about upgrading my rig, but can't get on with these new fangled things, HI. 

Back in 2012

This was a few years before my stroke. It shows me working on a new 472kHz transverter in the back of the garage in our old house. 

Sunspots - Saturday July 15th 2023

Solar flux is 181 and the SSN 141. A=20 and K=2.

G3XBM Project Scrapbook - Issue 5

My free PDF "G3XBM Project Scrapbook"  is now at issue 5.  I hope to update all links to it.

If you spot errors, please tell me soon.

Pass it on - NOT amateur radio

This was one of my FaceBook memories from 2021. It means a lot to me. We are here for just a short time really.

6m QRP FT8 (Friday)

As my 8m antenna system is faulty, I am on 6m FT8 with 2.5W and the vertical omni V2000 antenna. The gear was turned on at 0850z.  Already spotted by CT1IUA (1814km) in S.Portugal so there is some Es about.

UPDATE 0916z:  Plenty of Es spots of my QRP from Portugal and Spain. Nothing yet on RX, which is surprising.

UPDATE 0939z: Still the same 10 stations spotting my 2.5W on TX and just G3RIK (224km) spotted on RX. Disappointing on RX.

UPDATE 1045z:  5 UK stations spotted on RX and I have been spotted by 14 stations (G, CT and EA).

UPDATE 1321z:  Still 14 stations spotting my 2.5W QRP FT8 and I have spotted 11 stations on RX. All these on RX were in the UK.

UPDATE 2026z:  24 stations have spotted me on 6m QRP FT8 today. Now QRT.

Old work colleagues - NOT amateur radio

 

Every month some old work colleagues meet up for a meal at a different place in the area. Last night, we met up in Ely.